Utah
Utah Laws on Recording in Public
Independently fact-checked against primary sources (last audited August 15, 2026). · Reviewed by the RecordingLaw editorial team. · Law checked current as of August 15, 2026. · 3 primary sources cited on this page. How we verify our legal content
Recording in public in Utah is legal. Silent video and photography in public places are protected by the First Amendment, and audio recording of conversations you participate in is permitted under Utah Code 77-23a-4. No Utah statute restricts filming or photographing in locations with no reasonable expectation of privacy.
Utah broadly permits recording in public places. There is no state statute prohibiting filming, photographing, or audio recording in locations where people have no reasonable expectation of privacy. The First Amendment and Utah's Open and Public Meetings Act provide additional protections.
This guide covers your rights to record in public, government meeting recording, audio rules, private property limits, and drone recording.
Your Right to Record in Public
You can film on public streets, sidewalks, parks, government buildings, public transit, and at public events without restriction. Video-only recording in public does not implicate Utah's wiretapping statute. No press credential is required.
Recording Government Meetings
Under Utah Code Ann. 52-4-203, public bodies must record their own open meetings and make recordings available within three business days. The public can also make their own recordings of city councils, county commissions, school boards, legislative proceedings, and public hearings.
Audio Recording in Public
One-party consent under 77-23a-4 applies. If you participate in a conversation, you can record the audio. Public conversations at normal volume generally carry no privacy expectation.
Private Property Open to the Public
Businesses can set their own recording rules. They can ask you to stop and ask you to leave. Footage captured before the request is generally legal. Religious venues, sports facilities, and entertainment venues may restrict recording through terms of entry.
Drone Recording
Drone recording in public airspace is generally permitted subject to FAA regulations. Do not use drones to record in private areas where people have privacy expectations.
More Utah Recording Laws
Audio Recording | Video Recording | Voyeurism & Hidden Cameras | Workplace Recording | Recording Police | Phone Call Recording | Security Cameras | Recording in Public | Landlord-Tenant | Dashcam Laws | Schools | Medical Recording
More Utah Recording Topics
More Utah Laws
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I record in public in Utah?
Yes. Utah has no statute prohibiting recording in public. You can film, photograph, and audio record in any public location.
Can I record a government meeting in Utah?
Yes. The Open and Public Meetings Act (52-4-203) requires public bodies to record their own meetings and allows public recording.
Can a store tell me to stop recording in Utah?
Yes. Businesses are private property and can set their own rules. Footage captured before the request is generally legal.
Can I use a drone to record in public in Utah?
Yes, subject to FAA regulations. Do not use drones to record people in private areas with a reasonable privacy expectation.
Do I need permission to photograph people in public in Utah?
No. There is no Utah statute requiring permission to photograph people in public, but voyeuristic recording under clothing is prohibited by Utah Code Ann. 76-12-307 (formerly 76-9-702.7 before the 2025 recodification).
Updates
Replaced a dead statute citation (Utah's voyeurism law was repealed and renumbered in May 2025) with the correct current section, 76-12-307, in the citations list and the final FAQ answer.
Independently fact-checked against the cited primary sources; governing law re-checked for recent changes
Governing law re-checked for recent changes
Audit pass: no accuracy errors found. Utah-specific citations (77-23a-4, 76-9-702.7, le.utah.gov links) verified correct.
Reviewed and approved by an editor
The Law Behind This Article
This article rests on the statutory provisions below, held in our own legal record and retrieved from the official source. Tap a section to read the operative text.
Utah Code, Title 77: Criminal Procedure
§ 77-23a-4Offenses -- Criminal and civil -- Lawful interception.In forcecited in 19 of our articles
(1) (a) Except as otherwise specifically provided in this chapter, any person who violates Subsection (1)(b) is guilty of an offense and is subject to punishment under Subsection (10), or when applicable, the person is subject to civil action under Subsection (11). (b) A person commits a violation of this subsection who: (i) intentionally or knowingly intercepts, endeavors to intercept, or procures any other person to intercept or endeavor to intercept any wire, electronic, or oral communication; (ii) intentionally or knowingly uses, endeavors to use, or procures any other person to use or endeavor to use any electronic, mechanical, or other device to intercept any oral communication, when the device is affixed to, or otherwise transmits a signal through a wire, cable, or other like connection used in wire communication or when the device transmits communications by radio, or interferes with the transmission of the communication; (iii) intentionally or knowingly discloses or endeavors to disclose to any other person the contents of any wire, electronic, or oral communication, knowing or having reason to know that the information was obtained through the interception of a wire,…
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-08-31 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at le.utah.gov
Cited in 5 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2026
In the courts (editorial summary, independently checked):State v. Wood (2023) held a jail's recording of inmate calls fell within the consent exception in section 77-23a-4(7)(a) because the inmate impliedly consented by using phones he was told were monitored. The Quarasan Group, Inc. v. Nozani, LLC (2020) dismissed an eavesdropping claim once Utah law governed and did not bar the recording.
