Legislative Version Ordinance - 8/15/2023
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SALT LAKE CITY ORDINANCE 1
No. _____ of 2023 2
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(An ordinance amending various sections of Title 21A of the Salt Lake City Code 4
pertaining to the sight distance triangle.) 5
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An ordinance amending various sections of Title 21A of the Salt Lake City Code pursuant 7
to Petition No. PLNPCM2023-00054 pertaining to the sight distance triangle. 8
WHEREAS, the Salt Lake City Planning Commission (“Planning Commission”) held a 9
public hearing on May 10, 2023 to consider a petition submitted by Mayor Erin Mendenhall 10
(Petition No. PLNPCM2023-00054) to amend portions of Chapters 21A.36; 21A.40; 21A.44; 11
and 21A.62 of the Salt Lake City Code to modify regulations pertaining to sight distance triangle; 12
and 13
WHEREAS, at its May 10, 2023 meeting, the Planning Commission voted in favor of 14
transmitting a positive recommendation to the Salt Lake City Council (“City Council”) on said 15
petition; and 16
WHEREAS, after a public hearing on this matter the City Council has determined that 17
adopting this ordinance is in the city’s best interests. 18
NOW, THEREFORE, be it ordained by the City Council of Salt Lake City, Utah: 19
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SECTION 1. Amending the text of Salt Lake City Code Section 21A.36.020. That 21
Section 21A.36.020 of the Salt Lake City Code (Zoning: General Provisions: Conformance with 22
Lot and Bulk Controls) shall be, and hereby is amended to include the following subpart D while 23
retaining all other subparts, tables, and notes in said section: 24
D. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, all structures shall comply with the 25
Sight Distance Triangle Requirements as defined and illustrated in Chapter 21A.62 of this 26
title. Clear sight zone areas shall be provided as indicated in the Salt Lake City Off Street 27
Parking Standards Manual. The planning director, in consultation with the transportation 28
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director, may approve alternative design solutions that result in similar visual clearance and 29
effectively mitigate safety concerns. 30
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SECTION 2. Amending the text of Salt Lake City Code Section 21A.40.050. That 32
Section 21A.40.050 of the Salt Lake City Code (Zoning: Accessory Uses, Buildings and 33
Structures: General Yard, Bulk and Height Limitations) shall be, and hereby is amended to 34
include the following subpart D while retaining all other text and subparts in said section: 35
D. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, all structures shall comply with the 36
Sight Distance Triangle Requirements as defined and illustrated in Chapter 21A.62 of this 37
title. The planning director, in consultation with the transportation director, may approve 38
alternative design solutions that result in similar visual clearance and effectively mitigate 39
safety concerns. 40
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SECTION 3. Amending the text of Salt Lake City Code Subsection 21A.40.120.E.1. 42
That Subsection 21A.40.120.E.1 of the Salt Lake City Code (Zoning: Accessory Uses, Buildings 43
and Structures: Regulation of Fences, Walls and Hedges: Height Restrictions and Gates) shall be, 44
and hereby is amended to read as follows: 45
1. Fences, walls, and hedges shall comply with the following regulations based on the 46
following zoning districts: 47
a. Residential Zoning Districts: 48
(1) Except as permitted in subsection 21A.24.010.P and 21A.12.E.4 49
21A.40.120.E.4 of this code, a fence, wall or hedge located between the front property 50
line and front building line of the facade of the principal structure that contains the 51
primary entrance shall not exceed four (4) feet in height. 52
(2) A fence, wall, or hedge located at or behind the primary facade of the 53
principal structure shall not exceed 6 feet in height. 54
(3) On developed properties Where where there is no existing principal 55
structure, the height of a fence, wall, or hedge shall not exceed four (4) feet in a front 56
yard area or six (6) feet in the rear or side yard areas. 57
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b. Nonresidential Zoning Districts: 61
(1) A fence, wall, or hedge located between the front property line and the 62
primary facade of the principal structure shall not exceed four (4) feet in height. 63
(2) A fence, wall or hedge located at or behind the primary facade of the 64
principal structure shall not exceed six (6) feet in height. 65
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(3) On developed properties where there is no existing principal structure, the 67
height of a fence, wall, or hedge shall not exceed 4 feet in a front yard area or 6 feet in 68
the rear or side yard areas. 69
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(3) Not withstanding (4) Notwithstanding Subsection 21A.40.120.1.b.(l) 70
21A.40.120.E.1.b.(1), in the M-2 and EI zoning districts fences, walls, or hedges may be 71
up to six (6) feet in height if when located between the front property line and the front 72
yard setback line. 73
