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COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
CITY COUNCIL of SALT LAKE CITY
TO:City Council Members
FROM:Nick Tarbet, Policy Analyst
DATE:May 19, 2026
RE:Airport Lost and Found Ordinance
View the Administration’s Transmittal
WORK SESSION SUMMARY
At the May 5 work session, the Council did not raise any significant concerns or request changes to the proposed
ordinance. The public hearing is scheduled for May 19.
The following information was provided for the May 5 work session.
ISSUE AT-A-GLANCE
The Salt Lake City Council will consider an ordinance that would amend portions of Salt Lake City Code
pertaining to lost and mislaid property at airports. The recommended changes are necessary to comply
with Senate Bill 172, passed in the 2026 general session of the Utah Legislature, and to codify the process
by which the Salt Lake City Department of Airport disposes of lost or mislaid property left at the
international airport.
State code requires law enforcement officers who come into possession of lost or mislaid property to handle
such property as evidence to be managed by the applicable law enforcement agency. That has caused Salt
Lake City Police Department officers assigned to the Airport Division to be reluctant to handle any lost
property. The new legislation separates airport lost and found efforts from law enforcement efforts and
allows law enforcement officers assigned to commercial airports to handle lost items in the process of
transmitting that property to airport operations staff.
Additionally, the draft ordinance codifies the procedures and process by which the Airport will dispose of
lost and unclaimed property. The Key Elements section below outlines the proposed changes.
The transmittal letter notes Senate Bill 172 will become law on May 6, 2026.
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A public hearing is scheduled for May 19, 2026.
POLICY QUESTIONS
The ordinance recommends that any proceeds, from the sale of lost property or money not
claimed, be applied to the Airport Department fund, after it has gone through the proposed
process. Does the Council support this recommendation?
KEY ELEMENTS
Changes to Responsibility of Law Enforcement
o The new ordinance establishes the Salt Lake City Department of Airports (SLCDA) as a
legitimate entity for handling lost and found operations.
o Allows law enforcement officers assigned to commercial airports to handle lost items in the
process of transmitting that property to airport operations staff.
Process for Storing Unclaimed Property
o Staff must maintain inventory of all items received
o Staff must make a reasonable attempt to locate owners
This includes posting lost and found information on the airport website
o Airport may charge for storing and shipping when lost property is claimed
o Shortens the time from when the property is identified as lost to when it may be disposed of
from three months to thirty days.
What Happens to Unclaimed Property
o If property is unclaimed after 30 days, and after a public notice period, the airport may
dispose of the property in the following ways:
Sell items of value at public auction or through third-party sellers, with proceeds
going to the airport's enterprise fund.
Donate items of minimal value to charitable organizations.
Destroy items that are unsuitable for sale or donation, such as medications,
unsanitary items, or personal papers.
Deposit money directly into the Airport's enterprise fund
Items Excluded from the Lost and Found Process
o Property that contains or is a firearm or other dangerous weapon
o Property or contraband seized by law enforcement as part of a criminal investigation or
proceeding
o Hazardous waste materials
o Property that is unsanitary or otherwise a threat to the health and safety of Department
personnel or others
o An abandoned vehicle
o Property lost, left behind, or abandoned on a commercial aircraft
airlines have their own process