Provo, UT Rental Property Rules: Repairs & Habitability (2026)
Key Facts
- Standards count
- 12 minimum building conditions
- Enforcer
- Chief Building Official approves compliance
- License link
- Required before license issues or renews
- Egress rule
- Basement bedrooms need proper window wells
- Noncompliance
- Grounds for license denial under 6.26.070(6)
- Reinspection cycle
- 36 months unless reasonable cause exists
Summary
Every licensed rental dwelling in Provo must meet twelve minimum building conditions under Provo City Code 6.26.100, covering everything from structural integrity and working plumbing to guardrails, egress windows and fire-rated separation between units, subject to the Chief Building Official's approval.
After the effective date of this Chapter, and notwithstanding that a rental dwelling qualifies for a business license under Section 6.26.090 of this Chapter, each rental dwelling shall meet the building code requirements necessary to achieve, or be mitigated to the satisfaction of the Chief Building Official to achieve: (1) structural integrity; (2) proper installation, maintenance and operational condition of all plumbing, electrical, and mechanical systems; (3) appropriate exiting; (4) properly constructed and located stairways, including consistent rise and run of stair treads; (5) appropriate bedroom egress windows, including proper sill height and size of window openings and window wells for basement rooms; (6) minimum bedroom floor area; (7) adequate guardrails; (8) proper backflow prevention devices; (9) appropriately located and operational smoke alarms; (10) watertight and sound roofing systems; (11) fire-rated separation between dwelling units; and (12) properly placed street addressing.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 2026-17, passed June 9, 2026).
Full Breakdown
090. The list covers structural integrity; properly installed and operational plumbing, electrical and mechanical systems; appropriate exiting; stairways built with consistent rise and run; bedroom egress windows with correct sill height and window-well size for basement rooms; a minimum bedroom floor area; adequate guardrails; backflow prevention devices; appropriately located, operational smoke alarms; a watertight, sound roofing system; fire-rated separation between dwelling units; and properly placed street addressing. 100 itself controls. 080. 070, after which a passed rental dwelling is exempt from routine reinspection for thirty-six months unless the City has reasonable cause to believe a later violation occurred.
Violations & Fines
Failing any of the twelve Section 6.26.100 conditions is grounds to deny a rental license application, including a renewal, under Section 6.26.070(6) for noncompliance with Health Department or code requirements. An existing license can be suspended or revoked under Section 6.26.080 for the same defects or for occupying the unit in a way contrary to license conditions, and the dwelling remains subject to reinspection any time the City has reasonable cause to believe a violation exists under Section 6.01.070(3).
Frequently Asked Questions
What building conditions must a Provo rental meet to be licensed?
Who decides if a rental meets these standards?
Can Provo deny my rental license over one of these items?
How often does Provo re-inspect a licensed rental for these standards?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Provo
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