(4) (5) If there is no minimum front yard setback in the underlying zoning 74
district, a fence, wall, or hedge of a maximum six (6) feet in height may be placed no 75
closer than ten (10) feet from the property line. 76
(5) (6) Outdoor storage, when permitted in the zoning district, shall be located 77
behind the primary facade of the principal structure and shall be screened with a solid 78
wall or fence and shall comply with the requirements in Section 5.60.120. Outdoor 79
storage in the M-1 and M-2 districts are also subject to the provisions of 21A.28.010.B.3. 80
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SECTION 4. Amending the text of Salt Lake City Code Subsection 21A.40.120.E.3. 82
That Subsection 21A.40.120.E.3 of the Salt Lake City Code (Zoning: Accessory Uses, Buildings 83
and Structures: Regulation of Fences, Walls and Hedges: Height Restrictions and Gates) shall be, 84
and hereby is amended to read as follows: 85
3. Vacant Lots. Notwithstanding 21A.24.010.P.10.d, fencing to secure vacant or 86
undeveloped lots may be up to six (6) feet in height, provided the fence is not closer 87
than five (5) feet to a public sidewalk and is no less than eighty percent (80%) 88
transparent. Once the property is developed, the fence will be required to comply with 89
the height restrictions of this Ttitle. 90
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SECTION 5. Amending the text of Salt Lake City Code Subsection 21A.40.120.E.5. 92
That Subsection 21A.40.120.E.5 of the Salt Lake City Code (Zoning: Accessory Uses, Buildings 93
and Structures: Regulation of Fences, Walls and Hedges: Height Restrictions and Gates) shall be, 94
and hereby is amended to read as follows: 95
5. Vision Clearance and Safety. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, a 96
fence, wall, or hedge shall comply with the Ssight Ddistance Ttriangle Rrequirements 97
of this Ssection. 98
a. Corner Lots; Sight Distance Triangle: No solid fence, wall or hedge shall be 99
erected to a height in excess of three (3) feet if the fence, wall or hedge is located within 100
the sight distance triangle extending thirty (30) feet either side of the intersection of the 101
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respective street curb lines, or edge lines of roadway where curbing is not provided as 102
noted in sSection 21A.62.050, illustration I of this title. 103
b. Corner Side, Side, Rear Yards; Sight Distance Triangle: Fences, walls or hedges 104
may be erected in any required corner side yard (extending to a point in line with the 105
front facade of the principal structure for residential zoning districts and up to any 106
required front yard setback line for all other zoning districts), required side yard or 107
required rear yard to a height not to exceed six (6) feet. The zoning administrator may 108
require either increased fence setback or lower fence height along corner side yards to 109
provide adequate line of sight for driveways and alleys. 110
c. b. Intersection of Street and Driveway; Intersection of Alley or Driveway 111
and Sidewalk; Sight Distance Triangle: Solid fences, walls and hedges shall not exceed 112
thirty (30) inches in height within the sight distance triangle as defined in sSection 113
21A.62.050, illustration I of this title. 114
d. c. Sight Distance Triangle Aand See Through Fences: Within the area 115
defined as a sight distance triangle, see through fences that are at least fifty percent (50%) 116
open shall be allowed to a height of four (4) feet. 117
e. d. Alternative Design Solutions. To provide adequate line of sight for 118
driveways and alleys, the zoning administrator, in consulting with the development 119
review team, may require alternative design solutions, including, but not restricted to, 120
requiring increased fence setback and/or lower fence height, to mitigate safety concerns 121
created by the location of buildings, grade change or other preexisting conditions. 122
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SECTION 6. Amending the text of Salt Lake City Code Subsection 21A.40.120.E.7. 124
That Subsection 21A.40.120.E.7 of the Salt Lake City Code (Zoning: Accessory Uses, Buildings 125
and Structures: Regulation of Fences, Walls and Hedges) shall be, and hereby is amended to read 126
as follows: 127
7. Gates. No gate, whether crossing a driveway, walkway, or part of a fence, shall be 128
erected to a height in excess of the standards outlined in this subsection E. To regulate 129
the location of gates and their impact on vehicular staging within the public right of 130
way, passenger vehicles shall require a minimum seventeen (17) foot six (6) inch 131
setback from back edge of sidewalk, or property line when a sidewalk is not provided, 132
and large truck driveways shall require a one hundred (100) foot setback from back 133
edge of sidewalk, or property line when a sidewalk is not provided. This requirement 134
does not apply to gates abutting alleys. All gates are to swing inward to the property 135
or be a roll gate that does not impact the staging area. 136
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SECTION 7. Amending the text of Salt Lake City Code Subsection 21A.44.060.A.6.c. 138
That Subsection 21A.44.060.A.6.c of the Salt Lake City Code (Zoning: Off Street Parking, 139
