Utah Rent Control Statewide Preemption Statute

Utah Code Sections 10-8-85.5 (municipalities) and 17-50-336 (counties) impose absolute statewide preemption on rent control. Local governments cannot enact, maintain, or enforce any ordinance, resolution, or charter provision that regulates the amount of rent charged for leasing private residential or commercial property. The preemption extends to vacancy decontrol limits, indirect price controls, and rent-stabilization schemes. The statute does not restrict voluntary affordable-housing programs funded through subsidies or land-use density incentives. Utah remains one of approximately 30 states with explicit statutory rent-control preemption, leaving rent levels entirely to market forces and individual lease agreements.

Any local rent-control ordinance is void as a matter of law. Affected landlords may seek declaratory judgment and injunctive relief plus attorney fees for unlawful enforcement.