July 25, 2025
Part of the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity, the Office of Regulatory Relief helps businesses, entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and residents navigate and improve the state’s regulatory landscape. By offering tools like a regulatory sandbox, it lowers barriers to innovation while safeguarding public interests.
Established in 2021, Utah’s regulatory sandbox was the first industry-agnostic program of its kind in the nation. It allows businesses to test new products, services, or models in a controlled environment — with temporary waivers of certain state regulations that might otherwise hinder development.
To participate, organizations submit an application explaining how their idea aligns with the sandbox’s goals. The ORR team, in collaboration with the applicable state agency, reviews it before forwarding it to an advisory committee for evaluation and approval. Upon admission, businesses operate under close monitoring, reporting outcomes, and complying with safeguards.
“Our number one priority is the safety of consumers and our constituents,” said McKayla Caress, ORR’s policy analyst. “Once we ensure safety isn’t compromised, we take a serious look at the regulation and see how we can change it for the better.”
Since its inception, the sandbox has helped dozens of organizations innovate, with some inspiring permanent changes to Utah law. One example is TowPro, a platform that streamlines how public safety dispatchers connect with tow trucks. The sandbox allowed TowPro to test its services, completing more than 3,700 tows and cutting response times by half in some areas. The results contributed to changes in state law during the 2023 legislative session.
Utahns don’t need to join the sandbox to benefit from ORR’s services. Through its online suggestion box, the office invites anyone — business owners, residents, and nonprofits — to identify outdated, confusing, or overly restrictive regulations. People can also email [email protected] for guidance.
“Because everything moves so quickly, a lot of laws and regulations become outdated or don’t reflect the needs of the people anymore,” said Caress. “We help our constituents who may not know where to go or who to talk to, to approach and modify these regulations.”
ORR’s services reflect Utah’s commitment to fostering innovation while maintaining oversight. “Any business or organization can reach out for help,” Caress emphasized. For more information about the Office of Regulatory Relief, such as a step-by-step breakdown of the waiver review process, visit its website. To explore other resources available to Utah businesses, check out the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity.