Utah Code

Utah Code § 20A-7-601 (2026)

Referenda -- General signature requirements -- Signature requirements for land use laws, subjurisdictional laws, and transit area land use laws -- Time requirements

✓ current as of May 2026

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As used in this section:

"Number of active voters" means the number of active voters in the county, city, or town on the immediately preceding January 1.

"Qualifying county" means a county that has created a small public transit district, as defined in Section 17B-2a-802, on or before January 1, 2022.

"Qualifying transit area" means:

a station area, as defined in Section 63N-23-101, for which the municipality with jurisdiction over the station area has satisfied the requirements of Subsection 63N-23-104(1)(a)(i), as demonstrated by the adoption of a station area plan or resolution under Subsection 63N-23-104(1); or

a housing and transit reinvestment zone, as defined in Section 63N-23-101, created within a qualifying county.

"Subjurisdiction" means an area comprised of all precincts and subprecincts in the jurisdiction of a county, city, or town that are subject to a subjurisdictional law.

"Subjurisdictional law" means a local law or local obligation law passed by a local legislative body that imposes a tax or other payment obligation on property in an area that does not include all precincts and subprecincts under the jurisdiction of the county, city, or town.

"Subjurisdictional law" does not include a land use law.

"Transit area land use law" means a land use law that relates to the use of land within a qualifying transit area.

"Voter participation area" means an area described in Subsection 20A-7-401.3(1)(a) or (2)(b).

Except as provided in Subsections (3) through (5), an eligible voter seeking to have a local law passed by the local legislative body submitted to a vote of the people shall, after filing a referendum application, obtain legal signatures equal to:

for a county of the first class:

7.75% of the number of active voters in the county; and

beginning on January 1, 2020, 7.75% of the number of active voters in at least 75% of the county's voter participation areas;

for a city of the first class:

7.5% of the number of active voters in the city; and

beginning on January 1, 2020, 7.5% of the number of active voters in at least 75% of the city's voter participation areas;

for a county of the second class:

8% of the number of active voters in the county; and

beginning on January 1, 2020, 8% of the number of active voters in at least 75% of the county's voter participation areas;

for a city of the second class:

8.25% of the number of active voters in the city; and

beginning on January 1, 2020, 8.25% of the number of active voters in at least 75% of the city's voter participation areas;

for a county of the third class:

9.5% of the number of active voters in the county; and

beginning on January 1, 2020, 9.5% of the number of active voters in at least 75% of the county's voter participation areas;

for a city of the third class:

10% of the number of active voters in the city; and

beginning on January 1, 2020, 10% of the number of active voters in at least 75% of the city's voter participation areas;

for a county of the fourth class:

11.5% of the number of active voters in the county; and

beginning on January 1, 2020, 11.5% of the number of active voters in at least 75% of the county's voter participation areas;

for a city of the fourth class:

11.5% of the number of active voters in the city; and

beginning on January 1, 2020, 11.5% of the number of active voters in at least 75% of the city's voter participation areas;

for a city of the fifth class or a county of the fifth class, 25% of the number of active voters in the city or county; or

for a town or a county of the sixth class, 35% of the number of active voters in the town or county.

Except as provided in Subsection (4) or (5), an eligible voter seeking to have a land use law or local obligation law passed by the local legislative body submitted to a vote of the people shall, after filing a referendum application, obtain legal signatures equal to:

for a county of the first, second, third, or fourth class:

16% of the number of active voters in the county; and

beginning on January 1, 2020, 16% of the number of active voters in at least 75% of the county's voter participation areas;

for a county of the fifth or sixth class:

16% of the number of active voters in the county; and

beginning on January 1, 2020, 16% of the number of active voters in at least 75% of the county's voter participation areas;

for a city of the first class:

15% of the number of active voters in the city; and

beginning on January 1, 2020, 15% of the number of active voters in at least 75% of the city's voter participation areas;

for or a city of the second class:

16% of the number of active voters in the city; and

beginning on January 1, 2020, 16% of the number of active voters in at least 75% of the city's voter participation areas;

for a city of the third class:

27.5% of the number of active voters in the city; and

beginning on January 1, 2020, 27.5% of the number of active voters in at least 75% of the city's voter participation areas;

for a city of the fourth class:

29% of the number of active voters in the city; and

beginning on January 1, 2020, 29% of the number of active voters in at least 75% of the city's voter participation areas;

for a city of the fifth class, 35% of the number of active voters in the city; or

for a town, 40% of the number of active voters in the town.

