FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 9, 2026
Contact:
Jessica Kjar
External Affairs Manager
Wasatch Advocates for Livable Communities (WALC)
[email protected]
Key Housing and Land Use Measures Signal Growing Legislative
Focus During the 2026 Utah Session
SALT LAKE CITY, UT — Several housing and land use measures advanced during the 2026 Utah Legislative Session reflect growing attention to the policies that shape housing supply, community planning, and development across Utah.
Throughout the session, lawmakers examined proposals addressing housing production, infrastructure planning, and the regulatory systems that influence how communities accommodate population growth. Several measures passed the Legislature and established policy tools that will influence how housing is planned and built across the state in the years ahead.
Taken together, the legislation debated this year reflects increasing recognition that housing supply and land use policy play a central role in Utah’s long-term economic growth and community stability. From statewide coordination to infrastructure investment and development processes, the session highlighted continued interest in examining how policy frameworks influence housing opportunity across the state.
Wasatch Advocates for Livable Communities (WALC) actively monitored key housing bills this session, working to ensure policymakers recognize the critical role local land use policies have on housing affordability in the Wasatch Region – and, most importantly, to spur the creation of new homes.
HCR6 — Concurrent Resolution Regarding the Utah Housing Strategic Plan
House Concurrent Resolution 6 advanced through the Legislature this session, acknowledging the complexity of Utah’s housing challenges and the need for stronger coordination across the many sectors involved in delivering housing solutions.
The resolution expresses legislative support for implementing Utah’s Housing Strategic Plan and commits to tracking progress over time. Housing production is influenced by a wide range of factors—including land use policy, infrastructure planning, financing, and regulatory systems—and addressing the state’s housing shortage will require stronger alignment among state leaders, local governments, nonprofit partners, and the building community.
The passage of HCR6 represents an important acknowledgment that closing the growing gap between housing supply and demand in Utah will require coordinated statewide leadership and stronger alignment across the policies that shape how housing is planned and delivered.
HB68 — Housing and Community Development Amendments
HB68 passed both chambers during the 2026 session and focuses on improving how housing programs are organized and coordinated at the state level.
The legislation creates a Division of Housing within the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity, streamlines oversight of existing housing initiatives, and preserves tools that allow surplus public land to continue being used to support affordable housing development.
Improving coordination among state housing programs can help strengthen long-term housing policy and ensure existing resources are used more effectively as Utah works to address growing housing needs.
HB492 — Transportation, Infrastructure, and Housing Amendments
HB492 addresses the relationship between infrastructure investment and housing development by establishing the State Housing Infrastructure Partnership Fund, a revolving loan program intended to support public infrastructure projects that facilitate new housing construction.
The legislation directs the program to give preference to infrastructure that supports detached, owner-occupied starter homes, reflecting legislative interest in expanding entry-level homeownership opportunities.
As the program is implemented, attention will turn to how communities utilize the fund and whether new development supported by the infrastructure investments results in the kinds of starter homes the legislation intends to encourage. WALC will also be monitoring how cities may use the program to support a broader range of housing options as communities work to address local housing needs.
SB284 — Local Land Use Modifications
SB284 passed during the 2026 Legislative Session and established a statewide framework requiring certain municipalities to adopt ordinances allowing Detached Accessory Dwelling Units (DADUs)—small homes built on the same lot as a primary residence—by October 2026.
Often referred to as backyard cottages or accessory apartments, DADUs provide a flexible housing option that can expand supply within existing neighborhoods while supporting multigenerational living and more modest housing choices.
The legislation establishes baseline standards that cities must incorporate into their local ordinances, creating a consistent statewide foundation while preserving the ability for communities to shape how DADUs are implemented locally.
“Detached accessory dwelling units are one of the most practical and cost-effective ways to add homes incrementally within existing neighborhoods,” said Lauren Cole, Policy Manager for Wasatch Advocates for Livable Communities. “Establishing a statewide framework provides greater clarity and consistency as communities consider how to expand housing options.”
As municipalities begin crafting and adopting their local DADU ordinances, WALC will continue working with communities across the Wasatch Region to support implementation and encourage best practices that make these small homes feasible to build while fitting within existing neighborhoods.
HB184 and HB470 — Signals of Process Reform
While HB184 (Small Lots and Starter Homes Amendments) and HB470 (Building Inspection Amendments) did not advance out of committee during the 2026 session, both proposals reflected growing legislative interest in examining development review processes and regulatory barriers that influence housing production.
HB184 proposed a faster approval pathway for certain small-lot or starter-home development requests, while HB470 focused on streamlining permitting for certain residential alterations by shifting plan verification to licensed building inspectors.
Although neither bill ultimately passed this session, their introduction and consideration highlight continued legislative interest in improving the predictability and efficiency of development review systems.
As Utah continues to experience rapid population growth and rising housing costs, housing policy will remain central to how communities across the Wasatch Region plan for the future.
WALC will continue working with policymakers, local governments, and community partners to advance practical policy solutions that expand housing supply, modernize land use frameworks, and support communities that remain accessible to people at every stage of life.
About Wasatch Advocates for Livable Communities (WALC)
Wasatch Advocates for Livable Communities champions community development in the Wasatch Region through programs and public policies focused on housing, land use, local governance, and transportation.
