UtahH.B. 652026 General SessionHouse

Construction Code Amendments

Sponsored By: Thomas W. Peterson (Republican)

Signed by Governor

BusinessConstructionConstruction and Fire CodesReal Property

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Bill Overview

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89 provisions identified: 21 benefits, 3 costs, 65 mixed.

Home fire and escape rules change

The law removes IRC R302.13, a residential floor fire-protection requirement. It also deletes the last sentence of R302.5.1 and all of R312.2. It removes specified wording and Exception 3 from R310.1, which covers emergency escape and rescue openings. The supplied text does not explain those deleted terms, so their exact effects on costs and safety are unclear.

Major reroofing triggers earthquake bracing rules

Beginning July 1, 2026, permitted reroofing in Seismic Design Categories D, E, or F can trigger earthquake-bracing requirements. The rule applies when roofing materials are removed from more than 25% of the roof. Covered unreinforced masonry walls above the roof and other covered attachments need bracing against sideways earthquake forces. An evaluation proving compliance can replace bracing, and the law allows specified reduced earthquake-design criteria. Owners face evaluation or construction costs in exchange for added earthquake protection.

Home foundations gain more construction options

Concrete and masonry foundation walls can use the alternative designs in building-code Sections 1807.1.5 and 1807.1.6. Qualifying Group R, Division 3 buildings of no more than three stories, and Group U buildings, can use Table 1807.1.6.4. That table option requires construction under Section 2308 or another allowed repetitive wood-frame or cold-formed steel method. Vertical footing steel can be placed before concrete sets; vibration is required if steel resists placement or blocks concrete consolidation. A geotechnical report must recommend drainage, and drainage is required only when that report calls for it. Beginning July 1, 2026, the specified slab treatment can start four inches below the top with qualifying thermal-break material above it. That material must fill the upper four inches and be at least one-quarter inch thick, such as felt or asphalt-impregnated fiberboard.

Homeowners gain shared-wall and accessory-unit options

Plumbing, ducting, Schedule 40 steel gas pipe, and electric service wires, including feeders, can pass through shared walls at any grade level. An access or maintenance agreement or easement must be in place. Accessory dwelling units gain a separation exception with at least 1/2-inch gypsum board or equivalent on each specified side. The law also adds accessory dwelling units to the R310.7 escape-opening exception; the supplied text does not explain its full effect.

Homes and buildings gain ventilation options

Homes tested under IRC N1102.4.1.2 and measuring at least 3.0 air changes per hour at 50 pascals need no mechanical ventilation. This exemption can reduce installation costs. Beginning July 1, 2026, bathroom and similar auxiliary-room doors can provide makeup air through louvers or an undercut up to 2/3 inch. That door option applies only when the room contains no flammable or combustible materials.

Homes gain alternative wall insulation choices

Beginning July 1, 2026, qualifying log walls are allowed in Climate Zones 5 through 8. They must follow ICC400 and average at least five inches thick. The building needs overall window glazing rated U-0.31 or lower and heating rated at least 90 AFUE for gas or 84 for oil. All other component requirements still apply. A separate wall option allows specified air-impermeable cavity insulation rated R-15 in Zones 3-B and 5-B, or R-20 in Zone 6-B. That option requires a blower-door result of 2.5 air changes per hour.

Homes gain more ventilation design choices

Beginning July 1, 2026, return air can pass between an accessory dwelling unit and another dwelling unit in either direction. Homes also do not need makeup air when every fuel-burning appliance inside the home’s air barrier meets the venting rule. Every gas-, liquid-, or solid-fuel appliance there must be direct-vent or use mechanical-draft venting. These changes expand design choices and can avoid makeup-air installation work.

Owners can limit some renovation work

Beginning July 1, 2026, the residential code does not require changes to existing building parts outside the covered project’s work. This applies during alterations, moves, replacements, and repairs. During roof-covering work, existing polyisocyanurate, expanded polystyrene, or extruded polystyrene insulation can remain when the manufacturer allows it. The roof deck must be serviceable, and the insulation must not be damaged, deteriorated, or water soaked. Other insulation types and insulation in those unacceptable conditions must be removed and replaced.

Owners can reuse sound roof insulation

During roof work, existing polyisocyanurate, expanded polystyrene, or extruded polystyrene insulation can remain in place. The roof-covering manufacturer must allow reuse, and the roof deck must be evaluated and serviceable. The insulation cannot be damaged, deteriorated, or water-soaked. Other insulation types, and insulation in poor condition, must be removed and replaced.

Owners gain simpler building approval options

Beginning July 1, 2026, independent, licensed engineers or architects can make specified existing-building code approvals or determinations. Their decisions must be submitted to the building official. For permits under the amended energy-code provision, required construction documents are limited to those listed in Utah Municipal Code Section 10-5-132(8). These changes add approval options and limit paperwork demands.

Permit breaks for decks and storage

Beginning July 1, 2026, qualifying residential decks and storage containers are exempt from the listed building-permit requirements. Decks must be no more than 30 inches above ground anywhere, need no guardrails, and serve no required exit door. A conex storage container must be at ground level, unconnected, smaller than 350 square feet, and used only for storage. Owners can avoid the permit process for these projects.

