If you’re a landlord seeking to evict a tenant, use a Utah (UT) eviction notice to begin the process. Your eviction notice must be written according to Utah state law, and give your tenant the legally required amount of time to respond or move out.
In Utah, eviction lawsuits are governed by Title 78B, Chapter 6, Part 8 of the Utah Code.
Eviction notices in Utah are also known as:
- Utah Notice to Quit
- Utah Notice to Pay Rent or Quit
- Utah Notice to Vacate
- Utah Lease Termination
Utah Eviction Notices by Type
Download a free eviction notice customized for Utah state law below in MS Word (.docx) or Adobe PDF format.
15-Day Lease Termination: Use this notice to let a tenant know that you’re ending a month-to-month lease, and that they must prepare to leave your property. In Utah, landlords must give tenants 15 days’ notice to move out if they’re on a month-to-month lease.
Download: Word (.docx) or Adobe PDF
3-Day Notice to Quit for Non-Compliance: Use this notice to begin evicting a tenant if they’ve broken the terms of your lease. In Utah, landlords must give tenants three days’ notice before the eviction process can proceed in court. In that time, tenants may have the option to fix (or “cure”) the problem.
Download: Word (.docx) or Adobe PDF
3-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Quit: Use this notice to begin evicting a tenant if they haven’t paid rent on time. In Utah, landlords must give tenants three days to pay rent before the eviction process can proceed in court.
Download: Word (.docx) or Adobe PDF
If you wish to send a letter simply reminding your tenant that rent is late (without threat of eviction), use a late rent notice.
Eviction Laws & Requirements
- Eviction Laws: Utah Code Part § 78B-6-801
- Rent Payment Grace Period: 3 days (§ 78B-6-802(1)(c))
- Notice of Non-Compliance: 3 days (§ 78B-6-802(1)(h))
- Late or Non-Rent Payment Notice: 3 days (§ 78B-6-802(1)(c))
- Lease Termination (Month-to-Month): 15 days (§ 78B-6-802(1)(b)(i))
- Illegal Activity: 3 days (§ 78B-6-802(1)(g))
What is the Eviction Process in Utah?
Step 1: Serve an Eviction Notice
To begin the eviction process in Utah, you must legally “serve” the late rent notice or lease termination notice on the tenant.
The Utah eviction notice must state the reason why you are evicting the tenant. Legal service in Utah includes delivering the eviction notice by any of the following methods as outlined in Section 78B-6-805:
- Delivering it personally to the tenant
- Mailing it via registered or certified mail
- Leaving it with a person of suitable age and discretion at the residence if the tenant is not there, followed by mailing it to the tenant
- Affixing it in an easy-to-see place on the premises if a person of suitable age or discretion can’t be found
Step 2: File an Eviction Lawsuit with the Court
If the tenant doesn’t move out on their own, the landlord must file a lawsuit with the District Court in the county where the property is located. The landlord must prepare a complaint that follows the rules of Utah Code Section 78B-6-807. The complaint and the following documents must be served on the tenant:
- The written rental agreement, if any
- The eviction notice that was already served
- An itemized calculation of past-due rent, damages, legal costs, and attorney fees
- Notice of required disclosures
The tenant has three days to respond to the complaint and request a hearing
Step 3: Attend the Court Hearing
If the tenant doesn’t answer, the landlord can request a default judgment. If the tenant does respond, an occupancy hearing is scheduled within 10 days of the tenant’s answer. The landlord and tenant must provide the other with any evidence they plan to present at the hearing at least two days in advance.
Step 4: Await Judgement
If the court rules in the landlord’s favor, it will include an Order of Restitution of the Premises, which directs the sheriff or constable to remove the tenant and restore the landlord’s possession of the property.
The landlord may also receive an Order for Damages, Rent, and Attorney Fees at this point, depending on the outcome of the hearing. These fees can be as high as the value of unpaid rent, attorney fees and costs, plus three times the amount of damages from:
- Rent and other money due for the time the tenant unlawfully stayed on the property
- Forcible entry
- Damage to the property
Related Utah Court Forms
Notice to Defendant of Disclosure Requirements in Unlawful Detainer Actions: This form describes the tenant’s rights and must be served along with the complaint.
Complaint: The complaint lays out the lease violation, and why the tenant should be evicted. Landlords can use the OCAP system to prepare this form.
Summons: The summons states that the eviction process in Utah has commenced, and notifies the tenant of the time they have to respond to the complaint. This form must accompany the complaint. Landlords can use the OCAP system to prepare this form.
Judgment for Damages: The landlord prepares a Judgment for Damages form to calculate the damages the tenant owes for late rent and for unlawfully detaining the property. Landlords can use the OCAP system to prepare this form.
Order of Restitution: The Order of Restitution directs the sheriff or constable to reclaim the property for the landlord.
Eviction Information for Utah Landlords and Tenants
Landlords
Under Utah law, landlords cannot legally evict a tenant without a court order. Furthermore, landlords cannot engage in self-help measures like locking tenants out.
The Utah Courts website has extensive information for landlords that explains the eviction process and provides helpful resources, including forms and links to the OCAP system.
This road map shows the process of eviction in Utah.
Tenants
Tenants who receive an eviction notice shouldn’t ignore it. They should carefully review the details listed out by the landlord, and understand what the reason for eviction is. A tenant may be able to cure an alleged violation before any court action begins.
The Utah Courts website also has helpful information for tenants, and links to forms to object to an order for eviction.
Finally, tenants can contact Utah Legal Services for legal help related to an eviction in Utah. Their site provides a wealth of information about eviction, including information on how to respond to being locked out without a court order.
