Utah Code

Utah Code § 20A-7-101 (2026)

Definitions

✓ current as of May 2026

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As used in this chapter:

"Approved device" means a device described in Subsection 20A-21-201(4) used to gather signatures for the electronic initiative process, the electronic referendum process, or the electronic candidate qualification process.

"Budget officer" means:

for a county, the person designated as finance officer as defined in Section 17-63-101;

for a city, the person designated as budget officer in Subsection 10-6-106(4); or

for a town, the town council.

"Certified" means that the county clerk has acknowledged a signature as being the signature of a registered voter.

"Circulation" means the process of submitting an initiative petition or a referendum petition to legal voters for their signature.

"Condensed initiative packet" means the following components, all of which are bound together as a unit in accordance with Subsection 20A-7-204(5)(b), for a statewide initiative, or Subsection 20A-7-504(5)(b), for a local initiative:

a copy of the initiative petition;

the signature sheets; and

the circulator verification sheet described in Subsection 20A-1-1004(1).

"Condensed referendum packet" means the following components, all of which are bound together as a unit in accordance with Subsection 20A-7-304(5)(b), for a statewide referendum, or Subsection 20A-7-604(5)(b), for a local referendum:

a copy of the referendum petition;

the signature sheets; and

the circulator verification sheet described in Subsection 20A-1-1004(1).

"Electronic initiative process" means:

as it relates to a statewide initiative, the process, described in Sections 20A-7-215 and 20A-21-201, for gathering signatures; or

as it relates to a local initiative, the process, described in Sections 20A-7-514 and 20A-21-201, for gathering signatures.

"Electronic referendum process" means:

as it relates to a statewide referendum, the process, described in Sections 20A-7-313 and 20A-21-201, for gathering signatures; or

as it relates to a local referendum, the process, described in Sections 20A-7-614 and 20A-21-201, for gathering signatures.

"Eligible voter" means a legal voter who resides in the jurisdiction of the county, city, or town that is holding an election on a ballot proposition.

"Final fiscal impact statement" means a financial statement prepared after voters approve an initiative that contains the information required by Subsection 20A-7-202.5(2) or 20A-7-502.5(2).

"Initial fiscal impact statement" means a financial statement prepared under Section 20A-7-202.5 after the filing of a statewide initiative application.

"Initial fiscal impact and legal statement" means a financial and legal statement prepared under Section 20A-7-502.5 or 20A-7-602.5 for a local initiative or a local referendum.

"Initiative" means a new law proposed for adoption by the public as provided in this chapter.

"Initiative application" means:

for a statewide initiative, an application described in Subsection 20A-7-202(2) that includes all the information, statements, documents, and notarized signatures required under Subsection 20A-7-202(2); or

for a local initiative, an application described in Subsection 20A-7-502(2) that includes all the information, statements, documents, and notarized signatures required under Subsection 20A-7-502(2).

"Initiative packet" means:

a traditional initiative packet; or

a condensed initiative packet.

"Initiative petition":

as it relates to a statewide initiative, using the manual initiative process:

means the form described in Subsection 20A-7-203(2)(a), petitioning for submission of the initiative to the Legislature or the legal voters;

includes the statement described in Subsection 20A-7-203(2)(b), if the initiative proposes a tax increase; and

includes the statement described in Subsection 20A-7-203(2)(c), if:

the initiative proposes a law other than a tax increase; and

the form described in Subsection 20A-7-203(2)(a) is part of a condensed initiative packet;

as it relates to a statewide initiative, using the electronic initiative process:

means the form described in Subsections 20A-7-215(2) and (3), petitioning for submission of the initiative to the Legislature or the legal voters; and

if the initiative proposes a tax increase, includes the statement described in Subsection 20A-7-215(5)(b);

as it relates to a local initiative, using the manual initiative process:

means the form described in Subsection 20A-7-503(2)(a), petitioning for submission of the initiative to the legislative body or the legal voters;

includes the statement described in Subsection 20A-7-503(2)(b), if the initiative proposes a tax increase; and

includes the statement described in Subsection 20A-7-503(2)(c), if:

the initiative proposes a law other than a tax increase; and

the form described in Subsection 20A-7-503(2)(a) is part of a condensed initiative packet; or

as it relates to a local initiative, using the electronic initiative process:

means the form described in Subsection 20A-7-514(2)(a), petitioning for submission of the initiative to the legislative body or the legal voters; and

if the initiative proposes a tax increase, includes the statement described in Subsection 20A-7-514(4)(a).

