Chapter 4.12 - GOOD LANDLORD PROGRAM

4.12.010 - Purpose.#

The cost to provide municipal services to Rental Dwellings is greater than the cost to provide services to Owner-Occupied Dwellings. Due to this added cost, disproportionate rental fees are assessed to pay the incremental cost of the disproportionate services. Pursuant to state law, however, Landlords who actively participate in the good Landlord program are permitted to pay a reduced fee, so long as they continue to comply with the provisions of this chapter.

(Ord. No. 2013-14, 10-11-2013; Ord. No. 2025-05, § 1(Exh. A), 3-12-2025)

4.12.020 - Good landlord program.#

A.

Every Landlord who is "certified" by the City pursuant to its "good landlord program" shall be entitled to a reduction in its per unit license fee in the amount set forth in the consolidated fee schedule.

B.

An Exempt residential rental business is not required to pay a disproportionate impact fee. License fees for Exempt residential rental businesses in the good landlord program are limited to the base licensing fee. Exempt businesses may still participate in the good landlord program and receive a discount in their base licensing fee.

(Ord. No. 2013-14, 10-11-2013; Ord. No. 2025-05, § 1(Exh. A), 3-12-2025)

4.12.030 - Good landlord certification.#

To receive a "good landlord" certification from the City, a Landlord shall do the following: A.

Provide proof that the Person or Persons responsible for the management of the rental housing has/have: (1) made arrangements with an entity authorized to complete Background checks; (2) procured a lease form that allows prompt eviction for criminal acts or maintaining a nuisance; (3) completed good landlord training provided or approved by the City prior to certification and once every three years thereafter. A property is exempt from the training requirement if the Manager or Landlord maintains a designation as a certified property Manager with the Utah Division of Real Estate or is otherwise exempt pursuant to state law.

B.

Within thirty (30) days of a change in the Person or Persons responsible for the management of rental housing, provide proof to the City that the new Manager(s) has/have completed good landlord training provided or approved by the City.

C.

Enter into a good landlord agreement on a form prepared by the City to institute the following practices:

1.

Require a written lease for every rental unit.

2.

Require that all adult occupants of the unit be listed on the lease.

3.

Perform Background checks on every adult who will be listed on the lease so that the Landlord is aware of past criminal convictions of the prospective Tenant.

4.

Utilize a lease form that allows eviction for criminal acts or maintaining a nuisance by a Tenant, occupant or guest.

5.

Serve notice of eviction upon a Tenant within five days of receiving notice from the City of evidence which demonstrates by a preponderance of the evidence that a Tenant or Tenant's guest has been involved in a criminal act or maintained a nuisance on the premises.

6.

Provide the City with a telephone number, email and postal address for the Landlord or Landlord's representative to which information regarding inappropriate behavior by Tenants, occupants or their guests and other notices which may be sent to the Landlord or Landlord's representative. Each Landlord shall be responsible to update and keep current this contact information, and shall execute a statement agreeing that notice sent to the contact information kept on file is sufficient to meet the requirements of notice under this chapter.

7.

Implement "crime prevention through environmental design" practices on the premises.

D.

Maintain the Rental Dwelling in a fit and habitable condition, as required by the state fit premises act, and relevant building, fire and land use codes.

(Ord. No. 2013-14, 10-11-2013; Ord. No. 2025-05, § 1(Exh. A), 3-12-2025)

4.12.040 - Required conditions on property.#

A.

Rental properties are required to conform with all applicable building, fire and land use codes, Title 57, Chapter 22 of the Utah Code (Utah Fit Premises Act), and Chapter 4.16 of this title (Fit Premises Ordinance).

B.

Upon receiving notice from the City or any other government agency of a violation of fire, building or fit premises codes, a Landlord must remedy the conditions listed in subsection (A) within one month, unless another amount of time is identified by state or local law for the particular violation. A participant who fails to timely bring the rental property into compliance shall have the participant's certification suspended, except as provided in Section 4.12.080.

C.

The City may extend these deadlines if a Landlord demonstrates that extensive renovation is needed to comply with these provisions, that the costs of renovation are extremely burdensome, and that progress is being made toward timely compliance.

(Ord. No. 2013-14, 10-11-2013; Ord. No. 2025-05, § 1(Exh. A), 3-12-2025)

4.12.050 - Audits.#

A.

The department may request an audit of the Landlord's written leases and Background checks under the following circumstances:

1.

During a regularly scheduled audit, which may occur once every three years;

2.

When alleged criminal activity occurs at a specific rental property; or

3.

When the City receives evidence that such documents are not being maintained in accordance with City ordinances.

B.

For Landlords with more than twenty (20) rental units, regular audits are initially limited to a selection of twenty-five (25) percent of the units, as selected by the City prior to inspection. Further audits may be requested by the City if substantial deficiencies are located within those which were provided.

