Second Substitute H.B. 220

Representative Gage Froerer proposes the following substitute bill:


             1     
LAND USE AMENDMENTS

             2     
2014 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Gage Froerer

             5     
Senate Sponsor: J. Stuart Adams

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill amends provisions related to land use.
             10      Highlighted Provisions:
             11          This bill:
             12          .    clarifies the definition of land use authority;
             13          .    allows a land use applicant a substantive review of the application in certain
             14      circumstances;
             15          .    requires the land use authority to provide notice of a petition to vacate or amend a
             16      plat to each entity that provides a service to an owner of record of the portion of the
             17      plat that is being vacated or amended at least 10 calendar days before the land use
             18      authority may approve the vacation or amendment of the plat;
             19          .    requires a municipality and a county, if enacting an ordinance that imposes a stricter
             20      requirement or higher standard than is required by the land use chapters in state
             21      statute, to justify the stricter requirement or higher standard;
             22          .    provides that a recorded, amended plat vacates a previously recorded plat;
             23          .    provides that a recorded vacating ordinance replaces a previously recorded plat
             24      described in the vacating ordinance;
             25          .    requires that an amended plat be signed by the land use authority; and

             26          .    makes technical corrections.
             27      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             28          None
             29      Other Special Clauses:
             30          None
             31      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             32      AMENDS:
             33           10-9a-103 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2013, Chapters 309 and 334
             34           10-9a-104 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2013, Chapter 309
             35           10-9a-509 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2012, Chapter 216
             36           10-9a-608 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2010, Chapters 269 and 381
             37           10-9a-609 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2010, Chapter 381
             38           17-27a-103 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2013, Chapters 309, 334, and 476
             39           17-27a-104 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2013, Chapter 309
             40           17-27a-508 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2012, Chapter 216
             41           17-27a-608 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2010, Chapters 269 and 381
             42           17-27a-609 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2010, Chapter 381
             43     
             44      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             45          Section 1. Section 10-9a-103 is amended to read:
             46           10-9a-103. Definitions.
             47          As used in this chapter:
             48          (1) "Affected entity" means a county, municipality, local district, special service
             49      district under Title 17D, Chapter 1, Special Service District Act, school district, interlocal
             50      cooperation entity established under Title 11, Chapter 13, Interlocal Cooperation Act, specified
             51      public utility, property owner, property owners association, or the Utah Department of
             52      Transportation, if:
             53          (a) the entity's services or facilities are likely to require expansion or significant
             54      modification because of an intended use of land;
             55          (b) the entity has filed with the municipality a copy of the entity's general or long-range
             56      plan; or

             57          (c) the entity has filed with the municipality a request for notice during the same
             58      calendar year and before the municipality provides notice to an affected entity in compliance
             59      with a requirement imposed under this chapter.
             60          (2) "Appeal authority" means the person, board, commission, agency, or other body
             61      designated by ordinance to decide an appeal of a decision of a land use application or a
             62      variance.
             63          (3) "Billboard" means a freestanding ground sign located on industrial, commercial, or
             64      residential property if the sign is designed or intended to direct attention to a business, product,
             65      or service that is not sold, offered, or existing on the property where the sign is located.
             66          (4) (a) "Charter school" means:
             67          (i) an operating charter school;
             68          (ii) a charter school applicant that has its application approved by a chartering entity in
             69      accordance with Title 53A, Chapter 1a, Part 5, The Utah Charter Schools Act; or
             70          (iii) an entity that is working on behalf of a charter school or approved charter
             71      applicant to develop or construct a charter school building.
             72          (b) "Charter school" does not include a therapeutic school.
             73          (5) "Conditional use" means a land use that, because of its unique characteristics or
             74      potential impact on the municipality, surrounding neighbors, or adjacent land uses, may not be
             75      compatible in some areas or may be compatible only if certain conditions are required that
             76      mitigate or eliminate the detrimental impacts.
             77          (6) "Constitutional taking" means a governmental action that results in a taking of
             78      private property so that compensation to the owner of the property is required by the:
             79          (a) Fifth or Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States; or
             80          (b) Utah Constitution Article I, Section 22.
             81          (7) "Culinary water authority" means the department, agency, or public entity with
             82      responsibility to review and approve the feasibility of the culinary water system and sources for
             83      the subject property.
             84          (8) "Development activity" means:
             85          (a) any construction or expansion of a building, structure, or use that creates additional
             86      demand and need for public facilities;
             87          (b) any change in use of a building or structure that creates additional demand and need

             88      for public facilities; or
             89          (c) any change in the use of land that creates additional demand and need for public
             90      facilities.
             91          (9) (a) "Disability" means a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one
             92      or more of a person's major life activities, including a person having a record of such an
             93      impairment or being regarded as having such an impairment.
             94          (b) "Disability" does not include current illegal use of, or addiction to, any federally
             95      controlled substance, as defined in Section 102 of the Controlled Substances Act, 21 U.S.C.
             96      802.
             97          (10) "Educational facility":
             98          (a) means:
             99          (i) a school district's building at which pupils assemble to receive instruction in a
             100      program for any combination of grades from preschool through grade 12, including
             101      kindergarten and a program for children with disabilities;
             102          (ii) a structure or facility:
             103          (A) located on the same property as a building described in Subsection (10)(a)(i); and
             104          (B) used in support of the use of that building; and
             105          (iii) a building to provide office and related space to a school district's administrative
             106      personnel; and
             107          (b) does not include:
             108          (i) land or a structure, including land or a structure for inventory storage, equipment
             109      storage, food processing or preparing, vehicle storage or maintenance, or similar use that is:
             110          (A) not located on the same property as a building described in Subsection (10)(a)(i);
             111      and
             112          (B) used in support of the purposes of a building described in Subsection (10)(a)(i); or
             113          (ii) a therapeutic school.
             114          (11) "Fire authority" means the department, agency, or public entity with responsibility
             115      to review and approve the feasibility of fire protection and suppression services for the subject
             116      property.
             117          (12) "Flood plain" means land that:
             118          (a) is within the 100-year flood plain designated by the Federal Emergency

             119      Management Agency; or
             120          (b) has not been studied or designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency
             121      but presents a likelihood of experiencing chronic flooding or a catastrophic flood event because
             122      the land has characteristics that are similar to those of a 100-year flood plain designated by the
             123      Federal Emergency Management Agency.
             124          (13) "General plan" means a document that a municipality adopts that sets forth general
             125      guidelines for proposed future development of the land within the municipality.
             126          (14) "Geologic hazard" means:
             127          (a) a surface fault rupture;
             128          (b) shallow groundwater;
             129          (c) liquefaction;
             130          (d) a landslide;
             131          (e) a debris flow;
             132          (f) unstable soil;
             133          (g) a rock fall; or
             134          (h) any other geologic condition that presents a risk:
             135          (i) to life;
             136          (ii) of substantial loss of real property; or
             137          (iii) of substantial damage to real property.
             138          (15) "Hookup fee" means a fee for the installation and inspection of any pipe, line,
             139      meter, or appurtenance that connects to a municipal water, sewer, storm water, power, or other
             140      utility system.
             141          (16) "Identical plans" means building plans submitted to a municipality that:
             142          (a) are clearly marked as "identical plans";
             143          (b) are substantially identical to building plans that were previously submitted to and
             144      reviewed and approved by the municipality; and
             145          (c) describe a building that:
             146          (i) is located on land zoned the same as the land on which the building described in the
             147      previously approved plans is located;
             148          (ii) is subject to the same geological and meteorological conditions and the same law
             149      as the building described in the previously approved plans;

             150          (iii) has a floor plan identical to the building plan previously submitted to and reviewed
             151      and approved by the municipality; and
             152          (iv) does not require any additional engineering or analysis.
             153          (17) "Impact fee" means a payment of money imposed under Title 11, Chapter 36a,
             154      Impact Fees Act.
             155          (18) "Improvement completion assurance" means a surety bond, letter of credit, cash,
             156      or other security required by a municipality to guaranty the proper completion of landscaping
             157      or infrastructure that the land use authority has required as a condition precedent to:
             158          (a) recording a subdivision plat; or
             159          (b) beginning development activity.
             160          (19) "Improvement warranty" means an applicant's unconditional warranty that the
             161      accepted landscaping or infrastructure:
             162          (a) complies with the municipality's written standards for design, materials, and
             163      workmanship; and
             164          (b) will not fail in any material respect, as a result of poor workmanship or materials,
             165      within the improvement warranty period.
             166          (20) "Improvement warranty period" means a period:
             167          (a) no later than one year after a municipality's acceptance of required landscaping; or
             168          (b) no later than one year after a municipality's acceptance of required infrastructure,
             169      unless the municipality:
             170          (i) determines for good cause that a one-year period would be inadequate to protect the
             171      public health, safety, and welfare; and
             172          (ii) has substantial evidence, on record:
             173          (A) of prior poor performance by the applicant; or
             174          (B) that the area upon which the infrastructure will be constructed contains suspect soil
             175      and the municipality has not otherwise required the applicant to mitigate the suspect soil.
             176          (21) "Internal lot restriction" means a platted note, platted demarcation, or platted
             177      designation that:
             178          (a) runs with the land; and
             179          (b) (i) creates a restriction that is enclosed within the perimeter of a lot described on
             180      the plat; or