Properties gain water reuse and testing options

The gray-water definition now includes qualifying clear water waste with a pH of 6.0 to 9.0. It must be non-flammable, non-combustible, free of objectionable odors, not highly pigmented, and compatible with sewer treatment operations. Beginning July 1, 2026, contractors can air-test plastic drainage and vent pipes when water is unavailable or freezing limits its use. Tests require safety precautions, gauge monitoring, pressure no higher than 6 psi, and gradual pressure release. The test period should not exceed 15 minutes.

Sealed attics gain lower insulation options

Beginning July 1, 2026, specified unvented attics and enclosed rafters can use R-22 assemblies in Zone 3-B. The option allows R-26 assemblies in Zones 5-B and 6-B. Assemblies must meet the unvented-attic code, and the home must achieve 2.5 air changes per hour at 50 pascals. Ventilation must be positive, balanced, or hybrid, and heating, cooling, ventilation equipment, and ducts must stay inside the thermal envelope. Rafters need minimum R-3 coverage unless an exception applies for existing R-20 air-impermeable coverage, drywall or finished ceilings, or continuous above-deck insulation.

Some appliance replacements gain placement flexibility

Beginning July 1, 2026, existing and replacement Category I appliances can occupy dedicated rooms within occupiable space through a limited exception. The original installation must have followed its code, and the dwelling must have a working carbon monoxide detector. An official must approve the replacement because an individual Category I vent or direct-vent Category IV appliance is extremely difficult to install. The room must serve no other purpose, and combustion air must meet fuel-gas code requirements. Outdoor combustion air requires a solid, weather-stripped, self-closing door; common vents need a listed cap.

Some older bedroom windows avoid replacement

Beginning July 1, 2026, some existing bedroom escape windows need no physical changes to meet current size rules. The window must have met the code when the bedroom was finished. Changing it must threaten the building's structure or fail another rule, including setback or window-well requirements. This exemption can spare qualifying owners a window retrofit.

Thinner moisture barriers allowed under slabs

For the covered residential slab rule, the law lowers the required vapor-barrier thickness from 10 mil to 6 mil. That is a change from 0.010 inch to 0.006 inch. The barrier no longer needs to meet ASTM E1745 Class A. This relaxes a moisture-control standard and may lower material costs.

Builders gain more outside approval options

Beginning July 1, 2026, the building code recognizes specified approvals from licensed engineers or architects. Independent third-party decisions must be submitted to the building official. Utah or a licensed engineer can approve a fabricator. An approved agency no longer needs the building official's approval.

Child care centers need added sinks

Beginning July 1, 2026, non-residential child care facilities must meet added sink requirements in Utah's child care rules. The requirements apply to facility operators. Children gain the sanitation protections and sink access required by those rules.

Builders gain independent reviews and privacy

Beginning July 1, 2026, building officials cannot request proprietary information under the specified residential-code rule. Specified code approvals or decisions can involve an independent licensed engineer or architect. Their material must be submitted to the building official. Some listed approval sources become alternatives rather than joint requirements.

Utah builders use newer construction codes

Beginning July 1, 2026, Utah adopts the 2024 building, plumbing, mechanical, fuel gas, energy, and existing-building codes. It also adopts the 2024 residential pool and spa provisions. The International Residential Code remains the 2021 edition. Building officials, owners, and builders use these editions with Utah's amendments.

Small aircraft hangars gain code exception

Beginning July 1, 2026, aircraft hangars smaller than 5,000 square feet gain a building-code exception. They must use Type I or Type II construction. The supplied provision does not identify the requirement waived by this exception.

Builders get alternative energy compliance paths

Beginning July 1, 2026, builders can use RESCheck 2012 Utah software to meet the referenced insulation and heat-transfer rules. Results must be 5% better than code in Climate Zones 5 and 6. Zone 3's 5% calculation uses window U-factor 0.65 and solar heat-gain coefficient 0.40; installed windows must still meet the listed code tables. A Gold energy-efficiency rating under the 2020 National Green Building Standard also qualifies a building as exceeding Utah's energy requirements. That route also requires Table N1105.2 compliance and the specified 2009 residential-code standards for the building's outer shell and solar heat gain.

Designers gain foundation strength calculation options

These structural design changes took effect upon the Governor’s approval. Designers can use the specified one-way shear equation for shallow foundation members continuously supported by soil and designed as rigid. For those members, the two-way shear size factor λs must equal 1.0. Designers can also calculate cantilever retaining-wall concrete shear capacity using the stated formula: Vc = 2λ√f′lc bwd.

Nonpotable water systems need deed recording

Beginning July 1, 2026, owners must record a property's nonpotable water system on its deed. Nonpotable water is not drinking water. Owners must finish the recording paperwork before a certificate of occupancy can be issued. This adds a compliance task and can delay occupancy.

