West Bountiful City Council adopted Ordinance #516-26 on September 15, 2026, amending municipal codes related to appeal authorities. The ordinance modifies Title 16 and Title 17 of the West Bountiful Municipal Code, following a recommendation from the West Bountiful Planning Commission.
According to the ordinance, the city council or an appointed hearing officer serves as the appeal authority for requests for variances and certain land use appeals. Hearing officers must be professionals in law, land use, or public administration with knowledge of constitutional due process and cannot reside within the limits of West Bountiful City.
Under the new regulations, an appeal must be filed with the city recorder within ten days of a land use authority's decision. The appellant carries the burden of proof to demonstrate that the land use authority erred. The appeal authority may affirm, reverse, modify, or remand decisions to the land use authority, and its written decisions are considered final, though they may be appealed to district court.
The ordinance also outlines specific criteria for granting variances. A variance may only be granted if literal enforcement of the title would cause unreasonable hardship that is not self-imposed or economic, and if the variance does not substantially affect the general plan or contradict the public interest. The ordinance explicitly states that the appeal authority may not grant a use variance.