             181          (ii) designates a development condition that is enclosed within the perimeter of a lot
             182      described on the plat.
             183          (22) "Land use application" means an application required by a municipality's land use
             184      ordinance.
             185          (23) "Land use authority" means:
             186          (a) a person, board, commission, agency, or [other] body, including the local legislative
             187      body, designated by the local legislative body to act upon a land use application[.]; or
             188          (b) if the local legislative body has not designated a person, board, commission,
             189      agency, or body, the local legislative body.
             190          (24) "Land use ordinance" means a planning, zoning, development, or subdivision
             191      ordinance of the municipality, but does not include the general plan.
             192          (25) "Land use permit" means a permit issued by a land use authority.
             193          (26) "Legislative body" means the municipal council.
             194          (27) "Local district" means an entity under Title 17B, Limited Purpose Local
             195      Government Entities - Local Districts, and any other governmental or quasi-governmental
             196      entity that is not a county, municipality, school district, or the state.
             197          (28) "Lot line adjustment" means the relocation of the property boundary line in a
             198      subdivision between two adjoining lots with the consent of the owners of record.
             199          (29) "Moderate income housing" means housing occupied or reserved for occupancy
             200      by households with a gross household income equal to or less than 80% of the median gross
             201      income for households of the same size in the county in which the city is located.
             202          (30) "Nominal fee" means a fee that reasonably reimburses a municipality only for time
             203      spent and expenses incurred in:
             204          (a) verifying that building plans are identical plans; and
             205          (b) reviewing and approving those minor aspects of identical plans that differ from the
             206      previously reviewed and approved building plans.
             207          (31) "Noncomplying structure" means a structure that:
             208          (a) legally existed before its current land use designation; and
             209          (b) because of one or more subsequent land use ordinance changes, does not conform
             210      to the setback, height restrictions, or other regulations, excluding those regulations, which
             211      govern the use of land.

             212          (32) "Nonconforming use" means a use of land that:
             213          (a) legally existed before its current land use designation;
             214          (b) has been maintained continuously since the time the land use ordinance governing
             215      the land changed; and
             216          (c) because of one or more subsequent land use ordinance changes, does not conform
             217      to the regulations that now govern the use of the land.
             218          (33) "Official map" means a map drawn by municipal authorities and recorded in a
             219      county recorder's office that:
             220          (a) shows actual and proposed rights-of-way, centerline alignments, and setbacks for
             221      highways and other transportation facilities;
             222          (b) provides a basis for restricting development in designated rights-of-way or between
             223      designated setbacks to allow the government authorities time to purchase or otherwise reserve
             224      the land; and
             225          (c) has been adopted as an element of the municipality's general plan.
             226          (34) "Parcel boundary adjustment" means a recorded agreement between owners of
             227      adjoining properties adjusting their mutual boundary if:
             228          (a) no additional parcel is created; and
             229          (b) each property identified in the agreement is unsubdivided land, including a
             230      remainder of subdivided land.
             231          (35) "Person" means an individual, corporation, partnership, organization, association,
             232      trust, governmental agency, or any other legal entity.
             233          (36) "Plan for moderate income housing" means a written document adopted by a city
             234      legislative body that includes:
             235          (a) an estimate of the existing supply of moderate income housing located within the
             236      city;
             237          (b) an estimate of the need for moderate income housing in the city for the next five
             238      years as revised biennially;
             239          (c) a survey of total residential land use;
             240          (d) an evaluation of how existing land uses and zones affect opportunities for moderate
             241      income housing; and
             242          (e) a description of the city's program to encourage an adequate supply of moderate

             243      income housing.
             244          (37) "Plat" means a map or other graphical representation of lands being laid out and
             245      prepared in accordance with Section 10-9a-603 , 17-23-17 , or 57-8-13 .
             246          (38) "Potential geologic hazard area" means an area that:
             247          (a) is designated by a Utah Geological Survey map, county geologist map, or other
             248      relevant map or report as needing further study to determine the area's potential for geologic
             249      hazard; or
             250          (b) has not been studied by the Utah Geological Survey or a county geologist but
             251      presents the potential of geologic hazard because the area has characteristics similar to those of
             252      a designated geologic hazard area.
             253          (39) "Public agency" means:
             254          (a) the federal government;
             255          (b) the state;
             256          (c) a county, municipality, school district, local district, special service district, or other
             257      political subdivision of the state; or
             258          (d) a charter school.
             259          (40) "Public hearing" means a hearing at which members of the public are provided a
             260      reasonable opportunity to comment on the subject of the hearing.
             261          (41) "Public meeting" means a meeting that is required to be open to the public under
             262      Title 52, Chapter 4, Open and Public Meetings Act.
             263          (42) "Receiving zone" means an area of a municipality that the municipality
             264      designates, by ordinance, as an area in which an owner of land may receive a transferable
             265      development right.
             266          (43) "Record of survey map" means a map of a survey of land prepared in accordance
             267      with Section 17-23-17 .
             268          (44) "Residential facility for persons with a disability" means a residence:
             269          (a) in which more than one person with a disability resides; and
             270          (b) (i) which is licensed or certified by the Department of Human Services under Title
             271      62A, Chapter 2, Licensure of Programs and Facilities; or
             272          (ii) which is licensed or certified by the Department of Health under Title 26, Chapter
             273      21, Health Care Facility Licensing and Inspection Act.

             274          (45) "Rules of order and procedure" means a set of rules that govern and prescribe in a
             275      public meeting:
             276          (a) parliamentary order and procedure;
             277          (b) ethical behavior; and
             278          (c) civil discourse.
             279          (46) "Sanitary sewer authority" means the department, agency, or public entity with
             280      responsibility to review and approve the feasibility of sanitary sewer services or onsite
             281      wastewater systems.
             282          (47) "Sending zone" means an area of a municipality that the municipality designates,
             283      by ordinance, as an area from which an owner of land may transfer a transferable development
             284      right.
             285          (48) "Specified public agency" means:
             286          (a) the state;
             287          (b) a school district; or
             288          (c) a charter school.
             289          (49) "Specified public utility" means an electrical corporation, gas corporation, or
             290      telephone corporation, as those terms are defined in Section 54-2-1 .
             291          (50) "State" includes any department, division, or agency of the state.
             292          (51) "Street" means a public right-of-way, including a highway, avenue, boulevard,
             293      parkway, road, lane, walk, alley, viaduct, subway, tunnel, bridge, public easement, or other
             294      way.
             295          (52) (a) "Subdivision" means any land that is divided, resubdivided or proposed to be
             296      divided into two or more lots, parcels, sites, units, plots, or other division of land for the
             297      purpose, whether immediate or future, for offer, sale, lease, or development either on the
             298      installment plan or upon any and all other plans, terms, and conditions.
             299          (b) "Subdivision" includes:
             300          (i) the division or development of land whether by deed, metes and bounds description,
             301      devise and testacy, map, plat, or other recorded instrument; and
             302          (ii) except as provided in Subsection (52)(c), divisions of land for residential and
             303      nonresidential uses, including land used or to be used for commercial, agricultural, and
             304      industrial purposes.

