All Roll Calls
Yes: 140 • No: 35
Sponsored By: Stephen L. Whyte (Republican)
Signed by Governor
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60 provisions identified: 30 benefits, 10 costs, 20 mixed.
City and county land-use authorities must give specific written reasons within 15 days after finding subdivision improvements or warranty work below standards. When the list is late, applicants can send the required written notice requesting it. If the authority still fails to provide the list within five days after notice, applicants can demand reimbursement. The amount is 20% of the applicable completion assurance or warranty security for each affected improvement category.
Municipalities must return 90% of each improvement category's completion assurance within 15 days after acceptance and complete as-built drawings. The clock starts after whichever event happens later. The remaining 10% and any remaining specified bond are due within 15 days after warranty expiration and a determination that standards are met. Since May 7, 2025, cities and counties accepting cash assurances must hold chosen cash deposits in interest-bearing accounts. Earned interest returns to the applicant with the assurance, subject to the applicable return requirements.
Since May 7, 2025, cities and counties can fine applicants who knowingly label nonidentical plans as identical to deceive reviewers. If approval came before discovery, the fine can reach three times the building permit fee. Otherwise, the fine can equal the permit fee that would have applied. Applicants lose access to identical-plan submissions for two years after discovery. Knowingly violating that ban can bring a criminal penalty.
Beginning May 7, 2025, county applicants generally must finish required public improvements or post security before development or subdivision-map recording. Security covers 100% of unfinished work, with a ceiling of estimated improvement costs plus up to 10% for county administration. Estimates require an engineer's estimate or licensed contractor's bid; counties must offer two security forms and partial releases. Counties must return 90% within 15 days after both approval and receipt of complete as-built drawings. The remaining 10% and related bond balance are due within 15 days after warranty expiration and county approval.
Beginning May 7, 2025, municipal records officers must send written annexation-petition certification or rejection notices to sponsors and city and county lawmakers. The certification notice's mailing or delivery date counts as the certification date. Sponsors can correct rejection problems and refile, with original signatures eligible to count toward the revised petition. A refiled petition counts as newly filed.
Since May 7, 2025, municipalities must publish how they calculate drinking-water exactions using equivalent residential connections and usage data. These are water contributions required for development, not ordinary monthly water bills. Land-use applicants can appeal to the municipality's governing body and present information supporting a new calculation. The water authority must explain its calculation when the applicant requests it.
Beginning May 7, 2025, fee-charging cities must inspect within three business days or allow a state-listed firm; later requested dates must be honored. Inspectors must give written code-violation notices that day and supply code references on request. Separately, applicants may notify the local regulator and select a licensed, independent firm from its approved list after requesting inspection. First- through fourth-class local governments must list at least three firms; fifth- and sixth-class governments must list at least one. Regulators pay for the requested work, bear no liability for the firm’s inspection, and must promptly issue occupancy or completion documents after the final report.
Beginning May 7, 2025, cities cannot require completion security for private landscaping plans or improvements already covered by separate security. An exemption also covers improvements applicants choose to install at their own risk before the subdivision map is recorded. That early work must use approved final engineering plans and remain under city inspection. Once final engineering plans are approved, cities cannot prohibit installation of required public landscaping or infrastructure, but can inspect it.
Beginning May 7, 2025, cities must decide warranty-work requests within 15 days in first- through fourth-class cities. Fifth-class cities and towns have 30 days after a written request. Winter delays require timely notice and action as soon as practical; extraordinary events require notice and action within 30 extra days. After three rejections, later inspections can take 15 extra days. Each security and warranty stands separately: subject to state-law limits, separately secured unfinished obligations cannot hold up acceptance of another improvement or warranty work.
Since May 7, 2025, municipalities must screen plan applications during the three business days following submission. Incomplete-application notice before 5 p.m. on the last day permits a pause or rejection; later notice requires review to begin. Resubmitting a rejected application starts a new screening period. Final review deadlines include 14 business days for one- and two-family homes and townhomes, and 21 for other covered residential buildings. When a municipality misses the applicable deadline, it must refund the review fee and cannot enforce plan review if the plan carries the legally required architect or structural-engineer stamps.