Mobility and Loading: Parking Location and Design: Generally: Driveway and Access) shall be, 140
and hereby is amended to read as follows: 141
c. Driveway Standards: All driveways shall comply with the following standards: 142
(1) Driveway Location in Residential Zoning Districts: With the exception of legal 143
shared driveways, driveways shall be at least twenty feet (20') from street corner property 144
lines and Driveways shall be at least five5 feet (5') from any public utility infrastructure such 145
as power poles, fire hydrants, and water meters. Except for entrance and exit driveways 146
leading to approved parking areas, no curb cuts or driveways are permitted. 147
(2) Distance from street corners: Driveways for Single and Two-Family Dwellings 148
shall be located at least 20 feet from street corner property lines. Driveways for all other uses 149
shall be at least 50 feet from street corner property lines. When the width of the lot is less 150
than the required distance, the transportation director may approve modifications no greater 151
than the minimum necessary to accommodate the driveway. 152
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(2)(3) Driveway Widths: All driveways serving residential uses shall be a minimum 154
eight8 feet wide and shall comply with the standards for maximum driveway widths listed in 155
Table 21A.44.060-C, “Minimum and Maximum Driveway Width”. 156
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(3)(4) Shared Driveways: Shared driveways, where two (2) or more properties share one 160
(1) driveway access, may be permitted if the transportation director determines that the 161
design and location of the shared driveway access will not create adverse impacts on traffic 162
congestion or public safety. 163
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(4)(5) Driveway Surface: All driveways providing access to parking facilities shall be 165
improved and maintained pursuant to the standards in the Off Street Standards Manual. 166
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SECTION 8. Amending the text of Salt Lake City Code Section 21A.62.040. That the 168
definition of Sight Distance Triangle in Section 21A.62.040 of the Salt Lake City Code (Zoning: 169
General Terms: Definitions) shall be, and hereby is amended to read as follows while retaining 170
all other definitions in said section: 171
SIGHT DISTANCE TRIANGLE: A triangular area formed by a diagonal line connecting 172
two (2) points when measured as follows: 173
A. For corner lots: Extending thirty30 feet (30') from the intersecting line of each street 174
face of curb, or edge of roadway where curbing is not provided. Proposals in 175
commercial and industrial districts which have a minimum front or corner side yard 176
setback requirement, that seem to allow encroachment into the sight distance triangle, 177
shall be reviewed through the site plan review process by the city's development 178
review team. 179
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B. For intersections of street or large truck and driveways or alleys: Extending thirty feet 181
(30') 10 feet from each intersecting edge of the driveway or alley and street face of 182
curb line, or edge of roadway where curbing is not provided. 183
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C. For alleys or passenger vehicle and light truck driveways crossing a sidewalk: 185
Extending ten10 feet (10') from each intersecting edge of the alley or driveway and 186
back edge of the sidewalk. 187
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The purpose of the sight distance triangle is to define an area in which vision obstructions are 189
prohibited. (See illustration in sSection 21A.62.050 of this chapter.) 190
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SECTION 9. Replacing Illustration I of Salt Lake City Code Section 21A.62.050. That 192
Illustration I, the Sight Distance Triangle, in Section 21A.62.050 of the Salt Lake City Code 193
(Zoning: General Terms: Illustrations Of Selected Definitions) is hereby deleted in its entirety 194
and replaced with the following: 195
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Illustration I: Sight Distance Triangle 196
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SECTION 10. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall become effective on the date of its 199
first publication. 200
Passed by the City Council of Salt Lake City, Utah, this ______ day of ______________, 201
2023. 202
______________________________ 203
CHAIRPERSON 204
ATTEST AND COUNTERSIGN: 205
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______________________________ 207
CITY RECORDER 208
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Transmitted to Mayor on _______________________. 210
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Mayor’s Action: _______Approved. _______Vetoed. 213
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______________________________ 215
MAYOR 216
______________________________ 217
CITY RECORDER 218
(SEAL) 219
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Bill No. ________ of 2023. 221
Published: ______________. 222
Ordinace regulating sight distance triangle 223
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