             305          (c) "Subdivision" does not include:
             306          (i) a bona fide division or partition of agricultural land for the purpose of joining one of
             307      the resulting separate parcels to a contiguous parcel of unsubdivided agricultural land, if
             308      neither the resulting combined parcel nor the parcel remaining from the division or partition
             309      violates an applicable land use ordinance;
             310          (ii) a recorded agreement between owners of adjoining unsubdivided properties
             311      adjusting their mutual boundary if:
             312          (A) no new lot is created; and
             313          (B) the adjustment does not violate applicable land use ordinances;
             314          (iii) a recorded document, executed by the owner of record:
             315          (A) revising the legal description of more than one contiguous unsubdivided parcel of
             316      property into one legal description encompassing all such parcels of property; or
             317          (B) joining a subdivided parcel of property to another parcel of property that has not
             318      been subdivided, if the joinder does not violate applicable land use ordinances;
             319          (iv) a recorded agreement between owners of adjoining subdivided properties adjusting
             320      their mutual boundary if:
             321          (A) no new dwelling lot or housing unit will result from the adjustment; and
             322          (B) the adjustment will not violate any applicable land use ordinance;
             323          (v) a bona fide division or partition of land by deed or other instrument where the land
             324      use authority expressly approves in writing the division in anticipation of further land use
             325      approvals on the parcel or parcels; or
             326          (vi) a parcel boundary adjustment.
             327          (d) The joining of a subdivided parcel of property to another parcel of property that has
             328      not been subdivided does not constitute a subdivision under this Subsection (52) as to the
             329      unsubdivided parcel of property or subject the unsubdivided parcel to the municipality's
             330      subdivision ordinance.
             331          (53) "Suspect soil" means soil that has:
             332          (a) a high susceptibility for volumetric change, typically clay rich, having more than a
             333      3% swell potential;
             334          (b) bedrock units with high shrink or swell susceptibility; or
             335          (c) gypsiferous silt and clay, gypsum, or bedrock units containing abundant gypsum

             336      commonly associated with dissolution and collapse features.
             337          (54) "Therapeutic school" means a residential group living facility:
             338          (a) for four or more individuals who are not related to:
             339          (i) the owner of the facility; or
             340          (ii) the primary service provider of the facility;
             341          (b) that serves students who have a history of failing to function:
             342          (i) at home;
             343          (ii) in a public school; or
             344          (iii) in a nonresidential private school; and
             345          (c) that offers:
             346          (i) room and board; and
             347          (ii) an academic education integrated with:
             348          (A) specialized structure and supervision; or
             349          (B) services or treatment related to a disability, an emotional development, a
             350      behavioral development, a familial development, or a social development.
             351          (55) "Transferable development right" means a right to develop and use land that
             352      originates by an ordinance that authorizes a land owner in a designated sending zone to transfer
             353      land use rights from a designated sending zone to a designated receiving zone.
             354          (56) "Unincorporated" means the area outside of the incorporated area of a city or
             355      town.
             356          (57) "Water interest" means any right to the beneficial use of water, including:
             357          (a) each of the rights listed in Section 73-1-11 ; and
             358          (b) an ownership interest in the right to the beneficial use of water represented by:
             359          (i) a contract; or
             360          (ii) a share in a water company, as defined in Section 73-3-3.5 .
             361          (58) "Zoning map" means a map, adopted as part of a land use ordinance, that depicts
             362      land use zones, overlays, or districts.
             363          Section 2. Section 10-9a-104 is amended to read:
             364           10-9a-104. Stricter requirements.
             365          (1) Except as provided in Subsection (2), a municipality may enact an ordinance
             366      imposing a stricter [requirements] requirement or higher [standards] standard than [are] is

             367      required by this chapter[.], if the municipality:
             368          (a) prepares in writing a justification of why imposing a stricter requirement or higher
             369      standard is necessary;
             370          (b) includes the written justification under Subsection (1)(a) with each publication of
             371      the proposed or adopted ordinance being justified; and
             372          (c) holds a public hearing on the written justification under Subsection (1)(a)
             373      concurrent with the public hearing on the ordinance being justified.
             374          (2) A municipality may not impose stricter requirements or higher standards than are
             375      required by:
             376          (a) Section 10-9a-305 ; and
             377          (b) Section 10-9a-514 .
             378          (3) Before January 1, 2015, a municipality shall, for each ordinance in effect on May
             379      13, 2014, that imposes a stricter requirement or higher standard than is required by this chapter:
             380          (a) prepare in writing a justification of why a stricter requirement or higher standard is
             381      necessary; and
             382          (b) include the written justification under Subsection (3)(a) with the ordinance being
             383      justified with each publication of the ordinance.
             384          Section 3. Section 10-9a-509 is amended to read:
             385           10-9a-509. Applicant's entitlement to land use application approval -- Exceptions
             386      -- Application relating to land in a high priority transportation corridor -- Municipality's
             387      requirements and limitations -- Vesting upon submission of development plan and
             388      schedule.
             389          (1) (a) (i) An applicant who has filed a complete land use application, including the
             390      payment of all application fees, is entitled to substantive land use review of the land use
             391      application under the land use laws in effect on the date that the application is complete and as
             392      further provided in this section.
             393          (ii) Except as provided in Subsection (1)(b), an applicant is entitled to approval of a
             394      land use application if the application conforms to the requirements of the municipality's land
             395      use maps, zoning map, a municipal specification for public improvements applicable to a
             396      subdivision or development, and an applicable land use ordinance in effect when a complete
             397      application is submitted and all application fees have been paid, unless:

             398          [(i)] (A) the land use authority, on the record, finds that a compelling, countervailing
             399      public interest would be jeopardized by approving the application; or
             400          [(ii)] (B) in the manner provided by local ordinance and before the application is
             401      submitted, the municipality has formally initiated proceedings to amend its ordinances in a
             402      manner that would prohibit approval of the application as submitted.
             403          (b) (i) Except as provided in Subsection (1)(c), an applicant is not entitled to approval
             404      of a land use application until the requirements of this Subsection (1)(b) have been met if the
             405      land use application relates to land located within the boundaries of a high priority
             406      transportation corridor designated in accordance with Section 72-5-403 .
             407          (ii) (A) A municipality shall notify the executive director of the Department of
             408      Transportation of any land use applications that relate to land located within the boundaries of
             409      a high priority transportation corridor.
             410          (B) The notification under Subsection (1)(b)(ii)(A) shall be in writing and mailed by
             411      certified or registered mail to the executive director of the Department of Transportation.
             412          (iii) Except as provided in Subsection (1)(c), a municipality may not approve a land
             413      use application that relates to land located within the boundaries of a high priority
             414      transportation corridor until:
             415          (A) 30 days after the notification under Subsection (1)(b)(ii)(A) is received by the
             416      Department of Transportation if the land use application is for a building permit; or
             417          (B) 45 days after the notification under Subsection (1)(b)(ii)(A) is received by the
             418      Department of Transportation if the land use application is for any land use other than a
             419      building permit.
             420          (iv) (A) If an application is an application for a subdivision approval, including any
             421      land, subject to Subsection (1)(b)(iv)(C), located within 100 feet of the center line of a canal,
             422      the land use authority shall:
             423          (I) within 30 days after the day on which the application is filed, notify the canal
             424      company or canal operator responsible for the canal, if the canal company or canal operator has
             425      provided information under Section 10-9a-211 ; and
             426          (II) wait at least 10 days after the day on which the land use authority notifies a canal
             427      company or canal operator under Subsection (1)(b)(iv)(A)(I) to approve or reject the
             428      subdivision application described in Subsection (1)(b)(iv)(A).

             429          (B) The notification under Subsection (1)(b)(iv)(A) shall be in writing and mailed by
             430      certified or registered mail to the canal company or canal operator contact described in Section
             431      10-9a-211 .
             432          (C) The location of land described in Subsection (1)(b)(iv)(A) shall be:
             433          (I) provided by a canal company or canal operator to the land use authority; and
             434          (II) (Aa) determined by use of mapping-grade global positioning satellite units; or
             435          (Bb) digitized from the most recent aerial photo available to the canal company or
             436      canal operator.
             437          (c) (i) A land use application is exempt from the requirements of Subsections (1)(b)(i)
             438      and (ii) if:
             439          (A) the land use application relates to land that was the subject of a previous land use
             440      application; and
             441          (B) the previous land use application described under Subsection (1)(c)(i)(A) complied
             442      with the requirements of Subsections (1)(b)(i) and (ii).
             443          (ii) A municipality may approve a land use application without making the required
             444      notifications under Subsection (1)(b)(ii)(A) if:
             445          (A) the land use application relates to land that was the subject of a previous land use
             446      application; and
             447          (B) the previous land use application described under Subsection (1)(c)(ii)(A)
             448      complied with the requirements of Subsections (1)(b)(i) and (ii).
             449          (d) After a municipality has complied with the requirements of Subsection (1)(b) for a
             450      land use application, the municipality may not withhold approval of the land use application for
             451      which the applicant is otherwise entitled under Subsection (1)(a).
             452          (e) The municipality shall process an application without regard to proceedings
             453      initiated to amend the municipality's ordinances as provided in Subsection (1)(a)(ii)(B) if:
             454          (i) 180 days have passed since the proceedings were initiated; and
             455          (ii) the proceedings have not resulted in an enactment that prohibits approval of the
             456      application as submitted.
             457          (f) An application for a land use approval is considered submitted and complete when
             458      the application is provided in a form that complies with the requirements of applicable
             459      ordinances and all applicable fees have been paid.

