H.B. 56

1

CONDOMINIUM AMENDMENTS
2 2012 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Chief Sponsor: David Litvack
5 Senate Sponsor: ____________
6
7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill modifies and enacts provisions relating to condominiums.
10 Highlighted Provisions:
11 This bill:
12 . authorizes the Office of the Property Rights Ombudsman to advise condominium
13 owners and conduct or arrange for mediation or arbitration of disputes between
14 condominium owners and condominium associations;
15 . modifies Office of the Property Rights Ombudsman provisions to reflect the duties
16 related to condominium issues;
17 . provides for mediation or arbitration of disputes between condominium owners and
18 condominium associations;
19 . requires condominium associations to register and pay a fee annually;
20 . creates a Condominium Fund to pay costs associated with the Office of the Property
21 Rights Ombudsman duties relating to condominiums; and
22 . makes technical changes.
23 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
24 None
25 Other Special Clauses:
26 None
27 Utah Code Sections Affected:

28 AMENDS:
29 13-43-102, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2006, Chapter 258
30 13-43-201, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2006, Chapter 258
31 13-43-203, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapters 3, 84, and 382
32 13-43-204, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 385
33 57-8-13.1, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 255
34 57-8a-105, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 255
35
36 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
37 Section 1. Section 13-43-102 is amended to read:
38 13-43-102. Definitions.
39 As used in this chapter:
40 (1) "Condominium" means:
41 (a) condominium, as defined in Section 57-8-3 ; or
42 (b) the ownership of a single lot in a multi-lot project, together with an undivided
43 interest in common areas or limited common areas, as provided in Title 57, Chapter 8a,
44 Community Association Act.
45 (2) "Condominium association" means:
46 (a) an association of unit owners, as defined in Section 57-8-3 ; or
47 (b) an association, as defined in Section 57-8a-102 .
48 (3) "Condominium unit" means:
49 (a) a condominium unit, as defined in Section 57-8-3 ; or
50 (b) a lot, as defined in Section 57-8a-102 .
51 [(1)] (4) "Constitutional taking" or "taking" means a governmental action resulting in a
52 taking of real property that requires compensation to the owner of the property under:
53 (a) the Fifth or Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States; or
54 (b) Utah Constitution Article I, Section 22.
55 [(2)] (5) "Takings and eminent domain law" means the provisions of the federal and
56 state constitutions, the case law interpreting those provisions, and any relevant statutory
57 provisions that:
58 (a) involve constitutional issues arising from the use or ownership of real property;

59 (b) require a governmental unit to compensate a real property owner for a
60 constitutional taking; or
61 (c) provide for relocation assistance to those persons who are displaced by the use of
62 eminent domain.
63 Section 2. Section 13-43-201 is amended to read:
64 13-43-201. Office of the Property Rights Ombudsman.
65 (1) There is created an Office of the Property Rights Ombudsman in the Department of
66 Commerce.
67 (2) The executive director of the Department of Commerce, with the concurrence of
68 the Land Use and Eminent Domain Advisory Board created in Section 13-43-202 , shall appoint
69 attorneys with background or expertise in takings, eminent domain, [and] land use, and
70 condominium law to fill legal positions within the Office of the Property Rights Ombudsman.
71 (3) A person appointed under this section is an exempt employee.
72 (4) An attorney appointed under this section is an at-will employee who may be
73 terminated without cause by:
74 (a) the executive director of the Department of Commerce; or
75 (b) an action of the land Use and Eminent Domain Advisory Board.
76 Section 3. Section 13-43-203 is amended to read:
77 13-43-203. Office of the Property Rights Ombudsman -- Duties.
78 (1) The Office of the Property Rights Ombudsman shall:
79 (a) develop and maintain expertise in and understanding of takings, eminent domain,
80 [and] land use, and condominium law;
81 (b) assist state agencies and local governments in developing the guidelines required by
82 Title 63L, Chapter 4, Constitutional [Taking] Takings Issues Act;
83 (c) at the request of a state agency or local government, assist the state agency or local
84 government, in analyzing actions with potential takings implications or other land use issues;
85 (d) advise a real property [owners] owner who:
86 (i) [have] has a legitimate potential or actual takings claim against a state or local
87 government entity or [have] has questions about takings, eminent domain, and land use law; or
88 (ii) [own] owns a parcel of property that is landlocked, as to the owner's rights and
89 options with respect to obtaining access to a public street;

