# Utah H.B. 217: Homeowners' Association Amendments Utah H.B. 217, Homeowners' Association Amendments, is a 2025 General Session House bill sponsored by R. Neil Walter (Republican); status signed, last action 2025-03-25 (Governor Signed); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-17). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/UT-HB217-2025GS - As of: 2026-10-17 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Utah H.B. 217 - State: Utah - Session: 2025 General Session - Title: Homeowners' Association Amendments - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2025-01-14 - Last action: 2025-03-25, Governor Signed - Sponsor: R. Neil Walter (Republican) - Cosponsors: 1 - Subjects: Business, Real Estate, Community/Condominium Associations (HOAs) - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 15 (181 yes, 0 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 24 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Homeowners gain housing and radon options: benefit, medium. Lot associations cannot prohibit an internal accessory dwelling unit that follows local land-use, building, health, and fire rules. They also cannot prohibit industry-standard radon mitigation that follows those local rules. Radon placement or appearance rules do not apply if they unreasonably inte… - Online records and stronger homeowner remedies: benefit, medium. Condominium associations can answer covered records requests by posting the requested documents on their website or owner portal. Beginning May 7, 2025, lot owners gain a stronger remedy when associations fail to provide required records. If the association also fails to respond on time to required… - Condo associations cannot restrict public streets: benefit, low. Condominium associations cannot impose requirements or restrictions on the use of public streets. This limits association authority without creating a separate duty for residents. - Developer control and shared property face limits: benefit, low. Beginning May 7, 2025, lot-association administrative control generally ends 60 days after 80% of possible lots reach non-developer owners, unless the declaration provides otherwise. It ends earlier when the developer owns no lot and holds no development right. Control must end no later than seven… - Homeowner funds cannot finance developer defenses: benefit, low. Developers cannot use association money paid by condominium or lot owners for their legal defense in specified owner lawsuits. The case must be brought solely by one or more owners against the developer before developer control ends. - Homeowners control changes to community declarations: benefit, low. After administrative control ends, condominium and lot owners can amend their community declaration through an owner vote. At least 51% of voting interests must be present at the meeting. Approval requires a majority vote, or a higher percentage if the declaration requires one. Boards and condomini… - Homeowners face fewer parking and use restrictions: benefit, low. Condominium and lot associations generally cannot ban operable vehicles from driveways where they have a legal right to park. Commercial vehicles, motor homes, and recreational vehicle trailers are excluded; associations may require use of a garage serving the property first. Associations generally… - Homeowners gain clearer building plan protections: benefit, low. Condominium associations that deny a required building or improvement plan must give written reasons. The notice must identify each governing rule relied on and the specific plan features that fail it. Condominium and lot associations cannot reject workers solely for missing preferred-vendor status… - Homeowners gain control over transfer fees: benefit, low. Association transfer fees imposed beginning May 7, 2025, are void unless used only for transfer-related expenses. Beginning that date, reinvestment fees need authorization in the declaration or fee covenant and approval by a majority of voting interests. A higher approval threshold applies if requi… - Homeowners gain private property use protections: benefit, low. Associations cannot restrict legally kept items hidden from people standing outside the condominium unit or, for lot owners, outside the lot. Lot associations cannot restrict a properly maintained basketball hoop on privately owned and maintained property bordering a public street. They cannot ban… - Homeowners gain sign and flag protections: benefit, low. Condominium associations generally cannot ban window flags, control their message, or impose content-specific designs, but may set reasonable size and display rules. Lot associations cannot ban political signs or flags on lots or home exteriors, or set design criteria for them. Both flag protection… - Homeowners gain water-saving landscaping protections: benefit, low. Associations must adopt water-wise landscaping rules when lot owners maintain landscaping within lots or common areas. Associations cannot block converting a grass park strip to water-wise landscaping. They also cannot ban low-water lawn use during drought conditions. - Homeowners get faster, cheaper association records: benefit, low. Beginning May 7, 2025, condominium and lot owners gain access to more association records. These include three calendar years of