1. (1) As used in this section, "owner" does not include:

   1. (a) a person that holds an option to purchase real property;
   2. (b) a mortgagee;
   3. (c) a beneficiary under a deed of trust;
   4. (d) a trustee under a deed of trust; or
   5. (e) a person that owns or holds a claim that encumbers any real property or an improvement to the real property.

2. (2)

   1. (a) Except as provided in Subsection (2)(b), a license under this chapter is not required for:

      1. (i) a person who as owner or lessor performs an act described in Subsection 61-2f-102(30) with reference to real estate owned or leased by that person;
      2. (ii) a regular salaried employee of the owner or lessor of real estate who, with reference to nonresidential real estate owned or leased by the employer, performs an act described in Subsection 61-2f-102(30)(b)(ii) or (iii);
      3. (iii) a regular salaried employee of the owner of real estate who performs property management services with reference to real estate owned by the employer, except that the employee may only manage real estate for one employer;
      4. (iv) an individual who performs property management services for the apartments at which that individual resides in exchange for free or reduced rent on that individual's apartment;
      5. (v) a regular salaried employee of a common interest association who manages real estate subject to the declaration of covenants, conditions, and restrictions that established the common interest association;
      6. (vi) a regular salaried employee of a licensed property management company or real estate brokerage who performs support services, as prescribed by rule, for the property management company or real estate brokerage; or

      7. (vii) in the event a principal broker dies, is incapacitated, or is unable to perform the duties of a principal broker, an individual qualified and designated as the commission determines by rule made in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, with the concurrence of the division, as an acting principal broker:

         1. (A) in relation to each transaction pending on the day on which the principal broker dies, becomes incapacitated, or becomes unable to perform the duties of a principal broker, including the distribution of compensation for each transaction; and
         2. (B) until the day on which each transaction described in Subsection (2)(a)(vii)(A) is completed.

   2. (b) Subsection (2)(a) does not exempt from licensing:

      1. (i) an employee engaged in the sale of real estate regulated under:

         1. (A) Title 57, Chapter 11, Utah Uniform Land Sales Practices Act; or
         2. (B) Title 57, Chapter 19, Timeshare and Camp Resort Act;
      2. (ii) an employee engaged in the sale of cooperative interests regulated under Title 57, Chapter 23, Real Estate Cooperative Marketing Act; or
      3. (iii) an individual whose interest as an owner or lessor is obtained by that individual or transferred to that individual for the purpose of evading the application of this chapter, and not for another legitimate business reason.

3. (3) A license under this chapter is not required for:

   1. (a) an isolated transaction or service by an individual holding an unsolicited, duly executed power of attorney from a property owner;
   2. (b) subject to Subsection 61-2f-401(5), services rendered by an attorney admitted to practice law in this state in performing the attorney's duties as an attorney;
   3. (c) a receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, administrator, executor, or an individual acting under order of a court;
   4. (d) a trustee or employee of a trustee under a deed of trust or a will;
   5. (e) a public utility, officer of a public utility, or regular salaried employee of a public utility, unless performance of an act described in Subsection 61-2f-102(30) is in connection with the sale, purchase, lease, or other disposition of real estate or investment in real estate unrelated to the principal business activity of that public utility;

   6. (f) a regular salaried employee or authorized agent working under the oversight of the Department of Transportation when performing an act on behalf of the Department of Transportation in connection with one or more of the following:

      1. (i) the acquisition of real estate in accordance with Section 72-5-103;
      2. (ii) the disposal of real estate in accordance with Section 72-5-111;
      3. (iii) services that constitute property management; or
      4. (iv) the leasing of real estate; and

   7. (g) a regular salaried employee of a county, city, or town when performing an act on behalf of the county, city, or town:

      1. (i) in accordance with:

         1. (A) if a regular salaried employee of a city or town:

            1. (I) Title 10, Utah Municipal Code; or
            2. (II) Title 11, Cities, Counties, and Local Taxing Units; and

         2. (B) if a regular salaried employee of a county:

            1. (I) Title 11, Cities, Counties, and Local Taxing Units; and
            2. (II) Title 17, Counties; and

      2. (ii) in connection with one or more of the following:

         1. (A) the acquisition of real estate, including by eminent domain;
         2. (B) the disposal of real estate;
         3. (C) services that constitute property management; or
         4. (D) the leasing of real estate.

4. (4) A license under this chapter is not required for an individual registered to act as a broker-dealer, agent, or investment adviser under the Utah and federal securities laws in the sale or the offer for sale of real estate if:

   1. (a)

      1. (i) the real estate is a necessary element of a "security" as that term is defined by the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

      2. (ii) the security is registered for sale in accordance with:

         1. (A) the Securities Act of 1933; or
         2. (B) Title 61, Chapter 1, Utah Uniform Securities Act; or

   2. (b)

      1. (i) the sale or offer for sale of real estate is a transaction in a security for which a Form D, described in 17 C.F.R. Sec. 239.500, has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in accordance with Regulation D, Rule 506, 17 C.F.R. Sec. 230.506; and
      2. (ii) the selling agent and the purchaser are not residents of this state.

5. (5) Except as otherwise provided by statute or rule, the following individuals may engage in the practice of an occupation or profession regulated by this chapter, subject to the stated circumstances and limitations, without being licensed under this chapter:

   1. (a) an individual licensed under the laws of this state, other than under this chapter, to practice or engage in an occupation or profession, while engaged in the lawful, professional, and competent practice of that occupation or profession;
   2. (b) an individual serving in the armed forces of the United States, the United States Public Health Service, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, or any other federal agency while engaged in activities regulated under this title as a part of employment with that federal agency if the individual holds a valid license to practice the regulated occupation or profession issued by any other state or jurisdiction recognized by the department; and

   3. (c) the spouse of an individual serving in the armed forces of the United States or the spouse of a DOD civilian while the individual or DOD civilian is stationed within this state, if:

      1. (i) the spouse holds a valid license to practice the regulated occupation or profession issued by any other state or jurisdiction recognized by the department; and
      2. (ii) the license is current and the spouse is in good standing in the state or jurisdiction of licensure.
6. (6) The commission, with the concurrence of the division, may provide, by rule made in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the circumstances under which a person or transaction qualifies for an exemption that is described in this section.

Amended by Chapter 142, 2026 General Session