The Manila Town Council voted on August 14 to return a proposed glamping ordinance to the town’s planning and zoning commission for further revision.
The draft, which would establish regulations for short-term lodging units such as yurts, fixed tents, and small cabins, was sent back with specific recommendations addressing property size, density, parking, spacing, utilities, fencing, and fire safety review.
Mayor Kathy Knight opened the council discussion by seeking member feedback on the planning department’s initial draft.
Planning staff explained that the proposal would categorize glamping units similarly to hotels or motels for zoning purposes while keeping them distinct from recreational vehicle (RV) parks.
Among the council’s recommendations was a minimum lot size of two acres for glamping projects. For developments smaller than two acres, staff were directed to apply a more conservative density limit of eight units per acre.
The proposed maximum density for larger properties would be 10 units per acre, capped at 100 total units. Each glamping unit would be required to include at least one 24-by-10-foot on-site parking space, with overall parking and circulation to be recalculated by staff based on the final density standard.
According to a report published on Citizen Portal, council members also directed that glamping sites maintain a minimum spacing of 25 feet between units to protect guest privacy and reduce noise.
The ordinance would require all-weather surfacing for parking and access areas, and a mix of communal and private restroom facilities depending on site design.
For example, the council discussed requiring one bathroom per two units when using shared facilities, or one per unit for private setups. Laundry access should also be available, with a suggested minimum of two washers and two dryers per 10 sites.
Additional recommendations included six-foot privacy fencing along property lines adjacent to residential zones, bear-safe and fully screened waste enclosures, and required input from the fire marshal and Utah Department of Transportation for access and safety reviews.
The council further asked planning staff to include a requirement that developers cover legal and engineering review costs, following a precedent from previous projects such as Pinnacle.
During public comment, resident Justin Von Eberstein urged the council to ensure that “any lodging restrictions be supported by objective data as required under the Utah Land Use and Development Act.”
The council voted unanimously to send the draft back to the planning and zoning commission with the recommended adjustments. Planning staff will incorporate the feedback and recirculate a revised draft for further public review ahead of the council’s next meeting.
For outdoor hospitality operators, the proposed ordinance signals growing regulatory attention to glamping development standards, particularly in smaller municipalities seeking to manage land use, guest density, and infrastructure needs tied to this expanding sector.