Daggett County Utah Landlord-Tenant Law: Guide for Property Owners Near Flaming Gorge
Daggett County holds the distinction of being Utah’s least populous county and one of the least populated counties in the United States, with a permanent resident population hovering around 1,100 people. Situated in the remote northeastern corner of Utah along the Wyoming border, the county is defined geographically and economically by Flaming Gorge Reservoir — the 91-mile-long impoundment created by Flaming Gorge Dam on the Green River, completed in 1964. The reservoir and surrounding Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area are the county’s dominant economic driver, drawing hundreds of thousands of recreational visitors annually for boating, fishing, camping, and off-highway vehicle recreation. The county seat, Manila, is a community of roughly 300 permanent residents that serves as the commercial and governmental hub for this vast, sparsely settled landscape.
For landlords, operating in Daggett County means working in what may be the most illiquid rental market in Utah. There are simply very few rental units, very few tenants, and very few transactions at any given time. This creates a dual dynamic: vacancy can be extremely low because there is almost nothing to rent, but when a tenant leaves, finding a replacement can take considerable time given the tiny local applicant pool. The vacation rental segment — cabins and homes rented by the night or week to Flaming Gorge visitors — is proportionally very large relative to the long-term rental market, and some landlords operate in both segments depending on the season.
Utah Landlord-Tenant Law Framework
All residential tenancies in Daggett County are governed by Utah’s statewide statutes. The foundational habitability standard is Utah’s Fit Premises Act, Utah Code §§ 57-22-1 through 57-22-7. In Daggett County’s high-elevation, semi-arid climate — where winters are severe, summers are hot, and temperatures can swing dramatically — maintaining a functional heating system is the most critical habitability obligation. The county sits at elevations between 6,000 and 8,000 feet in many areas, and winter temperatures regularly drop well below zero. A heating system failure is not a minor inconvenience in this environment; it is a genuine safety emergency. Landlords must inspect and service heating systems before each winter rental season.
Security deposits in Utah have no statutory cap, so landlords may charge whatever amount the lease specifies and the market will support. The 30-day return requirement under Utah Code § 57-17-3 applies regardless of the remote location — landlords must return the deposit or provide a written itemized statement of deductions within 30 days after the tenancy ends. Given the limited banking and postal services in Daggett County, landlords should plan the logistics of deposit return carefully to avoid inadvertent violations.
Evictions are filed in the Eighth District Court, with the primary courthouse in Vernal, Uintah County — approximately 40 miles from Manila. This distance is a practical reality of rural Utah court geography: landlords must travel to Vernal to file and attend hearings. The 3-day nonpayment notice requirement under Utah Code § 78B-6-802, the subsequent filing, and the court process are the same as in any Utah county, but the logistics of serving notice, filing in Vernal, and coordinating with the Daggett County Sheriff for writ execution all add time and cost relative to urban markets. Budget accordingly and consult an attorney if you have not navigated the Eighth District process before.
This guide is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Landlord-tenant law is subject to change. Consult a licensed Utah attorney or contact the Eighth District Court in Vernal at (435) 789-4401 for guidance specific to your situation. Last updated: April 2026.
|