Beginning May 7, 2025, municipal review fees for residential and commercial building plans face caps. The fee cannot exceed actual review costs or 65% of the building permit fee, whichever is less. For identical plans, the limit is actual review costs or 30% of the standard review charge, whichever is less. An original plan intended for later reuse follows the standard cap.
Beginning May 7, 2025, city building plan reviews are limited to listed checks, including construction and energy codes, local ordinances, structural review, fees, and agency approvals. Storm-water permits are outside plan review, although applications must include a promise to obtain them. Cities may use automated tools or another government body for some or all review work. When using government help, cities must notify relevant bodies within 24 hours and provide requested documents. The assisting body must follow the same rules and report completeness within the screening period.
Beginning May 7, 2025, counties cannot require public hearings for variance requests or land-use appeals; other review steps remain. Counties also no longer need the former city-notice and response process before approving covered expansion-area development. That process allowed city consent, an objection followed by a county response, or no response within 90 days. Its former coverage included zoning changes for developments of at least 50 acres in first-class counties, excluding mining-protection areas.
Beginning May 7, 2025, city reviews must finish after screening within 14 business days for one- or two-family homes and townhomes. Other covered residential buildings get 21 business days; lodging establishments are excluded. Late incomplete-application notices can pause the final five days until missing information arrives, followed by up to five additional review days. Cities cannot demand redrawn plans for minor changes; covered homes face only one required resubmission for site-interaction or footprint deficiencies. Applicants may waive deadlines or set different deadlines with the city’s written consent.
Beginning May 7, 2025, cities cannot withhold building permits or occupancy certificates because private landscaping plans are missing. Cities can still require the plans before landscaping is installed. Counties cannot require private landscaping plans with building-permit applications. Counties also cannot deny permits or occupancy certificates because private plans are missing or nonpublic landscaping is unfinished.
Beginning May 7, 2025, cities and counties generally cannot force private owners or homeowners associations to maintain public amenities or water utilities forever. Exceptions cover adjacent land through the curb line, including sidewalks and park strips. Duties accepted in a covenant, utility-service agreement, development agreement, or another agreement with the local government remain allowed. The county rule does not cover retail water lines or sewer laterals.
Cities and counties cannot cap the number of applications submitted through the covered building plan-review process. They also cannot refuse building permit fee payments offered with those applications. If payment is not required then, they may require it after plan approval and before issuing the permit. These rules change submission access and payment timing, not fee amounts or approval standards.
Beginning May 7, 2025, cities cannot require private landscaping plans with building permit applications. They also cannot deny building permits or occupancy certificates because those plans are missing or nonpublic landscaping is unfinished. Counties may require a private landscaping plan before installation. But counties cannot withhold a building permit or occupancy certificate just because that plan is missing.
Beginning May 7, 2025, counties that accept public-improvement completion security cannot deny building permits when building and fire codes are satisfied. Unfinished infrastructure generally cannot block permits or occupancy certificates. The exception requires accepted completion security and work essential to state construction codes: operable fire hydrants or a compacted temporary-road base. Both must meet county engineering standards. Those standards cannot require a permanent or paved road before a building permit is issued.
Beginning May 7, 2025, cities have limited review authority over qualifying repeat building plans. Plans must come from the same building-code adoption cycle, have no structural differences, and meet zoning and substantial-similarity requirements. Different orientations can still qualify, without requiring engineering beyond the allowed review. Cities can confirm substantial identity or review the site plan and related soil reports.
Since May 7, 2025, counties must create a boundary commission within 30 days after a protest and fund its operations. The commission must schedule a hearing within 30 days after the filing period ends, with at least 14 days' notice. It must decide within 30 days after the hearing; unless already denied, the municipality must act 30 to 60 days after receiving the decision, subject to required property exclusions. The annexing municipality, petition sponsor, or protest contact has 20 days after receiving the decision to seek district court review. The court must uphold it unless the commission acted arbitrarily or capriciously.
