Utah Code § 78B-6-801 § 78B-6-805
Notice -- How served.
Operative Text
Notice -- How served. (1) A notice required by this part may be served: (a) by delivering a copy to the tenant personally or, if the tenant is a commercial tenant, by delivering a copy to the commercial tenant's usual place of business by leaving a copy of the notice with a person of suitable age and discretion; (b) by sending a copy through registered mail, certified mail, or an equivalent means, addressed to the tenant at the tenant's residence, leased property, or usual place of business; (c) if the tenant is absent from the residence, leased property, or usual place of business, by leaving a copy with a person of suitable age and discretion at the tenant's residence, leased property, or usual place of business; (d) if a person of suitable age or discretion cannot be found at the place of residence, leased property, or usual place of business, then by affixing a copy in a conspicuous place on the leased property; or (e) if an order of abatement by eviction of the nuisance is issued by the court as provided in Section 78B-6a-303, when issued, the parties present shall be on notice that the abatement by eviction order is issued and immediately effective or as to any absent party, notice shall be given as provided in Subsections (1)(a) through (d). (2) Service upon a subtenant may be made in the same manner as provided in Subsection (1).
Utah Code Ann. § 78B-6-805 establishes the legally recognized methods by which a required notice—such as an eviction or unlawful detainer notice—may be delivered to a tenant. Valid service can occur through personal delivery, registered or certified mail, delivery to a responsible person at the tenant's residence or place of business, or by posting the notice conspicuously on the leased property when no suitable person can be found. Special rules apply when a court issues an abatement-by-eviction order, and the same service methods extend to subtenants.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators serving notices under Utah Code Ann. § 78B-6-805 generally follow a clear hierarchy of delivery methods: attempting personal service first, then mail or in-person delivery to a responsible adult at the property, and finally posting on the leased premises only when other options are exhausted. Keeping dated records of each service attempt—including certified mail receipts, names of persons who received the notice, and photographs of any posted notice—supports a defensible record of compliance. Landlords managing properties with subtenants should be aware that § 78B-6-805(2) requires the same service standards to be applied to those parties as well.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Utah Code Ann. § 78B-6-805, tenants have a right to receive required notices through specific, legally recognized methods, and a notice delivered in a manner that does not conform to those methods may be subject to challenge. If a tenant believes a notice was improperly served—for example, left with an unsuitable person or not mailed through an approved channel—that procedural defect can potentially be raised as a defense in an eviction or unlawful detainer proceeding. Tenants who have questions about whether a notice they received complies with § 78B-6-805 may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider familiar with Utah landlord-tenant law.
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.
Effective Timeline
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation