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Monument Valley

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Monument Valley, UT

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STR Regulations for Monument Valley, Utah

Overview: Are Short-Term Rentals Allowed in Monument Valley, UT?

Explicit answer: Yes—subject to state and county requirements, there is no explicit prohibition. Monument Valley is an unincorporated area in San Juan County, so short‑term rentals are governed by Utah state law and San Juan County rules. You must obtain the required Utah and county authorizations (permit and tax license) and comply with all safety, zoning, and listing requirements. See “Regulatory Landscape” and “Required Documents, Permits, and Licenses” for specifics. Source: www.redawning.com/pm/market-overview/canyon-point-utah

What do Airbnb hosts actually earn in Monument Valley?

Monument Valley hosts earn a median $18,337/year with $139 ADR and 45% occupancy.

Top performers pull in $39,800+ per year.

See the full Monument Valley market breakdown

Regulatory Landscape (City/County/State)

How to Start a Short-Term Rental in Monument Valley (Step-by-Step)

  1. Verify zoning eligibility:
  2. Obtain required authorizations:
  3. Education and local contact:
    • Both the owner and the designated local contact must complete a Utah-approved short-term rental education course. Designate a local contact who lives within a one-hour drive of the property and is not designated as the local contact for more than 19 other STRs. Source: www.redawning.com/pm/market-overview/canyon-point-utah
  4. Safety and occupancy:
    • Install and maintain required safety equipment: at least one functioning smoke detector, carbon monoxide detector, and fire extinguisher on each level. Maintain maximum occupancy at four, plus two per additional bedroom beyond the first. Source: www.redawning.com/pm/market-overview/canyon-point-utah
  5. Operational compliance:
    • Subdivision prohibition: the property cannot be subdivided into multiple STR units; you can only accept one reservation at a time. Maintain your permit, complete annual inspections if required by county/state, and keep your listing current with your STR permit number. Sources: www.redawning.com/pm/market-overview/canyon-point-utah
  6. Taxes and accounting:

Required Documents, Permits, Licenses, and Guidelines

Specific Regulations (Monument Valley/San Juan County/Utah)

Note on city-specific rules: Monument Valley is not an incorporated city; no city ordinances apply. County and state requirements control.

Contact Information (Local Authority in Charge of STRs)

  • San Juan County (primary permitting authority for Monument Valley; unincorporated area)
    • Phone: (435) 587-3225
    • Email: [email protected]
    • Website: www.sanjuancounty.org
    • Address: 117 S Main St, Monticello, UT 84535
  • Utah State Tax Commission (sales and use tax license for transient lodging)
  • Utah Division of Real Estate (for guidance on vacation rental licensing, if applicable)

Use the links in the “Links to Source Pages” section to reach the most current application portals and forms.

Links to Source Pages

Practical Compliance Checklist for Monument Valley Investors

  • Confirm zone allows STR use with San Juan County.
  • Apply for county STR permit and state tax account.
  • Complete education course (owner and local contact).
  • Install and log safety equipment per level.
  • Confirm occupancy limits and house rules.
  • Include STR permit number on all listings.
  • Maintain booking logs and tax filings.
  • Schedule and pass annual inspections.
  • Verify local contact eligibility and assign only one contact per property.
  • Maintain insurance appropriate for transient lodging.

This guide synthesizes the available sources and focuses exclusively on Monument Valley (San Juan County) and Utah state requirements. For granular questions on zoning and permitting timelines, contact San Juan County directly using the information above.

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Monument Valley

Market Saturation Score

036912
Moderate Saturation
5/ 12
months with declining YoY revenue
5–7 declining months: moderate saturation risk - market may be nearing capacity.
View Full Monument Valley Market Analysis

Photos of Monument Valley

Overview of Monument Valley

The tiny community of Monument Valley sits in San Juan County in the far southeastern corner of Utah, set within the Navajo Nation along the Arizona border. The population is small—essentially a handful of homes and lodges clustered near the historic Goulding's trading post area—and the local character is defined entirely by the surrounding red-sandstone landscape. The area is best known as the gateway to Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, whose iconic buttes and mesas lie just across the state line in Arizona, and it sits roughly 150 miles north of Flagstaff, the nearest sizable city, with the small service town of Kayenta, Arizona, only about 25 miles to the south.

The defining attraction is the tribal park itself, where a roughly 17-mile loop road winds past the Mittens, Merrick Butte, and other named formations, and where guided tours led by Navajo operators offer access to restricted areas as well as deeper cultural context. Just north of the community, US-163 climbs to the famous Forrest Gump Point, the curve in the highway where the road frames the monuments in a single, widely photographed view that has appeared in countless road-trip galleries and films.

A short drive north along US-163 brings visitors to the tiny village of Mexican Hat, Utah, named for the sombrero-shaped rock that rises above town and serving as a launching point for rafting and kayaking trips on the San Juan River. Just past Mexican Hat, Goosenecks State Park looks down on a series of dramatic, entrenched meanders of the San Juan, where the river has carved a serpentine course through layered rock far below the rim—an unusual geological scene visible from an overlook a short walk from the parking area.

Further north, Valley of the Gods offers a quieter counterpart to Monument Valley: a roughly 17-mile dirt-and-gravel loop managed by the Bureau of Land Management, passing isolated sandstone pillars and mesas, with primitive camping beneath exceptionally dark skies. For prospective short-term-rental owners, Monument Valley's appeal is the combination of an internationally recognized backdrop, year-round scenic drive access, and a remote dark-sky setting that draws photographers, road-trippers, and cultural tourists who often have very few lodging options in the immediate area.

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