Since May 7, 2025, unincorporated areas qualify as towns with 100 to 999 people or cities with at least 1,000. The area must be contiguous or a community council area, and cannot already belong to a municipality. Separate islands in one community council area can incorporate together when their feasibility request was filed by May 1, 2025. That filing deadline has passed. When a community council municipality incorporates, county-controlled roads and utilities transfer to its jurisdiction.
Since May 7, 2025, city boundary adjustments use the annexation framework's private-property valuation and owner-signature rules. Property values use the latest county tax assessment roll. A city receiving land from another city must file notice and a boundary map and record the change using annexation procedures.
Since May 7, 2025, cities and counties must approve or reject qualifying identical building plans within five business days. Plans must be substantially identical to the approved original, with no structural changes. Applicants must label the submission as identical, identify the original plan or its permit or index number, and identify the site. Applicants planning future identical submissions must flag that intent when submitting the original; local governments must index qualifying approved originals. Site review and geological analysis remain allowed.
Beginning May 7, 2025, the land-use chapter applies to all Utah cities, including charter cities. Engineering and development standards for public improvements count as land-use regulations. Temporary engineering changes are excluded only when they neither materially raise development costs nor materially affect land use. Cities cannot require documents that conflict with the chapter to obtain building permits or provide completion or warranty security.
Beginning May 7, 2025, counties cannot demand completion security for accepted work, separately secured work, or private landscaping plans. Exemptions also cover nonpublic landscaping unless a development agreement requires it, and private infrastructure not needed for listed safety requirements. Applicants may install qualifying work at their own risk before plat recording after final engineering approval, subject to county inspections. Counties cannot block installation after final engineering approval or demand documents conflicting with the chapter for security or permits. Each assurance and warranty stands alone; subject to the law’s stated exception, unfinished separate work cannot block acceptance of completed work.
Beginning May 7, 2025, county commercial and residential plan-review fees cannot exceed actual review costs or 65% of the building permit fee, whichever is lower. Qualifying identical-plan reviews are capped at actual cost or 30% of the regular review fee, whichever is lower. Repeat plans qualify when approved county plans come from the same code cycle and cover land with the same zoning. They must be substantially identical, with no structural differences, but may face a different direction. Counties may check similarity, site plans, and soil reports; the original plan still pays the regular review fee.
Beginning May 7, 2025, county land-use authorities generally must accept or reject subdivision improvements within 15 days of written requests. Warranty-work deadlines are 15 days in first- through third-class counties and 30 days in fourth- through sixth-class counties. Winter weather allows delays until inspection is practical; warranty delays require notice before the deadline. Extraordinary warranty inspections allow 30 extra days with timely written notice for unusually large work, repeated requests, or unusually heavy request volume. After three warranty-work rejections, counties may add 15 days to later inspections; covered work includes water, sewer, drainage, roads, landscaping, parks, trails, and open space.
Beginning May 7, 2025, development-right sending and receiving zones can cross city boundaries into another city or unincorporated county land. The law removes city-only wording from the zone definitions. Every city or county with land inside a zone must adopt an ordinance designating it. Local ordinances can allow development rights to move between sending and receiving zones.
Beginning May 7, 2025, counties may designate development-rights sending or receiving zones that extend into cities or other counties. Each local government with land in the zone must adopt an ordinance designating it. Transfers remain subject to the law’s ordinance requirements.
Beginning May 7, 2025, posted sidewalk security prevents cities from withholding permits for single-family homes, two-family homes, or townhomes over unfinished sidewalks. It also prevents sidewalk-based blocks on construction, plat recording, or acceptance of public improvements. Cities must allow sidewalk security to be posted separately from other improvement security. They cannot cash in that security until at least 18 months after posting.
Beginning May 7, 2025, cities cannot require public hearings for variance requests or land-use appeals. The law also classifies county engineering and development standards for public improvements as land-use regulations. That places those standards within the legal category of legislative decisions governing land use and development.
Beginning May 7, 2025, cities and counties can require builders to maintain temporary fire roads serving construction, using adopted standards. Both can require temporary signs at every street intersection once a new road allows motor vehicles through. Counties can require a permanent road, asphalt- or concrete-covered temporary road, or another service method before occupancy. Other service methods must follow Appendix D of the International Fire Code. Cities can also adopt and enforce an appendix of the 2021 International Fire Code.