"Land use law" means a law of general applicability, enacted based on the weighing of broad, competing policy considerations, that relates to the use of land, including a land use regulation, a general plan, a land use development code, an annexation ordinance, the rezoning of a single property or multiple properties, or a comprehensive zoning ordinance or resolution.

"Land use law" does not include a land use decision, as defined in Section 10-20-102 or 17-79-102.

"Legal signatures" means the number of signatures of legal voters that:

meet the numerical requirements of this chapter; and

have been obtained, certified, and verified as provided in this chapter.

"Legal voter" means an individual who is registered to vote in Utah.

"Legally referable to voters" means:

for a proposed local initiative, that the proposed local initiative is legally referable to voters under Section 20A-7-502.7; or

for a proposed local referendum, that the proposed local referendum is legally referable to voters under Section 20A-7-602.7.

"Local attorney" means the county attorney, city attorney, or town attorney in whose jurisdiction a local initiative or referendum petition is circulated.

"Local clerk" means the county clerk, city recorder, or town clerk in whose jurisdiction a local initiative or referendum petition is circulated.

"Local law" includes:

an ordinance;

a resolution;

a land use law;

a land use regulation, as defined in Section 10-20-102; or

other legislative action of a local legislative body.

"Local law" does not include a land use decision, as defined in Section 10-20-102.

"Local legislative body" means the legislative body of a county, city, or town.

"Local obligation law" means a local law passed by the local legislative body regarding a bond that was approved by a majority of qualified voters in an election.

"Local tax law" means a law, passed by a political subdivision with an annual or biannual calendar fiscal year, that increases a tax or imposes a new tax.

"Manual initiative process" means the process for gathering signatures for an initiative using paper signature packets that a signer physically signs.

"Manual referendum process" means the process for gathering signatures for a referendum using paper signature packets that a signer physically signs.

"Measure" means a proposed constitutional amendment, an initiative, or referendum.

"Measure" does not include a ballot proposition for the creation of a new school district under Section 53G-3-301.1, 53G-3-301.3, or 53G-3-301.4.

"Presiding officers" means the president of the Senate and the speaker of the House of Representatives.

"Referendum" means a process by which a law passed by the Legislature or by a local legislative body is submitted or referred to the voters for their approval or rejection.

"Referendum application" means:

for a statewide referendum, an application described in Subsection 20A-7-302(2) that includes all the information, statements, documents, and notarized signatures required under Subsection 20A-7-302(2); or

for a local referendum, an application described in Subsection 20A-7-602(2) that includes all the information, statements, documents, and notarized signatures required under Subsection 20A-7-602(2).

"Referendum packet" means:

a traditional referendum packet; or

a condensed referendum packet.

"Referendum petition" means:

as it relates to a statewide referendum, using the manual referendum process, the form described in Subsection 20A-7-303(2), petitioning for submission of a law passed by the Legislature to legal voters for their approval or rejection;

as it relates to a statewide referendum, using the electronic referendum process, the form described in Subsection 20A-7-313(2), petitioning for submission of a law passed by the Legislature to legal voters for their approval or rejection;

as it relates to a local referendum, using the manual referendum process, the form described in Subsection 20A-7-603(2), petitioning for submission of a local law to legal voters for their approval or rejection; or

as it relates to a local referendum, using the electronic referendum process, the form described in Subsection 20A-7-614(2), petitioning for submission of a local law to legal voters for their approval or rejection.

