# Utah H.B. 65: Construction Code Amendments Utah H.B. 65, Construction Code Amendments, is a 2026 General Session House bill sponsored by Thomas W. Peterson (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-03-17 (House/ to Governor) (as of 2026-10-19). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/UT-HB65-2026GS - As of: 2026-10-19 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Utah H.B. 65 - State: Utah - Session: 2026 General Session - Title: Construction Code Amendments - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2025-12-22 - Last action: 2026-03-17, House/ to Governor - Sponsor: Thomas W. Peterson (Republican) - Cosponsors: 1 - Subjects: Business, Construction, Construction and Fire Codes, Real Property - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 8 (219 yes, 9 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 89 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Home foundations gain more construction options: benefit, low. 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… - Homeowners gain shared-wall and accessory-unit options: benefit, low. 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 o… - Homes and buildings gain ventilation options: benefit, low. 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 t… - Homes gain alternative wall insulation choices: benefit, low. 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 requir… - Homes gain more ventilation design choices: benefit, low. 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… - Owners can limit some renovation work: benefit, low. 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… - Owners can reuse sound roof insulation: benefit, low. 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 ins… - Owners gain simpler building approval options: benefit, low. 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 t… - Permit breaks for decks and storage: benefit, low. 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, un… - Properties gain water reuse and testing options: benefit, low. 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 drainag… - Sealed attics gain lower insulation options: benefit, low. 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 pos… - Some appliance replacements gain placement flexibility: benefit, low. 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 r… - Some older bedroom windows avoid replacement: benefit, low. 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.… - Thinner moisture barriers allowed under slabs: benefit, low. 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: benefit, low. 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 officia… - Child care centers need added sinks: benefit, low. 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: benefit, low. 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 approv… - Utah builders use newer construction codes: benefit, low. 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 ed… - Small aircraft hangars gain code exception: benefit, low. 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: benefit, low. 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 mus… - Designers gain foundation strength calculation options: benefit, low. 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 als… - Nonpotable water systems need deed recording: cost, low. 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: cost, low. 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 calc… - Water district inspection fees last longer: cost, low. 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. - Home fire and escape rules change: mixed, medium. 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 delete… - Major reroofing triggers earthquake bracing rules: mixed, medium. 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 b… - Assisted living residents gain locked-exit options: mixed, low. 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 wi… - Bathroom fixtures face water flow limits: mixed, low. 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 amoun… - Boilers and water outlets need safeguards: mixed, low. 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… - Gas water heaters face pollution limits: mixed, low. 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 b… - Home child care needs separate exits: mixed, low. 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… - Home electrical rules cover more equipment: mixed, low. 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 t… - Lower water limits for plumbing fixtures: mixed, low. 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 c… - Safer installations for home utility equipment: mixed, low. 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 p… - Showers and outdoor faucets need safeguards: mixed, low. 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 requ… - Accessory homes gain required alarm protections: mixed, low. 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,… - Building use changes trigger seismic rules: mixed, low. 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… - Buildings use revised snow-load design rules: mixed, low. 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-lo… - Home ducts need leakage checks and insulation: mixed, low. 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 condition… - Home energy ratings set design limits: mixed, low. 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 coefficien… - Home fixtures face space and safety rules: mixed, low. 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 p… - Home foundations face updated design rules: mixed, low. 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… - Home insulation needs proper installation checks: mixed, low. 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. Residen… - Home lighting gains more bulb choices: mixed, low. 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: mixed, low. 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-m… - Home stairs get revised size standards: mixed, low. 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… - Home ventilation faces updated equipment standards: mixed, low. 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 ne… - Home walls get barriers and inspections: mixed, low. 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 re… - Home window standards gain new options: mixed, low. 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… - Homes face insulation and window standards: mixed, low. 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… - Homes face updated equipment safety rules: mixed, low. 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 physica… - Homes get airtightness and ventilation rules: mixed, low. 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 m… - New home energy testing and insulation: mixed, low. 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… - New safeguards for reused water systems: mixed, low. 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… - Pool owners face tighter operating rules: mixed, low. 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 sp… - Property owners face backflow access rules: mixed, low. 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 asse… - Property owners face water hookup rules: mixed, low. 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 wit… - Small apartment buildings gain code flexibility: mixed, low. 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 remo… - Snow rules change for Utah buildings: mixed, low. 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 tolera… - Some homes qualify for sprinkler exceptions: mixed, low. 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 qua… - Water backup systems need contamination safeguards: mixed, low. 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 conn… - Water systems need backflow protection checks: mixed, low. 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 installat… - Day care providers need stronger safeguards: mixed, low. 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… - Businesses face new water safety requirements: mixed, low. 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… - Child care gets revised building classifications: mixed, low. 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 o… - Contractors get guarded pipe testing options: mixed, low. 