Beginning May 7, 2025, counties can withhold building permits or occupancy certificates to enforce local ordinances, within state-law limits. Cities can withhold occupancy certificates when required financial security for unfinished public landscaping or infrastructure is missing. The city's security requirement must come from an applicable local ordinance.
Before a special district begins service, the applicant must provide both an improvement assurance and an improvement assurance warranty. Both are prerequisites to receiving service. The provision states no required dollar amount.
Since May 7, 2025, annexations cannot endanger general obligation or revenue bonds. Bondholders can require property taxes from land that leaves the bond issuer's boundaries through annexation. This applies when the land counted toward the issuer's taxable value when the bond was issued. The law sets no tax rate or amount.
Beginning May 7, 2025, municipal boundary adjustments cannot endanger general obligation or revenue bonds. Bondholders can require property taxes from areas that leave the issuer’s boundaries through a boundary adjustment. This applies only to areas counted in the issuer’s taxable value when the bond was issued. The law sets no tax rate or amount.
Incorporation cannot proceed unless projected average annual revenue is more than 5% above projected average annual costs. A later supplemental study can establish that the threshold is met. A community council area also cannot incorporate if its study finds the plan unworkable or financially infeasible. Feasibility reports, including modified reports, can be challenged only for collusion or fraud, although the separate statutory objection process remains available.
Beginning May 7, 2025, cross-county incorporation study requests must be filed in every affected county. Those counties must coordinate under the lieutenant governor’s direction. Sponsors must pay the lieutenant governor the estimated study cost for studies conducted on or after May 1, 2024. The lieutenant governor pays consultant fees and costs from the Municipal Incorporation Expendable Special Revenue Fund. A community council area that incorporates must pay incorporation costs to the lieutenant governor and county, as required by law.
Special districts must follow applicable municipal or county land-use laws when a land-use authority consults them during development review. This also applies when the authority otherwise lets them take part in development review or approval. The compliance duty extends beyond the district’s role in that review or approval.
Since May 7, 2025, people calculating home heating and cooling needs must complete a recognized training route. Options include Air Conditioning Contractors of America education, recognized school training, equipment-manufacturer training, or another recognized industry certification. Counties can also adopt and enforce any appendix of the 2021 International Fire Code. The law does not require counties to adopt an appendix.
Beginning May 7, 2025, cities can require improvement warranties, but public-landscaping warranties cannot exceed one year after acceptance. Longer infrastructure warranties require an industry-based, good-cause finding that one year inadequately protects public health, safety, and welfare. They also require substantial evidence of the applicant's poor performance or suspect soil not otherwise required to be fixed. After a written acceptance request, warranty security cannot exceed 10% of the lower of the city engineer's original estimate and proven reasonable completion costs. Cities cannot demand the deposit before written notice that the work is complete.
The law defines complete city and county applications: applicant and contractor details, site and construction plans, utilities, exits, energy documents, structural calculations, and review fees. Applicants must promise to obtain storm-water permits before disturbing land and follow local ordinances and building codes. City applications need topographical details above a 10% lot slope; city and county soil reports require slopes above 15% and a local requirement. County building elevations apply to new construction, with additional wildfire-code requirements where applicable. Professional stamps, fire-suppression details, and wildfire protections apply when the relevant law or code requires them.
Since May 7, 2025, only affected entities' governing bodies, rural-property owners, and private owners in mining protection areas may protest annexation petitions. Protests must reach the county clerk within 30 days after certification and explain each reason with supporting information and a notice contact. A copy must be sent to the municipality's records officer the same day. Municipalities must exclude rural property and private property in mining protection areas unless the owner signed the petition or otherwise consented in writing.
Beginning May 7, 2025, boundary petitions and protests use private-property values from the last county assessment roll before filing. A parcel counts toward required land coverage only when signers hold a majority ownership interest. For joint tenants or tenants in the entirety, 50% of owners must sign. Representatives no longer need the former role-identification, owner-identification, and supporting documents. A duly appointed personal representative can sign for a deceased owner.