90 (e) identify state or local government actions that have potential takings implications
91 and, if appropriate, advise those state or local government entities about those implications;
92 [and]
93 (f) provide information to private citizens, civic groups, government entities, and other
94 interested parties about takings, eminent domain, [and] land use, or condominium law and their
95 rights and responsibilities under the takings, eminent domain, [or] land use, or condominium
96 laws through seminars and publications, and by other appropriate means[.]; and
97 (g) advise a condominium owner who has a legitimate potential or actual dispute with
98 the owner's condominium association involving the owner's condominium unit.
99 (2) The Office of the Property Rights Ombudsman may not represent private property
100 owners, state agencies, or local governments in court or in adjudicative proceedings under Title
101 63G, Chapter 4, Administrative Procedures Act.
102 (3) No member of the Office of the Property Rights Ombudsman nor a neutral third
103 party rendering an advisory opinion under Section 13-43-205 or 13-43-206 , may be compelled
104 to testify in a civil action filed concerning the subject matter of any review, mediation, or
105 arbitration by, or arranged through, the office.
106 (4) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (4)(b), evidence of a review by the Office of
107 the Property Rights Ombudsman and the opinions, writings, findings, and determinations of the
108 Office of the Property Rights Ombudsman are not admissible as evidence in a judicial action.
109 (b) Subsection (4)(a) does not apply to:
110 (i) actions brought under authority of Title 78A, Chapter 8, Small Claims Courts;
111 (ii) a judicial confirmation or review of the arbitration itself as authorized in Title 78B,
112 Chapter 11, Utah Uniform Arbitration Act;
113 (iii) actions for de novo review of an arbitration award or issue brought under the
114 authority of Subsection 13-43-204 (3)(a)(i); or
115 (iv) advisory opinions provided for in Sections 13-43-205 and 13-43-206 .
116 Section 4. Section 13-43-204 is amended to read:
117 13-43-204. Office of the Property Rights Ombudsman -- Arbitration or mediation
118 of disputes.
119 (1) (a) If requested by the private property owner and if otherwise appropriate, the
120 Office of the Property Rights Ombudsman shall mediate, or conduct or arrange arbitration for,

121 a dispute between the owner and a government entity:
122 [(a)] (i) involving taking or eminent domain issues;
123 [(b)] (ii) involved in an action for eminent domain under Title 78B, Chapter 6, Part 5,
124 Eminent Domain; or
125 [(c)] (iii) involving relocation assistance under Title 57, Chapter 12, Utah Relocation
126 Assistance Act.
127 (b) (i) As used in this Subsection (1)(b), "legitimate dispute" means a dispute:
128 (A) concerning a matter of greater than trivial significance; and
129 (B) arising from allegations that, if true, would show that the condominium association
130 has taken or is taking action that is contrary to state law or to the declaration, bylaws, or other
131 documents governing the association.
132 (ii) If requested by an owner of a condominium unit and otherwise appropriate, the
133 Office of the Property Rights Ombudsman shall, with respect to a dispute that the Office of the
134 Property Rights Ombudsman determines, after appropriate investigation, to be a legitimate
135 dispute between the owner and the owner's condominium association, mediate the dispute or
136 arbitrate or arrange arbitration for the dispute.
137 (2) If arbitration or mediation is requested by a private property owner or owner of a
138 condominium unit under this section, Section 57-12-14 or 78B-6-522 , and arranged by the
139 Office of the Property Rights Ombudsman, the government entity [or], condemning entity, or
140 condominium association, as applicable, shall participate in the mediation or arbitration as if
141 the matter were ordered to mediation or arbitration by a court.
142 (3) (a) (i) In conducting or arranging for arbitration under Subsection (1), the Office of
143 the Property Rights Ombudsman shall follow the procedures and requirements of Title 78B,
144 Chapter 11, Utah Uniform Arbitration Act.
145 (ii) In applying Title 78B, Chapter 11, Utah Uniform Arbitration Act, the arbitrator and
146 parties shall treat the matter as if:
147 (A) it were ordered to arbitration by a court; and
148 (B) the Office of the Property Rights Ombudsman or other arbitrator chosen as
149 provided for in this section was appointed as arbitrator by the court.
150 (iii) For the purpose of an arbitration conducted under this section, if the dispute to be
151 arbitrated is not already the subject of legal action, the district court having jurisdiction over

