How Eagle Mountain Handles Fence Regulations: A Practical Guide

Eagle Mountain maintains 111 local ordinances across all categories, and 4 of those deal specifically with fence regulations. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Eagle Mountain falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Retaining Walls

Eagle Mountain bars retaining walls over or adjacent to city utilities and inside public utility easements unless the city engineer approves the placement in writing under EMMC 15.80.050. Walls tied to steep-slope construction also trigger a geotechnical report with a slope stability evaluation and retaining wall design whenever a structure sits within 200 feet of a 25 percent grade or the lot itself exceeds 15 percent slope.

Key details: Governing sections: EMMC 15.80.050 and 16.60.040(A)(8). Utility easement walls: Barred without written city engineer approval. Geotechnical report trigger: Within 200 feet of a 25% slope. Lot slope trigger: Required if lot slope exceeds 15 percent. Report must be signed by: A Utah-licensed engineer.

Eagle Mountain's code does not list a fixed fine for an unapproved retaining wall. Enforcement runs through the permit and easement-approval process instead: the city engineer can refuse to approve a wall placed in a public utility easement, and a missing or inadequate geotechnical report under EMMC 16.60.040(A)(8) can hold up or block the building permit needed for construction near a qualifying slope. EMMC 15.80.040 leaves liability for any resulting damage with the property owner or developer, not the city.

Fence Permit Requirements

Eagle Mountain requires a fence permit, or authorization through city site plan approval, before installing any fence, wall or privacy screen under EMMC 17.60.120(A), with height measured from finished grade to the top of the fence.

Key details: Governing section: EMMC 17.60.120(A). Permit trigger: Any fence, wall or privacy screen. Alternative path: Authorization via city site plan approval. Height measured from: Finished grade to top of fence. Fence type definitions: EMMC 17.10.030.

Chapter 17.60 places fencing standards under Title 17's zoning framework; the general zoning enforcement mechanism, notice to correct followed by legal or equitable action to abate a nonconforming or unpermitted fence, applies rather than a fence-specific penalty schedule, since 17.60.120 itself sets no separate fine.

Material Restrictions

Eagle Mountain bans chain-link, razor wire and electric fencing on residential perimeters, but allows barbed wire or electric livestock enclosures up to six feet tall in rear yard areas under EMMC 17.60.120(B).

Key details: Governing section: EMMC 17.60.120(B) and (C). Residential prohibition: Chain-link, razor wire, electric fencing. Livestock exception: Barbed/electric wire allowed, max 6 feet. Exception location: Rear yard areas only. Nonresidential allowance: Barbed/electric wire for livestock, greenbelt land.

Chapter 17.60 fencing standards fall within Title 17's zoning enforcement; a fence built with a prohibited material such as chain-link or razor wire on a residential lot, or a livestock barbed wire enclosure exceeding six feet or placed outside rear yard areas, is a zoning nonconformity subject to the planning department's general zoning correction and abatement process rather than a fence-specific fine set in this section.

Height Limits

Eagle Mountain caps residential front yard fences at four feet, allows wing fencing and side/rear fencing up to six feet, and limits corner lot fencing near clear vision triangles to three feet, under EMMC 17.60.120(B)(2).

Key details: Governing section: EMMC 17.60.120(B)(2). Front yard, interior lot: 4 feet maximum. Side/rear, interior lot: 6 feet maximum. Corner lot vision triangle: 3 feet maximum. Nonresidential zones: 8 feet maximum (EMMC 17.60.120(C)(2)).

A residential fence exceeding four feet in the front yard, six feet along side or rear lines, or exceeding three feet within a corner lot's clear vision triangle is a zoning nonconformity under Chapter 17.60; the planning department addresses it through Title 17's general zoning correction process rather than a standalone fine set in this section, since the fence permit issued under 17.60.120(A) is the compliance checkpoint for these limits.

The Bottom Line

Eagle Mountain's fence regulations 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 Eagle Mountain is broadly strict or permissive.

This guide is based on Eagle Mountain's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.