Utah Code § 57-21 § 57-21-14
Effect of federal action.
Operative Text
Effect of federal action. The commencement of an action in a federal court of competent jurisdiction for relief under federal law based upon any act prohibited by this chapter bars the commencement or continuation of any adjudicative proceeding before the division or state court proceeding in connection with the same claims under this chapter.
Utah Code Ann. § 57-21-14 establishes a coordination rule between federal and state fair-housing enforcement channels. When a person files a lawsuit in federal court seeking relief under federal law for conduct that is also prohibited under Utah's antidiscrimination housing chapter, that federal filing acts as a bar — it stops any parallel state administrative proceeding or state court case involving the same claims from starting or continuing. The rule is designed to prevent the same housing-discrimination dispute from being litigated simultaneously in both federal court and Utah's state system.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Utah Code Ann. § 57-21-14, a housing-discrimination complaint against a property owner or manager may be pending in one forum at a time when federal court is involved. Operators who become aware that a complainant has filed a federal lawsuit based on the same conduct at issue in a state division proceeding should understand that the state proceeding is generally barred from continuing. Keeping clear records of all notices, complaint filings, and forum selections across both state and federal channels is a practice consistent with managing these overlapping regulatory frameworks.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Utah Code Ann. § 57-21-14 affects which legal forum can actively handle a housing-discrimination claim at any given time. If a federal court action is filed under federal law for the same conduct covered by Utah's housing antidiscrimination chapter, the state administrative process through the division — and any parallel state court case — generally cannot proceed on those same claims. Individuals navigating these choices may find it useful to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider to understand how forum selection under this provision could affect the overall handling of their complaint.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 16, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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