152 the county where the private property involved in the dispute is located is the court referred to
153 in Title 78B, Chapter 11, Utah Uniform Arbitration Act.
154 (iv) An arbitration award under this chapter may not be vacated under the provisions of
155 Subsection 78B-11-124 (1)(e) because of the lack of an arbitration agreement between the
156 parties.
157 (b) The Office of the Property Rights Ombudsman shall issue a written statement
158 declining to arbitrate or to appoint an arbitrator when, in the opinion of the Office of the
159 Property Rights Ombudsman:
160 (i) the issues are not ripe for review;
161 (ii) assuming the alleged facts are true[,]:
162 (A) no cause of action exists under United States or Utah law; or
163 (B) for a dispute between the owner of a condominium unit and the owner's
164 condominium association under Subsection (1)(b), the Office of the Property Rights
165 Ombudsman determines that the dispute is not a legitimate dispute, as defined in Subsection
166 (1)(b);
167 (iii) all issues raised are beyond the scope of the Office of the Property Rights
168 Ombudsman's statutory duty to review; or
169 (iv) the arbitration is otherwise not appropriate.
170 (c) (i) The Office of the Property Rights Ombudsman shall appoint another person to
171 arbitrate a dispute when:
172 (A) either party objects to the Office of the Property Rights Ombudsman serving as the
173 arbitrator and agrees to pay for the services of another arbitrator;
174 (B) the Office of the Property Rights Ombudsman declines to arbitrate the dispute for a
175 reason other than those stated in Subsection (3)(b) and one or both parties are willing to pay for
176 the services of another arbitrator; or
177 (C) the Office of the Property Rights Ombudsman determines that it is appropriate to
178 appoint another person to arbitrate the dispute with no charge to the parties for the services of
179 the appointed arbitrator.
180 (ii) In appointing another person to arbitrate a dispute, the Office of the Property Rights
181 Ombudsman shall appoint an arbitrator who is agreeable to:
182 (A) both parties; or

183 (B) the Office of the Property Rights Ombudsman and the party paying for the
184 arbitrator.
185 (iii) The Office of the Property Rights Ombudsman may, on its own initiative or upon
186 agreement of both parties, appoint a panel of arbitrators to conduct the arbitration.
187 (iv) The Department of Commerce may pay an arbitrator per diem and reimburse
188 expenses incurred in the performance of the arbitrator's duties at the rates established by the
189 Division of Finance under Sections 63A-3-106 and 63A-3-107 .
190 (d) In arbitrating a dispute, the arbitrator shall apply the relevant statutes, case law,
191 regulations, and rules of Utah and the United States in conducting the arbitration and in
192 determining the award.
193 (e) (i) The property owner and government entity may agree in advance of arbitration
194 that the arbitration is binding and that no de novo review may occur.
195 (ii) An owner of a condominium unit and a condominium association may agree before
196 arbitration that the arbitration is binding or that no de novo review may occur.
197 (f) [Arbitration] Mediation or arbitration by or through the Office of the Property
198 Rights Ombudsman is not necessary before bringing legal action to adjudicate any claim.
199 (g) The lack of mediation or arbitration by or through the Office of the Property Rights
200 Ombudsman does not constitute, and may not be interpreted as constituting, a failure to exhaust
201 available administrative remedies or as a bar to bringing legal action.
202 (h) Arbitration under this section is not subject to Title 63G, Chapter 4, Administrative
203 Procedures Act, or Title 78B, Chapter 6, Part 2, Alternative Dispute Resolution Act.
204 (i) Within 30 days after an arbitrator issues a final award, and except as provided in
205 Subsection (3)(e), any party may submit the dispute, the award, or any issue upon which the
206 award is based, to the district court for review by trial de novo.
207 (4) The filing with the Office of the Property Rights Ombudsman of a request for
208 mediation or arbitration of a constitutional taking issue does not stay any county or municipal
209 land use decision, including the decision of a board of adjustment.
210 (5) Members of the Office of the Property Rights Ombudsman may not be compelled
211 to testify in a civil action filed concerning the subject matter of any review, mediation, or
212 arbitration by the Office of the Property Rights Ombudsman.
213 Section 5. Section 57-8-13.1 is amended to read:

