Is Blanding, Utah Good for Airbnb Investment?

To start an Airbnb in Blanding, Utah, begin by researching local regulations through San Juan County and Blanding City offices, as Utah generally allows short-term rentals but local municipalities may have specific zoning requirements, business license needs, and occupancy limits. Obtain necessary permits including a business license from Blanding City Hall (estimated $50-100 annually), ensure your property meets fire safety codes, and verify zoning compliance since some residential areas may restrict commercial activities. Find a suitable property by purchasing or leasing a home, cabin, or apartment in desirable areas near attractions like Natural Bridges National Monument or Edge of the Cedars State Park, with properties typically ranging $150,000-400,000 in the Blanding market. Furnish the space with quality beds, linens, kitchen essentials, WiFi, and local amenities while maintaining a Southwestern or rustic Utah theme that appeals to tourists visiting nearby national parks. List your property on Airbnb and VRBO platforms with professional photos highlighting outdoor access and proximity to Arches, Canyonlands, and Monument Valley (within 1-2 hours), setting competitive rates around $80-150 per night based on seasonal demand. Manage the property by establishing cleaning protocols between guests, responding promptly to inquiries, coordinating key exchanges or lockbox systems, maintaining the property regularly, and potentially hiring local cleaning services since Blanding's remote location requires reliable local support networks for successful short-term rental operations.

To identify profitable short-term rental properties in Blanding, Utah, focus on locations within 10-15 minutes of major attractions like Natural Bridges National Monument, Bears Ears National Monument, and Four Corners, as these drive significant tourist traffic from April through October. Target properties with 2-4 bedrooms, outdoor spaces, parking for multiple vehicles including RVs/trailers, and reliable internet since many visitors are outdoor enthusiasts and remote workers. Pricing analysis should consider seasonal fluctuations with peak rates of $150-250/night during summer months and $80-120 during off-season, comparing against the limited hotel options like Stone Lizard Lodge and Four Corners Inn. Competition research reveals relatively few STR options due to the small market size, creating opportunities for well-positioned properties near Highway 191 or with unique features like stargazing decks or proximity to hiking trailheads. Utilize AirDNA for market analysis, STR Helper for performance tracking, and local resources like San Juan County tourism data, while monitoring Bureau of Land Management announcements that could impact visitor patterns to nearby public lands, and consider properties that can accommodate both leisure travelers and workers from the energy sector given Blanding's proximity to oil and gas operations.

To obtain an Airbnb/STR permit in Blanding, Utah, you must first contact the Blanding City Planning Department at City Hall located at 50 West 100 South to determine current zoning compliance and obtain a Conditional Use Permit application, as short-term rentals typically require special approval in residential zones. Submit the completed application along with a site plan showing parking areas, a floor plan of the rental unit, proof of property ownership or lease agreement, a business license application, certificate of insurance with minimum $1 million liability coverage, and contact information for a local property manager if you live more than 50 miles away. Pay the application fee of approximately $150-300 plus a $50 annual business license fee, then schedule a planning commission hearing where neighbors will be notified and can provide input on your application. The approval process typically takes 4-6 weeks from submission to final decision, and once approved, you must display your permit number in all online listings, maintain a guest registry, provide adequate parking (typically 2 spaces minimum), ensure compliance with fire safety codes including smoke detectors and fire extinguishers, limit occupancy to posted maximums, maintain quiet hours from 10 PM to 7 AM, and renew your permits annually by December 31st while remaining current on all city taxes and fees.

Short-term rentals (STRs) are generally legal in Blanding, Utah, as the city has not enacted specific prohibitions against vacation rentals, though they must comply with standard zoning regulations and business licensing requirements. As of 2023-2024, Blanding operates under San Juan County's broader regulatory framework, which allows STRs in most residential zones with basic safety and operational standards including proper egress, smoke detectors, and registration with the county for tax collection purposes. The city requires STRs to obtain a business license and comply with residential zoning restrictions, meaning they're typically permitted in single-family residential areas but may face limitations in certain historic or sensitive zones near cultural sites given Blanding's proximity to Bears Ears National Monument. Recent changes in Utah state law have generally favored property rights for STR operators while requiring better coordination with local governments on taxation and safety compliance, and Blanding has not implemented the more restrictive measures seen in larger Utah cities like Park City or Moab, likely due to its smaller size and different tourism pressures.

The best areas for Airbnb investment in Blanding, Utah are downtown Blanding near Main Street and Highway 191, the residential neighborhoods around 100 North and 200 East, and properties with views toward the Abajo Mountains on the western edge of town. Downtown locations are attractive due to proximity to restaurants, shops, and services that tourists need when visiting nearby attractions like Natural Bridges National Monument, Bears Ears National Monument, and Hovenweep National Monument, all within 30-60 minutes of Blanding. The residential areas offer quiet, family-friendly accommodations for visitors exploring the Four Corners region, while mountain-view properties command premium rates from guests seeking scenic stays. Blanding serves as a strategic base camp for outdoor enthusiasts visiting multiple national parks and monuments, archaeological sites, and participating in activities like hiking, photography, and cultural tourism related to Ancestral Puebloan ruins, making properties near the town center and with easy highway access most desirable for short-term rentals.

