Salt Lake County, UT HOA Rules: Architectural Review (2026)

Under §57-8a-218(1)(a), design rules must treat similarly situated lot owners similarly. Boards may adopt or amend design criteria only at a board meeting with at least 15 days' prior notice to all owners and an open forum, and copies of any change must be delivered to owners within 15 days after the meeting (§57-8a-217(2)). For emergencies posing imminent risk to common areas or owners, the board may act first and notify after (§57-8a-217(3)). A board adoption is disapproved if at least 51% of all allocated voting interests vote disapproval within 60 days of the meeting (§57-8a-217(4)). Importantly, §57-8a-218 protects owners from rules that would: (a) divest a complete design-review application of approval rights under the prior governing documents; (b) force disposal of personal property that complied when acquired; (c) prohibit, unreasonably restrict, or delay plans incorporating fire-resistant materials in heightened-wildfire areas — directly relevant to foothill neighborhoods in Sandy, Draper, and unincorporated Salt Lake County WUI zones. Under §57-8a-109, an HOA may not charge a plan-review fee in excess of the actual cost of reviewing and approving the plans, and any denial must be in writing identifying each governing-document provision relied on and the specific noncompliant aspect.