On July 1, 2027, unincorporated islands in first-class counties automatically join the most populous bordering municipality. This applies when municipal land in that county completely surrounds the island. Another bordering municipality can receive the island if both municipalities approve resolutions agreeing to it. The law provides an alternate destination by agreement, but no owner petition is needed for automatic annexation.
Beginning May 7, 2025, counties cannot ban water-wise landscaping or require lawn in areas less than eight feet wide. Counties may still require reviews, healthy plants, and design rules, including plant coverage and restrictions on mulch or plants. Cities may require a separate landscaping review, but that review cannot effectively block water-wise landscaping. For new homes in unincorporated areas, counties may require sellers to notify the first buyer about their water-wise landscaping ordinance.
Beginning May 7, 2025, community council incorporation alone leaves service-provider boundaries unchanged, including those serving previously unincorporated islands. Later provider boundary changes must be allowed by law. Studies must assess service-cost options, household taxes, district-wide effects, assets, employees, and whether incorporation can work financially and practically. Studies cannot count asset or employee transfers that harm current services elsewhere in the district unless the district consents. After incorporation, necessary study conditions bind the municipality and county unless the request sponsors and county agree otherwise.
Since May 7, 2025, only registered voters living inside the proposed municipality can vote on incorporation. Incorporation requires a majority of votes in favor. In community council areas with separate islands, an island that votes against incorporation is excluded. Approving islands can incorporate only if their combined population reaches at least 80% of the community council area's population.
Since May 7, 2025, cities can annex qualifying unincorporated islands or connected peninsulas without a petition. Routes include mainly residential or commercial areas needing services mostly provided by the city for over one year; areas with fewer than 800 residents per island or peninsula and one year of city service; or areas of no more than 50 acres. A second-class county route covers islands in a city's expansion area and requires at least 15 days' hearing notice to owners; overlapping city expansion areas require each city's agreement. Cities can exclude protested or other property and annex the rest only when the remaining area meets petition-free and partial-annexation requirements. The law also removes the former first-class county agreement requirement tied to owner consent covering most private land and at least half its value.
Beginning May 7, 2025, annexed land must lie within a city's planned expansion area and meet other annexation requirements. Cities cannot annex solely for revenue or to block another city unless able and intending to benefit the area through services. Both restrictions now apply beyond previously specified counties. An area studied for incorporation becomes eligible for annexation after three years without incorporating, measured from the county clerk's second hearing. The separate annexation procedure in Section 10-2-812 applies across county lines only when every affected county consents.
Beginning May 7, 2025, cities generally must prepare and adopt an annexation plan before adding unincorporated land. Planning commissions recommend plans; the process requires public meetings, hearings, Class A notice, and 14 days' notice to affected entities. Cities must consider their comments, address expansion criteria and tax effects, and justify excluding urban development within one-half mile. Adopted plans must reach each affected county within 30 days. The requirements exclude statutory automatic annexations and petitions pending on May 7, 2025.
Since May 7, 2025, petition sponsors must send the county clerk a copy on the filing date. After certification, municipalities must give public notice within 10 days for the proposed area and nearby unincorporated land within one-half mile. They must mail affected entities notice within 20 days, explaining the 30-day protest deadline, filing location, and instructions. In first-class counties, notices no longer need to explain the former nearby-owner thresholds of 25% of private land and 15% of real-property value.
The law sets separate deed procedures for public-to-public transfers, tax sales with no purchaser, and transfers from private owners. Private transfers need a recorded public-entity affidavit or a notarized deed signed by the owner and an authorized public representative. For deeds recorded after July 1, 2025, the intended public entity can void the transfer until approval is documented. That protection ends when an approval affidavit is recorded or an authorized public employee or officer signs the deed.
Beginning May 7, 2025, listed routine city land-use changes can use Class A notice at least 10 calendar days before hearings. Counties must give at least 10 days' notice, using Class A for routine proposals and Class B for others. Routine changes cover listed legal, zoning, clerical, code-reorganization, and boundary updates; any unlisted change requires Class B notice. City and county zoning-text notices must include a plain-language summary or direct link. Written requests entitle people to city notices or county summaries.
