How Orem Handles Property Maintenance: A Practical Guide

Orem maintains 119 local ordinances across all categories, and 2 of those deal specifically with property maintenance. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Orem falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Property Blight

Orem has adopted the 1997 Uniform Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings to govern unsafe and substandard structures citywide. City Code also flags a building as a nuisance if it's unfit for habitation, abandoned for six months or more, or violates building, electrical, plumbing, or fire codes.

Key details: Governing building code: 1997 Uniform Code, Abatement of Dangerous Buildings. Abandonment threshold: 6+ months partial construction/destruction. Repeat abatement penalty: Treble fines within 2 years. Unpaid abatement costs: Become a property tax lien. Habitual nuisance fine: $500.00 per day.

A dangerous or substandard building can be ordered repaired, secured, or demolished under the Uniform Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings. If the owner fails to act, the City may abate the condition itself and bill all costs to the owner; unpaid costs become a lien collected through the Utah County Treasurer's tax notice process. A repeat abatement on the same property within two years triggers treble fines, penalties, and costs, and maintaining the condition as a habitual nuisance can add a $500.00-per-day fine.

Compared to other cities, Orem takes a harder line on property blight. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Snow & Sidewalk Clearing

Orem City Code 16-1-6 requires every owner, occupant, tenant and lessee to keep the public sidewalk, curb and gutter abutting their property free of snow and ice, along with debris, dirt, rocks and weeds. Removed snow may go into the street only if it meets specific placement limits, and a violation is punished as a general Code misdemeanor.

Key details: Governing section: Orem City Code 16-1-6. Who's responsible: Owners, occupants, tenants, lessees. Snow placement limit: Can't block hydrants, drains, driver sightlines. Parking lots: Snow must stay on site, not street. Penalty: Up to $1,000 fine, 1-1-7.

Leaving a public sidewalk, curb or gutter covered in snow or ice, or dumping cleared snow where it blocks traffic sightlines, a fire hydrant or a storm drain, violates Section 16-1-6 and is punished under the City's general penalty, Section 1-1-7: up to a $1,000 fine, up to six months imprisonment, or both, with each additional day treated as a separate offense.

The Bottom Line

Orem's property maintenance rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Orem is broadly strict or permissive.

This guide is based on Orem's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.