St. George, UT Rental Inspections: Tenant Complaint Process (2026)
Key Facts
- Trigger
- Tenant's written notice of failure
- Fastest deadline
- 24 hours (pipes, gas, smoke detector)
- Slowest deadline
- 96 hours (exterior lighting)
- Repair-and-deduct cap
- $400 per repair
- Penalty for violation
- Class B misdemeanor, per day
Summary
St. George's rental fit premises law makes a tenant's written notice of a broken pipe, dead smoke detector, or other listed failure the trigger for a mandatory repair clock, not just a customer-service request.
In the event of the failures specified below, the property owner shall take reasonable steps to begin repairing the failures, within the following specified time periods after receipt of written notice of the failure delivered to the person identified in section 4-7-7 of this chapter, and complete the repairs with reasonable diligence. +-------------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+ | Failure | Repair Within | +-------------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+ | Broken stair or balustrade | Upon notice, if the condition causes | | | a safety hazard or prevents access to | | | the premises; otherwise 24 hours | +-------------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+ | Broken or leaking water pipes causing | 24 hours | | an imminent threat to life, safety, | | | or health | | +-------------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+ | Other broken or leaking water pipes | 72 hours |
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 2026-062, passed August 6, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Under city code chapter 4-7, once a tenant delivers written notice of a specified failure to the owner's designated contact, the clock in section 4-7-15 starts running. A leaking pipe threatening safety, a disconnected utility, or a dead smoke detector must be addressed within 24 hours; other repairs get 48-96 hours depending on severity. If the owner misses the deadline, section 4-7-16 lets the tenant repair and deduct up to $400 from rent, and section 4-7-17 bars retaliation for having complained.
Violations & Fines
Missing a repair deadline in the table triggers the tenant's repair-and-deduct right (capped at $400/repair). Separately, any violation of chapter 4-7 is enforced under title 1, chapter 12's administrative hearing program and is a class B misdemeanor, with each day a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I start a repair complaint against my St. George landlord?
What if my landlord ignores the repair deadline?
Can my landlord evict me for complaining?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. George
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