Are Non-Competes Enforceable in Utah?
Last updated: 2026-10-07 · Verified against the statutes 2026-10-07
Enforceable — statute sets rules
1-year cap; void for health care workers and vets since May 2026
In Utah, a post-employment non-compete entered into on or after May 10, 2016 is void if it lasts more than one year. For agreements entered into on or after May 6, 2026, non-competes with licensed health care workers (including physicians, nurses, PAs, dentists and therapists) and with veterinarians (unless they own at least 5%) are void. Broadcast non-competes are allowed only for salaried exempt employees fired for cause. An employer that tries to enforce a covenant found unenforceable must pay the employee's costs, attorney's fees and actual damages.
Check a non-compete
Answer a few questions; the result cites the statute behind each point. Rules verified 2026-10-07. Saved only in your browser.
Thresholds are measured differently by state (salary, cash compensation, W-2 box 1).
Enforceable if reasonable
Utah enforces non-competes that protect a legitimate business interest and are reasonable in time, geography and scope.
- Utah: 1-year cap; void for health care workers and vets since May 2026. Utah Code 34-51-201
- Duration: 1 year from the end of employment (agreements entered into on or after May 10, 2016). Utah Code 34-51-201
Other Utah rules to check
- Non-solicitation clauses: Health care workers (agreements from May 6, 2026): a non-solicit may not stop the worker telling patients where they now work. Veterinarians: non-solicitation agreements are void.
- Choice of law and venue: For veterinarian non-competes entered into on or after May 6, 2026, a clause requiring an out-of-state forum is void.
- If a court finds it too broad: No settled rule we could confirm.
- Penalties: If an employer seeks to enforce a non-compete (or covered non-solicit or nondisclosure clause) that is found unenforceable, it is liable for the employee's arbitration costs, attorney's fees, court costs and actual damages.
General information, not legal advice. Enforceability also depends on the exact wording, the employer's legitimate interest and the facts; talk to an employment lawyer before relying on it.
Utah non-compete rules
- Statute
- Utah Code 34-51-201Utah Code 34-51 (Post-employment Restrictions Act)Utah Code 34-51-301 (remedies)
- Duration
- 1 year from the end of employment (agreements entered into on or after May 10, 2016)
- Non-solicitation
- Health care workers (agreements from May 6, 2026): a non-solicit may not stop the worker telling patients where they now work. Veterinarians: non-solicitation agreements are void.
- Choice of law / venue
- For veterinarian non-competes entered into on or after May 6, 2026, a clause requiring an out-of-state forum is void.
- Overbroad covenants
- No settled rule we could confirm
- Penalties
- If an employer seeks to enforce a non-compete (or covered non-solicit or nondisclosure clause) that is found unenforceable, it is liable for the employee's arbitration costs, attorney's fees, court costs and actual damages.
Profession-specific rules
- VoidNon-competes with 'healthcare workers' (33 listed licensees, including PAs, RNs, LPNs, APRNs, CRNAs, dentists, optometrists, physical therapists, psychologists, mental health therapists and social workers) entered into on or after May 6, 2026 are void; severance and sale-of-business covenants excepted. (effective May 6, 2026) Utah Code 34-51-201 (HB 270, 2026)
- VoidPhysicians are within the 2026 health care worker ban (agreements entered into on or after May 6, 2026). (effective May 6, 2026) Utah Code 34-51-102
- VoidVeterinarian non-competes entered into on or after May 6, 2026 are void unless the vet owns at least 5% of the business; veterinarian non-solicits and NDAs about the vet's experience there are also void. (effective May 6, 2026) Utah Code 34-51 (SB 111, 2026)
- LimitedA broadcast non-compete is valid only for a salaried exempt broadcasting employee, in a written contract, if the employee is fired for cause or breaches; it may last the shorter of 1 year or the original contract term. Utah Code 34-51-201(2)
Recent and pending changes
- May 6, 2026: HB 270 (2026 ch. 341) bans non-competes for health care workers; SB 111 (2026 ch. 66) bans them for veterinarians. Both apply to agreements entered into on or after this date. HB 270 (2026) enrolled
Pending: 2026 H.B. 203 (Non-Compete Amendments: pay limits, notice, contractor ban) was not enacted; it is not on the Legislature's 2026 General Session passed-bills list.
Federal law
There is no federal ban on employee non-competes. The FTC's 2024 Non-Compete Clause Rule (16 CFR Part 910), which would have voided most non-competes from September 4, 2024, never took effect: a Texas federal court set it aside nationwide on August 20, 2024 (Ryan LLC v. FTC). On September 5, 2025 the Commission voted 3-1 to drop its appeals and accept that ruling, and on February 12, 2026 it formally removed Part 910 from the Code of Federal Regulations. State law therefore decides whether a non-compete is enforceable.
Frequently asked questions
Are non-competes enforceable in Utah?
1-year cap; void for health care workers and vets since May 2026. In Utah, a post-employment non-compete entered into on or after May 10, 2016 is void if it lasts more than one year. For agreements entered into on or after May 6, 2026, non-competes with licensed health care workers (including physicians, nurses, PAs, dentists and therapists) and with veterinarians (unless they own at least 5%) are void. Broadcast non-competes are allowed only for salaried exempt employees fired for cause. An employer that tries to enforce a covenant found unenforceable must pay the employee's costs, attorney's fees and actual damages.
How long can a non-compete last in Utah?
1 year from the end of employment (agreements entered into on or after May 10, 2016)
Did the FTC ban non-competes in Utah?
No. The FTC's 2024 rule never took effect — a federal court set it aside in August 2024, the FTC dropped its appeals in September 2025 and removed the rule from the Code of Federal Regulations in February 2026. State law controls, though the FTC still challenges some non-competes case by case.
Official Sources
Figures checked against these sources on 2026-10-07Other states
Same category (Enforceable — statute sets rules): Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Louisiana, Michigan
Protect information instead with a confidentiality agreement (NDA generator), or hiring in Utah? Use the offer letter generator.
Not legal advice. Enforceability depends on the agreement's wording and the facts; consult an employment attorney licensed in Utah.