HB 184 Utah House · 2026 General Session

Small Lots and Starter Homes Amendments

HB 184 allows property owners to request that municipalities accept "preferred land use regulations" for building starter homes or smaller residential lots, even if current zoning would normally prohibit it. The bill defines a "starter home" as a single-family home sold at or below the local average home price (with two parking spots), and sets a minimum lot size of 5,400 square feet for certain developments. Municipalities must review these requests within five business days, either approving them or denying them with written reasoning; if not denied within 30 days, the request becomes permitted. This process aims to increase housing affordability by streamlining approvals for smaller, more affordable homes without requiring additional engineering plans or design documents.

Issues: ✓ Housing

Bill status failed 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 20, 2026 Last action Mar 7, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Substitute #2 → Substitute #3 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill was amended to expand the scope of who can request smaller lot sizes and starter homes from counties to include municipalities as well. The amendment also extends the deadline for a request to become a permitted use from 30 days to 45 days and adds a two-year window for submitting a full application after a request is approved. Additionally, the requirements for the initial request were tightened to include more specific drawing details.

Scope change

The bill's applicability was expanded to include municipalities in addition to counties, whereas the previous version only applied to counties.

SCOPE

Expanded eligibility to allow requests from municipalities located in first, second, or third-class counties, in addition to the counties themselves.

TIMELINE

Extended the time limit for a request to automatically become a permitted use from 30 days to 45 days if not denied.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new requirement that a person has two years from the date a request becomes permitted to submit a complete land use application.

Updated the request requirements to mandate a drawing that accurately depicts property dimensions and the proposed unit's dimensions, location, and outline.

Changed the request description requirement from a 'written description or drawn sketch' to a 'brief, written description' and specific drawing details.

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 5, 2026

Lower · Passed

House/ comm rpt/ sent to Rules/ substituted [House Rules Committee]

lower

Mar 4, 2026

Lower · Passed

House Comm - Recommends Returned to Rules [House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee]

lower

Feb 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

House Comm - Held [House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee]

lower

Feb 4, 2026

Committee

House/ to standing committee [House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee]

lower

Jan 20, 2026

Introduced

House/ 1st reading (Introduced)

lower

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor