Utah
Utah School Recording Laws
Independently fact-checked against primary sources (last audited November 1, 2026). · Reviewed by the RecordingLaw editorial team. · Law checked current as of November 1, 2026. · 7 primary sources cited on this page. How we verify our legal content
Under Utah's one-party consent law (Utah Code 77-23a-4), students and parents who participate in a school conversation may record it without notifying the other party. Separately, Utah Code 53G-7-227 bars students from using phones, smart watches, AI glasses, and similar devices at school from bell to bell, with limited exceptions. FERPA limits how schools share recordings containing student information but does not bar participants from making their own recordings.
Recording in Utah schools involves state recording law, federal student privacy protections, and school district policies. Utah's one-party consent law (77-23a-4) allows participants to record, but schools must comply with FERPA and may have their own rules.
This guide covers student, parent, and teacher recording rights, school cameras, school board recording, and IEP meetings.
Student Recording Rights
A student who records a conversation they take part in is not committing a wiretapping crime under one-party consent. But under Utah Code 53G-7-227, students may not use cellphones, smart watches, AI glasses, or similar devices at school during school hours, from the first bell to the last, including lunch and passing periods.
Schools must allow exceptions for an imminent threat to someone's health or safety, a school-wide emergency, the SafeUT crisis line, an IEP or Section 504 plan, or a medical need. Recording on a phone during the school day can therefore break the state device rule and school discipline policy even though it is not a crime. Outside school hours, or under one of those exceptions, a recording of bullying can provide evidence for complaints.
Parent Recording Rights
A parent who records a parent-teacher conference, disciplinary meeting, IEP or 504 meeting, or phone call with school staff that they take part in is not committing a crime under Utah's one-party consent law. That law does not override a school's rules on recording meetings, and the federal IEP parent-participation regulation, 34 CFR 300.322, does not mention recording.
U.S. Department of Education guidance published with the 1999 IDEA regulations (64 FR 12477, Appendix A, Question 21) says a state or school district may require, prohibit, limit, or otherwise regulate recording of IEP meetings. A policy that limits recording must allow exceptions when needed for the parent to understand the IEP or the IEP process. Ask the district about its policy in advance.
School Security Cameras
Permitted: Hallways, cafeterias, gyms (general use), parking lots, libraries, entrances. Prohibited without the consent of the people entitled to privacy there: Restrooms, locker rooms, changing areas, shower facilities.
Installing a camera or recording device in a private place such as a locker room or restroom without the consent of the people entitled to privacy there is a class B misdemeanor under Utah Code 76-12-302. Violations of Utah's recorded-voyeurism statute (Utah Code Ann. 76-12-307) in school settings carry serious criminal penalties, up to a third-degree felony for aggravating circumstances such as a victim under 14.
School Board Meeting Recording
Under the Open and Public Meetings Act (52-4-203), school boards must keep a recording of their open meetings, and anyone attending may record an open meeting if the recording does not interfere with it. A board may close part of a meeting only for purposes the law lists, such as discussing an individual's character or professional competence (52-4-205).
FERPA Considerations
FERPA restricts how schools share recordings containing student information. It does not restrict parents from recording their own meetings. A parent's personal recording is not a school education record. A recording of an IEP meeting that the school itself keeps is an education record under FERPA, according to the same 1999 federal guidance.
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
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I record a teacher in Utah?
Recording a conversation you take part in is not a crime under one-party consent (77-23a-4). But under Utah Code 53G-7-227, students may not use phones, smart watches, or AI glasses during school hours, except for emergencies, the SafeUT line, an IEP or 504 plan, a medical need, or other uses the district or charter school allows, and school policies may restrict classroom recording.
Can parents record IEP meetings in Utah?
Recording an IEP or 504 meeting you attend is not a crime under one-party consent, but that does not override a district rule. Federal guidance lets a school limit or prohibit IEP recording, as long as it allows recording when a parent needs it to understand the IEP or the IEP process. Ask the district about its policy in advance.
Can schools put cameras in locker rooms in Utah?
Not without the consent of the people entitled to privacy there. Installing a camera or recording device in a private place such as a locker room or restroom without the consent of the people entitled to privacy there is a crime under Utah Code 76-12-302, and secretly recording someone to view private parts of their body is recorded voyeurism under Utah Code 76-12-307, a class A misdemeanor that becomes a third degree felony when the victim is under 14.
Can I record a school board meeting in Utah?
Yes. Under the Open and Public Meetings Act (52-4-203), the board must keep a recording of its open meetings, and anyone attending may record an open meeting if the recording does not interfere with it. A board may close part of a meeting only for purposes the law lists.
Does FERPA prevent recording at school?
No. FERPA restricts how schools share education records. It does not prevent parents or students from making their own recordings.
Updates
Noted that districts and charter schools may allow student device use beyond the exceptions Utah Code 53G-7-227 requires, and restated school camera limits using the elements of Utah Code 76-12-302 (a private place, without the consent of the people entitled to privacy there).
We added Utah's bell-to-bell student device ban (Utah Code 53G-7-227, effective July 1, 2026), corrected the IEP section to reflect federal guidance that lets schools limit IEP recording with a required exception for parents who need it, named 76-12-302 as the law against cameras in locker rooms and restrooms, and added the open-meetings and closed-meeting conditions.