Pool and restroom fixture counts change

Beginning July 1, 2026, outdoor public pools must follow Utah Rule R392-302 for plumbing fixture numbers and types. Multiple-user restrooms designed for all genders calculate their maximum fixture count using 50% of the total occupant load. That share is divided equally between female and male calculations. The remaining 50% of required fixtures must be provided under the plumbing-code table.

Water district inspection fees last longer

The law keeps specified inspection-fee provisions for qualified water conservancy districts in place until July 1, 2027. Their scheduled repeal moves back one year from July 1, 2026. The law does not state fee amounts or create a direct household charge.

Assisted living residents gain locked-exit options

Licensed Type-II dementia or Alzheimer's facilities in Group I-1, Condition 2, or Group I-2 can house residents without a clinical need for containment. This option applies even when exits use code-compliant controlled locks, with no more than 30 residents housed with controlled exits. Residents without a clinical need for containment must receive keys, codes, or another way out, communicated to them or their legal representatives. The resident or legal representative must agree in writing to living with controlled exits.

Bathroom fixtures face water flow limits

Beginning July 1, 2026, covered bathroom sink faucets may use at most 1.5 gallons per minute at 60 psi. Shower heads may use at most 2 gallons per minute at 80 psi. These limits can reduce water use but restrict fixture selection and flow. The law does not set a household utility-bill savings amount.

Boilers and water outlets need safeguards

Beginning July 1, 2026, boiler water supplies generally need an air gap or reduced-pressure backflow preventer. Residential boilers without chemical treatment and humidifier connections use the specified vented protection, with relief openings draining through air gaps and protected from submersion. Water openings and outlets need vacuum breakers that meet placement and pressure rules and stay away from toxic fumes. Class 1 and 2 systems using only qualifying glycerine or propylene glycol can use specified double-check assemblies. Written chemical certification is required at installation and during service or maintenance.

Gas water heaters face pollution limits

Beginning July 1, 2026, covered natural-gas water heaters for Utah ozone or fine-particle nonattainment areas must meet nitrogen oxide limits; other areas are exempt. Non-mobile-home units at or below 75,000 BTU per hour are limited to 10 ng/J or 15 ppm, corrected to 3% oxygen. Units above 75,000 but below 2 million BTU per hour are limited to 14 ng/J or 20 ppm. Mobile-home units, pool heaters, and other classes have separate limits or exceptions; exemptions include pre-2018 units, out-of-state sales, and some replacements without a compliant option. Manufacturers must use South Coast Air Quality Management District Method 100.1 and permanently label model numbers and emission rates.

Home child care needs separate exits

Beginning July 1, 2026, each home floor used for child care needs two separate exit routes. They must be spaced at least half the home's longest overall diagonal apart. Care one floor above or below the exit-discharge floor needs one exit directly outside; care cannot be more than two stories above ground. Children under age two must receive care on the exit-discharge floor unless at least one exit leads directly outside.

Home electrical rules cover more equipment

Beginning July 1, 2026, Utah's residential electrical code reference covers townhouses, accessory structures, and additional equipment. Covered equipment includes motors, generators, vehicle power-transfer systems, solar panels, energy storage, and energy controls. Owners and builders must follow the electrical safety standards for covered installations.

Lower water limits for plumbing fixtures

Beginning July 1, 2026, private bathroom sink faucets have a maximum flow of 1.5 gallons per minute at 60 psi. Shower heads are limited to 2 gallons per minute at 80 psi. Urinals are limited to 0.5 gallon per flush. These limits conserve water but can limit fixture choices and affect installation costs.

Safer installations for home utility equipment

Beginning July 1, 2026, water heaters must resist earthquake movement through anchoring or straps in their upper and lower thirds. Installations covered by the water-heater rule must follow the maker's instructions, with directional changes totaling no more than 180 degrees. Gas meters and nearby pipes need safe placement or protection against physical damage, including moving ice and snow. Protective structures must allow service access and meet the building code. High-probability systems using A2L refrigerants must meet ASHRAE 15 safety standards; these protections may require extra installation work.

Showers and outdoor faucets need safeguards

Beginning July 1, 2026, hand-held showers must meet the listed backflow standards for their hazard classification. Add-on backflow devices must be non-removable. In freezing climates, outdoor hose faucets must be listed, frost-proof, self-draining, and have a built-in backflow preventer. These requirements protect drinking water but may affect fixture choices and installation costs.

Accessory homes gain required alarm protections

Smoke and carbon monoxide alarm rules now include accessory dwelling units during covered alterations and repairs. The rules apply to work covered by the residential code’s separate smoke and carbon monoxide alarm provisions. Owners doing that work face alarm requirements and possible added costs, while residents gain safety protections.

Building use changes trigger seismic rules

Beginning July 1, 2026, an occupancy change triggers the amended seismic-load rule when design occupant load increases by at least 100%. An exception applies when the increase is fewer than 25 people and the occupancy category stays the same. Covered owners can face seismic-related work, while the exception spares the described smaller changes.

