New Draper Fire Department personnel took their oaths of office at the Aug. 4 City Council meeting, the same session where Ordinance #1721 came up for a final vote after months of public hearings on short-term rental regulation.

The business session at Draper City Hall opened with the swearing-in ceremony, a tradition the council has repeated at multiple meetings this year as the department adds staff. The department, led by Fire Chief Clint Smith, operates three stations and employs more than 65 members. According to the department's 2023 annual report, Draper firefighters responded to 4,154 calls that year, up from 4,049 in 2022.

Short-term rental ordinance reaches final vote

Ordinance #1721, which amends Titles 6 and 9 of the Draper City Municipal Code, would require all short-term rentals to be licensed and permitted, with fire safety standards and automatic notifications to Draper Fire and Police when a new permit is issued, according to the city's public hearing notice.

The measure took a winding path to the Aug. 4 agenda. It first appeared before the Draper Planning Commission on April 23, was continued to a date uncertain, then came before the City Council on June 9 before receiving a public hearing on July 21. The council placed it as a final action item Tuesday.

Community pressure helped drive the ordinance forward. Residents raised concerns about disruptive parties at short-term rentals, according to community discussion documented on OpenUtah. At a June 2 study session, city leaders discussed rules specifically aimed at preventing large gatherings that disturb residential neighborhoods.

Todd Taylor, Draper City planner, served as staff contact for the ordinance throughout its development.

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Draper sits in a high-risk fire area due to surrounding open space and Wildland Urban Interface zones. The city banned personal fireworks citywide for both the July 4 and Pioneer Day holidays this summer because of extreme wildfire danger, making fire safety standards for rental properties part of a broader prevention push.

The city had not posted the official vote tally for Ordinance #1721 as of Wednesday, Aug. 5. The next Draper City Council meeting is scheduled for Aug. 12.