Summit County, Utah has achieved remarkable success in its short-term rental (STR) enforcement efforts, identifying 800 unlicensed properties in just three months after partnering with Azora Software.
The Challenge
Like many resort communities, Summit County struggled with the rapid growth of short-term rentals. County officials estimated that a significant portion of STR properties were operating without proper licenses, creating compliance challenges and lost tax revenue.
Traditional enforcement methods proved ineffective. Manual searches and neighbor complaints only captured a fraction of unlicensed operators. The county needed a comprehensive solution that could systematically identify all STR properties and bring them into compliance.
The Azora Solution
In October 2025, Summit County deployed Azora's STR compliance platform. The system uses advanced data aggregation and machine learning to identify STR properties across multiple listing platforms, including Airbnb, VRBO, and smaller booking sites.
Within the first 90 days, Azora identified:
- 800 unlicensed STR properties operating in the county
- 350 properties that came into compliance or ceased operations
- $2.1 million in potential annual tax revenue from newly compliant properties
Results That Matter
The rapid identification and compliance rates exceeded county expectations. "We had been trying to solve this problem for years," said a county official. "Azora gave us the tools and data we needed to finally get ahead of it."
The platform's automated workflows reduced the manual effort required by code enforcement staff by approximately 60%, allowing the team to focus on higher-value enforcement activities rather than property identification.
Key Success Factors
Several factors contributed to Summit County's success:
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Comprehensive Data Coverage: Azora's platform aggregates data from dozens of listing sites, ensuring no properties slip through the cracks.
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Automated Workflows: The system automatically generates compliance cases and tracks them through resolution, reducing administrative burden.
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Clear Communication: Property owners received clear, professional notifications about licensing requirements and how to come into compliance.
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Integrated Call Center: Azora's 24/7 call center handled property owner questions, freeing up county staff.
Looking Ahead
Summit County continues to use Azora's platform for ongoing monitoring and compliance. The system automatically detects new listings and flags properties that fall out of compliance, ensuring sustained results.
The county is now focusing on using the platform's reporting capabilities to inform future STR policy decisions and demonstrate the program's effectiveness to stakeholders.
For municipalities facing similar STR compliance challenges, Summit County's experience demonstrates that the right technology partner can transform enforcement outcomes in a matter of months rather than years.