Buildings use revised snow-load design rules

Homes in listed jurisdictions use Table R301.2(5b) snow loads; other Utah locations use the Utah Snow Load Study. For ASCE 7 allowable-stress calculations, flat-roof snow and roof live loads at or below 45 pounds per square foot need not combine with seismic loads, up from 30. Above 45, the snow-load factor is 0.15 + 0.016(A − 5), with a minimum of 0.15; A is elevation in feet divided by 1,000. The rule updates the reference to ASCE 7-22 and allows Risk Category II for the referenced factor. Specified structural amendments take effect upon governor approval rather than the general July 1, 2026 date.

Home ducts need leakage checks and insulation

Duct systems in unconditioned attics must be tested for total air leakage. With the air handler installed, leakage cannot exceed 6.0 cubic feet per minute per 100 square feet of conditioned floor area. Without the air handler installed, the limit is 5.0 using the same units. Ducts outside conditioned space need at least R-8 insulation, except ducts buried beneath concrete floors. Testing and insulation can improve duct performance but add construction requirements and costs.

Home energy ratings set design limits

Beginning July 1, 2026, homes using the energy-rating compliance path can have total envelope UA up to 1.15 times the prescriptive calculation. UA measures overall heat transfer through the home’s outer shell. In Climate Zones 0 through 3, the area-weighted maximum window solar heat gain coefficient is 0.30. Energy-rating index limits are 65 in Zone 3, 69 in Zone 5, and 68 in Zone 6. These rules allow design tradeoffs but keep limits on heat transfer, solar gain, and energy performance.

Home fixtures face space and safety rules

Beginning July 1, 2026, bathroom sinks need at least 12 inches from their center to a side wall or partition. The clear space in front must be at least 24 inches wide and 21 inches deep. Beginning that date, installed clothes-washer pans must follow plumbing-code rules; the law does not require a pan. Covered Group R-3 residential stairs with four or more risers need a handrail on at least one side. These rules support safer use and water-damage protection, but may limit layouts or add installation work.

Home foundations face updated design rules

For covered interior bearing walls, braced wall lines, and all exterior walls, foundation anchor bolts can be at most 32 inches apart. Each plate section needs at least two bolts, each at least 4 inches from either end. Basement walls resisting sideways earth pressure must use the specified one-way or two-way slab designs and resist water pressure when applicable. The law also sets applicable wall, load, and shear rules, including a two-way shear size factor of 1.0. The basement-wall rules took effect upon the governor's approval; these design requirements support structural safety but may affect construction costs.

Home insulation needs proper installation checks

Insulation must follow manufacturer instructions and substantially touch the surface it insulates, without compression or poor fitting that reduces performance. An inspection must check compliance before interior finishes go in; no extra energy modeling or performance paperwork is required. Residential mechanical rooms receiving combustion air from unconditioned space also need insulation and air sealing. Their barrier against unconditioned space must be at least R-13, with joints, penetrations, and construction openings sealed. These steps help maintain insulation performance but can add construction and inspection costs.

Home lighting gains more bulb choices

Beginning July 1, 2026, at least 90% of lamps in buildings covered by the lighting rule must meet its efficiency requirement. The prior rule applied to every lamp. Builders and owners gain more choice for the remaining lamps, but those lamps need not meet that efficiency standard.

Home plumbing gets rules and options

Beginning July 1, 2026, water-heater pans can receive only water-heater discharge; approved direct drain connections need individual trapping, venting, and trap-seal protection. Fixtures and appliance supply pipes need shutoff valves, except bathtubs, showers, and fixtures or appliances with wall-mounted valves. Wall vents must end at least 12 inches from the wall, with an elbow pointing down. Specified below-grade floor drains and sinks can use horizontal dry vents below the overflow level, with a wall cleanout. Underground stop-and-waste valves and qualifying freeze-proof yard hydrants are allowed when installed according to manufacturer instructions.

Home stairs get revised size standards

Covered home stairs have an 8-inch maximum riser height and a 9-inch minimum tread depth. Winder treads need 10 inches at the 12-inch walk line and at least 6 inches at their narrowest point. Solid-riser stairs with treads under 10 inches need a projecting edge, called a nosing, measuring 0.75 to 1.25 inches. Treads at least 10 inches deep need no nosing. Openings between treads are not limited when the stairs rise a total of 30 inches or less.

Home ventilation faces updated equipment standards

Beginning July 1, 2026, whole-house ventilation fans must meet specified efficiency levels. Heat- and energy-recovery ventilators need 1.2 cubic feet per minute per watt; range hoods need 2.8. When an air handler integral to tested and listed heating or cooling equipment provides ventilation, it needs an electronically commutated motor. The law adds UL/CSA 60335-2-40 as an alternative residential equipment standard and removes “/ANCE” from three references. Beginning July 1, 2026, mechanical-code references use the 2019 CSA and UL 60335-2-40 standards for covered heat pumps, air conditioners, and dehumidifiers. The law also deletes Section M1411.9, but the supplied text does not describe its former requirement.

