78B-6-801. Definitions.

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A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

Effective 5/6/2026

(1)"Commercial tenant" means any tenant who may be a body politic and corporate, partnership, association, or company.

(a)"Constable" means an individual acting at the direction of:

(i)a city, as described in Section 10-7-87 ; or

(ii)a county, as described in Title 17, Chapter 78, Part 6, Constables.

(b)"Constable" also means an individual who, beginning January 1, 2027, is licensed as a constable under Title 58, Chapter 91, Constables Licensing Act, regardless of whether the constable is providing services for a contracting governmental entity or a private client.

(3)"Forcible detainer" means:

(a)holding and keeping by force, or by menaces and threats of violence, the possession of any real property, whether acquired peaceably or otherwise; or

(b)unlawfully entering real property during the absence of the occupants or at night, and, after demand is made for the surrender of the property, refusing for a period of three days to surrender the property to the former occupant.

(4)"Forcible entry" means:

(a)entering any real property by:

(i)breaking open doors, windows, or other parts of a house;

(ii)fraud, intimidation, or stealth; or

(iii)any kind of violence or circumstances of terror; or

(b)after entering peaceably upon real property, turning out by force, threats, or menacing conduct the party in actual possession.

(5)"Occupant of real property" means one who within five days preceding an unlawful entry was in the peaceable and undisturbed possession of the property.

(6)"Owner":

(a)means the actual owner of the premises;

(b)has the same meaning as landlord under common law and the statutes of this state; and

(c)includes the owner's designated agent or successor to the estate.

(a)"Peaceable possession" means having a legal right to possession.

(b)"Peaceable possession" does not include:

(i)the occupation of premises by a trespasser; or

(ii)continuing to occupy real property after being served with an order of restitution issued by a court of competent jurisdiction .

(a)"Tenant" means any natural person and any individual, including a commercial tenant.

(b)"Tenant" does not include a person or entity that has no legal right to the premises.

(9)"Trespasser" means a person or entity that occupies real property but never had possessory rights in the premises.

(10)"Unlawful detainer" means unlawfully remaining in possession of property after receiving a notice to quit, served as required by this chapter, and failing to comply with that notice.

(11)"Willful exclusion" means preventing the tenant from entering into the premises with intent to deprive the tenant of entry.

Amended by Chapter 130 , 2026 General Session