How Sandy Handles Landscaping Rules: A Practical Guide

Sandy maintains 131 local ordinances across all categories, and 2 of those deal specifically with landscaping rules. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Sandy falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Tree Trimming

Sandy City requires property owners to keep tree branches pruned to eight feet above any public sidewalk and 14 feet above any road they overhang, and treats a hazardous tree left uncorrected as a public nuisance, under Sandy City Code Section 21-25-3.

Key details: Sidewalk clearance: 8 feet above sidewalk. Road clearance: 14 feet above road. Program supervisor: Urban Forester. Hazard tree status: Classified a public nuisance. Governing section: Sandy City Code § 21-25-3.

Section 21-25-3 makes it unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation, as owner, agent, or occupant, to create, aid in creating, or maintain a hazard tree, and classifies an uncorrected hazard tree as a public nuisance subject to abatement. Because the section sets no standalone fine, enforcement runs through Sandy's default penalty in Sections 1-2-2 and 1-2-3: a Class B misdemeanor with fines up to $1,000 for an individual or $5,000 for a corporation.

Water Restrictions

Sandy City bans sprinkler irrigation of any public or private landscape between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. under City Code Section 8-3-2, aiming to cut evaporation loss from the municipal water system. New lawns get a 90-day establishment exception, and short test cycles are allowed. Repeat violators risk an infraction citation after written notice from the Public Works Department.

Key details: Watering ban hours: 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., daily. New lawn exception: 90 days from planting. Enforcing agency: Sandy City Public Works Department. Standard violation penalty: Infraction after written notice. Curtailment violation penalty: Class B misdemeanor.

A first watering-hours violation typically draws a written warning from the Public Works Department; continuing to irrigate between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. after that notice is an infraction under Section 8-3-2. Separately, wasting water in violation of Section 8-3-1, or watering during a Mayor-declared curtailment under Section 8-3-3, is a Class B misdemeanor punishable under the City's general penalty provisions.

The Bottom Line

Sandy's landscaping rules 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 Sandy is broadly strict or permissive.

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