Utah County, UT Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Coop/pen setback from waterway
- 20 feet minimum
- Farm animal structure setback from neighbor's dwelling
- 50 feet
- Side/rear setback, agricultural buildings
- 5 feet minimum
- Livestock definition includes
- Poultry, cattle, sheep, goats, swine, horses
- Running at large
- Unlawful, strict liability
Summary
Unincorporated Utah County allows poultry and other livestock but bans letting them run at large, requires escape-proof fencing, and sets specific setbacks for coops, pens, and animal structures from dwellings and waterways.
No Structure used for farm animals (specifically domestic Livestock or mink or other fur bearing animals) shall be constructed closer than fifty (50) feet to an existing Dwelling on an adjacent property. No Structure used for farm animals, Feed Yard, corral, pen, or coop shall be constructed or maintained closer than twenty (20) feet to any open waterway that drains into a natural stream. Surface drainage from Feed Yards, corrals, pens, or coops shall not be permitted to drain into a waterway that drains, either directly or indirectly, into a natural stream or lake.
Full Breakdown
190 defines livestock to include poultry along with cattle, sheep, goats, swine, horses, mules, and donkeys, and makes it unlawful for an owner to negligently or intentionally let livestock run at large. All fencing enclosing livestock must be of sufficient construction to prevent escape or injury, and must be maintained so no part of it, absent extraordinary circumstances, can be broken or damaged in a way that allows escape; any animal found in violation may be impounded, and the owner is strictly liable for damages the livestock causes.
72 sets siting standards for the structures that house that livestock and poultry: no structure used for farm animals, feed yard, corral, pen, or coop may be built or maintained closer than 20 feet to any open waterway draining into a natural stream, and surface drainage from those structures cannot be allowed to drain into such a waterway. Structures for farm animals, mink, or other fur-bearing animals may not be built closer than 50 feet to an existing dwelling on an adjacent property, and side or rear setbacks for agricultural buildings must be at least 5 feet.
20 expressly permits the raising of poultry and other fowl and the coops, pens, and hatcheries used to raise them, alongside grazing and pasturing of livestock, as of-right uses subject to the ordinance's standards.
Violations & Fines
Letting livestock or poultry run at large is a strict-liability violation; the animal may be impounded and the owner is liable for resulting damages. Placing a coop, pen, or feed yard within 20 feet of a stream-draining waterway, or an animal structure within 50 feet of a neighboring dwelling, violates the land use ordinance's siting standards and can trigger a stop-work or code compliance order from the Community Development Department.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep chickens in unincorporated Utah County?
How far must a chicken coop be from a stream?
What happens if my livestock gets loose?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Utah County
How Utah County compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·Compare Utah County to another location·View the Utah animal ordinances overview
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