Home walls get barriers and inspections

Covered residential construction needs a weather-resistant barrier applied on site over untreated material. Building officials must inspect weather-resistant exterior wall coverings and flashing that directs water away. They must also inspect required fire-resistant construction between homes or required because of the building's location on the property. That inspection happens after lathing or gypsum board installation, but before plastering or finishing; officials may also inspect insulation. These steps check building protections but can add construction work and inspection costs.

Home window standards gain new options

Beginning July 1, 2026, the prescriptive window U-factor changes from 0.30 to 0.32 in Zones 3, 5/Marine 4, and 6. Zone 3’s solar heat gain limit changes from 0.25 to 0.35. These changes allow more window choices but can affect energy use; other insulation and component values also change by climate zone. The law accepts EN 14351-1:2006+A1:2010 for specified window values, changes the relevant entity from “accredited” to “approved,” and sets a 5.678 SI U-value conversion factor. Total Energy Transmittance can substitute for solar heat gain coefficient, and Luminous Transmission can substitute for visible transmittance.

Homes face insulation and window standards

Covered homes must meet insulation and heat-transfer standards for walls, roofs, floors, basement walls, windows, skylights, and solid doors. Builders can follow the listed material standards or use an allowed performance path. One path requires a REScheck certificate showing performance at least 5% above the Utah 2012 REScheck standard. Another allows a Home Energy Rating System score of 67 or better. The standards may reduce energy use but can add construction costs.

Homes face updated equipment safety rules

Covered homes must have carbon monoxide alarms on every level. Homes with energy-storage systems need a durable, non-handwritten exterior sign naming the battery chemistry, at an approved location. Beginning July 1, 2026, gas meters and nearby piping must be safely located or protected from physical damage, including ice and snow. Protective structures must preserve service access and meet building-code requirements. These safety measures can add equipment or installation costs for owners.

Homes get airtightness and ventilation rules

Home air-leakage tests must follow ASTM E779 or E1827 at 50 Pascals, with a signed report to the code official. Single-family limits are 5.0 air changes per hour or 0.25 cubic feet per minute per square foot of enclosure area. Multifamily limits are 6.0 air changes per hour or 0.28 cubic feet per minute per square foot of enclosure area. Testers need BPI or RESNET certification, or a contractor license with the specified training; an allowed checklist can replace testing. Homes testing at 3 air changes per hour or less need whole-house mechanical ventilation, which can also replace the required test.

New home energy testing and insulation

Beginning July 1, 2026, builders must certify hidden energy-code items when officials require it; air-leakage values and exceptions also change. Testers must have BPI or RESNET certification, or be licensed contractors with manufacturer-provided or comparable training. Attic ducts outside heated or cooled space need R-8 insulation at three inches or larger, and R-6 below three inches. Elsewhere, those minimums are R-6 and R-4.2; ducts completely inside the home's thermal envelope are exempt. No leakage test is required without ducts or air handlers in unconditioned attics; compliance work may cost more but improve efficiency.

New safeguards for reused water systems

Beginning July 1, 2026, home graywater systems for underground irrigation must follow Utah Rule R317-401. Systems serving other buildings must follow Rules R317-3 and R317-4. Non-drinking-water tanks needing uninterrupted supply must use potable or reclaimed makeup water, with an air gap or reduced-pressure backflow assembly. That supply also needs a full-open valve and automatic controls preventing overflow and maintaining water above the specified inlet or pump intake.

Pool owners face tighter operating rules

Beginning July 1, 2026, covered pool and spa water uses onsite wastewater disposal, without the former alternative for other officially approved methods. Air recirculated into residential or public pool and spa areas, including decks, must be dehumidified to keep humidity at 60% or less. Pool or spa air cannot supply other spaces when it exceeds 10% of the resulting supply airstream. Covered ventilation systems must follow ANSI/ACCA 10 Manual SPS. These rules set air-quality protections but narrow disposal choices and can affect system and operating costs.

Property owners face backflow access rules

Beginning July 1, 2026, backflow assemblies generally cannot sit more than five feet above the floor without a permanent platform. Owners must provide safe access for testing, repairs, and maintenance, and meet assembly-specific clearance and protection rules. Reduced-pressure and double-check assemblies may stand vertically only when listed or approved for that position. Pressure-vacuum-breaker assemblies cannot be below ground, in a vault, or in a pit. Backflow tests require a Utah-certified tester; these water-safety requirements may add installation or maintenance costs.

Property owners face water hookup rules

Beginning July 1, 2026, buildings with plumbing must use public drinking water when available. Otherwise, individual sources must meet Utah water-rights laws, get local health approval, and provide enough water. Drinking water must meet state water-quality and public-health standards. Buildings with plumbing and properties with drainage piping must connect to an accessible public sewer within 300 feet of the property line, or use an approved private system. Listed bath, sink, and laundry drains have a separate approved-system option; booster pumps can connect to public mains only as Utah Rule R309-540 allows.

Small apartment buildings gain code flexibility

Beginning July 1, 2026, a residential-code exception includes triplexes and fourplexes with no more than two levels. They must have two-hour shared walls, one-hour floors, and an independent exit for each unit. The wall and floor assemblies must be tested under ASTM E119 or UL263. The law also removes the exception’s condition requiring an automatic sprinkler system under the cited residential-code sprinkler standard. Removing that condition does not establish an exemption from every other sprinkler rule.

