Salt Lake County, UT Rental Property Rules: Just Cause Eviction (2026)
Just cause eviction rules in Salt Lake County, UT, sometimes called tenant protection or "for cause" eviction ordinances, list the specific legal reasons a landlord can end a tenancy.
Key Facts
- Just-Cause Required
- No. Utah is at-will
- No-Cause Notice (M-to-M)
- 15 days (Utah Code §57-17-7)
- Nonpayment Notice
- 3 calendar days (Utah Code §78B-6-802)
- Lease Violation Notice
- 3 days to cure or quit
- Drug/Criminal Activity
- 3 days, no cure period
- Self-Help Eviction Penalty
- $500 or 2 months' rent (Utah Code §57-22-4)
- Court
- Utah Third District Court. Matheson Courthouse, 450 S. State, SLC
Summary
Utah is an at-will, no-just-cause eviction state, and Salt Lake County is preempted from imposing just-cause requirements on private residential landlords. A landlord in Salt Lake City, West Valley City, Sandy, Murray, or unincorporated Salt Lake County can terminate a month-to-month tenancy without giving any reason by serving 15 days' written notice under Utah Code §57-17-7. Fixed-term leases simply expire without renewal. Statutory eviction grounds in Utah Code §78B-6-802 (Forcible Entry and Detainer Act), nonpayment, lease violation, nuisance, criminal activity, holdover, require only 3 calendar days' notice to quit before the landlord can file an unlawful detainer action.
A tenant of real property, for a term less than life, is guilty of an unlawful detainer: (1)(a) when the tenant continues in possession, in person or by subtenant, of the property or any part of the property, after the expiration of the specified term or period for which it is let to the tenant... (1)(c) when the tenant continues in possession, in person or by subtenant, after default in the payment of any rent and after a notice in writing requiring the payment of the rent or the surrender of the detained premises, has remained uncomplied with for the period of three days after service.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
Unlike California, Oregon, or New York, Utah has no statewide just-cause eviction law and prohibits cities from adopting one. Salt Lake County tenants therefore have no right to renewal at the end of a lease term. The eviction (unlawful detainer) process is set by Utah Code Title 78B, Chapter 6, Part 8. Required notice periods: 3 days for nonpayment of rent (§78B-6-802(1)(a)); 3 days for lease violation or nuisance (§78B-6-802(1)(c)); 3 days for unlawful activity such as drug-related crime (§78B-6-802(1)(f)); 15 days for no-cause termination of a month-to-month tenancy (§57-17-7); and 5 business days for the tenant to respond after the landlord files the unlawful detainer complaint in Third District Court. A successful landlord can recover treble damages on holdover rent under §78B-6-811(3). The Salt Lake City Landlord/Tenant Initiative (Chapter 5.14 SLC Code) requires participating landlords to use a standardized lease and adhere to fair-housing rules, but does not impose just-cause requirements.
Violations & Fines
There is no 'wrongful eviction' cause of action for failure to renew a lease in Salt Lake County. A tenant evicted without proper notice (e.g., a lockout, utility shutoff, or removal of belongings without a court order) can sue under Utah Code §57-22-4 for actual damages plus statutory damages of $500 or two months' rent (whichever is greater), and obtain immediate restoration of possession. Self-help eviction (changing locks, posting a 'pay or leave' note without a court judgment) is illegal in every Salt Lake County city and is the most common landlord violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my landlord evict me for no reason in Salt Lake County?
How long does an eviction take in Salt Lake County?
Can a landlord lock me out without going to court?
Does the Salt Lake City Good Landlord Program require just cause?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Salt Lake County
Compare Salt Lake County to another location·View the Utah rental property rules overview
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