board or management committee minutes and three fiscal years of profit-and-loss statements and balance sheets. Required records also include the latest annual budget and… - Homeowners get written reasons for plan denials: benefit, low. When a homeowners' association denies a lot plan, it must explain the denial in writing. The notice must identify each governing-document rule it relied on and the specific parts of the plan that fail to comply. - Stronger duties for developer-run homeowner associations: benefit, low. Beginning May 7, 2025, developers controlling associations must use reasonable care when managing and maintaining common areas. They must establish sound finances through assessments and reserves, keep financial records, and follow and enforce governing documents. They must also disclose service su… - Penalties for false association complaints: cost, medium. Knowingly filing a false or fraudulent ombudsman request can bring a two-year filing ban and a penalty up to $1,000. After three or more requests meet the law's dismissal or refusal grounds, the office may designate someone a vexatious filer. That person must get approval from the Department of Com… - Homeowner ombudsman office ends in 2030: cost, low. On July 1, 2030, the law establishing Utah's homeowners' association ombudsman office is repealed. The law does not name a replacement service for homeowners seeking help. - Association disputes gain court remedies and penalties: mixed, medium. An association ombudsman opinion is nonbinding and generally cannot be admitted in court. If final judgment on the same issue favors the party favored by the opinion, the court may award legal fees and costs. That award covers the period after the opinion was delivered and requires the party to sub… - Larger homeowner claims for withheld records: mixed, medium. Condominium owners can request $1,000 or actual damages, whichever is greater, when an association unlawfully withholds required records. The association must also have failed to comply on time with the owner's required written notice before suit. The law raises the former $500 amount to $1,000; an… - Registration affects association fees and liens: mixed, medium. Associations must register with Utah's Department of Commerce within 90 days after recording their declaration and renew annually. The department sets registration fees without the former $37 cap and may also set a renewal fee. These fees are association expenses. For condominium associations, regi… - Association registration brings fees and lien limits: mixed, low. Covered homeowners' and condominium associations must renew their state registration every year. For covered homeowners' associations, missed registration, renewal, or update requirements block assessment liens after the applicable 90-day period expires. During noncompliance, new assessment liens c… - Homeowner fee notices and late charges: mixed, low. Condominium associations must adopt a schedule of covered fees by rule and give it to every owner before charging them. Late fees cannot exceed the greater of 10% of the assessment or $50. Associations may also charge up to 1.5% monthly interest on unpaid assessments and late fees. - Homeowner late charges allowed, with caps: mixed, low. Homeowners' associations can charge late fees on overdue assessments, capped at the greater of 10% of the assessment or $50. They can also charge up to 1.5% monthly interest on the overdue assessment and late fee. Before imposing fees, the board must adopt a fee schedule by rule and give each lot o… - State advice for homeowners, with filing fees: mixed, low. The law creates a homeowners' association ombudsman office within Utah's Department of Commerce. Owners and associations can request written advice about state-law violations, but not governing-document interpretations or contract-only disputes. Requests must follow applicable association procedure… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: R. Neil Walter (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Don L. Ipson (Republican), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-03-07 | House | House/ concurs with Senate amendment | pass | 67 | 0 | | | 2025-03-07 | Senate | Senate/ substituted | fail | 0 | 0 | | | 2025-03-07 | Senate | Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension | pass | 27 | 0 | | | 2025-02-27 | Senate | Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation | pass | 3 | 0 | | | 2025-02-24 | House | House/ circled | fail | 0 | 0 | | | 2025-02-24 | House | House/ uncircled | fail | 0 | 0 | | | 2025-02-24 | House | House/ substituted | fail | 0 | 0 | | | 2025-02-24 | House | House/ passed 3rd reading | pass | 66 | 0 | | | 2025-02-14 | House | House Comm - Favorable Recommendation | pass | 6 | 0 | | | 2025-02-13 | House | House Comm - Substitute Recommendation | pass | 6 | 0 | | | 2025-02-13 | House | House Comm - Held | pass | 6 | 0 | | | | House | House/ circled | fail | 0 | 0 | | | | House | House/ uncircled | fail | 0 | 0 | | | | House | House/ substituted | fail | 0 | 0 | | | | Senate | Senate/ substituted | fail | 0 | 0 | | ## Actions (45) - 2025-03-25: Governor Signed - 2025-03-13: House/ to Governor (House) - 2025-03-13: House/ received enrolled bill from Printing (House) - 2025-03-12: House/ enrolled bill to