West Valley City, UT Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)
Key Facts
- Adopted code
- 1997 Uniform Dangerous Buildings Code
- City remedy
- Repair, vacate, or demolish
- Structure standards
- IPMC / Housing / Dangerous Bldgs
- Cost recovery
- Attached to property taxes
Summary
West Valley City has adopted the 1997 Uniform Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings, giving the City authority to order any structure that endangers public health or safety repaired, vacated or demolished.
For the purpose of providing a just, equitable and practicable method, to be cumulative with and in addition to, any other remedy provided by the International Building Code or otherwise available at law, whereby buildings or structures which from any cause endanger the life, limb, health, morals, property, safety or welfare of the general public or their occupants may be required to be repaired, vacated or demolished, the entire 1997 edition of the Uniform Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings is hereby adopted as promulgated by International Conference of Building Officials. The Uniform Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings is hereby fully incorporated as if set out at length herein, and from the effective date of this Chapter, the provisions thereof shall be controlling within the corporate limits of the City.
(2) Pursuant to Section 10-3-711, Utah Code Annotated, 1953, as amended, one copy of the Uniform Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings has been filed for use and examination by the public in the City Recorder’s Office. (Ord. No. 97-72 Amended 01/01/1998; Ord. No. 10-18 Amended 07/06/2010)
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 26-30, passed June 23, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Municipal Code § 16-3-101 adopts the entire 1997 Uniform Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings, controlling citywide, so buildings or structures that from any cause endanger life, limb, health, morals, property, safety or welfare can be ordered repaired, vacated or demolished. Separately, § 24-7-105 makes it unlawful for an owner to fail to maintain buildings to the standards of the International Property Maintenance Code, Uniform Housing Code and Dangerous Buildings Code: including intact windows, doors and weatherproofing. Costs of abatement can be attached to the property tax bill under § 16-3-103(2).
Violations & Fines
The Community Preservation Department can order repair, vacation or demolition of a dangerous building; unpaid abatement costs may be added to the owner's property taxes, and structure-maintenance failures are separately enforceable under § 24-7-107.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can West Valley City force demolition of a vacant house?
Who pays if the City has to fix or demolish a dangerous building?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in West Valley City
Compare West Valley City to another location·View the Utah property maintenance overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Property Blight in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Salt Lake County handle property blight.