C.

Except as provided in subsection (B) of this section, any Landlord in the program must, within five business days of a request by the City, produce evidence of written leases and Background checks. The Landlord may provide copies of the evidence via facsimile or electronic mail, deliver a physical copy of the evidence for the City's records, or permit a City official to inspect the evidence at any business premises located within the City.

D.

Failure or refusal to respond to the City official's request within five business days shall result in a suspension of the Landlord's good landlord certificate. For purposes of this section, three additional business days are permitted if notification of the audit is sent by mail.

(Ord. No. 2013-14, 10-11-2013; Ord. No. 2025-05, § 1(Exh. A), 3-12-2025)

4.12.060 - Renewal of certification.#

A.

The good landlord certificate expires every three years, at which time a Landlord who wishes to remain on the program must seek a renewal of the certificate if the Landlord wishes to seek the benefits of the good landlord program.

B.

Prior to renewal, the Landlord or Manager must attend:

1.

A renewal good landlord course which shall be approved by the City, or live training provided by another City in Utah which participates in the good landlord program; and

2.

At least one local training session provided free of charge by the City.

C.

Landlords of Exempt residential rental businesses who wish to participate in the program are exempt from the instruction provisions of subsection (B) of this section, unless the department demonstrates that the Landlord has violated the provisions of this chapter during the previous three-year period, or unless the Landlord also owns or maintains other residential rental properties within the City.

D.

The good landlord certificate will not be renewed unless the property is kept in compliance with Section 4.12.040.

E.

A Landlord whose certification is currently suspended or revoked is not eligible for renewal.

(Ord. No. 2013-14, 10-11-2013; Ord. No. 2025-05, § 1(Exh. A), 3-12-2025)

4.12.070 - Suspension of certification.#

A.

If a Landlord fails to present evidence of compliance pursuant to Section 4.12.040, or if the Landlord fails to timely correct a minor violation of the good landlord agreement, the certification for that Landlord shall be suspended. Minor violations include a failure to run a Background check on Tenants, failure to update contact information, failure to maintain written lease agreements, fit premises or health and safety violations which do not result in injury, violations of local ordinances, or failure to timely train new management. Suspension will also be entered if the Landlord or Manager fails to attend the renewal courses required by Section 4.12.060.

B.

If a Landlord's certification is suspended, the certificate shall not be reinstated until (1) the Landlord has corrected the violation for which suspension was entered, and (2) the Landlord has paid an administrative fee in an amount set forth in the consolidated fee schedule.

C.

A second violation for which suspension is ordinarily imposed, if committed within one year from the initial suspension, shall result in revocation of the Landlord's certificate.

D.

The City may not penalize a Landlord for failing to take action against a Renter because that Renter makes reasonable requests for assistance from a public safety agency.

(Ord. No. 2013-14, 10-11-2013; Ord. No. 2025-05, § 1(Exh. A), 3-12-2025)

4.12.080 - Revocation of certification.#

A.

When the Business License Official receives evidence that the Landlord has committed a major violation of the good landlord program, or has violated state or federal law in connection with the rental property the official shall revoke the Landlord's certification. Major violations include failure to begin eviction proceedings against Tenants who commit criminal acts or maintain a nuisance, or evidence that a Tenant or guest suffered bodily injury due to inadequate conditions included in Section 4.16.060. The official shall send notification, stating the reason for the revocation by certified mail to the Landlord together with instructions on how to appeal the official's decision.

B.

The Landlord whose certificate has been revoked is not entitled to certify again until after a one-year probation period.

C.

A Landlord seeking reinstatement must re-apply for the certificate, and provide evidence of attendance of an approved good landlord course.

D.

Further violations of state, local or federal law during the one-year probation period shall restart the one-year probation period, which extension may be appealed.

(Ord. No. 2013-14, 10-11-2013; Ord. No. 2025-05, § 1(Exh. A), 3-12-2025)

4.12.090 - Appeal.#

A Landlord may appeal an adverse decision related to the good landlord program to the City's administrative law judge pursuant to procedures set forth in Title 2, Chapter 22 of this code.

(Ord. No. 2013-14, 10-11-2013; Ord. No. 2025-05, § 1(Exh. A), 3-12-2025)

4.12.100 - Applicability of amendments to current participants.#

Unless otherwise stated, amendments to this chapter are effective immediately, but their application to Landlords who are currently participating in the program is deferred until the expiration or renewal of that Landlord's certification. Landlords may be required to execute a new contract with terms which conform to the amendments, if they wish to continue participating in the program.

(Ord. No. 2013-14, 10-11-2013; Ord. No. 2025-05, § 1(Exh. A), 3-12-2025)