Salt Lake City Landlord-Tenant Rules
Salt Lake City adds local rules on top of Utah landlord-tenant law. Here is what is different, with the city code or agency page behind each rule.
| Rental licensing (Good Landlord Program) | Every residential rental in Salt Lake City, including single-family homes, duplexes, boarding houses and fraternity or sorority houses, must have a valid, unexpired city business license. Landlords who join the city's Landlord/Tenant Initiative (the Good Landlord Program) can cut the per-unit license fee by up to 95%. To take part, a landlord must finish approved landlord training within 6 months of applying and take a 4-hour refresher every 3 years. Training approved by another Utah city's Good Landlord program is accepted. Owner-occupied buildings with four or fewer units are exempt from the per-unit fee and from the program. The ordinance took effect September 1, 2011. Questions: 801-535-7980. The city FAQ lists a $193 base fee, $342 per unit, and $35 per unit for program participants. These figures appear to date from the program's start, so check current fees with Business Licensing. Program overview: https://www.slc.gov/buildingservices/salt-lake-city-landlord-tenant-program/. The city code section number for the ordinance was not confirmed. |
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| Rental registration/inspection | Under the city Housing Code, buildings with three or more rental units need a multi-unit inspection every four years. Single-family homes and duplexes can self-certify. The city can enforce the Housing Code on any rental property. State law limits Good Landlord programs. A city may not require a random building inspection without cause and notice, may not collect tenants' credit reports, criminal records or leases, and may not stop landlords from passing the license fee on to tenants (Utah Code Sec. 10-1-203.5(3)). |
| Habitability/code enforcement & complaint line | Salt Lake City Civil Enforcement handles unsafe rental housing complaints under the Housing Code. Common violations include missing or broken smoke alarms, missing GFCI outlets, broken windows, blocked exits, and plumbing or mechanical systems not up to code. Civil Enforcement generally acts only after someone reports a problem. Report it through the mySLC app or website (myslc.gov). The city's Landlord/Tenant FAQ also refers housing problems to the Salt Lake County Health Department. A Civil Enforcement phone number and email were not shown on the city page we loaded. Source: Salt Lake City Code Ch. 18.50 |
| Tenant resources and relocation help | In October 2024 the city and the Community Development Corporation of Utah (CDCU) launched two programs. The Tenant Resource Center is a one-stop hub where CDCU navigators connect renters with eviction help, affordable housing aid and basic-needs support. It is open to all Salt Lake City renters, with priority for low-income households. The Relocation Assistance Fund for Tenants (RAFT) helps lower-income renters displaced by demolition, large renovations, conversion of rentals to another use, or the end of rent or income restrictions. It covers moving costs such as deposits, first and last month's rent and application fees. Contact through slc.gov/renters or the Housing Stability Division, 801-535-7712. These are city programs, not tenant rights created by ordinance. Initial funding was $92,000 for the Tenant Resource Center pilot and $180,000 for RAFT. Whether funds remain was not confirmed. Source: Official source |
| State preemption | Utah bars cities from controlling rents or fees on private residential property unless the Legislature expressly approves. State law also limits Good Landlord programs: a city may charge a 'disproportionate rental fee' only if a municipal services study supports it, may not charge that fee to owner-occupied buildings of four or fewer units, and may not require landlords to deny tenancy based on criminal history except in limited cases. Sec. 10-1-203.5 (effective July 1, 2020): https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title10/Chapter1/C10-1-S203.5_2020051220200701.html |
Eviction cases in Salt Lake City are heard in: Third District Court (Salt Lake County). Cases in Salt Lake District Court can ask to have the hearing at Community Court, held monthly at a Kearns library.
Right to a lawyer in eviction cases
No. Tenants have only 3 business days to answer an eviction summons, so contact legal aid right away. Official source
Local agencies
- Salt Lake City Business Licensing (Landlord/Tenant Program) — Issues rental business licenses and runs the Good Landlord fee-reduction program. Program questions: 801-535-7980.
- Salt Lake City Civil Enforcement — Investigates unsafe rental housing complaints under the Housing Code (Ch. 18.50). Report through mySLC.
- Salt Lake City Housing Stability Division / Tenant Resource Center — Renter navigation, eviction help referrals and relocation assistance (RAFT). 801-535-7712.
- Utah Courts Self-Help Center and mediation referrals — Free help with eviction court forms. The courts list Utah Community Action (801-214-3109) for landlord-tenant mediation and Utah Legal Services for free legal help.
Frequently asked questions
What landlord-tenant rules does Salt Lake City add on top of Utah law?
Rental licensing (Good Landlord Program): Every residential rental in Salt Lake City, including single-family homes, duplexes, boarding houses and fraternity or sorority houses, must have a valid, unexpired city business license. Landlords who join the city's Landlord/Tenant Initiative (the Good Landlord Program) can cut the per-unit license fee by up to 95%. To take part, a landlord must finish approved landlord training within 6 months of applying and take a 4-hour refresher every 3 years. Training approved by another Utah city's Good Landlord program is accepted. Owner-occupied buildings with four or fewer units are exempt from the per-unit fee and from the program. The ordinance took effect September 1, 2011. Questions: 801-535-7980.; Rental registration/inspection: Under the city Housing Code, buildings with three or more rental units need a multi-unit inspection every four years. Single-family homes and duplexes can self-certify. The city can enforce the Housing Code on any rental property.; Habitability/code enforcement & complaint line: Salt Lake City Civil Enforcement handles unsafe rental housing complaints under the Housing Code. Common violations include missing or broken smoke alarms, missing GFCI outlets, broken windows, blocked exits, and plumbing or mechanical systems not up to code. Civil Enforcement generally acts only after someone reports a problem. Report it through the mySLC app or website (myslc.gov). The city's Landlord/Tenant FAQ also refers housing problems to the Salt Lake County Health Department.; Tenant resources and relocation help: In October 2024 the city and the Community Development Corporation of Utah (CDCU) launched two programs. The Tenant Resource Center is a one-stop hub where CDCU navigators connect renters with eviction help, affordable housing aid and basic-needs support. It is open to all Salt Lake City renters, with priority for low-income households. The Relocation Assistance Fund for Tenants (RAFT) helps lower-income renters displaced by demolition, large renovations, conversion of rentals to another use, or the end of rent or income restrictions. It covers moving costs such as deposits, first and last month's rent and application fees. Contact through slc.gov/renters or the Housing Stability Division, 801-535-7712.
← All Utah landlord-tenant rules
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.