Short-term rentals in Orem may face new regulations after GOAT House causes controversy

A rental property known as the GOAT House in Orem has received some complaints from neighbors about traffic, noise and smell concerns. The Orem City Council is considering drafting regulations for short-term rental properties.

A rental property known as the GOAT House in Orem has received some complaints from neighbors about traffic, noise and smell concerns. The Orem City Council is considering drafting regulations for short-term rental properties. (Scott Gemmell via Vrbo)


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OREM — Short-term rental properties in Orem may face new regulations after a property known as the GOAT House has caused some residents to complain.

The Orem City Council is considering adding regulations for short-term rentals, such as Airbnb or Vrbo, after residents came forward with complaints about a property called the GOAT House, located at 617 W. 1475 North.

The GOAT House is a large property that can sleep more than 25 people and has a swimming pool, sports court, game room and several goats in the backyard. It's advertised as a vacation home that can be used for family events or corporate retreats.

During Tuesday's City Council meeting, several residents expressed concerns and complaints about the property, claiming renters are causing issues with big parties.

Resident Steven Astle said the GOAT House is located in a "quiet cul-de-sac" with eight homes and he and a group of neighbors had gone to the council with their concerns in August. He said his family really likes living in Orem, but now they have to deal with a house that's "being used as an event center, not a short-term rental, and that's a problem."

Astle said there are "constant events" and parties going on at the house, causing traffic problems with too many cars in the area. He mentioned a sorority party that happened a few weeks ago at the property, leading to more than 100 girls partying before police showed up.

Resident Mary Warner complained about the traffic, as well, and suggested a limit be placed on how many people can stay at the house each night.

"There's not a person in here, I don't think, that if they had this house two houses away from them, would not be upset and would not want to plead for something to be done," Warner said.

Astle said the goats make the neighborhood "stink" and some of the neighborhood children can't play outside because of the "offensive smells of the goats."

'This is my livelihood'

GOAT House property owner Scott Gemmell lives down the road from the Orem rental, which he has been renting out since April. He also owns rental properties in Illinois and Iowa.

Gemmell told KSL.com he had one neighbor reach out to him a few months ago about renters being too loud at night and he told the guests to quiet down. The property has house rules that include quiet hours starting at 9:30 p.m., and he asks guests to be courteous to the neighbors with their parking.

A month after that, an animal control officer approached him due to a neighbor's complaints about the goats. After the officer checked out the property, Gemmell said the officer told him he was "within full rights" to own the goats. Gemmell said the goats don't smell and he takes great care of them.

In response to the complaints, Gemmell said, "I can't control what people do once they book it."

He said he had no idea the sorority party was going to happen because the woman who booked it said it was for a University of Utah neuroscience student group wanting to do a planning committee and retreat. He said he expected neuroscience students to be well-behaved, but the students broke all of the house rules and he understands why people were upset about that event.

"They trashed the house. It was definitely a frat party — definitely something I would not have condoned or supported if I had known," Gemmell said. "It's frustrating; there's only so much I can do to prevent what guests do."

Gemmell said the property is big and touches a lot of other houses; and with the swimming pool and sports court, it's no surprise his property is the loudest in the neighborhood.

"I don't want to be malicious. I want to be a good neighbor, but I also want to run a business. This is my livelihood," Gemmell said, adding that this property isn't something he just put together, and he is actively trying to abide by the rules.

Possible solutions

During the City Council's work session Tuesday, city attorney D. Jacob Summers gave a presentation on how short-term rentals can violate city zoning or nuisance codes. He said the city has responded to some resident complaints, and Orem's Neighborhood Improvement Team investigates each situation.

Summers suggested some regulatory approaches, ranging from how many people are allowed to rent, how many short-term rentals there can be in a geographic area, limiting short-term rentals to certain zones, or implementing rental requirements such as parking restrictions and quiet hours.

Other cities have implemented zoning restrictions, licensing programs, limiting density, requiring the property to be owner-occupied and capping rentals at a maximum of 10 people, Summers said.

The City Council said it is taking measures to address resident complaints. Gemmell received a summons for an administrative hearing in November by the Neighborhood Improvement Team.

Mayor David Young said he is interested in density restrictions and said he and the council will work together to find the right approach on how to enforce this issue moving forward.

Correction: A previous version spelled Steven Astle's name as Astill.

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Cassidy Wixom is an award-winning reporter for KSL.com. She covers Utah County communities, arts and entertainment, and breaking news. Cassidy graduated from BYU before joining KSL in 2022.

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