<section number="57-8-44"><effdate>7/1/2024</effdate><histories><history>Amended by Chapter <modchap sess="2023GS">401</modchap>, 2023 General Session</history><modyear>2023</modyear></histories><catchline>Lien in favor of association of unit owners for assessments and costs of collection.</catchline><subsection number="57-8-44(1)"><subsection number="57-8-44(1)(a)">
Except as provided in Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="57-8-13.1" start="0">57-8-13.1</xref>, an association of unit owners has a lien on a unit for:<subsection number="57-8-44(1)(a)(i)">
an assessment;</subsection><subsection number="57-8-44(1)(a)(ii)">
except as provided in the declaration, fees, charges, and costs associated with collecting an unpaid assessment, including:
<subsection number="57-8-44(1)(a)(ii)(A)">
court costs and reasonable attorney fees;</subsection><subsection number="57-8-44(1)(a)(ii)(B)">
late charges;</subsection><subsection number="57-8-44(1)(a)(ii)(C)">
interest; and</subsection><subsection number="57-8-44(1)(a)(ii)(D)">
any other amount that the association of unit owners is entitled to recover under the declaration, this chapter, or an administrative or judicial decision; and</subsection></subsection><subsection number="57-8-44(1)(a)(iii)">
a fine that the association of unit owners imposes against a unit owner in accordance with Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="57-8-37" start="0">57-8-37</xref>, if:
<subsection number="57-8-44(1)(a)(iii)(A)">
the time for appeal described in Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="57-8-37(5)" start="0">57-8-37(5)</xref> has expired and the unit owner did not file an appeal; or</subsection><subsection number="57-8-44(1)(a)(iii)(B)">
the unit owner timely filed an appeal under Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="57-8-37(5)" start="0">57-8-37(5)</xref> and a court issued a final order upholding a fine imposed under Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="57-8-37(1)" start="0">57-8-37(1)</xref>.</subsection></subsection></subsection><subsection number="57-8-44(1)(b)">
The recording of a declaration constitutes record notice and perfection of a lien described in Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="57-8-44(1)(a)" start="0">(1)(a)</xref>.</subsection></subsection><subsection number="57-8-44(2)">
If an assessment is payable in installments, a lien described in Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="57-8-44(1)(a)(i)" start="0">(1)(a)(i)</xref> is for the full amount of the assessment from the time the first installment is due, unless the association of unit owners otherwise provides in a notice of assessment.</subsection><subsection number="57-8-44(3)">
An unpaid assessment or fine accrues interest at the rate provided:
<subsection number="57-8-44(3)(a)">
in Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="15-1-1(2)" start="0">15-1-1(2)</xref>; or</subsection><subsection number="57-8-44(3)(b)">
in the governing documents, if the governing documents provide for a different interest rate.</subsection></subsection><subsection number="57-8-44(4)">
A lien under this section has priority over each other lien and encumbrance on a unit except:
<subsection number="57-8-44(4)(a)">
a lien or encumbrance recorded before the declaration is recorded;</subsection><subsection number="57-8-44(4)(b)">
a first or second security interest on the unit secured by a mortgage or deed of trust that is recorded before a recorded notice of lien by or on behalf of the association of unit owners; or</subsection><subsection number="57-8-44(4)(c)">
a lien for real estate taxes or other governmental assessments or charges against the unit.</subsection></subsection><subsection number="57-8-44(5)">
A lien under this section is not subject to <xref depth="2" refnumber="78B-5-5" start="0">Title 78B, Chapter 5, Part 5, Utah Exemptions Act</xref>.</subsection><subsection number="57-8-44(6)">
Unless the declaration provides otherwise, if two or more associations of unit owners have liens for assessments on the same unit, the liens have equal priority, regardless of when the liens are created.</subsection></section>