Utah HOA Ombudsman outlines registry, advisory opinions and homeowner protections to Sandy council
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Summary
Erin Reiter, director of the new Utah Office of the Homeowners Association Ombudsman, told the Sandy City Council the office launched in September 2025, has ~3,600 HOAs registered so far, requires annual $90 renewals, and will issue advisory opinions on state statute violations for a $150 fee; she urged cities to share policy feedback.
Erin Reiter, director of the Utah Office of the Homeowners Association Ombudsman, presented the office's mission and early activity to the Sandy City Council on Nov. 11.
Reiter said the ombudsman office — created by the 2025 Legislature and operating since September — now houses the statewide HOA registry and requires every homeowners association to register and renew annually for a $90 fee. "If an HOA is not registered with our office, they technically cannot impose or enforce liens against a homeowner until that registration is current," Reiter said, stressing registration is intended to improve transparency for homeowners and real-estate transactions.
The office handles advisory opinions limited to state statute; Reiter said the opinions themselves are not legally binding but can carry weight in later litigation and that the office charges a $150, nonrefundable fee for written opinions. "We only deal with violations of state statute. We don't get into municipal code," she told the council, describing an intake process that contacts all affected parties and aims to resolve disputes informally where possible.
Reiter described common requests received in the office's first two months: disputes over governing-document enforcement, fees and assessments, access to records and maintenance of common areas. She relayed an early informal resolution in which an HOA rescinded a $314,000 fine it had issued for alleged short-term-rental violations after the office intervened.
Council members asked how cities should interact with the office and whether municipal ordinances fall within its jurisdiction. Reiter said cities may refer state-law disputes to the ombudsman but municipal issues remain the city's responsibility. "You can reach out to us anytime," she said, adding the office is collecting data to inform future legislative recommendations.
Reiter also highlighted education and training services for volunteer boards, managers and city staff — including "know-before-you-buy" materials aimed at prospective homeowners — and encouraged Sandy to share policy feedback that reflects local land-use and annexation challenges.
The presentation closed with council members thanking Reiter and discussing referral pathways for residents with state-law concerns; Reiter said published advisory opinions and trainings are available on the office website.