             460          (g) The continuing validity of an approval of a land use application is conditioned upon
             461      the applicant proceeding after approval to implement the approval with reasonable diligence.
             462          (h) A municipality may not impose on an applicant who has submitted a complete
             463      application for preliminary subdivision approval a requirement that is not expressed in:
             464          (i) this chapter;
             465          (ii) a municipal ordinance; or
             466          (iii) a municipal specification for public improvements applicable to a subdivision or
             467      development that is in effect on the date that the applicant submits an application.
             468          (i) A municipality may not impose on a holder of an issued land use permit or a final,
             469      unexpired subdivision plat a requirement that is not expressed:
             470          (i) in a land use permit;
             471          (ii) on the subdivision plat;
             472          (iii) in a document on which the land use permit or subdivision plat is based;
             473          (iv) in the written record evidencing approval of the land use permit or subdivision
             474      plat;
             475          (v) in this chapter; or
             476          (vi) in a municipal ordinance.
             477          (j) A municipality may not withhold issuance of a certificate of occupancy or
             478      acceptance of subdivision improvements because of an applicant's failure to comply with a
             479      requirement that is not expressed:
             480          (i) in the building permit or subdivision plat, documents on which the building permit
             481      or subdivision plat is based, or the written record evidencing approval of the land use permit or
             482      subdivision plat; or
             483          (ii) in this chapter or the municipality's ordinances.
             484          (2) A municipality is bound by the terms and standards of applicable land use
             485      ordinances and shall comply with mandatory provisions of those ordinances.
             486          (3) A municipality may not, as a condition of land use application approval, require a
             487      person filing a land use application to obtain documentation regarding a school district's
             488      willingness, capacity, or ability to serve the development proposed in the land use application.
             489          (4) Upon a specified public agency's submission of a development plan and schedule as
             490      required in Subsection 10-9a-305 (8) that complies with the requirements of that subsection, the

             491      specified public agency vests in the municipality's applicable land use maps, zoning map,
             492      hookup fees, impact fees, other applicable development fees, and land use ordinances in effect
             493      on the date of submission.
             494          Section 4. Section 10-9a-608 is amended to read:
             495           10-9a-608. Vacating, altering, or amending a subdivision plat.
             496          (1) (a) A fee owner of land, as shown on the last county assessment roll, in a
             497      subdivision that has been laid out and platted as provided in this part may file a written petition
             498      with the land use authority to have some or all of the plat vacated or amended.
             499          (b) If a petition is filed under Subsection (1)(a), the land use authority shall provide
             500      notice of the petition by mail, email, or other effective means to each entity that provides a
             501      service to an owner of record of the portion of the plat that is being vacated or amended at least
             502      10 calendar days before the land use authority may approve the vacation or amendment of the
             503      plat.
             504          [(b)] (c) If a petition is filed under Subsection (1)(a), the land use authority shall hold a
             505      public hearing within 45 days after the day on which the petition is filed if:
             506          (i) any owner within the plat notifies the municipality of the owner's objection in
             507      writing within 10 days of mailed notification; or
             508          (ii) a public hearing is required because all of the owners in the subdivision have not
             509      signed the revised plat.
             510          (2) Unless a local ordinance provides otherwise, the public hearing requirement of
             511      Subsection (1)[(b)](c) does not apply and a land use authority may consider at a public meeting
             512      an owner's petition to vacate or amend a subdivision plat if:
             513          (a) the petition seeks to:
             514          (i) join two or more of the petitioner fee owner's contiguous lots;
             515          (ii) subdivide one or more of the petitioning fee owner's lots, if the subdivision will not
             516      result in a violation of a land use ordinance or a development condition;
             517          (iii) adjust the lot lines of adjoining lots or parcels if the fee owners of each of the
             518      adjoining lots or parcels join in the petition, regardless of whether the lots or parcels are located
             519      in the same subdivision;
             520          (iv) on a lot owned by the petitioning fee owner, adjust an internal lot restriction
             521      imposed by the local political subdivision; or

             522          (v) alter the plat in a manner that does not change existing boundaries or other
             523      attributes of lots within the subdivision that are not:
             524          (A) owned by the petitioner; or
             525          (B) designated as a common area; and
             526          (b) notice has been given to adjacent property owners in accordance with any
             527      applicable local ordinance.
             528          (3) Each request to vacate or amend a plat that contains a request to vacate or amend a
             529      public street, right-of-way, or easement is also subject to Section 10-9a-609.5 .
             530          (4) Each petition to vacate or amend an entire plat or a portion of a plat shall include:
             531          (a) the name and address of each owner of record of the land contained in the entire
             532      plat or on that portion of the plat described in the petition; and
             533          (b) the signature of each owner described in Subsection (4)(a) who consents to the
             534      petition.
             535          (5) (a) The owners of record of adjacent parcels that are described by either a metes
             536      and bounds description or by a recorded plat may exchange title to portions of those parcels if
             537      the exchange of title is approved by the land use authority in accordance with Subsection
             538      (5)(b).
             539          (b) The land use authority shall approve an exchange of title under Subsection (5)(a) if
             540      the exchange of title will not result in a violation of any land use ordinance.
             541          (c) If an exchange of title is approved under Subsection (5)(b):
             542          (i) a notice of approval shall be recorded in the office of the county recorder which:
             543          (A) is executed by each owner included in the exchange and by the land use authority;
             544          (B) contains an acknowledgment for each party executing the notice in accordance with
             545      the provisions of Title 57, Chapter 2a, Recognition of Acknowledgments Act; and
             546          (C) recites the descriptions of both the original parcels and the parcels created by the
             547      exchange of title; and
             548          (ii) a document of conveyance shall be recorded in the office of the county recorder.
             549          (d) A notice of approval recorded under this Subsection (5) does not act as a
             550      conveyance of title to real property and is not required in order to record a document conveying
             551      title to real property.
             552          (6) (a) The name of a recorded subdivision may be changed by recording an amended

             553      plat making that change, as provided in this section and subject to Subsection (6)(c).
             554          (b) The surveyor preparing the amended plat shall certify that the surveyor:
             555          (i) holds a license in accordance with Title 58, Chapter 22, Professional Engineers and
             556      Professional Land Surveyors Licensing Act;
             557          (ii) has completed a survey of the property described on the plat in accordance with
             558      Section 17-23-17 and has verified all measurements; and
             559          (iii) has placed monuments as represented on the plat.
             560          (c) An owner of land may not submit for recording an amended plat that gives the
             561      subdivision described in the amended plat the same name as a subdivision in a plat already
             562      recorded in the county recorder's office.
             563          (d) Except as provided in Subsection (6)(a), the recording of a declaration or other
             564      document that purports to change the name of a recorded plat is void.
             565          Section 5. Section 10-9a-609 is amended to read:
             566           10-9a-609. Land use authority approval of vacation or amendment of plat --
             567      Recording the amended plat.
             568          (1) The land use authority may approve the vacation or amendment of a plat by signing
             569      an amended plat showing the vacation or amendment if the land use authority finds that:
             570          (a) there is good cause for the vacation or amendment; and
             571          (b) no public street, right-of-way, or easement has been vacated or amended.
             572          (2) (a) The land use authority shall ensure that the amended plat showing the vacation
             573      or amendment is recorded in the office of the county recorder in which the land is located.
             574          (b) If the amended plat is approved and recorded in accordance with this section, the
             575      recorded plat shall vacate, supersede, and replace any contrary provision in a previously
             576      recorded plat of the same land.
             577          (3) (a) A legislative body may vacate a subdivision or a portion of a subdivision by
             578      recording in the county recorder's office an ordinance describing the subdivision or the portion
             579      being vacated.
             580          (b) The recorded vacating ordinance shall replace a previously recorded plat described
             581      in the vacating ordinance.
             582          (4) An amended plat may not be submitted to the county recorder for recording unless
             583      it is [signed, acknowledged, and dedicated by each owner of record of the portion of the plat

             584      that is amended.]:
             585          (a) signed by the land use authority; and
             586          (b) signed, acknowledged, and dedicated by each owner of record of the portion of the
             587      plat that is amended.
             588          (5) A management committee may sign and dedicate an amended plat as provided in
             589      Title 57, Chapter 8, Condominium Ownership Act.
             590          (6) A plat may be corrected as provided in Section 57-3-106 .
             591          Section 6. Section 17-27a-103 is amended to read:
             592           17-27a-103. Definitions.
             593          As used in this chapter:
             594          (1) "Affected entity" means a county, municipality, local district, special service
             595      district under Title 17D, Chapter 1, Special Service District Act, school district, interlocal
             596      cooperation entity established under Title 11, Chapter 13, Interlocal Cooperation Act, specified
             597      property owner, property owners association, public utility, or the Utah Department of
             598      Transportation, if:
             599          (a) the entity's services or facilities are likely to require expansion or significant
             600      modification because of an intended use of land;
             601          (b) the entity has filed with the county a copy of the entity's general or long-range plan;
             602      or
             603          (c) the entity has filed with the county a request for notice during the same calendar
             604      year and before the county provides notice to an affected entity in compliance with a
             605      requirement imposed under this chapter.
             606          (2) "Appeal authority" means the person, board, commission, agency, or other body
             607      designated by ordinance to decide an appeal of a decision of a land use application or a
             608      variance.
             609          (3) "Billboard" means a freestanding ground sign located on industrial, commercial, or
             610      residential property if the sign is designed or intended to direct attention to a business, product,
             611      or service that is not sold, offered, or existing on the property where the sign is located.
             612          (4) (a) "Charter school" means:
             613          (i) an operating charter school;
             614          (ii) a charter school applicant that has its application approved by a chartering entity in

             615      accordance with Title 53A, Chapter 1a, Part 5, The Utah Charter Schools Act; or
             616          (iii) an entity that is working on behalf of a charter school or approved charter
             617      applicant to develop or construct a charter school building.
             618          (b) "Charter school" does not include a therapeutic school.
             619          (5) "Chief executive officer" means the person or body that exercises the executive
             620      powers of the county.
             621          (6) "Conditional use" means a land use that, because of its unique characteristics or
             622      potential impact on the county, surrounding neighbors, or adjacent land uses, may not be
             623      compatible in some areas or may be compatible only if certain conditions are required that
             624      mitigate or eliminate the detrimental impacts.
             625          (7) "Constitutional taking" means a governmental action that results in a taking of
             626      private property so that compensation to the owner of the property is required by the:
             627          (a) Fifth or Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States; or
             628          (b) Utah Constitution Article I, Section 22.
             629          (8) "Culinary water authority" means the department, agency, or public entity with
             630      responsibility to review and approve the feasibility of the culinary water system and sources for
             631      the subject property.
             632          (9) "Development activity" means:
             633          (a) any construction or expansion of a building, structure, or use that creates additional
             634      demand and need for public facilities;
             635          (b) any change in use of a building or structure that creates additional demand and need
             636      for public facilities; or
             637          (c) any change in the use of land that creates additional demand and need for public
             638      facilities.
             639          (10) (a) "Disability" means a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits
             640      one or more of a person's major life activities, including a person having a record of such an
             641      impairment or being regarded as having such an impairment.
             642          (b) "Disability" does not include current illegal use of, or addiction to, any federally
             643      controlled substance, as defined in Section 102 of the Controlled Substances Act, 21 U.S.C.
             644      802.
             645          (11) "Educational facility":

             646          (a) means:
             647          (i) a school district's building at which pupils assemble to receive instruction in a
             648      program for any combination of grades from preschool through grade 12, including
             649      kindergarten and a program for children with disabilities;
             650          (ii) a structure or facility:
             651          (A) located on the same property as a building described in Subsection (11)(a)(i); and
             652          (B) used in support of the use of that building; and
             653          (iii) a building to provide office and related space to a school district's administrative
             654      personnel; and
             655          (b) does not include:
             656          (i) land or a structure, including land or a structure for inventory storage, equipment
             657      storage, food processing or preparing, vehicle storage or maintenance, or similar use that is:
             658          (A) not located on the same property as a building described in Subsection (11)(a)(i);
             659      and
             660          (B) used in support of the purposes of a building described in Subsection (11)(a)(i); or
             661          (ii) a therapeutic school.
             662          (12) "Fire authority" means the department, agency, or public entity with responsibility
             663      to review and approve the feasibility of fire protection and suppression services for the subject
             664      property.
             665          (13) "Flood plain" means land that:
             666          (a) is within the 100-year flood plain designated by the Federal Emergency
             667      Management Agency; or
             668          (b) has not been studied or designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency
             669      but presents a likelihood of experiencing chronic flooding or a catastrophic flood event because
             670      the land has characteristics that are similar to those of a 100-year flood plain designated by the
             671      Federal Emergency Management Agency.
             672          (14) "Gas corporation" has the same meaning as defined in Section 54-2-1 .
             673          (15) "General plan" means a document that a county adopts that sets forth general
             674      guidelines for proposed future development of the unincorporated land within the county.
             675          (16) "Geologic hazard" means:
             676          (a) a surface fault rupture;

             677          (b) shallow groundwater;
             678          (c) liquefaction;
             679          (d) a landslide;
             680          (e) a debris flow;
             681          (f) unstable soil;
             682          (g) a rock fall; or
             683          (h) any other geologic condition that presents a risk:
             684          (i) to life;
             685          (ii) of substantial loss of real property; or
             686          (iii) of substantial damage to real property.
             687          [(18)] (17) "Hookup fee" means a fee for the installation and inspection of any pipe,
             688      line, meter, or appurtenance to connect to a county water, sewer, storm water, power, or other
             689      utility system.
             690          [(19)] (18) "Identical plans" means building plans submitted to a county that:
             691          (a) are clearly marked as "identical plans";
             692          (b) are substantially identical building plans that were previously submitted to and
             693      reviewed and approved by the county; and
             694          (c) describe a building that:
             695          (i) is located on land zoned the same as the land on which the building described in the
             696      previously approved plans is located;
             697          (ii) is subject to the same geological and meteorological conditions and the same law
             698      as the building described in the previously approved plans;
             699          (iii) has a floor plan identical to the building plan previously submitted to and reviewed
             700      and approved by the county; and
             701          (iv) does not require any additional engineering or analysis.
             702          [(20)] (19) "Impact fee" means a payment of money imposed under Title 11, Chapter
             703      36a, Impact Fees Act.
             704          [(21)] (20) "Improvement completion assurance" means a surety bond, letter of credit,
             705      cash, or other security required by a county to guaranty the proper completion of landscaping or
             706      infrastructure that the land use authority has required as a condition precedent to:
             707          (a) recording a subdivision plat; or

             708          (b) beginning development activity.
             709          [(22)] (21) "Improvement warranty" means an applicant's unconditional warranty that
             710      the accepted landscaping or infrastructure:
             711          (a) complies with the county's written standards for design, materials, and
             712      workmanship; and
             713          (b) will not fail in any material respect, as a result of poor workmanship or materials,
             714      within the improvement warranty period.
             715          [(23)] (22) "Improvement warranty period" means a period:
             716          (a) no later than one year after a county's acceptance of required landscaping; or
             717          (b) no later than one year after a county's acceptance of required infrastructure, unless
             718      the county:
             719          (i) determines for good cause that a one-year period would be inadequate to protect the
             720      public health, safety, and welfare; and
             721          (ii) has substantial evidence, on record:
             722          (A) of prior poor performance by the applicant; or
             723          (B) that the area upon which the infrastructure will be constructed contains suspect soil
             724      and the county has not otherwise required the applicant to mitigate the suspect soil.
             725          [(17)] (23) "Internal lot restriction" means a platted note, platted demarcation, or
             726      platted designation that:
             727          (a) runs with the land; and
             728          (b) (i) creates a restriction that is enclosed within the perimeter of a lot described on
             729      the plat; or
             730          (ii) designates a development condition that is enclosed within the perimeter of a lot
             731      described on the plat.
             732          (24) "Interstate pipeline company" means a person or entity engaged in natural gas
             733      transportation subject to the jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission under
             734      the Natural Gas Act, 15 U.S.C. Sec. 717 et seq.
             735          (25) "Intrastate pipeline company" means a person or entity engaged in natural gas
             736      transportation that is not subject to the jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory
             737      Commission under the Natural Gas Act, 15 U.S.C. Sec. 717 et seq.
             738          (26) "Land use application" means an application required by a county's land use