"Signature":

for a statewide initiative:

as it relates to the electronic initiative process, means an electronic signature collected under Section 20A-7-215 and Subsection 20A-21-201(6)(c); or

as it relates to the manual initiative process:

means a holographic signature collected physically on a signature sheet described in Section 20A-7-203;

as it relates to an individual who, due to a qualifying disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act, is unable to fill out the signature sheet or to sign the voter's name consistently, the initials "AV," indicating that the voter's identity will be verified by an alternate verification process described in Section 20A-7-106; and

does not include an electronic signature;

for a statewide referendum:

as it relates to the electronic referendum process, means an electronic signature collected under Section 20A-7-313 and Subsection 20A-21-201(6)(c); or

as it relates to the manual referendum process:

means a holographic signature collected physically on a signature sheet described in Section 20A-7-303;

does not include an electronic signature;

for a local initiative:

as it relates to the electronic initiative process, means an electronic signature collected under Section 20A-7-514 and Subsection 20A-21-201(6)(c); or

as it relates to the manual initiative process:

means a holographic signature collected physically on a signature sheet described in Section 20A-7-503;

does not include an electronic signature; or

for a local referendum:

as it relates to the electronic referendum process, means an electronic signature collected under Section 20A-7-614 and Subsection 20A-21-201(6)(c); or

as it relates to the manual referendum process:

means a holographic signature collected physically on a signature sheet described in Section 20A-7-603;

does not include an electronic signature.

"Signature sheets" means sheets in the form required by this chapter that are used under the manual initiative process or the manual referendum process to collect signatures in support of an initiative or referendum.

"Special local ballot proposition" means a local ballot proposition that is not a standard local ballot proposition.

"Sponsor liaison" means an individual designated by the sponsors of an initiative or referendum to:

receive communications from Office of the Lieutenant Governor; and

communicate with and act on behalf of the sponsors regarding the initiative or referendum.

"Sponsor liaison" includes a sponsor or another individual designated by the sponsors.

"Sponsors" means the legal voters who support the initiative or referendum and who sign the initiative application or referendum application.

"Standard local ballot proposition" means a local ballot proposition for an initiative or a referendum.

"Standard local ballot proposition" does not include a property tax referendum described in Section 20A-7-613.

"Traditional initiative packet" means the following components, all of which are bound together as a unit in accordance with Subsection 20A-7-204(5)(b), for a statewide initiative, or Subsection 20A-7-504(5)(b), for a local initiative:

a copy of:

the initiative petition; and

the law proposed by the initiative petition;

the signature sheets; and

the circulator verification sheet described in Subsection 20A-1-1004(1).

"Traditional referendum packet" means the following components, all of which are bound together as a unit in accordance with Subsection 20A-7-304(5)(b), for a statewide referendum, or Subsection 20A-7-604(5)(b), for a local referendum:

a copy of:

the referendum petition; and

the law being submitted or referred to the voters for approval or rejection;

the signature sheets; and

the circulator verification sheet described in Subsection 20A-1-1004(1).

"Tax percentage difference" means the difference between the tax rate proposed by an initiative or an initiative petition and the current tax rate.

"Tax percentage increase" means a number calculated by dividing the tax percentage difference by the current tax rate and rounding the result to the nearest thousandth.

"Verified" means acknowledged by the person circulating the petition as required in Section 20A-7-105.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 10 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1998–2021 · leading case: Mouty v. Sandy City Recorder, 2005 UT 41 (Utah 2005).

Sort: Relevance Newest Treatment

Mouty v. Sandy City Recorder, 2005 UT 41 (Utah 2005). · cites it 10× “§ 9, 1994 Utah Laws at 69 (codified at Utah Code Ann. § 20A-7-101 (7)(b) (2003)).”

Carter v. Lehi City, 269 P.3d 141 (Utah 2012). · cites it 2× “See UTar Cop® §§ 20A-7-101 to -801. 188 If we required ballot initiatives to conform to procedural restrictions on local governments, we would mandate absurd results that would read the initiative power out of the constitution.”

Utah Safe to Learn-Safe to Worship Coalition, Inc. v. State, 2004 UT 32 (Utah 2004). · cites it 2× “See Utah Code Ann. §§ 20A-7-101 to -706 (2003).”

Tobias v. South Jordan City Recorder, 972 P.2d 373 (Utah 1998). · cites it 4× “We do not reach and therefore express no opinion on other grounds relied upon by the recorder in denying petitioners' application, including that ordinance 97-20 is an "individual property decision," not subject to referendum under section 20A-7-101(7)(b). Associate Chief…”

Krejci v. City of Saratoga Springs, 322 P.3d 662 (Utah 2013). “A “local law” is statutorily defined as “an ordinance, resolution, master plan, and any comprehensive zoning regulation adopted by ordinance or resolution,” but “individual property zoning decision[s]” are excluded.”

