{"data":{"id":"us-ut/utah-code-10-3-703","jurisdiction":"us-ut","citation":"Utah Code § 10-3-703","heading":"Criminal penalties for violation of ordinance -- Civil penalties prohibited -- Exceptions.","body":"(1)\n(a) The governing body of a municipality may impose a criminal penalty for the violation of any municipal ordinance by a fine not to exceed the maximum class B misdemeanor fine under Section 76-3-301, by a term of imprisonment up to six months, or by both the fine and term of imprisonment.\n(b) Notwithstanding Subsection (1)(a), a municipality may not impose a criminal penalty greater than an infraction for a violation pertaining to an individual's pet, as defined in Section 4-12-102, or an individual's use of the individual's residence unless:\n(i) the violation:\n(A) is a private nuisance as that term is defined in Section 78B-6a-101; and\n(B) threatens the health, safety, or welfare of the individual or an identifiable third party; or\n(ii) the municipality has imposed a fine on the individual for a violation that involves the same residence or pet on three previous occasions within the past 12 months.\n(c) Subsection (1)(b) does not apply to municipal enforcement of a building code or fire code ordinance in accordance with Title 15A, State Construction and Fire Codes Act.\n(2)\n(a) Except as provided in Subsection (2)(b), the governing body may prescribe a civil penalty for the violation of any municipal ordinance by a fine not to exceed the maximum class B misdemeanor fine under Section 76-3-301.\n(b) A municipality may not impose a civil penalty and adjudication for the violation of a municipal moving traffic ordinance.\n(3)\n(a) Except as provided in Subsection (3)(b) or Section 77-7-18, a municipal officer or official who is not a law enforcement officer described in Section 53-13-103 or a special function officer described in Section 53-13-105 may not issue a criminal citation for a violation that is punished as a misdemeanor.\n(b) Notwithstanding Subsection (1) or (3)(a), the following may issue a criminal citation for a violation that is punished as a misdemeanor if the violation threatens the health and safety of an animal or the public:\n(i) a fire officer described in Section 53-7-102; or\n(ii) an animal control officer described in Section 11-46-102.\n(4) A municipality may not issue more than one infraction within a 14-day time period for a violation described in Subsection (1)(b) that is ongoing.","path":["Title 10 Utah Municipal Code","Chapter 10-3 Municipal Government","Part 10-3-7 Municipal Ordinances, Resolutions, and Procedure"],"source_url":"https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title10/Chapter3/10-3-S703.html","current_through":"2026 General Session","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-03T11:34:33Z","sha256":"f4b03f7df39f86e1f1e33aa57e6f28a60c4ff8d1dc73681fdb636ff8d42a1a6c","source_id":"us-ut","stale":false,"prev":"us-ut/utah-code-10-3-702.1","next":"us-ut/utah-code-10-3-703.7"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}