This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Gov. Gary Herbert signed into law Wednesday legislation that could make the formation of local historic districts more difficult.

The bill, HB223, was aimed at Salt Lake City but applies statewide. It takes effect immediately.

The law mandates that 33 percent of property owners in a defined area must sign a petition to begin the complex process to create a local historic district. It also holds that two thirds of the returned ballots have to vote for the designation and the yes votes have to represent more than 50 percent of the property owners.

In 2012, the Salt Lake City Council crafted an ordinance that required at least 15 percent of property owners in a designated area to agree to put a proposed local historic district to a vote. A simple majority of 51 percent of participating voters would determine whether the area received the designation.

The legislation's sponsor, Rep. Brad Wilson, R-Kaysville, and other property-rights advocates, say Salt Lake City's ordinance was unfair to homeowners who might want to change or add to their houses.

While the new law makes it more difficult to form a local historic district, it is not impossible, said City Councilman Charlie Luke. He noted, however, that the outcome may be a patchwork of local historic districts in neighborhoods where some blocks have no such restrictions.

Christopher Smart