Beginning May 7, 2025, cities generally cannot deny permits or occupancy for unfinished public improvements after accepting financial security. Essential safety needs remain, including working hydrants, compacted temporary road bases for permits, and safe access for occupancy. Counties may withhold occupancy when locally required security for unfinished public improvements is missing. Cities cannot demand permanent or paved temporary roads before building permits, and the law limits early paved fire-road requirements. Fire access must work before above-foundation construction or substantial combustible materials arrive, reach within 100 feet of fire connections, and use maintained, approved roads.
Since May 7, 2025, counties can approve urban development in a city's adopted expansion area after notifying the city. The county can proceed with written city consent or no response within 90 days. If the city objects within 90 days, the county can still approve after answering the objection in writing.
Counties may require improvement warranty security, capped at 10% of the lower of the engineer’s original estimate or the applicant’s reasonable proven cost. Beginning May 7, 2025, that deposit cannot be required before a written request stating the work is complete. The security lasts through the warranty period. Warranties beyond one year after acceptance require good cause, accepted industry standards, and a finding that one year inadequately protects public welfare. Counties also need substantial evidence of the applicant’s poor past performance or suspect soil the applicant was not otherwise required to fix.
Beginning May 7, 2025, qualifying National Green Building Standard Gold energy ratings count as exceeding code, alongside required table and building-shell standards. Residential energy alternatives include RESCheck 2012 showing 5% better performance in climate zones 5 and 6. Zone 3 software uses window values of 0.65 for heat transfer and 0.40 for solar heat gain; installed windows must still meet code. Reduced wall-insulation options require specified insulation and air leakage no higher than 2.0 air changes per hour at test pressure; log walls require ICC 400 compliance, at least five-inch average thickness, and specified window and heating efficiency. Unvented attic options require specified roof insulation, a 2.5 air-change test result, qualifying whole-house ventilation, and indoor heating equipment and ducts inside the insulated building shell.
Beginning May 7, 2025, code officials may allow builders to certify components that cannot be checked during regular inspections. Air-leakage and duct testers must have specified certifications or qualifying contractor training. Duct-leakage testing is waived when no air handlers or ducts are in unconditioned attics. Whole-house ventilation fans must meet updated efficiency minimums; integral air handlers in tested, listed equipment may qualify with electronically commutated motors. At least 90% of dwelling lamps must meet the code’s efficiency requirement, replacing the former all-lamps rule.
Stephen L. Whyte
Republican • House
Lincoln Fillmore
Republican • Senate
All Roll Calls
Yes: 140 • No: 35
House vote • 3/7/2025
House/ concurs with Senate amendment
Yes: 47 • No: 22
Senate vote • 3/7/2025
Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
Yes: 27 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/27/2025
Senate Comm - Substitute Recommendation
Yes: 3 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/27/2025
Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
Yes: 3 • No: 0
House vote • 2/24/2025
House/ passed 3rd reading
Yes: 53 • No: 13
House vote • 2/24/2025
House/ uncircled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 2/24/2025
House/ substituted
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 2/20/2025
House/ circled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 2/13/2025
House Comm - Favorable Recommendation
Yes: 7 • No: 0
House vote • Unknown
House/ circled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • Unknown
House/ substituted
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • Unknown
House/ uncircled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Governor Signed
House/ to Governor
House/ received enrolled bill from Printing
House/ enrolled bill to Printing
Enrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
Bill Received from House for Enrolling
House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling
House/ received from Senate
Senate/ to House
Senate/ signed by President/ returned to House
Senate/ received from House
House/ to Senate
House/ concurs with Senate amendment
House/ placed on Concurrence Calendar
House/ received from Senate
Senate/ to House with amendments
Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
Senate/ 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
Senate/ Rules to 2nd Reading Calendar
Senate/ 2nd Reading Calendar to Rules
Senate/ Rules to 2nd Reading Calendar
Senate/ 2nd Reading Calendar to Rules
Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
Senate/ comm rpt/ substituted
Enrolled
3/14/2025
Substitute #3
2/27/2025
Substitute #2
2/21/2025
Substitute #1
1/31/2025
Introduced
1/30/2025