A Resident's Guide to Orem's Local Ordinances

Orem, Utah may not be the biggest city in the state, but it has its own set of local rules that residents need to follow. With 49 tracked ordinances across 12 categories, there is more here than you might expect.

Short-Term Rentals

Insurance Requirements: Orem City Code Chapter 22 does not establish a short-term rental insurance requirement because the 2002 zoning amendment prohibits transient lodging under 30 days in residential districts, so the city has not codified a liability minimum, certificate-of-insurance filing, or homeowner-policy endorsement rule for STR operators. Utah Code does not impose a statewide STR insurance mandate either; HB 217 (2024) limits cities' ability to ban STRs solely on advertising but leaves insurance as a local choice not yet exercised by Orem..

Also covered: Occupancy Limits (strict), Taxes & Fees (moderate), Parking Rules (permissive). See the full short-term rentals guide for Orem for details.

Home Business

Signage Rules: Orem City Code Section 22-14-15 prohibits any external evidence of a home occupation. There may be no exterior displays, no display of goods, and no advertising signs visible from outside the dwelling unit, and no business activity or storage of materials may occur outside the dwelling..

Also covered: Customer Traffic Restrictions (moderate), Home Occupation Permits (moderate), Zoning Restrictions (moderate). See the full home business guide for Orem for details.

Swimming Pools & Spas

Fencing Requirements: Orem City Code Section 22-6-9(J) requires every in-ground pool, and every above-ground pool with a wall height of 36 inches or more, to be completely surrounded by a fence or wall at least five feet high, set back five feet from property lines, with self-closing, self-latching gates and no opening that passes a four-inch sphere..

Also covered: Safety Rules (moderate), Pool Permits (moderate), Above-Ground Pools (moderate). See the full swimming pools & spas guide for Orem for details.

Accessory Structures

Tiny Homes: Orem allows only one single-family dwelling per residential lot (22-6-8(F)), prohibits using a detached accessory building as a separate apartment or guest house (22-6-8(D)(7)), and bans shipping containers, semi-trailers, boxcars, and PODS as residential structures (22-6-8(D)(9)) - which together restrict standalone tiny homes. Tiny dwellings within the main house may qualify as internal ADUs under Utah Code 10-9a-530..

Also covered: Garage Conversions (moderate), Carport Rules (moderate), ADU Rules (moderate). See the full accessory structures guide for Orem for details.

Animal Ordinances

Pet Limits: Orem limits households to a maximum of two dogs and two cats (four months of age or older) per lot. Dogs over four months old must also be licensed annually and kept current on rabies vaccination..

Also covered: Chickens & Livestock (moderate), Breed Restrictions (permissive), Dog Leash Laws (moderate). See the full animal ordinances guide for Orem for details.

Parking Rules

Abandoned Vehicles: Utah Code 41-6a-1406 authorizes a peace officer to remove and impound vehicles at the owner's expense, including abandoned vehicles under 41-6a-1408, and Orem City Code Chapter 19, Article 4 declares vehicles constituting nuisances subject to City impound..

Also covered: Overnight Parking (moderate), RV & Boat Parking (moderate), Street Parking Limits (moderate). See the full parking rules guide for Orem for details.

Fire Regulations

Fireworks: Orem allows state-approved (class C / division 1.4G) consumer fireworks only on the dates and hours set by Utah Code 53-7-225, and city ordinance 7-2-8 plus an annual restriction map prohibit discharge within 100 feet of any undeveloped areas of the city and within 500 feet of any National Forest or BLM lands..

Also covered: Backyard Fires (moderate), Fire Pit Rules (moderate), Outdoor Burning (strict). See the full fire regulations guide for Orem for details.

Fence Regulations

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..

Also covered: Material Restrictions (moderate), Neighbor Fence Rules (permissive), Permit Requirements (moderate). See the full fence regulations guide for Orem for details.

Landscaping Rules

Water Restrictions: Orem has no fixed year-round watering-day or watering-hour ordinance for residents; mandatory odd-even watering days (by street address) are imposed only when the City Manager declares a Severe Stage water shortage under the City's Water Shortage Management Plan, while everyday outdoor irrigation is governed by efficiency expectations and Utah's water-wise landscaping statute..

Also covered: Tree Trimming (moderate), Grass Height Limits (moderate), Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (permissive). See the full landscaping rules guide for Orem for details.

Noise Ordinances

Quiet Hours: Orem enforces quiet hours from 10:30 PM to 7 AM under its criminal offenses code. Loud noise plainly audible at 30 feet from a residence during quiet hours is prohibited.

Also covered: Construction Hours (moderate), Barking Dogs (moderate). See the full noise ordinances guide for Orem for details.

Environmental Rules

Flood Zones: Orem enforces FEMA flood zone standards under City Code Chapter 10 (Flood Damage Prevention). Properties in SFHAs face elevation requirements, flood insurance mandates, and construction restrictions.

Curfew Laws

Juvenile Curfew: Orem enforces a juvenile curfew for minors under 17. Nighttime curfew hours typically run 11 PM to 6 AM on school nights with later weekend hours..

What to Do With This Information

Whether you are renting, buying, or renovating in Orem, knowing the local rules upfront saves headaches later. Dig into the individual ordinance pages linked above for the complete picture, including fines and exemptions.