Utah Code § 57-22 § 57-22-3
Duties of owners and renters -- Generally.
Operative Text
Duties of owners and renters -- Generally. (1) Each owner and the owner's agent renting or leasing a residential rental unit shall maintain that unit in a condition fit for human habitation and in accordance with local ordinances and the rules of the board of health having jurisdiction in the area in which the residential rental unit is located. Each residential rental unit shall have electrical systems, heating, plumbing, and hot and cold water. (2) Each renter shall cooperate in maintaining the renter's residential rental unit in accordance with this chapter. (3) This chapter does not apply to breakage, malfunctions, or other conditions which do not materially affect the physical health or safety of the ordinary renter. (4) Any duty in this act may be allocated to a different party by explicit written agreement signed by the parties.
Utah Code Ann. § 57-22-3 establishes baseline habitability standards for residential rental units in Utah. Owners and their agents are required to keep rental units fit for human habitation, in compliance with local ordinances and applicable board of health rules, and to ensure each unit has functioning electrical systems, heating, plumbing, and hot and cold water. Renters, in turn, share a general duty to cooperate in maintaining those conditions. Minor breakage or malfunctions that do not materially affect the health or safety of an ordinary renter fall outside the scope of this provision, and the parties may reallocate specific duties through an explicit written agreement.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Utah Code Ann. § 57-22-3, compliant property owners and managers generally ensure that every residential rental unit they offer has working electrical systems, heating, plumbing, and both hot and cold water, and that the unit meets local ordinances and board of health standards throughout the tenancy. Operators typically document the condition of these systems at move-in and address reported deficiencies that could materially affect tenant health or safety in a timely manner. Where an owner wishes to shift a specific maintenance duty to a renter, § 57-22-3(4) requires that reallocation to be made through an explicit written agreement signed by both parties.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Utah Code Ann. § 57-22-3 gives renters the right to occupy a unit that is fit for human habitation and equipped with functioning electrical systems, heating, plumbing, and hot and cold water. If an owner or their agent fails to maintain these conditions, a renter may have grounds to raise that failure as a defense in certain legal proceedings or to file a complaint with the local board of health or other authority having jurisdiction in the area. Tenant-rights organizations in Utah can help renters understand how § 57-22-3 applies to their situation and what general enforcement paths may be available.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 16, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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