             739      ordinance.
             740          (27) "Land use authority" means:
             741          (a) a person, board, commission, agency, or [other] body, including the local legislative
             742      body, designated by the local legislative body to act upon a land use application[.]; or
             743          (b) if the local legislative body has not designated a person, board, commission,
             744      agency, or body, the local legislative body.
             745          (28) "Land use ordinance" means a planning, zoning, development, or subdivision
             746      ordinance of the county, but does not include the general plan.
             747          (29) "Land use permit" means a permit issued by a land use authority.
             748          (30) "Legislative body" means the county legislative body, or for a county that has
             749      adopted an alternative form of government, the body exercising legislative powers.
             750          (31) "Local district" means any entity under Title 17B, Limited Purpose Local
             751      Government Entities - Local Districts, and any other governmental or quasi-governmental
             752      entity that is not a county, municipality, school district, or the state.
             753          (32) "Lot line adjustment" means the relocation of the property boundary line in a
             754      subdivision between two adjoining lots with the consent of the owners of record.
             755          (33) "Moderate income housing" means housing occupied or reserved for occupancy
             756      by households with a gross household income equal to or less than 80% of the median gross
             757      income for households of the same size in the county in which the housing is located.
             758          (34) "Nominal fee" means a fee that reasonably reimburses a county only for time spent
             759      and expenses incurred in:
             760          (a) verifying that building plans are identical plans; and
             761          (b) reviewing and approving those minor aspects of identical plans that differ from the
             762      previously reviewed and approved building plans.
             763          (35) "Noncomplying structure" means a structure that:
             764          (a) legally existed before its current land use designation; and
             765          (b) because of one or more subsequent land use ordinance changes, does not conform
             766      to the setback, height restrictions, or other regulations, excluding those regulations that govern
             767      the use of land.
             768          (36) "Nonconforming use" means a use of land that:
             769          (a) legally existed before its current land use designation;

             770          (b) has been maintained continuously since the time the land use ordinance regulation
             771      governing the land changed; and
             772          (c) because of one or more subsequent land use ordinance changes, does not conform
             773      to the regulations that now govern the use of the land.
             774          (37) "Official map" means a map drawn by county authorities and recorded in the
             775      county recorder's office that:
             776          (a) shows actual and proposed rights-of-way, centerline alignments, and setbacks for
             777      highways and other transportation facilities;
             778          (b) provides a basis for restricting development in designated rights-of-way or between
             779      designated setbacks to allow the government authorities time to purchase or otherwise reserve
             780      the land; and
             781          (c) has been adopted as an element of the county's general plan.
             782          (38) "Parcel boundary adjustment" means a recorded agreement between owners of
             783      adjoining properties adjusting their mutual boundary if:
             784          (a) no additional parcel is created; and
             785          (b) each property identified in the agreement is unsubdivided land, including a
             786      remainder of subdivided land.
             787          (39) "Person" means an individual, corporation, partnership, organization, association,
             788      trust, governmental agency, or any other legal entity.
             789          (40) "Plan for moderate income housing" means a written document adopted by a
             790      county legislative body that includes:
             791          (a) an estimate of the existing supply of moderate income housing located within the
             792      county;
             793          (b) an estimate of the need for moderate income housing in the county for the next five
             794      years as revised biennially;
             795          (c) a survey of total residential land use;
             796          (d) an evaluation of how existing land uses and zones affect opportunities for moderate
             797      income housing; and
             798          (e) a description of the county's program to encourage an adequate supply of moderate
             799      income housing.
             800          (41) "Plat" means a map or other graphical representation of lands being laid out and

             801      prepared in accordance with Section 17-27a-603 , 17-23-17 , or 57-8-13 .
             802          (42) "Potential geologic hazard area" means an area that:
             803          (a) is designated by a Utah Geological Survey map, county geologist map, or other
             804      relevant map or report as needing further study to determine the area's potential for geologic
             805      hazard; or
             806          (b) has not been studied by the Utah Geological Survey or a county geologist but
             807      presents the potential of geologic hazard because the area has characteristics similar to those of
             808      a designated geologic hazard area.
             809          (43) "Public agency" means:
             810          (a) the federal government;
             811          (b) the state;
             812          (c) a county, municipality, school district, local district, special service district, or other
             813      political subdivision of the state; or
             814          (d) a charter school.
             815          (44) "Public hearing" means a hearing at which members of the public are provided a
             816      reasonable opportunity to comment on the subject of the hearing.
             817          (45) "Public meeting" means a meeting that is required to be open to the public under
             818      Title 52, Chapter 4, Open and Public Meetings Act.
             819          (46) "Receiving zone" means an unincorporated area of a county that the county
             820      designates, by ordinance, as an area in which an owner of land may receive a transferable
             821      development right.
             822          (47) "Record of survey map" means a map of a survey of land prepared in accordance
             823      with Section 17-23-17 .
             824          (48) "Residential facility for persons with a disability" means a residence:
             825          (a) in which more than one person with a disability resides; and
             826          (b) (i) which is licensed or certified by the Department of Human Services under Title
             827      62A, Chapter 2, Licensure of Programs and Facilities; or
             828          (ii) which is licensed or certified by the Department of Health under Title 26, Chapter
             829      21, Health Care Facility Licensing and Inspection Act.
             830          (49) "Rules of order and procedure" means a set of rules that govern and prescribe in a
             831      public meeting:

             832          (a) parliamentary order and procedure;
             833          (b) ethical behavior; and
             834          (c) civil discourse.
             835          (50) "Sanitary sewer authority" means the department, agency, or public entity with
             836      responsibility to review and approve the feasibility of sanitary sewer services or onsite
             837      wastewater systems.
             838          (51) "Sending zone" means an unincorporated area of a county that the county
             839      designates, by ordinance, as an area from which an owner of land may transfer a transferable
             840      development right.
             841          (52) "Site plan" means a document or map that may be required by a county during a
             842      preliminary review preceding the issuance of a building permit to demonstrate that an owner's
             843      or developer's proposed development activity meets a land use requirement.
             844          (53) "Specified public agency" means:
             845          (a) the state;
             846          (b) a school district; or
             847          (c) a charter school.
             848          (54) "Specified public utility" means an electrical corporation, gas corporation, or
             849      telephone corporation, as those terms are defined in Section 54-2-1 .
             850          (55) "State" includes any department, division, or agency of the state.
             851          (56) "Street" means a public right-of-way, including a highway, avenue, boulevard,
             852      parkway, road, lane, walk, alley, viaduct, subway, tunnel, bridge, public easement, or other
             853      way.
             854          (57) (a) "Subdivision" means any land that is divided, resubdivided or proposed to be
             855      divided into two or more lots, parcels, sites, units, plots, or other division of land for the
             856      purpose, whether immediate or future, for offer, sale, lease, or development either on the
             857      installment plan or upon any and all other plans, terms, and conditions.
             858          (b) "Subdivision" includes:
             859          (i) the division or development of land whether by deed, metes and bounds description,
             860      devise and testacy, map, plat, or other recorded instrument; and
             861          (ii) except as provided in Subsection (57)(c), divisions of land for residential and
             862      nonresidential uses, including land used or to be used for commercial, agricultural, and

             863      industrial purposes.
             864          (c) "Subdivision" does not include:
             865          (i) a bona fide division or partition of agricultural land for agricultural purposes;
             866          (ii) a recorded agreement between owners of adjoining properties adjusting their
             867      mutual boundary if:
             868          (A) no new lot is created; and
             869          (B) the adjustment does not violate applicable land use ordinances;
             870          (iii) a recorded document, executed by the owner of record:
             871          (A) revising the legal description of more than one contiguous unsubdivided parcel of
             872      property into one legal description encompassing all such parcels of property; or
             873          (B) joining a subdivided parcel of property to another parcel of property that has not
             874      been subdivided, if the joinder does not violate applicable land use ordinances;
             875          (iv) a bona fide division or partition of land in a county other than a first class county
             876      for the purpose of siting, on one or more of the resulting separate parcels:
             877          (A) an electrical transmission line or a substation;
             878          (B) a natural gas pipeline or a regulation station; or
             879          (C) an unmanned telecommunications, microwave, fiber optic, electrical, or other
             880      utility service regeneration, transformation, retransmission, or amplification facility;
             881          (v) a recorded agreement between owners of adjoining subdivided properties adjusting
             882      their mutual boundary if:
             883          (A) no new dwelling lot or housing unit will result from the adjustment; and
             884          (B) the adjustment will not violate any applicable land use ordinance;
             885          (vi) a bona fide division or partition of land by deed or other instrument where the land
             886      use authority expressly approves in writing the division in anticipation of further land use
             887      approvals on the parcel or parcels; or
             888          (vii) a parcel boundary adjustment.
             889          (d) The joining of a subdivided parcel of property to another parcel of property that has
             890      not been subdivided does not constitute a subdivision under this Subsection (57) as to the
             891      unsubdivided parcel of property or subject the unsubdivided parcel to the county's subdivision
             892      ordinance.
             893          (58) "Suspect soil" means soil that has:

