Utah’s landlord-tenant rules live in the Utah Code (Titles 57 and 78B). Two facts matter most. First, and against a common misconception, Utah protects source of income statewide: the Fair Housing Act lists “source of income” as a protected class and defines it to include a tenant receiving “rental assistance or rent supplements” (Utah Code 57-21-5, 57-21-2), so refusing you because you hold a voucher can be a fair-housing violation. Second, evictions are fast and expensive to lose — a 3-business-day notice, and courts must award triple damages against a holdover tenant. This page covers where to apply, the tenant-law framework, and where to get help.
- 211 Utah — dial 2-1-1 for rent, utility, and shelter help · 211utah.org
- Housing Authority of Salt Lake City: 801-487-2161 · Housing Connect (Salt Lake County): 801-284-4400
- Utah Legal Services: 1-800-662-4245 · utahlegalservices.org
- Utah Antidiscrimination & Labor Division (fair housing / source of income): 801-530-6800
- HEAT program (LIHEAP): 1-866-205-4357
- HUD fair housing: 1-800-669-9777
Major Utah public housing authorities
Utah’s finance agency, Utah Housing Corporation, does mortgages, tax credits, and bonds — it does not run vouchers. Housing Choice Vouchers come from more than 20 regional and local authorities. The largest are along the Wasatch Front:
- Housing Authority of Salt Lake City (HASLC) — PHA UT004, 801-487-2161
- Housing Connect (formerly the Housing Authority of the County of Salt Lake) — PHA UT003, 801-284-4400
- Housing Authority of Utah County — Provo, PHA UT011, 801-373-8333
- Housing Authority of the City of Ogden — PHA UT002; its Section 8 list has been closed, so verify before applying
Waitlists open in windows, so apply to several. Use HUD’s PHA directory and read how to find your PHA. For tax-credit apartments, search HUD’s LIHTC database.
Source of income: your voucher is protected statewide
This surprises many renters: Utah’s Fair Housing Act lists “source of income” as a protected class (Utah Code 57-21-5) and defines it to include a tenant receiving federal, state, or local subsidies, “including rental assistance or rent supplements” (57-21-2). In practice, turning you away because you hold a Housing Choice Voucher can be a discriminatory housing practice. Because state law already covers this, cities cannot pass their own ordinances (57-21-2.5). If a landlord refuses your voucher, contact the Utah Antidiscrimination & Labor Division (UALD) (801-530-6800) or legal aid. See our source-of-income protections guide.
Emergency rent & utility help in Utah
- HEAT program (LIHEAP) — run by the Department of Workforce Services; public line 1-866-205-4357; see utility assistance programs
- Community Action agencies — Utah Community Action, Community Action Services & Food Bank, and others deliver HEAT, weatherization, and emergency aid
- Dial 211 for the current list of rent and deposit funds, plus emergency rental assistance
Utah tenant law: key protections at a glance
Quick reference: Utah
- Voucher administrator: 20+ regional and local authorities (Salt Lake City, Housing Connect, Utah County); Utah Housing Corporation runs no vouchers
- Source-of-income protection: yes — statewide (Utah Code 57-21-5, 57-21-2)
- Rent control: prohibited (Utah Code 57-20-1)
- Nonpayment notice: 3 business days to pay or quit (Utah Code 78B-6-802)
- Lease-violation notice: 3 calendar days; no-cause / month-to-month: 15 days
- Security deposit: no cap; itemized refund within 30 days or a $100 penalty after a demand notice (Utah Code 57-17-3)
- Holdover damages: courts must award triple damages against a tenant who loses (Utah Code 78B-6-811)
- Self-help eviction: illegal (Utah Code 78B-6-814)
Security deposits
Utah sets no cap on the deposit. After you move out, the landlord must return the balance with a written itemization within 30 days (Utah Code 57-17-3); if they miss it, you can send a demand notice, and failing to respond within five business days makes them owe the full deposit plus a $100 penalty. Read how to recover your security deposit.
Eviction: fast, and costly to lose
Utah evictions move quickly. For nonpayment the notice is just 3 business days to pay or quit (Utah Code 78B-6-802); after filing, a tenant has 3 business days to answer, an occupancy hearing is set within about 10 days, and a losing tenant gets 3 days to vacate under a sheriff-enforced order. Crucially, if you fight an eviction and lose, the court must award three times the damages plus attorney fees (Utah Code 78B-6-811) — so it is usually far cheaper to pay or move before judgment. Self-help lockouts are illegal (Utah Code 78B-6-814). Get help from Utah Legal Services (1-800-662-4245) and read how to avoid eviction.
Nearby states
Comparing states or planning a move? Utah’s neighbors handle deposits, notice, and vouchers differently:
- New Mexico tenant rights — city voucher protections and a 3-day notice
- Nevada tenant rights — a tenant-driven summary eviction process
- Arizona tenant rights
- Colorado tenant rights — statewide voucher protection
- Idaho tenant rights & Section 8 — a statewide voucher agency
Where to get help in Utah
Tenant help & legal aid: Utah Legal Services (1-800-662-4245) handles evictions, subsidized housing, and habitability; in Salt Lake it works with the “and Justice for all” agencies.
Discrimination & source-of-income complaints: the Utah Antidiscrimination & Labor Division (801-530-6800) enforces the Fair Housing Act, including voucher protection; file within 180 days.
Vouchers & local PHAs: apply to Salt Lake City, Housing Connect, or your county authority through the HUD PHA directory.
211 helpline: dial 2-1-1 for rent, utility, and shelter help statewide.
Next Steps
Not sure where to start? Our Where to Start tool maps Utah programs to your situation in about two minutes.
If a landlord refused your voucher, source of income is a protected class in Utah — contact the Utah Antidiscrimination & Labor Division (801-530-6800) or Utah Legal Services, and read eviction prevention.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Utah landlord refuse my Section 8 voucher?
Generally no. Utah's Fair Housing Act protects 'source of income' and defines it to include rental assistance and rent supplements (Utah Code 57-21-5, 57-21-2), so refusing you because you hold a voucher can be a fair-housing violation. If it happens, contact the Utah Antidiscrimination & Labor Division (801-530-6800).
How fast can I be evicted for late rent in Utah, and what's the risk of losing?
Very fast. The nonpayment notice is just 3 business days to pay or quit (Utah Code 78B-6-802), and an occupancy hearing is set within about 10 days. If you fight the eviction and lose, the court must award three times the damages plus attorney fees (Utah Code 78B-6-811), so it's usually cheaper to pay or move before judgment.
How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit, and when do I get it back?
Utah sets no cap on the deposit. The landlord must return the balance with a written itemization within 30 days (Utah Code 57-17-3); if they don't, you can send a demand notice, and failing to respond within five business days makes them owe the full deposit plus a $100 penalty.
Who runs Section 8 in Utah?
More than 20 regional and local housing authorities do — the largest are the Housing Authority of Salt Lake City, Housing Connect (Salt Lake County), and the Housing Authority of Utah County. Utah Housing Corporation is a finance agency and does not run vouchers, so apply to a local authority.
Is there rent control in Utah?
No. Utah Code 57-20-1 prohibits local rent control without express legislative approval, so there is no legal cap on rent increases. Rent pressure is strongest along the fast-growing Wasatch Front.
My landlord changed the locks — is that legal in Utah?
No. Self-help eviction is illegal (Utah Code 78B-6-814). A landlord cannot change locks, shut off utilities, or seize your property without a court order; you can sue for actual damages plus attorney fees and be restored to the unit.