A person seeking to have a subjurisdictional law passed by the local legislative body submitted to a vote of the people shall, after filing a referendum application, obtain legal signatures of the residents in the subjurisdiction equal to:

10% of the number of active voters in the subjurisdiction if the number of active voters exceeds 25,000;

12.5% of the number of active voters in the subjurisdiction if the number of active voters does not exceed 25,000 but is more than 10,000;

15% of the number of active voters in the subjurisdiction if the number of active voters does not exceed 10,000 but is more than 2,500;

20% of the number of active voters in the subjurisdiction if the number of active voters does not exceed 2,500 but is more than 500;

25% of the number of active voters in the subjurisdiction if the number of active voters does not exceed 500 but is more than 250; and

30% of the number of active voters in the subjurisdiction if the number of active voters does not exceed 250.

An eligible voter seeking to have a transit area land use law passed by the local legislative body submitted to a vote of the people shall, after filing a referendum application, obtain legal signatures equal to:

for a county:

20% of the number of active voters in the county; and

21% of the number of active voters in at least 75% of the county's voter participation areas;

for a city of the first class:

20% of the number of active voters in the city; and

20% of the number of active voters in at least 75% of the city's voter participation areas;

for a city of the second class:

20% of the number of active voters in the city; and

21% of the number of active voters in at least 75% of the city's voter participation areas;

for a city of the third class:

34% of the number of active voters in the city; and

34% of the number of active voters in at least 75% of the city's voter participation areas;

for a city of the fourth class:

36% of the number of active voters in the city; and

36% of the number of active voters in at least 75% of the city's voter participation areas; or

for a city of the fifth class or a town, 40% of the number of active voters in the city or town.

Sponsors of any referendum petition challenging, under Subsection (2), (3), (4), or (5), any local law passed by a local legislative body shall file the application no later than the first business day that is at least five days after the day on which the local law was passed.

This section does not authorize a local legislative body to impose a tax or other payment obligation on a subjurisdiction in order to benefit an area outside of the subjurisdiction.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 11 cases (4 in the last 5 years), 1998–2026 · leading case: Mouty v. Sandy City Recorder, 2005 UT 41 (Utah 2005).

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Mouty v. Sandy City Recorder, 2005 UT 41 (Utah 2005). · cites it 38× “See generally Utah Code Ann. §§ 20A-7-601 to -612 (2003 & Supp.”

Tobias v. South Jordan City Recorder, 972 P.2d 373 (Utah 1998). · cites it 20× “Pursuant to that authorization, the legislature in Utah Code Ann. §§ 20A-7-601 to -612 has provided a statutory scheme for local referenda.”

Low v. City of Monticello, 2002 UT 90 (Utah 2002). · cites it 4× “The city recorder concluded that the city had received sufficient signatures under Utah Code section 20A-7-601 to impel a referendum. Accordingly, the city attorney prepared a ballot title for the proposed referendum.”

Krejci v. City of Saratoga Springs, 322 P.3d 662 (Utah 2013). · cites it 2× “The city recorder determined that the petition complied with the requirements of Utah Code section 20A-7-601 and agreed to place it on the ballot.”

Bissland v. Bankhead, 2007 UT 86 (Utah 2007). · cites it 6× “" Utah Code Ann. § 20A-7-601(8)(a) (Supp.2006).”

Mawhinney v. City of Draper, 2014 UT 54 (Utah 2014). · cites it 7× “Urax Cops § 20A-7-601(3). A subjurisdiction is "an area comprised of all precincts and sub-precincts in the jurisdiction of a county, city, or town that are subject to a subjurisdictional law.”

Croft v. Morgan Cnty., 2021 UT 46 (Utah 2021). “§ 20A-7-601(5). WPR points to two key pieces of evidence indicating that the referendum application was submitted after 5:00 p.”

Low v. City of Monticello, 2004 UT 90 (Utah 2004). · cites it 3× “Presently, Utah Code section 20A-7-601(3)(a) allows a forty-five day time frame in which a petition for referendum may be filed, Id.”

Smith v. Return Dev., 2021 UT 10 (Utah 2021). · cites it 5× “And within two days after that, the local clerk is required to determine whether “the total number of certified names from each verified signature sheet equals or exceeds the number of names required” for the referendum to qualify for the ballot—a number determined by a formula…”

Haney v. Tooele Cnty., 2025 UT 30 (Utah 2025). · cites it 4× “See UTAH CODE §§ 20A-7-601 to -613 (2020) (outlining procedures for local referenda).”