Snow rules change for Utah buildings

The law sets ground snow loads of 67 pounds per square foot in Monticello and 60 in Heber City. Moab and St. George each have a listed value of 21 pounds per square foot. Where listed locations have substantial altitude variation, values apply at or below the cited elevation, with a 100-foot tolerance. Unlisted locations use the Utah Snow Load Study. Beginning July 1, 2026, buildings above 5,000 feet cannot use the 1.15 allowable-stress increase for snow loads. These location-based safety rules can also affect construction costs.

Some homes qualify for sprinkler exceptions

The law provides sprinkler exceptions for qualifying detached one- and two-family homes and townhouses built under the residential code. Installed home sprinklers must follow IRC P2904 or NFPA 13D; that rule does not require installation. Single-story Group R-1 buildings up to 2,000 square feet qualify with no installed plumbing, heating, or cooking and Type I-A, I-B, II-A, or II-B construction. Group R-4 fire areas qualify at no more than 4,500 gross square feet and 16 residents, all on the exit-discharge floor. Those areas need an approved interconnected alarm powered by building wiring and a commercial power system.

Water backup systems need contamination safeguards

Beginning July 1, 2026, drinking-water connections to nonpotable systems need an approved air gap or reduced-pressure backflow assembly. A drinking-water backup requires a reduced-pressure assembly directly after the potable connection, followed by a dual-source connection. Only one source may connect at a time; testing is required within 10 days after installation and annually, even without backup use. Systems needing uninterrupted nonpotable water must supply potable or reclaimed makeup water to the storage tank. That supply needs a four-inch air gap above the overflow or a reduced-pressure assembly, adding equipment and testing duties.

Water systems need backflow protection checks

Water connections switching between potable water and nonpotable irrigation water or private well water need a reduced-pressure backflow preventer. These dual-source connections use one source at a time, not both together. Beginning July 1, 2026, listed backflow assemblies need testing at installation, immediately after repair or relocation, and at least annually. Covered types include reduced-pressure, double-check, pressure-vacuum-breaker, detector fire-protection, and spill-resistant vacuum-breaker assemblies. Tests must follow state drinking-water procedures and use ASSE 1064-compliant gauges, adding owner costs while protecting water supplies.

Day care providers need stronger safeguards

Beginning July 1, 2026, day care facilities must visibly post a fire escape plan and train all staff. Home-based facilities need working smoke detectors and an NFPA 10-serviced extinguisher rated at least 2A:10BC on each level. Sleeping or napping rooms need an emergency escape opening; family day care must hold complete-evacuation drills quarterly. Type I family day care must annually practice escape-window evacuation when the window replaces a required exit. Child-occupied spaces need barriers against hot surfaces and open flames from heating, cooking, and fireplace equipment; providers may face compliance costs.

Businesses face new water safety requirements

Beginning July 1, 2026, connected chemical dispensers need backflow protection and a separate, dedicated water supply line. Their connection cannot be downstream of an atmospheric vacuum breaker. Connected portable cleaning equipment and automatic or coin-operated car washes also need the specified plumbing-code backflow protection. Food-service self-closing or manually operated metering faucets must run for at least 15 seconds without reactivation. These water-safety requirements may affect equipment choices and installation costs.

Child care gets revised building classifications

Beginning July 1, 2026, paid care lasting under 24 hours uses revised classifications; the Section 308.5 threshold drops from more than five people to five or more per location. Group E covers five or more children age two or older, or five to 100 younger children with exit-level rooms and direct outside doors. Commercial preschools, hourly centers, after-school programs, and child care centers use Group I-4, Group E, or the main building classification. Home care for four or fewer children has residential code options; Residential Certificate and Licensed Family Child Care use Group R-3 or the residential code, with required fire-rule, state-approval, and zoning compliance. Care secondary to a building's main use can use an accessory classification when its area meets Section 508.2.

Contractors get guarded pipe testing options

Contractors may air-test plastic pipes when construction-site water is unavailable or freezing limits its use. Drainage and vent pipe tests cannot exceed 6 psi; water-pipe tests must stay between 50 and 80 psi. Contractors must follow safety, gauge-monitoring, and pressure-release procedures and assume the specified liability for testing-related harm. Beginning July 1, 2026, covered plumbing installations must leave both tracer-wire ends accessible or terminate both at the cleanout.

Nail salons need station ventilation systems

Beginning July 1, 2026, covered salons filing or shaping acrylic nails must capture air at every manicure station. Each station needs at least 50 cubic feet per minute of exhaust or recirculated air; recirculation requires MERV 8 filtration and activated carbon. Tables without factory-installed inlets need inlets within 12 inches horizontally and vertically of acrylic-chemical application. The stated coverage includes existing salons remodeled after July 1, 2017, new salons starting construction after that date, and all salons beginning July 1, 2020. Operators face equipment costs, while workers and customers gain ventilation protections.

