Crime spurs Ogden to bar people from living in motels

OGDEN — Ogden is prohibiting people from living in hotels or motels.

An ordinance approved by the City Council recently prohibits hotels and motels from keeping any guest for more than three months in a one-year period, if the guest has no other permanent residence.

The ordinance also prohibits new SROs, or single room occupancy. It will not affect the five existing SROs — the Marion, Windsor, Roosevelt and Royal hotels and Adams Place Studios.

City officials contend the ban is needed because the motels are generating a high number of police calls; because they weren't designed for long-term stays, which creates health and safety issues; and to help stimulate the revitalization of downtown.

But residents of the motels fear the ordinance could render them homeless, and owners of the establishments say it could put them out of business.

Motels catering to long-term motel residents have a high number of domestic violence and drug calls, according to police.

"We're also kind of finding that the dope dealers will go cook their meth in those types of places," Police Chief Jon Greiner said.