Washington County’s scarce housing complicated by increase in short-term rentals

ST. GEORGE — Securing affordable housing in Washington County can feel like finding a unicorn, some say. To combat this, county officials are developing new ways to address housing challenges.

Reid Walkenhorst, a planning and permit specialist in the county’s community development department, told St. George News that a recent study was conservative about the impact of short-term rentals on housing costs in Washington County.

Short-term rentals are generally used for stays fewer than 30 days.

The Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute reports that the number of short-term rental listings in Utah grew by 39.4% from 2021 to 2023. Currently, short-term rentals make up 1.9% of all residential units in the state.

Read the entire story at St. George News.