Assisted living loses electrical backup requirement

Beginning July 1, 2026, assisted living facilities are exempt from the building code's essential electrical system requirement. Operators avoid the cost of installing that required system. Residents may have less backup electrical protection during an outage.

Boiler oversight and mechanical options change

Beginning July 1, 2026, the Utah Labor Commission regulates covered boilers and pressure vessels under its rules. Private residences and apartment buildings with fewer than five family units are exempt from that oversight. Boiler installations must follow their listing and labeling, using the greater of manufacturer or state-code clearance. Approved alternatives to methods in mechanical-code Section 1209.3 are allowed. The exception in Section 1109.2.5 is no longer limited to Group A1 refrigerant.

Building owners get revised fire safeguards

Fire pump and sprinkler riser rooms need 12 inches of clear separation around equipment and 36 inches clear in front. Sprinkler-rule height conditions for Group F-1, M, and S-1 fire areas use more than three stories above the lowest fire-truck access level. A fire code official can approve the referenced standpipe exception in freezing conditions. Beginning July 1, 2026, the Section 404.5 atrium exception requires no exit-path component above the two lowest stories.

Child care centers face exit safeguards

Beginning July 1, 2026, Group E child care usually must be on the floor where exits discharge outside. Rooms for children over age two can be one story higher with building-wide NFPA 13 sprinklers and automatic fire detection. Spaces holding more than 10 people need a second exit route. If that route is not an outside door, the room also needs an emergency escape and rescue window.

Outpatient care buildings need targeted sprinklers

Buildings containing ambulatory care facilities need sprinklers throughout when four or more care recipients cannot protect themselves at any time. Sprinklers are also required when even one such recipient is off the facility's exit-discharge floor. These rules add fire protection and installation obligations for covered buildings.

Outpatient care facilities need fire separation

Beginning July 1, 2026, Utah-licensed ambulatory care facilities need a fire partition rated at least one hour between adjacent tenants. A level below the exit-discharge level also needs a one-hour horizontal assembly separating it from that level. No fire barrier between those levels is required when both are facility-controlled and hazardous spaces have the specified one-hour separation. These rules add fire protection for patients and nearby occupants but may require construction work.

Public restrooms gain privacy and family access

Beginning July 1, 2026, public restrooms providing diaper-changing tables must offer equal numbers in men's and women's rooms. The tables must meet the cited commercial changing-table safety standard. Restrooms designed for all genders in one room need floor-to-ceiling stall partitions. Every public toilet room must have at least one floor drain. Families and users gain access, privacy, and drainage protections, while owners may face added construction or plumbing costs.

Some parking garages need firefighting pipes

Open parking garages need an approved Class 1 manual standpipe when approved fire-vehicle access is beyond 150 feet of any portion. A standpipe provides water connections for firefighters' hoses. Every part of the garage must be within 150 feet of a hose connection. This supports firefighting access but requires covered garage owners to provide the equipment.

Stronger checks against drinking water backflow

Beginning July 1, 2026, cross-connection rules cover actual or possible links allowing unsafe fluids into drinking-water pipes. Propylene glycol and mineral oil count as essentially nontoxic; sewage, waste, graywater, and unclassified fluids count as essentially toxic. Connections between drinking-water pipes and sewer-connected waste need an air gap, protecting against pollution as well as contamination. Backflow assemblies need two approvals, including laboratory testing and a one-year field evaluation by a recognized organization. Device testing must follow the updated code sections, which include a Utah Certified Backflow Assembly Tester requirement.

Vehicle waste wells face a ban

Beginning July 1, 2026, new and existing motor vehicle waste disposal wells are prohibited. Wells associated with single-family homes are exempt. Covered operators must discontinue or change their disposal arrangements. The ban protects water resources but can create compliance costs.

Assisted living gains limited design flexibility

Beginning July 1, 2026, single-resident assisted living units with living space and one or two bedrooms need one corridor exit path. Residents cannot pass through more than one room to reach it, excluding closets, toilet rooms, and shower rooms. Group I-2 facilities can use Type VA construction for two stories, with sprinklers throughout and all applicable Section 407 safeguards. Both floors together cannot exceed the area allowed for a one-story sprinklered building. Secured resident-care areas in Type IIIB, IV, or V construction must be on the exit-discharge floor, with code-compliant doors.

Builders face inspections and unsafe-work stops

Beginning July 1, 2026, officials may stop building-code-regulated work found to violate the code or other relevant laws or ordinances. They may also stop work found dangerous or unsafe. Covered construction must have its weather-resistant exterior walls and flashing inspected. These measures address unsafe construction and water intrusion, while builders face inspections and possible work stoppages.

Builders face revised concrete design rules

These concrete rules took effect upon the governor's approval. Concrete not exposed to freezing and thawing, including fully buried foundation parts, receives exposure class F0. The law revises earthquake forces for wall segments and piers; other wall portions require shear amplification by Ωvωv, with stated overstrength and redundancy adjustments. A separate seismic exception applies when Ωv is at least 1.5 or ωv equals Ωo. Concrete shear strength Vc is capped at 5λ√f′lc bwd and generally need not fall below λ√f′lc bwd; that minimum excludes net axial tension and cases governed by Sections 18.6.5.2 or 18.7.6.2.1.