             894          (a) a high susceptibility for volumetric change, typically clay rich, having more than a
             895      3% swell potential;
             896          (b) bedrock units with high shrink or swell susceptibility; or
             897          (c) gypsiferous silt and clay, gypsum, or bedrock units containing abundant gypsum
             898      commonly associated with dissolution and collapse features.
             899          (59) "Therapeutic school" means a residential group living facility:
             900          (a) for four or more individuals who are not related to:
             901          (i) the owner of the facility; or
             902          (ii) the primary service provider of the facility;
             903          (b) that serves students who have a history of failing to function:
             904          (i) at home;
             905          (ii) in a public school; or
             906          (iii) in a nonresidential private school; and
             907          (c) that offers:
             908          (i) room and board; and
             909          (ii) an academic education integrated with:
             910          (A) specialized structure and supervision; or
             911          (B) services or treatment related to a disability, an emotional development, a
             912      behavioral development, a familial development, or a social development.
             913          (60) "Township" means a contiguous, geographically defined portion of the
             914      unincorporated area of a county, established under this part or reconstituted or reinstated under
             915      Section 17-27a-306 , with planning and zoning functions as exercised through the township
             916      planning commission, as provided in this chapter, but with no legal or political identity
             917      separate from the county and no taxing authority, except that "township" means a former
             918      township under Laws of Utah 1996, Chapter 308, where the context so indicates.
             919          (61) "Transferable development right" means a right to develop and use land that
             920      originates by an ordinance that authorizes a land owner in a designated sending zone to transfer
             921      land use rights from a designated sending zone to a designated receiving zone.
             922          (62) "Unincorporated" means the area outside of the incorporated area of a
             923      municipality.
             924          (63) "Water interest" means any right to the beneficial use of water, including:

             925          (a) each of the rights listed in Section 73-1-11 ; and
             926          (b) an ownership interest in the right to the beneficial use of water represented by:
             927          (i) a contract; or
             928          (ii) a share in a water company, as defined in Section 73-3-3.5 .
             929          (64) "Zoning map" means a map, adopted as part of a land use ordinance, that depicts
             930      land use zones, overlays, or districts.
             931          Section 7. Section 17-27a-104 is amended to read:
             932           17-27a-104. Stricter requirements.
             933          (1) Except as provided in Subsection (2), a county may enact an ordinance imposing a
             934      stricter [requirements] requirement or higher [standards] standard than [are] is required by this
             935      chapter[.], if the county:
             936          (a) prepares in writing a justification of why imposing a stricter requirement or higher
             937      standard is necessary;
             938          (b) includes the written justification under Subsection (1)(a) with each publication of
             939      the proposed or adopted ordinance being justified; and
             940          (c) holds a public hearing on the written justification under Subsection (1)(a)
             941      concurrent with the public hearing on the ordinance being justified.
             942          (2) A county may not impose stricter requirements or higher standards than are
             943      required by:
             944          (a) Section 17-27a-305 ; and
             945          (b) Section 17-27a-513 .
             946          (3) Before January 1, 2015, a county shall, for each ordinance in effect on May 13,
             947      2014, that imposes a stricter requirement or higher standard than is required by this chapter:
             948          (a) prepare in writing a justification of why a stricter requirement or higher standard is
             949      necessary; and
             950          (b) include the written justification under Subsection (3)(a) with the ordinance being
             951      justified with each publication of the ordinance.
             952          Section 8. Section 17-27a-508 is amended to read:
             953           17-27a-508. Applicant's entitlement to land use application approval --
             954      Exceptions -- Application relating to land in a high priority transportation corridor --
             955      County's requirements and limitations -- Vesting upon submission of development plan

             956      and schedule.
             957          (1) (a) (i) An applicant who has filed a complete land use application, including the
             958      payment of all application fees, is entitled to substantive land use review of the land use
             959      application under the land use laws in effect on the date that the application is complete and as
             960      further provided in this section.
             961          (ii) Except as provided in Subsection (1)(b), an applicant is entitled to approval of a
             962      land use application if the application conforms to the requirements of the county's land use
             963      maps, zoning map, and applicable land use ordinance in effect when a complete application is
             964      submitted and all application fees have been paid, unless:
             965          [(i)] (A) the land use authority, on the record, finds that a compelling, countervailing
             966      public interest would be jeopardized by approving the application; or
             967          [(ii)] (B) in the manner provided by local ordinance and before the application is
             968      submitted, the county has formally initiated proceedings to amend its ordinances in a manner
             969      that would prohibit approval of the application as submitted.
             970          (b) (i) Except as provided in Subsection (1)(c), an applicant is not entitled to approval
             971      of a land use application until the requirements of this Subsection (1)(b)(i) and Subsection
             972      (1)(b)(ii) have been met if the land use application relates to land located within the boundaries
             973      of a high priority transportation corridor designated in accordance with Section 72-5-403 .
             974          (ii) (A) A county shall notify the executive director of the Department of
             975      Transportation of any land use applications that relate to land located within the boundaries of
             976      a high priority transportation corridor.
             977          (B) The notification under Subsection (1)(b)(ii)(A) shall be in writing and mailed by
             978      certified or registered mail to the executive director of the Department of Transportation.
             979          (iii) Except as provided in Subsection (1)(c), a county may not approve a land use
             980      application that relates to land located within the boundaries of a high priority transportation
             981      corridor until:
             982          (A) 30 days after the notification under Subsection (1)(b)(ii)(A) is received by the
             983      Department of Transportation if the land use application is for a building permit; or
             984          (B) 45 days after the notification under Subsection (1)(b)(ii)(A) is received by the
             985      Department of Transportation if the land use application is for any land use other than a
             986      building permit.

             987          (iv) (A) If an application is an application for a subdivision approval, including any
             988      land, subject to Subsection (1)(b)(iv)(C), located within 100 feet of the center line of a canal,
             989      the land use authority shall:
             990          (I) within 30 days after the day on which the application is filed, notify the canal
             991      company or canal operator responsible for the canal, if the canal company or canal owner has
             992      provided information under Section 17-27a-211 ; and
             993          (II) wait at least 10 days after the day on which the land use authority notifies a canal
             994      company or canal operator under Subsection (1)(b)(iv)(A)(I) to approve or reject the
             995      subdivision application described in Subsection (1)(b)(iv)(A).
             996          (B) The notification under Subsection (1)(b)(iv)(A) shall be in writing and mailed by
             997      certified or registered mail to the canal company or canal operator contact described in Section
             998      17-27a-211 .
             999          (C) The location of land described in Subsection (1)(b)(iv)(A) shall be:
             1000          (I) provided by a canal company or canal operator to the land use authority; and
             1001          (II) (Aa) determined by use of mapping-grade global positioning satellite units; or
             1002          (Bb) digitized from the most recent aerial photo available to the canal company or
             1003      canal operator.
             1004          (c) (i) A land use application is exempt from the requirements of Subsection (1)(b)(i)
             1005      if:
             1006          (A) the land use application relates to land that was the subject of a previous land use
             1007      application; and
             1008          (B) the previous land use application described under Subsection (1)(c)(i)(A) complied
             1009      with the requirements of Subsections (1)(b)(i) and (ii).
             1010          (ii) A county may approve a land use application without making the required
             1011      notifications under Subsections (1)(b)(i) and (ii) if:
             1012          (A) the land use application relates to land that was the subject of a previous land use
             1013      application; and
             1014          (B) the previous land use application described under Subsection (1)(c)(ii)(A)
             1015      complied with the requirements of Subsections (1)(b)(i) and (ii).
             1016          (d) After a county has complied with the requirements of Subsection (1)(b) for a land
             1017      use application, the county may not withhold approval of the land use application for which the

             1018      applicant is otherwise entitled under Subsection (1)(a).
             1019          (e) The county shall process an application without regard to proceedings initiated to
             1020      amend the county's ordinances as provided in Subsection (1)(a)(ii)(B) if:
             1021          (i) 180 days have passed since the proceedings were initiated; and
             1022          (ii) the proceedings have not resulted in an enactment that prohibits approval of the
             1023      application as submitted.
             1024          (f) An application for a land use approval is considered submitted and complete when
             1025      the application is provided in a form that complies with the requirements of applicable
             1026      ordinances and all applicable fees have been paid.
             1027          (g) The continuing validity of an approval of a land use application is conditioned upon
             1028      the applicant proceeding after approval to implement the approval with reasonable diligence.
             1029          (h) A county may not impose on an applicant who has submitted a complete
             1030      application for preliminary subdivision approval a requirement that is not expressed:
             1031          (i) in this chapter;
             1032          (ii) in a county ordinance; or
             1033          (iii) in a county specification for public improvements applicable to a subdivision or
             1034      development that is in effect on the date that the applicant submits an application.
             1035          (i) A county may not impose on a holder of an issued land use permit or a final,
             1036      unexpired subdivision plat a requirement that is not expressed:
             1037          (i) in a land use permit;
             1038          (ii) on the subdivision plat;
             1039          (iii) in a document on which the land use permit or subdivision plat is based;
             1040          (iv) in the written record evidencing approval of the land use permit or subdivision
             1041      plat;
             1042          (v) in this chapter; or
             1043          (vi) in a county ordinance.
             1044          (j) A county may not withhold issuance of a certificate of occupancy or acceptance of
             1045      subdivision improvements because of an applicant's failure to comply with a requirement that
             1046      is not expressed:
             1047          (i) in the building permit or subdivision plat, documents on which the building permit
             1048      or subdivision plat is based, or the written record evidencing approval of the building permit or

             1049      subdivision plat; or
             1050          (ii) in this chapter or the county's ordinances.
             1051          (2) A county is bound by the terms and standards of applicable land use ordinances and
             1052      shall comply with mandatory provisions of those ordinances.
             1053          (3) A county may not, as a condition of land use application approval, require a person
             1054      filing a land use application to obtain documentation regarding a school district's willingness,
             1055      capacity, or ability to serve the development proposed in the land use application.
             1056          (4) Upon a specified public agency's submission of a development plan and schedule as
             1057      required in Subsection 17-27a-305 (8) that complies with the requirements of that subsection,
             1058      the specified public agency vests in the county's applicable land use maps, zoning map, hookup
             1059      fees, impact fees, other applicable development fees, and land use ordinances in effect on the
             1060      date of submission.
             1061          Section 9. Section 17-27a-608 is amended to read:
             1062           17-27a-608. Vacating or amending a subdivision plat.
             1063          (1) (a) A fee owner of land, as shown on the last county assessment roll, in a
             1064      subdivision that has been laid out and platted as provided in this part may file a written petition
             1065      with the land use authority to have some or all of the plat vacated or amended.
             1066          (b) If a petition is filed under Subsection (1)(a), the land use authority shall provide
             1067      notice of the petition by mail, email, or other effective means to each entity that provides a
             1068      service to an owner of record of the portion of the plat that is being vacated or amended at least
             1069      10 calendar days before the land use authority may approve the vacation or amendment of the
             1070      plat.
             1071          [(b)] (c) If a petition is filed under Subsection (1)(a), the land use authority shall hold a
             1072      public hearing within 45 days after the day on which the petition is filed if:
             1073          (i) any owner within the plat notifies the county of the owner's objection in writing
             1074      within 10 days of mailed notification; or
             1075          (ii) a public hearing is required because all of the owners in the subdivision have not
             1076      signed the revised plat.
             1077          (2) Unless a local ordinance provides otherwise, the public hearing requirement of
             1078      Subsection (1)[(b)](c) does not apply and a land use authority may consider at a public meeting
             1079      an owner's petition to vacate or amend a subdivision plat if:

             1080          (a) the petition seeks to:
             1081          (i) join two or more of the petitioning fee owner's contiguous lots;
             1082          (ii) subdivide one or more of the petitioning fee owner's lots, if the subdivision will not
             1083      result in a violation of a land use ordinance or a development condition;
             1084          (iii) adjust the lot lines of adjoining lots or parcels if the fee owners of each of the
             1085      adjoining lots or parcels join the petition, regardless of whether the lots or parcels are located in
             1086      the same subdivision;
             1087          (iv) on a lot owned by the petitioning fee owner, adjust an internal lot restriction
             1088      imposed by the local political subdivision; or
             1089          (v) alter the plat in a manner that does not change existing boundaries or other
             1090      attributes of lots within the subdivision that are not:
             1091          (A) owned by the petitioner; or
             1092          (B) designated as a common area; and
             1093          (b) notice has been given to adjacent property owners in accordance with any
             1094      applicable local ordinance.
             1095          (3) Each request to vacate or amend a plat that contains a request to vacate or amend a
             1096      public street, right-of-way, or easement is also subject to Section 17-27a-609.5 .
             1097          (4) Each petition to vacate or amend an entire plat or a portion of a plat shall include:
             1098          (a) the name and address of each owner of record of the land contained in:
             1099          (i) the entire plat; or
             1100          (ii) that portion of the plan described in the petition; and
             1101          (b) the signature of each owner who consents to the petition.
             1102          (5) (a) The owners of record of adjacent parcels that are described by either a metes
             1103      and bounds description or by a recorded plat may exchange title to portions of those parcels if
             1104      the exchange of title is approved by the land use authority in accordance with Subsection
             1105      (5)(b).
             1106          (b) The land use authority shall approve an exchange of title under Subsection (5)(a) if
             1107      the exchange of title will not result in a violation of any land use ordinance.
             1108          (c) If an exchange of title is approved under Subsection (5)(b):
             1109          (i) a notice of approval shall be recorded in the office of the county recorder which:
             1110          (A) is executed by each owner included in the exchange and by the land use authority;

             1111          (B) contains an acknowledgment for each party executing the notice in accordance with
             1112      the provisions of Title 57, Chapter 2a, Recognition of Acknowledgments Act; and
             1113          (C) recites the descriptions of both the original parcels and the parcels created by the
             1114      exchange of title; and
             1115          (ii) a document of conveyance of title reflecting the approved change shall be recorded
             1116      in the office of the county recorder.
             1117          (d) A notice of approval recorded under this Subsection (5) does not act as a
             1118      conveyance of title to real property and is not required to record a document conveying title to
             1119      real property.
             1120          (6) (a) The name of a recorded subdivision may be changed by recording an amended
             1121      plat making that change, as provided in this section and subject to Subsection (6)(c).
             1122          (b) The surveyor preparing the amended plat shall certify that the surveyor:
             1123          (i) holds a license in accordance with Title 58, Chapter 22, Professional Engineers and
             1124      Professional Land Surveyors Licensing Act;
             1125          (ii) has completed a survey of the property described on the plat in accordance with
             1126      Section 17-23-17 and has verified all measurements; and
             1127          (iii) has placed monuments as represented on the plat.
             1128          (c) An owner of land may not submit for recording an amended plat that gives the
             1129      subdivision described in the amended plat the same name as a subdivision recorded in the
             1130      county recorder's office.
             1131          (d) Except as provided in Subsection (6)(a), the recording of a declaration or other
             1132      document that purports to change the name of a recorded plat is void.
             1133          Section 10. Section 17-27a-609 is amended to read:
             1134           17-27a-609. Land use authority approval of vacation or amendment of plat --
             1135      Recording the amended plat.
             1136          (1) The land use authority may approve the vacation or amendment of a plat by signing
             1137      an amended plat showing the vacation or amendment if the land use authority finds that:
             1138          (a) there is good cause for the vacation or amendment; and
             1139          (b) no public street, right-of-way, or easement has been vacated or amended.
             1140          (2) (a) The land use authority shall ensure that the amended plat showing the vacation
             1141      or amendment is recorded in the office of the county recorder in which the land is located.

             1142          (b) If the amended plat is approved and recorded in accordance with this section, the
             1143      recorded plat shall vacate, supersede, and replace any contrary provision in a previously
             1144      recorded plat of the same land.
             1145          (3) (a) A legislative body may vacate a subdivision or a portion of a subdivision by
             1146      recording in the county recorder's office an ordinance describing the subdivision or the portion
             1147      being vacated.
             1148          (b) The recorded vacating ordinance shall replace a previously recorded plat described
             1149      in the vacating ordinance.
             1150          (4) An amended plat may not be submitted to the county recorder for recording unless
             1151      it is [signed, acknowledged, and dedicated by each owner of record of the portion of the plat
             1152      that is amended.]:
             1153          (a) signed by the land use authority; and
             1154          (b) signed, acknowledged, and dedicated by each owner of record of the portion of the
             1155      plat that is amended.
             1156          (5) A management committee may sign and dedicate an amended plat as provided in
             1157      Title 57, Chapter 8, Condominium Ownership Act.
             1158          (6) A plat may be corrected as provided in Section 57-3-106 .

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