Fence Regulations in West Jordan, UT

If you live in West Jordan or are thinking about moving there, fence regulations are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. West Jordan has 3 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of fence regulations, and some of them might surprise you.

Retaining Walls

West Jordan limits retaining walls built to reduce steep manmade slopes to six feet in height measured from finished grade, caps terracing at two tiers, and requires stone or earth-toned facing that blends with the natural landscape. Any grading, excavation, or wall construction that disturbs a site first needs a Land Disturbance Permit from the City Engineer.

Key details: Max wall height: 6 feet from finished grade. Terracing: capped at two tiers. Wall separation: 5 feet if over 4 feet tall. Terrace width: at least 3 feet between 4-foot walls. Facing: stone or earth-colored materials required.

A retaining wall built without the required Land Disturbance Permit violates section 8-10-1(A)'s prohibition on grading, excavation, or vegetation removal before permit issuance. A wall that exceeds the six-foot height cap, skips the terrace-width and wall-separation standards, or lacks stone or earth-colored facing fails to meet subsection G and will not receive engineering approval, which can require the owner to redesign, resize, or refinish the wall before the city signs off on the project.

Height Limits

West Jordan caps residential fences at four feet in a sight-obscuring front yard location, six feet once behind the required front setback, and eight feet along a side or rear line next to an arterial street, per City Code 13-14-4(A).

Key details: Sight-obscuring front yard fence: 4 feet maximum near driveway/street. Behind required front setback: 6 feet maximum allowed. Side/rear line on arterial street: 8 feet maximum allowed. Public Facilities District: 4' front yard, 6' other yards. Commercial/office/manufacturing front yard: 36 inches maximum.

A fence built above the applicable height cap is a zoning violation the City Code Enforcement Officer can act on. Chapter 13-14 carries no standalone penalty section, so enforcement falls back to the citywide penalty in section 1-14B-1, a Class B misdemeanor, and the city can require the fence be lowered or removed to bring it into compliance.

Material Restrictions

West Jordan declares barbed wire, razor wire, and concertina wire fencing a nuisance in residential zones along or adjacent to streets and between neighboring residential lots, under City Code 13-14-5, with a narrow exception for rural residential security fencing around a public utility site.

Key details: Banned materials: barbed wire, razor wire, concertina wire. Banned locations: along/adjacent to streets in residential zones. Also banned as: division fence between neighboring residential lots. Legal status: declared a nuisance under § 13-14-5. Exception: rural residential security fencing at a public utility site.

A barred wire fence in a residential zone or along a street is a declared nuisance the City can pursue through the title 5 nuisance abatement process, which can end in a court order to remove the fencing and destroy the seized material. Because chapter 13-14 sets no separate penalty, a code violation also defaults to the citywide penalty in section 1-14B-1, a Class B misdemeanor with fines up to $1,000 for an individual conviction.

Compared to other cities, West Jordan takes a harder line on material restrictions. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

The Bottom Line

West Jordan'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 West Jordan is broadly strict or permissive.

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