214 57-8-13.1. Registration with Department of Commerce.
215 (1) As used in this section[, "department"]:
216 (a) "Department" means the Department of Commerce created in Section 13-1-2 .
217 (b) "Fund" means the Condominium Fund created in Subsection (7).
218 (2) (a) No later than 90 days after the recording of a declaration, an association of unit
219 owners shall register with the department in the manner established by the department.
220 (b) An association of unit owners existing under a declaration recorded before May 10,
221 2011, shall, no later than July 1, 2011, register with the department in the manner established
222 by the department.
223 (3) The department shall require an association of unit owners registering as required
224 in this section to provide with each registration:
225 (a) the name and address of the association of unit owners;
226 (b) the name, address, telephone number, and, if applicable, email address of the
227 president of the association of unit owners;
228 (c) the name and address of each management committee member;
229 (d) the name, address, telephone number, and, if the contact person wishes to use email
230 or facsimile transmission for communicating payoff information, the email address or facsimile
231 number, as applicable, of a primary contact person who has association payoff information that
232 a closing agent needs in connection with the closing of a unit owner's financing, refinancing, or
233 sale of the owner's unit; and
234 (e) a registration fee not to exceed $37.
235 (4) An association of unit owners that has registered under Subsection (2) shall submit
236 to the department an updated registration, in the manner established by the department, within
237 90 days after a change in any of the information provided under Subsection (3).
238 (5) (a) Following its initial registration under Subsection (2), an association of unit
239 owners shall annually:
240 (i) register with the department in the manner and on the schedule established by the
241 Department, subject to Subsection (5)(b); and
242 (ii) pay a registration fee equal to $2 for each condominium unit within the association
243 of unit owners.
244 (b) (i) An association of unit owners organized as a nonprofit corporation under Title

245 16, Chapter 6a, Utah Revised Nonprofit Corporation Act, fulfills the annual registration
246 requirement under Subsection (5)(a) by:
247 (A) complying with the annual report requirement imposed on a nonprofit corporation
248 under Section 16-6a-1607 ; and
249 (B) submitting to the department a copy of the annual report.
250 (ii) Subsection (5)(b)(i) does not affect the requirement under Subsection (5)(a)(ii) to
251 pay an annual registration fee.
252 (c) The department may impose a late fee on an association of unit owners that fails to
253 register and to pay the applicable registration fee under Subsection (5)(a) on time.
254 [(5)] (6) During any period of noncompliance with the registration requirements of
255 Subsection (2) [or], the requirement for an updated registration under Subsection (4), or the
256 requirement for an annual registration under Subsection (5):
257 (a) a lien for the nonpayment of common expenses may not arise under Section
258 57-8-20 against any condominium unit within an association of unit owners that is in
259 noncompliance; and
260 (b) an association of unit owners that is not in compliance may not enforce a previous
261 lien under Section 57-8-20 against any condominium unit.
262 (7) (a) There is created a restricted special revenue fund known as the Condominium
263 Fund.
264 (b) The fund consists of:
265 (i) registration fees and late fees that the department collects under this Subsection (7)
266 and Subsection 57-8a-105 (5); and
267 (ii) interest and other earnings derived from money in the fund.
268 (c) The department shall administer the fund.
269 (d) Money in the fund:
270 (i) shall be used to pay:
271 (A) expenses that the Office of the Property Rights Ombudsman incurs in
272 administering its duties under Sections 13-43-203 and 13-43-204 relating to condominium
273 owners and disputes between condominium owners and associations of unit owners; and
274 (B) the costs of mediation and arbitration of disputes between condominium owners
275 and associations of unit owners under Section 13-43-204 ; and