LD III v. Mapleton City, 2020 UT App 41 (Utah Ct. App. 2020). · cites it 4× “6 In so holding, the court explained that site-specific zoning is legislative because it “requires the weighing of broad, competing policy considerations and results in a law of general applicability”—the “chief hallmarks of legislative action.”

Downs v. Thompson, 2019 UT 53 (Utah 2019). · cites it 5× “” UTAH CODE § 20A-7-101(18) (emphasis added) 4; see also Referendum, BLACK’S LAW DICTIONARY (11th ed.”

Smith v. Return Dev., 2021 UT 10 (Utah 2021). · cites it 4× “See UTAH CODE § 20A-7-101 et seq. 44 In the paragraphs below we first outline the statutory referendum standards that form the background of the case before us.”

Maxfield v. Herbert (D. Utah 2021). · cites it 8× “16 Utah Code Ann. § 20A-7-101 et seq, amended by H.”

— Utah Code § 20A-7-101(11) — 2 cases

Maxfield v. Herbert (D. Utah 2021). “16 Utah Code Ann. § 20A-7-101 et seq, amended by H.”

— Utah Code § 20A-7-101(12) — 1 case

— Utah Code § 20A-7-101(13) — 1 case

LD III v. Mapleton City, 2020 UT App 41 (Utah Ct. App. 2020). “6 In so holding, the court explained that site-specific zoning is legislative because it “requires the weighing of broad, competing policy considerations and results in a law of general applicability”—the “chief hallmarks of legislative action.”

— Utah Code § 20A-7-101(15)(b) — 1 case

— Utah Code § 20A-7-101(18) — 1 case

Downs v. Thompson, 2019 UT 53 (Utah 2019). “” UTAH CODE § 20A-7-101(18) (emphasis added) 4; see also Referendum, BLACK’S LAW DICTIONARY (11th ed.”

— Utah Code § 20A-7-101(20) — 1 case

Downs v. Thompson, 2019 UT 53 (Utah 2019). “” UTAH CODE § 20A-7-101(18) (emphasis added) 4; see also Referendum, BLACK’S LAW DICTIONARY (11th ed.”

— Utah Code § 20A-7-101(21) — 1 case

Smith v. Return Dev., 2021 UT 10 (Utah 2021). “See UTAH CODE § 20A-7-101 et seq. 44 In the paragraphs below we first outline the statutory referendum standards that form the background of the case before us.”

— Utah Code § 20A-7-101(25) — 2 cases

Maxfield v. Herbert (D. Utah 2021). “16 Utah Code Ann. § 20A-7-101 et seq, amended by H.”

— Utah Code § 20A-7-101(6) — 2 cases

Carter v. Lehi City, 269 P.3d 141 (Utah 2012). “See UTar Cop® §§ 20A-7-101 to -801. 188 If we required ballot initiatives to conform to procedural restrictions on local governments, we would mandate absurd results that would read the initiative power out of the constitution.”

Mouty v. Sandy City Recorder, 2005 UT 41 (Utah 2005). “§ 9, 1994 Utah Laws at 69 (codified at Utah Code Ann. § 20A-7-101 (7)(b) (2003)).”

— Utah Code § 20A-7-101(7) — 1 case

Mouty v. Sandy City Recorder, 2005 UT 41 (Utah 2005). “§ 9, 1994 Utah Laws at 69 (codified at Utah Code Ann. § 20A-7-101 (7)(b) (2003)).”

— Utah Code § 20A-7-101(7)(b) — 2 cases

Mouty v. Sandy City Recorder, 2005 UT 41 (Utah 2005). “§ 9, 1994 Utah Laws at 69 (codified at Utah Code Ann. § 20A-7-101 (7)(b) (2003)).”

Tobias v. South Jordan City Recorder, 972 P.2d 373 (Utah 1998). “We do not reach and therefore express no opinion on other grounds relied upon by the recorder in denying petitioners' application, including that ordinance 97-20 is an "individual property decision," not subject to referendum under section 20A-7-101(7)(b). Associate Chief…”

Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.