This bill addresses private and public nuisances.
This bill:
AI-generated summary, not yet reviewed by Better Utah staff. Please consult the bill text.
Utah's nuisance laws — covering both private disputes between neighbors and public nuisances that harm the broader community — have historically been shaped largely by court decisions ("common law") built up over many years. This bill would eliminate that common-law foundation for private and public nuisance lawsuits and replace it with a new statutory framework in Title 78B that defines what qualifies as a nuisance, who can sue, and what remedies courts may order; private nuisance claims (such as drug houses, gambling, unsafe buildings, or drifting fumes) would remain available to property owners whose property is actually harmed, while public nuisance lawsuits (such as blocked waterways or public-safety hazards) would generally be limited to government entities or private parties who suffer a distinct injury beyond what the general public experiences, with remedies limited to stopping the nuisance or covering repair costs rather than punitive damages. The bill preserves one exception, allowing the attorney general to still bring a common-law nuisance action when there is substantial, ongoing harm to a significant number of Utahns, and requires periodic reporting to the legislature on any such actions. Beyond this core change, the bill also reorganizes and renumbers unrelated older nuisance-related statutes — including rules on abandoned horses, shooting ranges, and reservoir carbon storage — and expands specific legal protections against nuisance claims for agricultural operations, critical infrastructure material operations, migratory bird production areas, established shooting ranges, and certain manufacturing facilities, so long as those activities follow standard practices and applicable laws.
Current version: HB0591S03 (Substitute)
Introduction
Feb 20
House Rules
House Committee
Feb 25
House Floor Vote
Feb 27
Senate Rules
Mar 4
Senate Committee
Mar 4
Senate 2nd Reading
Mar 6
Senate 3rd Reading
Mar 6
House Concurrence
Mar 6
Governor Signed
Mar 25
IntroductionFeb 20
House Rules
House CommitteeFeb 25
House Floor VoteFeb 27
Senate RulesMar 4
Senate CommitteeMar 4
Senate 2nd ReadingMar 6
Senate 3rd ReadingMar 6
House ConcurrenceMar 6
Governor SignedMar 25
This bill addresses private and public nuisances.
This bill:
AI-generated summary, not yet reviewed by Better Utah staff. Please consult the bill text.
Utah's nuisance laws — covering both private disputes between neighbors and public nuisances that harm the broader community — have historically been shaped largely by court decisions ("common law") built up over many years. This bill would eliminate that common-law foundation for private and public nuisance lawsuits and replace it with a new statutory framework in Title 78B that defines what qualifies as a nuisance, who can sue, and what remedies courts may order; private nuisance claims (such as drug houses, gambling, unsafe buildings, or drifting fumes) would remain available to property owners whose property is actually harmed, while public nuisance lawsuits (such as blocked waterways or public-safety hazards) would generally be limited to government entities or private parties who suffer a distinct injury beyond what the general public experiences, with remedies limited to stopping the nuisance or covering repair costs rather than punitive damages. The bill preserves one exception, allowing the attorney general to still bring a common-law nuisance action when there is substantial, ongoing harm to a significant number of Utahns, and requires periodic reporting to the legislature on any such actions. Beyond this core change, the bill also reorganizes and renumbers unrelated older nuisance-related statutes — including rules on abandoned horses, shooting ranges, and reservoir carbon storage — and expands specific legal protections against nuisance claims for agricultural operations, critical infrastructure material operations, migratory bird production areas, established shooting ranges, and certain manufacturing facilities, so long as those activities follow standard practices and applicable laws.
Motion: Favorable Recommendation
Motion: Favorable Recommendation
Governor Signed
Lieutenant Governor's office for filing
House/ to Governor
Executive Branch - Governor
House/ received enrolled bill from Printing
Clerk of the House
House/ enrolled bill to Printing
Clerk of the House
Enrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
Clerk of the House
Last updated Aug 29, 2026, 5:26 PM