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 as… - Nail salons need station ventilation systems: mixed, low. 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 inl… - Assisted living loses electrical backup requirement: mixed, low. 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: mixed, low. 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 great… - Building owners get revised fire safeguards: mixed, low. 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 refe… - Child care centers face exit safeguards: mixed, low. 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 rou… - Outpatient care buildings need targeted sprinklers: mixed, low. 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… - Outpatient care facilities need fire separation: mixed, low. 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 w… - Public restrooms gain privacy and family access: mixed, low. 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 publi… - Some parking garages need firefighting pipes: mixed, low. 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 acces… - Stronger checks against drinking water backflow: mixed, low. 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-… - Vehicle waste wells face a ban: mixed, low. 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: mixed, low. 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… - Builders face inspections and unsafe-work stops: mixed, low. 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 addre… - Builders face revised concrete design rules: mixed, low. 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, w… - Builders get revised snow and earthquake rules: mixed, low. 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… - Building owners must protect fire equipment: mixed, low. 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 equi… - Care homes get size-based building rules: mixed, low. 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, C… - Schools face stronger fire alarm requirements: mixed, low. 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 c… - Schools get classification and alarm updates: mixed, low. 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 smo… - Schools must install protective window glazing: mixed, low. 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 a… - Schools need carbon monoxide safety systems: mixed, low. 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, require… - Home heating calculations need trained professionals: mixed, low. 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 assessm… - Utah revises home wall construction rules: mixed, low. 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 chan… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Thomas W. Peterson (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Evan J. Vickers (Republican), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-02-09 | House | House/ concurs with Senate amendment | pass | 67 | 2 | | | 2026-02-06 | Senate | Senate/ passed 3rd reading | pass | 27 | 0 | | | 2026-02-05 | Senate | Senate/ passed 2nd reading | pass | 20 | 5 | | | 2026-02-03 | Senate | Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation | pass | 7 | 0 | | | 2026-02-03 | Senate | Senate Comm - Substitute Recommendation | pass | 7 | 0 | | | 2026-01-27 | House | House/ passed 3rd reading | pass | 67 | 2 | | | 2026-01-22 | House | House Comm - Substitute Recommendation | pass | 13 | 0 | | | 2026-01-22 | House | House Comm - Favorable Recommendation | pass | 11 | 0 | | ## Actions (40) - 2026-03-17: House/ to Governor (House) - 2026-03-17: House/ received enrolled bill from Printing (House) - 2026-03-17: Governor Signed - 2026-03-03: House/ enrolled bill to Printing (House) - 2026-03-03: Enrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate - 2026-02-11: Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared - 2026-02-11: Bill Received from House for Enrolling - 2026-02-10: House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling (House) - 2026-02-10: House/ received from Senate (House) - 2026-02-10: Senate/ to House (Senate) - 2026-02-10: Senate/ signed by President/ returned to House (Senate) - 2026-02-10: Senate/ received from House (Senate) - 2026-02-09: House/ to Senate (House) - 2026-02-09: House/ concurs with Senate amendment (House) - 2026-02-06: House/ placed on Concurrence Calendar (House) - 2026-02-06: House/ received from Senate (House) - 2026-02-06: Senate/ to House with amendments (Senate) - 2026-02-06: Senate/ passed 3rd reading (Senate) - 2026-02-06: Senate/ 3rd reading (Senate) - 2026-02-05: Senate/ passed 2nd reading (Senate) - 2026-02-05: Senate/ 2nd reading (Senate) - 2026-02-04: Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar (Senate) - 2026-02-04: Senate/ comm rpt/ substituted (Senate) - 2026-02-03: Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation - 2026-02-03: Senate Comm - Substitute Recommendation - 2026-01-30: Senate/ to standing committee (Senate) - 2026-01-28: Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced) (Senate) - 2026-01-27: Senate/ received from House (Senate) - 2026-01-27: House/ to Senate (House) - 2026-01-27: House/ passed 3rd reading (House) - 2026-01-27: House/ 3rd reading (House) - 2026-01-23: House/ 2nd reading (House) - 2026-01-23: House/ comm rpt/ substituted (House) - 2026-01-22: House Comm - Favorable Recommendation - 2026-01-22: House Comm - Substitute Recommendation - 2026-01-20: House/ to standing committee (House) - 2026-01-20: House/ 1st reading (Introduced) (House) - 2026-01-14: House/ received fiscal note from Fiscal Analyst (House) - 2026-01-14: House/ received bill from Legislative Research (House) - 2025-12-22: Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed ## Bill text - Enrolled, 2026-03-03: [PDF](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2026/bills/enrolled/HB0065.pdf) - Substitute #4, 2026-02-03: [PDF](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2026/bills/introduced/HB0065S04.pdf) - Substitute #3, 2026-01-29: [PDF](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2026/bills/introduced/HB0065S03.pdf) - Substitute #2, 2026-01-22: [PDF](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2026/bills/introduced/HB0065S02.pdf) - Substitute #1, 2026-01-21: [PDF](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2026/bills/introduced/HB0065S01.pdf) - Introduced, 2025-12-22: [PDF](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2026/bills/introduced/HB0065.pdf) ## Related bills - H.B. 136: Unlicensed Driver Amendments (signed) - H.B. 101: Firearm Background Check Amendments (signed) - H.B. 134: Offender Transfer Amendments (signed) - H.B. 178: School Zone Speeding Amendments (signed) - H.B. 94: Criminal Accounts Receivable Amendments (signed) - H.B. 220: Public Safety Data Amendments (signed) ## Sources - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2026/bills/enrolled/HB0065.pdf) - [Substitute #4 (PDF)](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2026/bills/introduced/HB0065S04.pdf) - [Substitute #3 (PDF)](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2026/bills/introduced/HB0065S03.pdf) - [Substitute #2 (PDF)](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2026/bills/introduced/HB0065S02.pdf) - [Substitute #1 (PDF)](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2026/bills/introduced/HB0065S01.pdf) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2026/bills/introduced/HB0065.pdf) ## Related - [H.B. 136: Unlicensed Driver Amendments](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/UT-HB136-2026GS) - [H.B. 101: Firearm Background Check Amendments](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/UT-HB101-2026GS) - [H.B. 134: Offender Transfer Amendments](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/UT-HB134-2026GS) - [H.B. 178: School Zone Speeding Amendments](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/UT-HB178-2026GS) - [H.B. 94: Criminal Accounts Receivable Amendments](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/UT-HB94-2026GS) - [H.B. 220: Public Safety Data Amendments](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/UT-HB220-2026GS) - [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-HB65-2026GS (as of 2026-10-19).