Builders get revised snow and earthquake rules

Designers of lower buildings beside taller buildings must calculate windward and leeward snow drifts under the referenced standard; drifts may be shortened. For flat-roof snow loads above 45 pounds per square foot, seismic snow weight follows Ws=(0.15 + 0.016(A-5))Pf, with a minimum of 0.15Pf. Risk Category II may be used for Pf, and snow is treated as uniform, without drifting or sliding. For covered earthquake calculations, Method 1 is required when Sa is available, except under Section 11.4.5, Exception 2. Both calculation methods must use the stated lower bound for the seismic response coefficient.

Building owners must protect fire equipment

Fire pump rooms need a 72-inch removal passageway and outward-swinging doors with openings at least 68 inches wide and 80 inches high. Sprinkler riser rooms need a 36-inch passageway and outward-swinging door openings at least 32 inches wide and 80 inches high. Passageways must fit the largest equipment; locked rooms need a key continuously available in a compliant fire-code key box. Approved door signs need contrasting lettering at least two inches high, with strokes at least 3/8 inch wide. Both room types need permanent heating and lighting and temperatures of at least 40°F, adding access and maintenance duties.

Care homes get size-based building rules

Type I assisted living with two to five residents can use Group R-3 or the residential code. Type II with two to five residents uses Group R-4, Condition 2; Type I with six to 16 uses Group R-4, Condition 1. Beginning July 1, 2026, Type I Large uses Group I-1, Condition 1; Type II Small uses I-1, Condition 2; Type II Large uses I-2, Condition 1. Three specified nursing-home code provisions also cover assisted living beginning that date. Non-child-care facilities in single-family homes serving five or fewer people can use the residential code.

Schools face stronger fire alarm requirements

Group E buildings, including schools, must provide smoke detection in corridors and spaces open to corridors at specified spacing. Buildings without full sprinkler protection need complete smoke-detection coverage under NFPA 72. Facilities must post a key plan and instructions and provide Class A circuits, fan shutdown connections, and duct detectors. The main panel needs a normally attended location or an authorized supervised remote alarm display. A different panel location needs State Fire Marshal Division approval; these protections require installation and compliance work.

Schools get classification and alarm updates

Beginning July 1, 2026, technical colleges teaching high school students enter the code's educational classification for students above 12th grade. Group E manual fire alarms must notify occupants through a qualifying voice system or approved audible and visual signals. Installed sprinklers and smoke detectors must connect to the building fire alarm. Under the applicable exception, sprinkler waterflow must activate the alarm.

Schools must install protective window glazing

Beginning July 1, 2026, covered K–12 schools must use ballistic glass or qualifying security glazing in specified windows. Exterior entrance-level windows within 25 feet of an entrance need protection from ground level to at least six feet. Windows surrounding classroom entrances or instructional areas need protection from the floor to at least six feet. The glazing must meet the stated testing standards, adding school construction requirements while providing occupant protection.

Schools need carbon monoxide safety systems

Group E buildings need carbon monoxide detectors in listed fuel-equipment, gas-appliance, open-flame, and other production or spread areas. Alarms must signal an onsite location staffed by school personnel, except where the occupant load is 30 or less. Systems need primary and backup power, required wiring, and automatic shutdown of carbon-monoxide-producing equipment in the activated zone. Carbon monoxide above 70 parts per million for one hour requires audible and visual alarms and evacuation of affected areas. Components need testing and compliance records before final approval, Fire Marshal testing and tagging, and annual Master Fire Alarm Technician inspection; monitoring is not required.

Home heating calculations need trained professionals

Beginning July 1, 2026, people calculating residential heating and cooling needs must complete a listed training or certification route. Routes include ACCA load-calculation education, a recognized school, equipment-manufacturer training, or another recognized industry certification. Energy assessments must also convert newer HSPF2 or SEER2 equipment ratings when older HSPF or SEER ratings are unavailable. They must use manufacturer-provided or table-converted values, applying ducted split-system factors when equipment type is unknown. These rules standardize calculations but add qualification requirements for service providers.

Utah revises home wall construction rules

Beginning July 1, 2026, the law replaces specified dimensions of 6 feet and 4 feet with 32 inches in Section 2308.7.1. It also deletes residential-code Sections R609.4.1 and R702.7 from the specified amendments. The supplied text does not explain those deleted requirements or identify what the changed dimensions measure. The effect on construction costs and safety cannot be determined from these provisions alone.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Thomas W. Peterson
Republican • House

Cosponsors

Evan J. Vickers
Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 219 • No: 9

House vote • 2/9/2026

House/ concurs with Senate amendment

Yes: 67 • No: 2

Senate vote • 2/6/2026

Senate/ passed 3rd reading

Yes: 27 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/5/2026

Senate/ passed 2nd reading

Yes: 20 • No: 5

Senate vote • 2/3/2026

Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation

Yes: 7 • No: 0