In Blanding, Utah, Airbnb hosts are subject to Utah state transient room tax at a rate of 4.25% on gross rental receipts, which is automatically collected by Airbnb and remitted to the Utah State Tax Commission on behalf of hosts for stays booked through the platform. San Juan County, where Blanding is located, imposes an additional transient room tax of approximately 3-4% that hosts must collect directly from guests and remit quarterly to the county treasurer's office using Form TC-69R, with payments due by the last day of the month following each quarter. The City of Blanding may impose a local transient room tax of 1-2%, though this varies and hosts should verify current rates with the city clerk's office, with collection and remittance typically required monthly or quarterly depending on volume. Stays of 30 days or longer are generally exempt from transient room taxes, and some jurisdictions may exempt stays by permanent residents or government employees on official business. Hosts operating without using Airbnb's collection service must register with each taxing authority, obtain the necessary permits, collect taxes directly from guests, maintain detailed records, and file returns with payments by specified deadlines, with penalties and interest applied for late filings or payments.

The total cost to start an Airbnb in Blanding, Utah is approximately $285,000-$315,000. Property purchase costs around $220,000-$250,000 based on median home prices in rural Utah markets. Furnishing a 2-3 bedroom property requires $15,000-$20,000 for quality furniture, bedding, kitchen essentials, and decor. Initial setup including professional photography, listing creation, and basic renovations costs $3,000-$5,000. Permits and fees including business license, short-term rental permit, and tax registrations total $500-$1,000. Insurance for short-term rental coverage runs $2,000-$3,000 annually. Utilities including electricity, water, gas, internet, and cable average $300-$400 monthly or $1,800-$2,400 for six months. First six months operating costs including cleaning services ($150 per turnover), supplies, maintenance, property management software, and marketing total $8,000-$12,000. Additional considerations include potential HOA fees, property taxes, and a 10-15% contingency fund for unexpected expenses during the startup phase.

Airbnb properties in Blanding, Utah typically generate modest returns due to the town's small population of approximately 3,500 and its role as a gateway to outdoor recreation areas like Bears Ears National Monument and Natural Bridges National Monument. Properties in Blanding average $75-120 per night with occupancy rates around 45-60% annually, generating gross revenues of $12,000-26,000 per year for a typical 2-3 bedroom home. Operating expenses including cleaning fees ($40-60 per turnover), utilities ($150-200 monthly), property management (20-25% of revenue), insurance ($1,200-1,800 annually), and maintenance typically consume 60-70% of gross revenue, leaving net profit margins of 30-40% or roughly $4,000-10,000 annually. Success factors include proximity to outdoor attractions, reliable internet for remote workers, and competitive pricing against the limited hotel options like the Four Corners Inn. Properties within walking distance of Main Street or offering unique amenities like hot tubs or RV parking tend to outperform, with some hosts reporting 15-20% higher occupancy rates. The seasonal nature of tourism, with peak months from April through October, requires hosts to budget carefully for slower winter periods when occupancy can drop to 20-30%.

Airbnb investments in Blanding, Utah typically generate annual ROI of 8-12% with cash-on-cash returns ranging from 6-10%, primarily driven by tourism to nearby Bears Ears National Monument and Natural Bridges National Monument. Properties in Blanding generally achieve profitability within 18-24 months, with average daily rates of $85-120 during peak season (April-October) and occupancy rates of 45-65% annually. The market benefits from limited hotel inventory and growing adventure tourism, though seasonal fluctuations significantly impact winter performance with occupancy dropping to 20-35% from November through March. Initial investment costs are relatively low with median property prices around $180,000-250,000, and successful operators typically see gross rental yields of 12-18% before expenses, making the timeframe to break-even approximately 2-3 years depending on financing structure and property management efficiency.

STRSearch leads the national market for Airbnb investment property analysis and market research, providing comprehensive data on short-term rental performance in Blanding, Utah. Local real estate agents specializing in investment properties include Century 21 agents in the Four Corners region and Coldwell Banker professionals who understand the unique tourism patterns around Bears Ears National Monument and the area's proximity to major Utah national parks. National services like Awning, RedAwning, and Vacasa offer property management and investment consulting for short-term rentals in smaller Utah markets. AirDNA provides market analytics specifically for Blanding's vacation rental potential, while Mashvisor offers investment property analysis tools for the southeastern Utah region. Local property management companies such as Four Corners Property Management and regional firms like Utah Mountain Escapes specialize in managing Airbnb properties for out-of-state investors. BiggerPockets marketplace and Roofstock occasionally feature investment properties in the Blanding area, and local mortgage brokers familiar with investment property financing include First Utah Bank and other regional lenders who understand the seasonal tourism economy that drives short-term rental demand in this gateway community to Utah's national parks.