Independently fact-checked against the cited primary sources; governing law re-checked for recent changes
Updated the voyeurism citation from a statute repealed in 2017 to Utah's current recorded-voyeurism law (76-12-307), and corrected an IEP-meeting-recording claim that had wrongly cited FERPA and a bare Department of Education homepage; the page now explains that neither FERPA nor the federal IEP regulation addresses recording, and that district recording policy, not just notice, governs the details.
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 2026-09-24 · 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 Recording Laws (2026): One-Party Consent Rules, Utah Audio Recording Laws
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 Laws on Recording in Public, Utah Video Recording Laws
Utah Code, Title 76: Criminal Offenses
§ 76-12-307Recorded or photographed voyeurism.In forcecited in 14 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 Landlord-Tenant Recording Laws, Utah Medical Recording Laws, Utah Security Camera Laws
Code of Federal Regulations Title 34
§ 300.322Parent participation.In force
(a) Public agency responsibility—general. Each public agency must take steps to ensure that one or both of the parents of a child with a disability are present at each IEP Team meeting or are afforded the opportunity to participate, including— (1) Notifying parents of the meeting early enough to ensure that they will have an opportunity to attend; and (2) Scheduling the meeting at a mutually agreed on time and place. (b) Information provided to parents. (1) The notice required under paragraph (a)(1) of this section must— (i) Indicate the purpose, time, and location of the meeting and who will be in attendance; and (ii) Inform the parents of the provisions in § 300.321(a)(6) and (c) (relating to the participation of other individuals on the IEP Team who have knowledge or special expertise about the child), and § 300.321(f) (relating to the participation of the Part C service coordinator or other representatives of the Part C system at the initial IEP Team meeting for a child previously served under Part C of the Act).
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-28 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at ecfr.gov
Cited in 60 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2025
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Doug C. Ex Rel. Spencer C. v. State of Hawaii Department of Education (Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit 2013, 720 F.3d 1038)“…same); Haw. Code R. § 8- 60-46 (parent participation), with 34 C.F.R. § 300.322 (same). DOUG C. V . STATE OF HAW…”
- B.D. v. District of Columbia (District Court, District of Columbia 2021)“…ld with a disability are present at each IEP Team meeting.” 34 C.F.R. § 300.322(a). This includes “[s]cheduling the mee…”
- Jacquie Albright v. Mountain Home School District (Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit 2019, 926 F.3d 942)“…is unable to convince the parents that they should attend.” 34 C.F.R. § 300.322(d) (2006); see Lathrop R-II Sch. Dist.…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
United States Code Title 20
§ 1232gFamily educational and privacy rightsIn forcecited in 29 of our articles
No funds shall be made available under any applicable program to any educational agency or institution which has a policy of denying, or which effectively prevents, the parents of students who are or have been in attendance at a school of such agency or at such institution, as the case may be, the right to inspect and review the education records of their children. If any material or document in the education record of a student includes information on more than one student, the parents of one of such students shall have the right to inspect and review only such part of such material or document as relates to such student or to be informed of the specific information contained in such part of such material. Each educational agency or institution shall establish appropriate procedures for the granting of a request by parents for access to the education records of their children within a reasonable period of time, but in no case more than forty-five days after the request has been made.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-09-03 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at uscode.house.gov
Cited in 981 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2026
In the courts (editorial summary, independently checked):Courts have held Section 1232g is enforced by the Secretary of Education, not by suit. Gonzaga University v. Doe (2002) held FERPA's nondisclosure provisions create no personal rights enforceable under 42 U.S.C. 1983. Kate Frazier v. Fairhaven School Committee (2002) held FERPA confers no private right of action, express or implied.
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Goss v. Lopez (Supreme Court of the United States 1975, 419 U.S. 565)“…ucation Amendments of 1974, Pub. L. 93-380, 88 Stat. 571, 20 U. S. C. § 1232g (1970 ed., Supp. IV), adding § 438 to t…”
- Gonzaga University v. Doe (Supreme Court of the United States 2002, 536 U.S. 273)✓A university official told the state teacher-licensing agency about sexual misconduct allegations against a student, who then lost the affidavit he needed to teach; the Supreme Court held FERPA's nondisclosure provisions create no personal rights enforceable under section 1983.
- Foster Children v. Jeb Bush, Kathleen Kearney, Chuck Bates, Robert Williams, Ester Tibbs (Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit 2003, 329 F.3d 1255)“…Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), 20 U.S.C. § 1232g. In FERPA Congress directed the Secreta…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: Is It Illegal to Video Record Someone Without Their Consent? (2026), California Recording Laws (2026): All-Party Consent Rules, Connecticut Recording Laws (2026): All-Party Consent for Phone Calls
Sources and References
- Utah Code Ann. 77-23a-4 -- Interception of Communications(le.utah.gov).gov
- Utah Code Ann. 52-4-203 -- Open and Public Meetings Act(le.utah.gov).gov
- FERPA -- Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act(studentprivacy.ed.gov).gov
- 34 CFR 300.322 -- IEP Team Parent Participation(law.cornell.edu)
- Utah Code Ann. 53G-7-227 -- Device Prohibition (eff. July 1, 2026)(le.utah.gov).gov
- Utah Code Ann. 76-12-302 -- Unlawful Privacy Violation (eff. May 7, 2025)(le.utah.gov).gov
- Utah Code Ann. 52-4-205 -- Purposes of Closed Meetings(le.utah.gov).gov
- 64 Fed. Reg. 12406 (Mar. 12, 1999), IDEA Part B final regulations, Appendix A, Question 21 (recording IEP meetings, at 12477)(govinfo.gov).gov