276 (ii) may be used to pay the department's costs of administering the fund.
277 (e) All interest and other earnings derived from money in the fund shall be deposited
278 into the fund.
279 (f) The state treasurer shall invest the money in the fund under Title 51, Chapter 7,
280 State Money Management Act.
281 Section 6. Section 57-8a-105 is amended to read:
282 57-8a-105. Registration with Department of Commerce.
283 (1) As used in this section[, "department"]:
284 (a) "Department" means the Department of Commerce created in Section 13-1-2 .
285 (b) "Fund" means the Condominium Fund created in Subsection 57-8-13.1 (7).
286 (2) (a) No later than 90 days after the recording of a declaration of covenants,
287 conditions, and restrictions establishing an association, the association shall register with the
288 department in the manner established by the department.
289 (b) An association existing under a declaration of covenants, conditions, and
290 restrictions recorded before May 10, 2011, shall, no later than July 1, 2011, register with the
291 department in the manner established by the department.
292 (3) The department shall require an association registering as required in this section to
293 provide with each registration:
294 (a) the name and address of the association;
295 (b) the name, address, telephone number, and, if applicable, email address of the chair
296 of the association board;
297 (c) contact information for the manager;
298 (d) the name, address, telephone number, and, if the contact person wishes to use email
299 or facsimile transmission for communicating payoff information, the email address or facsimile
300 number, as applicable, of a primary contact person who has association payoff information that
301 a closing agent needs in connection with the closing of a lot owner's financing, refinancing, or
302 sale of the owner's lot; and
303 (e) a registration fee not to exceed $37.
304 (4) An association that has registered under Subsection (2) shall submit to the
305 department an updated registration, in the manner established by the department, within 90
306 days after a change in any of the information provided under Subsection (3).

307 (5) (a) Following its initial registration under Subsection (2), an association shall
308 annually:
309 (i) register with the department in the manner and on the schedule established by the
310 Department, subject to Subsection (5)(b); and
311 (ii) pay a registration fee equal to $2 for each lot within the association.
312 (b) (i) An association organized as a nonprofit corporation under Title 16, Chapter 6a,
313 Utah Revised Nonprofit Corporation Act, fulfills the annual registration requirement under
314 Subsection (5)(a) by:
315 (A) complying with the annual report requirement imposed on a nonprofit corporation
316 under Section 16-6a-1607 ; and
317 (B) submitting to the department a copy of the annual report.
318 (ii) Subsection (5)(b)(i) does not affect the requirement under Subsection (5)(a)(ii) to
319 pay an annual registration fee.
320 (c) The department may impose a late fee on an association that fails to register and to
321 pay the applicable registration fee under Subsection (5)(a) on time.
322 [(5)] (6) During any period of noncompliance with the registration requirements of
323 Subsection (2) [or], the requirement for an updated registration under Subsection (4), or the
324 requirement for an annual registration under Subsection (5):
325 (a) a lien for the nonpayment of an assessment may not arise under Section 57-8a-203
326 against any lot within an association that is in noncompliance; and
327 (b) an association that is in noncompliance may not enforce a previous lien under
328 Section 57-8a-203 against any lot.




Legislative Review Note
as of 12-15-11 3:37 PM

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel