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Senate approves bill classifying non‑plumbed yurts as tents with county opt‑out option
Summary
House Bill 297 passed after debate clarifying that non‑plumbed, non‑electrical yurts of limited size can be treated like tents for certain codes; the bill includes public‑health notice and a county opt‑out and passed unanimously on the floor.
The Utah Senate approved a third substitute of House Bill 297, which establishes that certain yurts—structures without plumbing or electrical wiring and that are not used as permanent residences—may be treated like tents for specific building, fire and water‑quality requirements, while preserving county opt‑out authority.
Senator Hemmert, the floor sponsor, said the bill “does not authorize more yurts” but clarifies that a non‑plumbed, non‑electrical yurt may be regulated like a tent and therefore exempt from some construction and fire‑code requirements. He said the text includes safeguards: yurts treated this way cannot be permanent residences, must have appropriate backcountry wastewater arrangements, and must meet separation distances from streams in some cases.
Sponsors added an opt‑out for counties concerned about local impacts and a requirement to notify the local health department about locations of such yurts. Senator Hemmert said the bill was amended to respect local control and county concerns.
Senator Hinkins and others flagged recreational use and state‑park yurts (used as short‑term ‘glamping’ accommodations) as an area for future consideration; sponsors said those uses were outside the bill’s immediate scope or could be revisited.
The Senate took a roll call under suspension of the rules; the third substitute passed 29–0–0 and will be returned to the House for further consideration.
