West Valley City's Building Setbacks & Zoning: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles building setbacks & zoning a little differently. In West Valley City, Utah, there are 3 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Lot Coverage Limits

In West Valley City's RM (multi-family residential) zone, no building or group of buildings, including accessory buildings, may cover more than 60 percent of a lot under Municipal Code Section 7-6-210(7), the only zone in the entire code that sets an explicit maximum lot coverage percentage.

Key details: Max. lot coverage: 60% of lot, RM zone only. Includes: Buildings and accessory buildings. Min. lot area (single unit): 8,000 sq. ft.. Min. lot area (twin home): 4,000 sq. ft. per unit. Front yard setback: 25 ft. residential / 20 ft. nonresidential.

Title 7 carries no standalone penalty for exceeding the coverage cap, so a violation defaults to the Code's general penalty at Section 1-1-109, a Class B misdemeanor, with each day the excess coverage remains a separate offense. The Community and Economic Development and Community Preservation Departments enforce Title 7 under Section 7-1-113 and may inspect a site plan or as-built survey to confirm the percentage actually covered.

Structure Height Limits

West Valley City caps most single-family zones at 30 feet and 2.5 stories under the Agricultural and Residential Standards Table, Municipal Code Section 7-6-202, with 35 feet in the R-2 zones, up to 75 feet in the RM zone, and a flat 20-foot, 1-story ceiling on accessory buildings in every zone.

Key details: R-1 zones (4/6/7/8/10/12, RS, RE, R-1-20, A/A-1/A-2): 30 ft. / 2.5 stories max. R-2 zones (R-2-6.5, R-2-8) & R-4: 35 ft. / 2.5 stories max. RM zone: Up to 75 ft. (asterisked, stepback rule applies). RMH zone: 12 ft. / 1 story max. Accessory buildings, all zones: 20 ft. / 1 story max.

Exceeding the height table without an approved variance or the RM stepback allowance is enforced under the Code's general penalty, Section 1-1-109, as a Class B misdemeanor, with each day the oversized structure stands treated as a separate offense. The Community and Economic Development Department reviews building plans for compliance before permit issuance and enforces Title 7 under Section 7-1-113.

Setback Rules

West Valley City's Agricultural and Residential Standards Table sets separate front, side, garage-side, street-side, and rear yard setbacks for each zone: for example, the R-1-6 zone requires a 25-foot front and 20-foot rear setback.

Key details: R-1-6 front setback: 25 feet. R-1-6 side setback: 6 feet (may reduce to 4). R-1-6 rear setback: 20 feet (may reduce to 15). R-1-6 street-side setback: 20 feet.

Building closer to a property line than the applicable zone's setback triggers a zoning violation; the City can require the encroaching portion of a structure to be removed or relocated.

The Bottom Line

West Valley City's building setbacks & zoning rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming West Valley City is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that West Valley City can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.