Fence Regulations in Orem, UT: What Residents Actually Need to Know

If you live in Orem or are thinking about moving there, fence regulations are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Orem has 4 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of fence regulations, and some of them might surprise you.

Height Limits

Orem caps any fence, wall, hedge or enclosing structure at 36 inches above finished grade within a front setback or clear view area, and limits general fencing to about 8 feet elsewhere; sport-court, pool, tennis and backstop enclosures may reach 12 feet under Orem City Code 22-14-19.

Key details: Front setback / clear view max: 36 inches above finished grade. General fence max: ~8 ft (taller may need Engineer approval). Sport court / pool / backstop enclosure: Up to 12 ft (not in front yard). Driveway near tall fence: No drive access within 25 ft of a fence >3 ft in the Clear Vision Area. Code Section: Orem City Code 22-14-19; 22-14-10.

Fences exceeding the 36-inch front-setback/clear-view limit or the general height cap are a zoning violation enforced by Orem Code Enforcement and the Zoning Administrator. Remedies include written notice, an order to lower or remove the fence, administrative citations and abatement of the nuisance; an aggrieved owner may appeal the Zoning Administrator's decision to the Appeal Authority under Utah law.

Material Restrictions

Orem requires a building permit for any masonry or concrete fence, and its commercial standards require sight-obscuring fences of at least six feet for outdoor merchandise, junk and solid-waste storage, with chain-link-with-slats barred for required utility-box screening.

Key details: Masonry or concrete fence: Building permit required. Retaining wall >= 4 ft (from footing): Building permit required. Outdoor storage screening: Sight-obscuring fence at least 6 ft (22-8-10). Utility-box screening near State St: Min 4 ft; no chain link with slats (22-8-8(B)). Code Section: Orem City Code 22-14-19; 22-8-10; 22-8-8(B).

Building a masonry or concrete fence, or a retaining wall four feet or more in height, without the required building permit is a violation enforced by the Building Safety Division and can trigger a stop-work order and abatement. Commercial screening that fails the six-foot sight-obscuring standard, or that uses prohibited chain-link-with-slats for utility-box screening, is a zoning violation subject to citation and corrective orders.

Neighbor Fence Rules

Orem follows Utah general property law for shared fences. Utah Code §17-15-3 provides county fence viewers for disputes. No Orem-specific cost-sharing ordinance exists. Fences must not create vision hazards near driveways.

Key details: State Law: Utah Code §17-15-3. Cost Sharing: No city ordinance; civil matter. Vision Area: No 3+ ft fence within 25 ft of driveway. Topic: Neighbor Rules.

Civil dispute - no city enforcement for cost-sharing. Property line encroachments: survey and civil remedy. HOA violations per CC&Rs.

If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find Orem gives residents more flexibility on neighbor fence rules.

Permit Requirements

Orem requires a written fence permit for new fences and a building permit for masonry or concrete fences, pools and retaining walls four feet or more high; standard wood or vinyl fences need the fence permit but not a building permit, and simple fence repairs need no permit.

Key details: Authority: Orem City Code 22-1-4 (Building Permits Required). Standard fence (wood/vinyl): Fence permit required; no building permit. Masonry or concrete fence: Building permit required. Retaining wall >= 4 ft / swimming pool: Building permit required. Fence repairs: No permit required.

Erecting a fence without the required written fence permit, or building a masonry or concrete fence, pool, or qualifying retaining wall without a building permit, violates Orem City Code 22-1-4 and the adopted building code. Enforcement can include a stop-work order, administrative citations, abatement at the owner's expense, and refusal of related approvals until permits are obtained.

The Bottom Line

Orem'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 Orem is broadly strict or permissive.

These rules come from Orem's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.