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- State v. Wood (Utah Supreme Court 2023, 532 P.3d 997)✓A jail recorded an inmate's calls to his wife after warning him by handbook, placard and a message before each call; the Utah Supreme Court held he impliedly consented, so the interception fell within section 77-23a-4(7)(a) and suppression was denied.
- State v. Draughon (Court of Appeals of Utah 2026, 2026 UT App 52)“…rties to the call—consented to the call being recorded. See Utah Code §§ 77-23a-4(7)(b), -7. He claims Counsel should hav…”
- United States v. Maynard (Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit 2010, 615 F.3d 544)“…ined by the police acting pursuant to a warrant. See, e.g., Utah Code Ann. §§ 77-23a-4, 77-23a-7, 77-23a-15.5; Minn Stat §§ 62…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: Utah Smart Glasses Recording Laws (2026), Utah AI Meeting Recording Laws (2026), Utah Surveillance Camera Laws (2026 Guide)
Utah Code, Title 52: Public Officers
§ 52-4-203Written minutes of open meetings -- Public records -- Recording of meetings.In forcecited in 4 of our articles
(1) Except as provided under Subsection (7), written minutes and a recording shall be kept of all open meetings. (2) (a) Written minutes of an open meeting shall include: (i) the date, time, and place of the meeting; (ii) the names of members present and absent; (iii) the substance of all matters proposed, discussed, or decided by the public body which may include a summary of comments made by members of the public body; (iv) a record, by individual member, of each vote taken by the public body; (v) the name of each person who: (A) is not a member of the public body; and (B) after being recognized by the presiding member of the public body, provided testimony or comments to the public body; (vi) the substance, in brief, of the testimony or comments provided by the public under Subsection (2)(a)(v); and (vii) any other information that is a record of the proceedings of the meeting that any member requests be entered in the minutes or recording.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at le.utah.gov
Cited in 2 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2021
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Southern Utah Wilderness v. San Juan County (Utah Supreme Court 2021, 484 P.3d 1160)“…20 UTAH CODE § 52-4-203(2)(a)(iii). 21 Id. at § 52-4-203(4…”
- Southern Utah Wilderness v. Kane County (Utah Supreme Court 2021, 484 P.3d 1146)“…43 Utah Chapter of Sierra Club, 2006 UT 74, ¶ 26. 44 UTAH CODE § 52-4-203(2)(a)(iii).…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: Utah Laws on Recording Police, Utah School Recording Laws, Utah Video Recording Laws
Utah Code, Title 76: Criminal Offenses
§ 76-12-307Recorded or photographed voyeurism.In forcecited in 10 of our articles
(1) (a) As used in this section, "sex-designated privacy space" means the same as that term is defined in Section 76-12-309. (b) Terms defined in Sections 76-1-101.5, 76-12-101, and 76-12-301 apply to this section. (2) An actor commits recorded or photographed voyeurism if the actor intentionally uses any type of technology to secretly or surreptitiously record, by video, photograph, or other means, an individual: (a) for the purpose of viewing any portion of the individual's body regarding which the individual has a reasonable expectation of privacy, whether or not that portion of the body is covered with clothing; (b) without the knowledge or consent of the individual; and (c) under circumstances in which the individual has a reasonable expectation of privacy. (3) (a) Except as provided in Subsection(3)(b), a violation of Subsection (2) is a class A misdemeanor.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at le.utah.gov
Also relied on in: Utah Drone Laws (2026): Police Warrants, Prisons & Privacy, Utah Employee Monitoring Laws: Workplace Surveillance and Social Media (2026), Utah Recording Laws (2026): One-Party Consent Rules
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Sources and References
- Utah Code Ann. 52-4-203 -- Open and Public Meetings Act(le.utah.gov).gov
- Utah Code Ann. 77-23a-4 -- Interception of Communications(le.utah.gov).gov
- Utah Code Ann. 76-12-307 -- Recorded or Photographed Voyeurism(le.utah.gov).gov
- Reporters Committee -- Utah Recording Guide(rcfp.org)