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Vacation Rental Properties for Sale in Garden City, Utah
Garden City sits on the southern shore of Bear Lake, about a two-hour drive from Salt Lake City up Highway 89 through Logan Canyon, which makes it close enough for a weekend but far enough to feel like a real getaway. That combination is exactly why the short-term rental market here has stayed strong for decades. Summer brings boaters, jet skiers, and families chasing the lake's turquoise water, while winter draws snowmobilers heading into the Bear Lake and Beaver Mountain backcountry. Properties near the state marina, along South Bear Lake Boulevard, or in developments like Sweetwater and Ideal Beach tend to book the most consistently because guests want walkable or short-drive access to the water.
Garden City and Rich County allow short-term rentals in most zones, but Rich County requires a business license and a local contact for any property rented under 30 days, so it's worth confirming a specific address is currently licensed or eligible before writing an offer. Condo and townhome projects near the lake often have their own HOA rules on rental minimums and guest counts, and those details affect both cash flow and resale. Homes with lake views, private hot tubs, or bunk rooms that sleep a crowd typically command the highest nightly rates and the best occupancy between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Browse the active listings below to see what's currently on the market.
August 2026 · Garden City market
Live from the Utah MLS — what's actually happening in Garden City right now.
Median sale
$616,900
7 closed in August 2026
Median DOM
86 days
listing → contract
Sale-to-list
96.7%
of final list price
Unsold inventory
171
active + pending
128 matching · page 4 of 6
Active listings
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Common questions
About vacation rental properties in Garden City.
Does Garden City actually allow short-term rentals? ▾
Yes. Garden City is one of the few Utah municipalities with an established nightly rental ordinance, and large portions of town are zoned to permit STRs with a city business license. Rules vary by zone and HOA, so always verify the specific parcel before writing an offer. Subdivisions like Bear Lake Reserve, Sweetwater, and Harbor Village have built-in nightly rental programs.
What's the realistic income potential for a Bear Lake vacation rental? ▾
Peak season runs roughly mid-June through Labor Day, with a secondary bump around raspberry days and the winter snowmobile season. A well-located 4-bedroom cabin sleeping 10-12 typically grosses $40K-$80K annually, with lakefront and ski-in cabin properties pulling higher. Shoulder seasons (April, November) are slow, so most owners budget for a front-loaded summer.
Which neighborhoods are best for nightly rental performance? ▾
Harbor Village and Blue Water Resort offer the strongest walk-to-beach appeal. Sweetwater has a marina, pools, and on-site rental management that simplifies absentee ownership. Bear Lake Reserve, up on the bench, trades beachfront access for views and a private beach club. Ideal Beach and the Hodges Canyon area are also licensed STR zones.
Do lenders treat these as second homes or investment properties? ▾
It depends on how you'll use it and how the loan is written. If you plan to rent it out the majority of the year through a management company, most lenders will classify it as an investment property, meaning 20-25% down and a slightly higher rate. True second-home financing requires personal use and limits on rental activity—talk to a lender familiar with Bear Lake before assuming either path.
What does HOA-managed rental management actually cost? ▾
On-site programs at places like Sweetwater and Harbor Village typically take 40-50% of gross rental revenue in exchange for handling bookings, cleaning, maintenance, and guest issues. Independent management through a third party runs closer to 25-35%. The trade-off is convenience versus margin, and most out-of-state owners choose the turnkey route.
How does winter affect a Bear Lake rental? ▾
Garden City sits at about 5,900 feet and gets real winter—snow, ice, and stretches of single-digit temperatures. Cabins need freeze protection, heated water lines, and snow removal contracts. The upside is a steady stream of snowmobilers and Beaver Mountain skiers from December through February, which can keep a well-marketed cabin booked most weekends.