Taylor v. Heber City, 2026 UT App 84 (Utah Ct. App. 2026). · cites it 6× “See Utah Code § 20A-7-601(6) (2024). 3 The statute specified that “[s]ponsors of any referendum petition challenging .”

— Utah Code § 20A-7-601(1) — 1 case

Mouty v. Sandy City Recorder, 2005 UT 41 (Utah 2005). “See generally Utah Code Ann. §§ 20A-7-601 to -612 (2003 & Supp.”

— Utah Code § 20A-7-601(2) — 1 case

Mouty v. Sandy City Recorder, 2005 UT 41 (Utah 2005). “See generally Utah Code Ann. §§ 20A-7-601 to -612 (2003 & Supp.”

— Utah Code § 20A-7-601(2)(a) — 2 cases

Tobias v. South Jordan City Recorder, 972 P.2d 373 (Utah 1998). “Pursuant to that authorization, the legislature in Utah Code Ann. §§ 20A-7-601 to -612 has provided a statutory scheme for local referenda.”

Mouty v. Sandy City Recorder, 2005 UT 41 (Utah 2005). “See generally Utah Code Ann. §§ 20A-7-601 to -612 (2003 & Supp.”

— Utah Code § 20A-7-601(2)(b) — 2 cases

Mouty v. Sandy City Recorder, 2005 UT 41 (Utah 2005). “See generally Utah Code Ann. §§ 20A-7-601 to -612 (2003 & Supp.”

— Utah Code § 20A-7-601(2)(e) — 1 case

Haney v. Tooele Cnty., 2025 UT 30 (Utah 2025). “See UTAH CODE §§ 20A-7-601 to -613 (2020) (outlining procedures for local referenda).”

— Utah Code § 20A-7-601(3) — 1 case

Mawhinney v. City of Draper, 2014 UT 54 (Utah 2014). “Urax Cops § 20A-7-601(3). A subjurisdiction is "an area comprised of all precincts and sub-precincts in the jurisdiction of a county, city, or town that are subject to a subjurisdictional law.”

— Utah Code § 20A-7-601(3)(a) — 4 cases

Low v. City of Monticello, 2002 UT 90 (Utah 2002). “The city recorder concluded that the city had received sufficient signatures under Utah Code section 20A-7-601 to impel a referendum. Accordingly, the city attorney prepared a ballot title for the proposed referendum.”

Low v. City of Monticello, 2004 UT 90 (Utah 2004). “Presently, Utah Code section 20A-7-601(3)(a) allows a forty-five day time frame in which a petition for referendum may be filed, Id.”

Haney v. Tooele Cnty., 2025 UT 30 (Utah 2025). “See UTAH CODE §§ 20A-7-601 to -613 (2020) (outlining procedures for local referenda).”

— Utah Code § 20A-7-601(3)(a)(ii) — 1 case

— Utah Code § 20A-7-601(5) — 1 case

Croft v. Morgan Cnty., 2021 UT 46 (Utah 2021). “§ 20A-7-601(5). WPR points to two key pieces of evidence indicating that the referendum application was submitted after 5:00 p.”

— Utah Code § 20A-7-601(5)(b) — 1 case

Haney v. Tooele Cnty., 2025 UT 30 (Utah 2025). “See UTAH CODE §§ 20A-7-601 to -613 (2020) (outlining procedures for local referenda).”

— Utah Code § 20A-7-601(6) — 1 case

Taylor v. Heber City, 2026 UT App 84 (Utah Ct. App. 2026). “See Utah Code § 20A-7-601(6) (2024). 3 The statute specified that “[s]ponsors of any referendum petition challenging .”

— Utah Code § 20A-7-601(8) — 1 case

— Utah Code § 20A-7-601(8)(a) — 1 case

Bissland v. Bankhead, 2007 UT 86 (Utah 2007). “" Utah Code Ann. § 20A-7-601(8)(a) (Supp.2006).”

— Utah Code § 20A-7-601(l)(a) — 1 case

Mouty v. Sandy City Recorder, 2005 UT 41 (Utah 2005). “See generally Utah Code Ann. §§ 20A-7-601 to -612 (2003 & Supp.”

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