Printing (House) - 2025-03-12: Enrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate - 2025-03-11: Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared - 2025-03-11: Bill Received from House for Enrolling - 2025-03-07: House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling (House) - 2025-03-07: House/ received from Senate (House) - 2025-03-07: Senate/ signed by President/ returned to House (Senate) - 2025-03-07: House/ to Senate (House) - 2025-03-07: House/ concurs with Senate amendment (House) - 2025-03-07: House/ placed on Concurrence Calendar (House) - 2025-03-07: House/ received from Senate (House) - 2025-03-07: Senate/ to House (Senate) - 2025-03-07: Senate/ signed by President/ returned to House (Senate) - 2025-03-07: Senate/ received from House (Senate) - 2025-03-07: Senate/ to House with amendments (Senate) - 2025-03-07: Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension (Senate) - 2025-03-07: Senate/ substituted (Senate) - 2025-03-07: Senate/ 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension (Senate) - 2025-03-07: Senate/ Rules to 2nd Reading Calendar (Senate) - 2025-03-05: Senate/ 2nd Reading Calendar to Rules (Senate) - 2025-02-28: Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar (Senate) - 2025-02-28: Senate/ committee report favorable (Senate) - 2025-02-27: Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation (Senate) - 2025-02-26: Senate/ to standing committee (Senate) - 2025-02-25: Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced) (Senate) - 2025-02-25: Senate/ received from House (Senate) - 2025-02-24: House/ to Senate (House) - 2025-02-24: House/ passed 3rd reading (House) - 2025-02-24: House/ substituted (House) - 2025-02-24: House/ uncircled (House) - 2025-02-24: House/ circled (House) - 2025-02-24: House/ 3rd reading (House) - 2025-02-18: House/ 2nd reading (House) - 2025-02-18: House/ comm rpt/ substituted (House) - 2025-02-14: House Comm - Favorable Recommendation (House) - 2025-02-13: House Comm - Held (House) - 2025-02-13: House Comm - Substitute Recommendation (House) - 2025-01-27: House/ to standing committee (House) - 2025-01-23: House/ received fiscal note from Fiscal Analyst (House) - 2025-01-21: House/ 1st reading (Introduced) (House) - 2025-01-15: House/ received bill from Legislative Research (House) - 2025-01-14: Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed ## Bill text - Enrolled, 2025-03-12: [PDF](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2025/bills/enrolled/HB0217.pdf) - Substitute #5, 2025-03-07: [PDF](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2025/bills/introduced/HB0217S05.pdf) - Substitute #3, 2025-02-24: [PDF](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2025/bills/introduced/HB0217S03.pdf) - Substitute #4, 2025-02-24: [PDF](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2025/bills/introduced/HB0217S04.pdf) - Substitute #2, 2025-02-13: [PDF](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2025/bills/introduced/HB0217S02.pdf) - Substitute #1, 2025-02-05: [PDF](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2025/bills/introduced/HB0217S01.pdf) - Introduced, 2025-01-14: [PDF](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2025/bills/introduced/HB0217.pdf) ## Related bills - S.B. 199: Guardianship Amendments (signed) - H.B. 562: Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Amendments (signed) - H.B. 493: Medical Examiner Amendments (signed) - H.B. 482: Health and Human Services Reporting Requirements (signed) - S.B. 197: Property Tax Amendments (vetoed) - S.B. 3: Appropriations Adjustments (signed) ## Sources - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2025/bills/enrolled/HB0217.pdf) - [Substitute #5 (PDF)](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2025/bills/introduced/HB0217S05.pdf) - [Substitute #3 (PDF)](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2025/bills/introduced/HB0217S03.pdf) - [Substitute #4 (PDF)](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2025/bills/introduced/HB0217S04.pdf) - [Substitute #2 (PDF)](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2025/bills/introduced/HB0217S02.pdf) - [Substitute #1 (PDF)](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2025/bills/introduced/HB0217S01.pdf) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2025/bills/introduced/HB0217.pdf) ## Related - [S.B. 199: Guardianship Amendments](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/UT-SB199-2025GS) - [H.B. 562: Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Amendments](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/UT-HB562-2025GS) - [H.B. 493: Medical Examiner Amendments](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/UT-HB493-2025GS) - [H.B. 482: Health and Human Services Reporting Requirements](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/UT-HB482-2025GS) - [S.B. 197: Property Tax Amendments](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/UT-SB197-2025GS) - [S.B. 3: Appropriations Adjustments](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/UT-SB3-2025GS) - [Utah bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/utah/bills) - [Utah state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/utah) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/UT-HB217-2025GS (as of 2026-10-17).