SALT LAKE CITY — Utah homeowners now have a new resource to help navigate the sometimes complicated world of community associations.
The Utah Department of Commerce recently announced the launch of the Office of the Homeowners’ Association Ombudsman, created under HB217 during the 2025 legislative session. The office is designed to serve as a neutral party in resolving issues with homeowners’ associations and to provide education on the rights and responsibilities of both residents and HOA boards.
“The launch of our HOA Ombudsman Office represents a significant step forward for our state and a true commitment to strengthening trust between Utah’s homeowners and community associations,” said Margaret Woolley Busse, executive director of the Department of Commerce.
The office will be led by Erin Rider, JD/MBA, who was appointed as director and ombudsman. Rider brings legal and legislative experience, with expertise in corporate governance and public advocacy. She will be supported by staff attorney Chris Binning and legal assistant Amy Peuler.
“Our office is here to make a tangible difference by offering practical, accessible services like impartial advisory opinions on questions of state law and valuable educational resources,” Rider said.
The office will focus on three primary functions:
- Maintaining the new HOA registry, which now includes an annual renewal requirement.
- Providing advisory opinions on questions of state law.
- Offering educational resources and training sessions for both homeowners and associations.
While the office will not mediate disputes or provide legal advice, it may be able to resolve some concerns informally during the review process.
Commerce officials are urging all HOAs to re-register through the new system at hoa.utah.gov, warning that failure to do so could prevent associations from enforcing liens against homeowners.
For Cache Valley and other Northern Utah communities where HOAs oversee growing subdivisions, the new office is expected to provide clarity and consistency in how state law applies to local associations.