Utah Code § 35A-16-703

Provisions in effect for duration of code blue alert
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Subject to rules made by the Department of Health and Human Services under Subsection
35A-16-702(4), the following provisions take effect within an affected county for the duration of a
code blue alert:
(1) a homeless shelter may expand the homeless shelter's capacity limit by up to 35% to provide
temporary shelter to any number of individuals experiencing homelessness, so long as the
homeless shelter is in compliance with the applicable building code and fire code;
(2) a homeless shelter, in coordination with the applicable local homeless council, shall implement
expedited intake procedures for individuals experiencing homelessness who request access to
the homeless shelter;
(3) a homeless shelter may not deny temporary shelter to any individual experiencing
homelessness who requests access to the homeless shelter for temporary shelter unless the

homeless shelter is at the capacity limit described in Subsection (1) or if a reasonable individual
would conclude that the individual presents a danger to public safety;
(4) any indoor facility owned by a private organization, nonprofit organization, state government
entity, or local government entity may be used to provide temporary shelter to individuals
experiencing homelessness and is exempt from the licensure requirements of Title 26B,
Chapter 2, Licensing and Certifications, for the duration of the code blue alert and seven days
following the day on which the code blue alert ends, so long as the facility is in compliance with
the applicable building code and fire code and the governing body of the organization or the
legislative body of the government entity that owns the facility approves the use;
(5) homeless shelters, state and local government entities, and other organizations that provide
services to individuals experiencing homelessness may coordinate street outreach efforts to
distribute to individuals experiencing homelessness any available resources for survival in cold
weather, including clothing items and blankets;
(6) a state or local government entity, including a municipality, law enforcement agency, and
local health department, may enforce a camping ordinance but may not seize from individuals
experiencing homelessness any personal items for survival in cold weather, including clothing,
blankets, tents, and sleeping bags; and
(7) a municipality or other local government entity may not enforce any ordinance or policy that
limits or restricts the ability for the provisions described in Subsections (1) through (5) to take
effect, including local zoning ordinances.

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