Utah Code § 78B-6-850 § 78B-6-850
Definitions.
Operative Text
Definitions. As used in this part: (1) "Agency" means a state, county, or local government entity that generates or maintains records relating to an unlawful detainer action. (2) "Eviction" means a cause of action for unlawful detainer under Part 8, Forcible Entry and Detainer. (3) "Expunge" means to seal or otherwise restrict access to records held by a court or an agency. (4) "Petitioner" means any person petitioning for expungement of an eviction under this part. (5) (a) "Tenant screening agency" means a person that, for a fee, dues, or on a cooperative nonprofit basis, regularly engages in whole or in part in the practice of assembling or evaluating information for the purpose of furnishing a tenant screening report. (b) "Tenant screening agency" does not include an owner as defined in Section 78B-6-801. (6) "Tenant screening report" means any written, oral, or other communication prepared by a tenant screening agency that includes information about an individual's rental history for the purpose of serving as a factor in establishing the individual's eligibility for housing. (7) "Unlawful detainer" means the same as that term is defined in Section 78B-6-801.
Utah Code Ann. § 78B-6-850 establishes the foundational vocabulary for Utah's eviction expungement framework. It defines key terms—including 'eviction,' 'expunge,' 'tenant screening agency,' and 'tenant screening report'—that govern how eviction records may be sealed and how information about a person's rental history may be collected and used. These definitions set the boundaries for who can petition for expungement and which entities are subject to the rules that follow in this part of the code.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Utah Code Ann. § 78B-6-850, property owners are explicitly excluded from the definition of 'tenant screening agency,' meaning landlords who screen their own applicants are not regulated as screening agencies under this part. However, third-party services that compile rental history reports for a fee or on a cooperative basis do fall under that definition and are subject to the rules that flow from it. Operators who use such third-party screening services should be aware that those vendors operate within a defined legal framework tied to this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Utah Code Ann. § 78B-6-850 is the definitional foundation for Utah's eviction expungement process, which allows certain individuals to petition to have eviction records sealed from courts and government agencies. The definition of 'tenant screening report' is particularly relevant to renters, as it covers the written or oral communications that screening companies use to evaluate rental eligibility—meaning those reports are subject to the rules built on these definitions. Tenants who believe their rental history has been improperly reported or who are interested in expungement options may find it useful to consult a tenant-rights organization familiar with this part of the Utah Code.
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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