HomeMy WebLinkAboutUpdated Ordinance - 3/19/20261
Project Title: Fence and Hedge Height Amendments
Petition Nos.: PLNPCM2025-00045 &
PLNPCM2025-00138
Version: City Council Amendment V2
Date Prepared: 3/19/26
Planning Commission Action: Recommended 8/13/25
The proposed ordinance makes the following amendments (for summary purposes only):
Amends code references associated with sections of 21A.40.120 and 21A.40.160.
Deletes the word “hedges” throughout 21A.40.120.
Deletes “hedges” from 21A.40.160 and replaces it with the word “landscaping”.
Combines regulations for residential and non-residential zoning districts under: “Height
Restrictions and Gates” 21A.40.120.E.1.a-g.
Amends 21A.40.120.E.1.a.(1) changes the word “property” to “lot” to be consistent with the
zoning ordinance. Also adds a note allowing M-1 properties outside of the Salt Lake International
Center to have a 6 foot fence in the front yard, if not abutting or across the street from a zone that
allows residential uses.
Amends 21A.40.120.E.1.a.(3) adds wording for if there is no minimum front yard setback, fence
placement and height are called out.
Amends 21A.40.120.E.1.a.(4) to change the wording from “front property line” to “lot line” and
change “front yard setback line” to “front building line of the facade of the principal structure that
contains the primary entrance” to be consistent with the ordinance.
Removes 21A.40.120.E.1.a.(5), because the section overlaps with other wording in the ordinance.
Amends 21A.40.120.E.1.b by changing fence or wall height at or behind the primary façade of
the principal structure not to exceed 7 feet in height.
Amends 21A.40.120.E.1.c to allow fence or wall heights up to 7 feet in the rear or side yard
areas.
Amends 21A.40.120.E.2 to modify or remove the provisions of the “Double Frontage Lot”
section.
Amends 21A.40.120.E.4.a. to modify fence height in side or rear yards to a maximum of 7 feet.
Amends 21A.40.120 E.4.i., 5.a.& 5.b., and E.6 to remove “hedges”.
Amending sections 21A.40.120.E.1.b.(6) adding “M-1A”.
Amends section 21A.40.160.C.1.b. & c. to take out “hedge” and replace with “landscaping”.
Amends Illustration in 21A.40.120.E.1. “NON-RESIDENTIAL FENCE HEIGHT”
Underlined text is new; text with a strikethrough is proposed to be deleted. The highlighted text reflects
recent direction provided by the City Council at a Work Session. All other text is existing with no
proposed change.
1. Amends the title to Section 21A.40.120 with no other changes to the section, as follows: 1
21A.40.120: REGULATION OF FENCES, AND WALLS AND HEDGES: 2
APPROVED AS TO FORM
Salt Lake City Attorney’s Office
Date: ___March 19, 2026__________
By: ____________________________
Katherine D. Pasker, Senior City Attorney
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2. Amends Subsection 21A.40.120.A as follows: 3
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A. Purpose: Fences, and walls and hedges serve properties by providing privacy and security, defining 5
private space and enhancing the design of individual sites. Fences also affect the public by 6
impacting the visual image of the streetscape and the overall character of neighborhoods. The 7
purpose of these regulations is to achieve a balance between the private concerns for privacy and 8
site design and the public concerns for enhancement of the community appearance, and to ensure 9
the provision of adequate light, air and public safety. 10
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3. Amends Subsection 21A.40.120.B as follows: 12
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B. Location: All fences, and walls or hedges shall be erected entirely within the property lines of the 14
property they are intended to serve. 15
4. Amends Subsection 21A.40.120.E.1 as follows: 16
1. Fences, and walls, and hedges shall comply with the following regulations based on the following 17
zoning districts: 18
a. Residential Zoning Districts: 19
(1) a. Except as permitted in subsection 21A.24.010.P and 21A.40.120.E.4 of this code a fence, 20
or wall, or hedge located between the front property lot line and front building line of the 21
facade of the principal structure that contains the primary entrance shall not exceed four (4) 22
feet in height. 23
(2) b. A fence, or wall, or hedge located at or behind the primary facade of the principal 24
structure shall not exceed six (6) seven (7) feet in height. 25
(3) c. On developed properties where there is no existing principal structure, the height of a 26
fence, or wall, or hedge shall not exceed four (4) feet in a front yard area or six (6) seven (7) 27
feet in the rear or side yard areas. If there is no minimum front yard setback in the 28
underlying zoning district, a fence or wall taller than four feet may not be placed closer than 29
ten (10) feet from the front lot line. 30
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(4) d. All refuse disposal and recycling dumpsters shall be screened on all sides by a solid wood 32
fence, masonry wall, or an equivalent opaque material to a height of not less than 6 feet but 33
not more than 8 feet. 34
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b. Nonresidential Zoning Districts: 35
(1) A fence, wall, or hedge located between the front property line and front building line of the 36
facade of the principal structure that contains the primary entrance shall not exceed four (4) 37
feet in height. 38
(2) A fence, wall or hedge located at or behind the primary facade of the principal structure 39
shall not exceed six (6) feet in height. 40
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(3) On developed properties where there is no existing principal structure, the height of a fence, 44
wall, or hedge shall not exceed four (4) feet in a front yard area or six (6) feet in the rear or side yard 45
areas. 46
(4) e. Notwithstanding Subsection 21A.40.120.E.1.b.(1), in the M-1 zoned properties in the Salt 47
Lake International Center, M-1A, M-2, and EI zoning districts, fences, or walls, or hedges 48
may be up to six (6) feet in height if located between the front property lot line and the front 49
yard setback line. front building line of the facade of the principal structure that contains the 50
primary entrance, unless the subject property is abutting or across a public street from a 51
zoning district that allows residential use, then the maximum height for a front yard fence is 52
four (4) feet. 53
(5) If there is no minimum front yard setback in the underlying zoning district, a fence, or wall, 54
