Washington County, Utah Eviction Risk: Very Low

Washington County's county-wide eviction-risk score averages 1.6/10 (Low) across 20 cities, placing it among the more landlord-favorable corners of Utah eviction laws. Ranked 22nd of 29 Utah counties, the data confirm that 21 counties carry higher risk, while only 7 are less risky, putting Washington County comfortably in the lower-risk third of the state. For landlords and investors, that translates to shorter court timelines, lower chronic-delinquency pressure, and a rental market anchored by the St. George eviction risk metro's steady demand. The county's average rent runs $1,558, renter-cost burden sits at 33%, and just under 29% of households rent, giving the local market a relatively stable owner-renter mix.

That said, the intra-county spread from 1.2 to 3/10 is wide enough to matter in underwriting. A property in the county's lowest-risk city looks quite different from one in its highest-risk pocket, so investors should treat the county average as a starting point rather than a verdict, and drill down to the city-level scores in the grid below.

The cities inside Washington County

St. George dominates the county with a population of 101,995 and a score of 1.2/10, making it by far the lowest-risk market here and a dependable anchor for buy-and-hold investors. Santa Clara (1.9/10) and Enterprise (1.8/10) also sit well below the county average, while Washington city (2/10, population 32,348) and Hurricane (2.1/10, population 22,771) represent mid-tier risk worth monitoring as those cities absorb ongoing growth pressure from the broader St. George corridor.

The highest-risk pockets are concentrated in the county's smaller, more isolated communities. Hildale leads the county at 3/10, followed closely by Rockville at 2.9/10 and Leeds at 2.5/10. La Verkin and Virgin each score 2.4/10. These communities are small in population but meaningful in risk profile relative to the county average, and landlords considering acquisitions there should factor in the narrower tenant pool and the possibility of longer vacancy periods. Risk in Washington County is hyper-local: a few miles can move the needle by more than a full point.

State-level laws that apply here

Every landlord in Washington County operates under Utah state law, which sets a predictable, landlord-leaning framework. For non-payment of rent or a lease violation, Utah requires only a 3-day notice to pay or quit before filing. A no-cause end-of-term notice requires 30 days. From filing to writ, an uncontested case typically closes in 21 to 45 days; a contested matter can stretch to 45 to 120 days. Understanding the full Utah eviction process before you acquire is critical, because the procedural steps and timelines are set at the state level and apply uniformly whether you own in St. George or Hildale. Court filing fees range from $360 to $460, sheriff lockout fees from $50 to $175, and attorney fees commonly run $750 to $3,500 depending on complexity. Reviewing Utah eviction costs in detail before budgeting a deal gives landlords a realistic floor for worst-case carrying costs. Utah state law also preempts any local rent-control ordinance, and no just-cause requirement applies, giving landlords full flexibility on non-renewal decisions.

With a county poverty rate of 9.9% and fewer than 29% of households renting, Washington County's fundamentals are relatively stable, but risk concentrations in smaller cities are real. Use the city grid above to compare individual markets before committing capital.