or hedge of a maximum six (6) feet in height may be placed no closer than ten (10) feet from 55
the property line. 56
(6) f. Outdoor storage, when permitted in the zoning district, shall be located behind the 57
primary facade of the principal structure and shall be screened with a solid wall or fence 58
and shall comply with the requirements in Section 5.60.120. Outdoor storage in the M-1, 59
M-1A, and M-2 districts are also subject to the provisions of 21A.28.010.B.3. 60
(7) g. All refuse disposal and recycling dumpsters, except those located in the M-2, LO and EI 61
districts shall be screened on all sides by a solid wood fence, masonry wall or an equivalent 62
opaque material to a height of not less than 6 feet but not more than 8 feet. 63
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5. Amends Subsection 21A.40.120.E.2 as follows (there are no changes to the “Fence in a 65
Double Frontage Lot” illustration): 66
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2. Double Frontage Lot: A fence, wall, or hedge located on a property where both the front and rear 67
yards have frontage on a street may be a maximum of six (6) feet in height in a front yard provided the 68
fence, wall, or hedge: On properties with more than one front lot line, a fence or wall may be a maximum 69
of seven (7) feet when located: 70
a. behind the primary facade of the principal structure; or 71
b. in the front yard that is directly opposite the front yard where the primary entrance to the 72
principal building is located. 73
a. Is located in a provided yard that is directly opposite the front yard where the primary entrance to 74
the principal building is located; 75
b. Is in a location that is consistent with other six (6) seven (7) foot tall fence locations on the 76
block; 77
c. Complies with Sight Distance Triangle requirements of this Title; and 78
d. Complies will all other fence, wall, and hedge requirements of this Title. 79
e. Not exceed six (6) feet in height in a front yard. 80
6. Amends Subsection 21A.40.120.E.4.a as follows: 81
a. When Abutting Nonresidential Zoning Districts. Fences, or walls, or hedges in the FR, SR, and R-l 82
zoning districts shall not exceed six (6) seven (7) feet in height in the side or rear yard except where they 83
abut a Commercial, Downtown, Manufacturing, or Special Purpose Zoning District . The maximum height 84
shall be eight (8) feet. This exception does not apply to fences, or walls, or hedges in the corner side yard 85
or front yard and only applies where the lot abuts the nonresidential district. 86
7. Amends Subsection 21A.40.120.E.4.i as follows: 87
i. Conditional Uses. A fence, or wall, or hedge may exceed the allowable height requirements of this 88
Chapter where additional fence height is imposed as a reasonable condition to mitigate the anticipated 89
detrimental effects of a conditional use. Where such additional height is imposed as a reasonable 90
condition, such height shall not exceed the minimum height necessary to mitigate the anticipated 91
detrimental effects of the conditional use. 92
8. Amends Subsection 21A.40.120.E.5. as follows: 93
5. Vision Clearance and Safety. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, a fence, or wall, or 94
hedge shall comply with the sight distance triangle requirements of this section. 95
a. Corner Lots; Sight Distance Triangle: No solid fence, or wall or hedge shall be erected to a 96
height in excess of three (3) feet if the fence, or wall or hedge is located within the sight distance triangle 97
extending thirty (30) feet either side of the intersection of the respective street curb lines, or edge lines of 98
roadway where curbing is not provided as noted in Section 21A.62.050, illustration I of this title. 99
b. Intersection of Street and Driveway; Intersection of Alley or Driveway and Sidewalk; Sight 100
Distance Triangle: Solid fences, or walls and hedges shall not exceed thirty (30) inches in height within 101
the sight distance triangle as defined in Section 21A.62.050, illustration I of this title. 102
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c. Sight Distance Triangle and See Through Fences: Within the area defined as a sight distance 103
triangle, see through fences that are at least fifty percent (50%) open shall be allowed to a height of four 104
(4) feet. 105
d. Alternative Design Solutions. To provide adequate line of sight for driveways and alleys, the 106
zoning administrator, in consulting with the development review team, may require alternative design 107
solutions, including, but not restricted to, requiring increased fence setback and/or lower fence height, to 108
mitigate safety concerns created by the location of buildings, grade change or other preexisting 109
conditions. 110
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9. Amends Subsection 21A.40.120.E.6 as follows (there are no changes to the “Fence on Top of 112
Retaining Wall” illustration): 113
6. Height Measurement. The height of a fence, or wall, or hedge shall be measured from the finished 114
grade of the site as defined in section 21A.62.040 of this title. In instances of an abrupt grade change at 115
the property line, the height for fences that are located on top of a retaining wall shall be measured from 116
the top of the retaining wall. 117
10. Amends Subsection 21A.40.160.C.1.b as follows: 118
b. Front and Corner Side Yards: The ground mounted utility box shall be located within five feet (5') 119
of the building façade when located in required or provided front or corner side yard and at least one foot 120
from a front or corner side yard property line. Utility boxes in a front or corner side yard shall be screened 121
by a wall, fence, or hedge landscaping of at least equal height not to exceed the maximum height for a 122
wall or fence allowed in the applicable yard. 123
11. Amends Subsection 21A.40.160.C.1.c as follows: 124
c. Ground mounted utility box(es) may be placed in a required landscaped yard if screened by a wall, 125
fence or hedge landscaping of at least equal height not to exceed the maximum height for a wall or fence 126
allowed in the applicable yard. 127
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Effective Date. This Ordinance shall take effect immediately after it has been published in accordance 129
with Utah Code § 10-3-711 and recorded in accordance with Utah Code § 10-3-713. 130
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