A Resident's Guide to Sandy's Local Ordinances

Sandy, 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 131 tracked ordinances across 36 categories, there is more here than you might expect.

Building Safety

Electrical Permits: Sandy City Code § 18-1-1 adopts the National Electrical Code, alongside the International Building, Mechanical, Plumbing, Fuel Gas, Energy Conservation, Residential, and Existing Building Codes, as the standards governing every permitted electrical installation in the city. The applicable NEC edition tracks whichever version the State of Utah currently designates..

Also covered: Lead Paint (moderate), Carbon Monoxide Detectors (moderate), Fire Sprinkler Requirements (permissive). See the full building safety guide for Sandy for details.

Environmental Rules

Flood Zones: Sandy City regulates development in FEMA-mapped flood hazard areas through its Floodplain Overlay Zone under City Code Chapter 21-16. A Floodplain Development Permit from the Floodplain Administrator is required before new construction, substantial improvement, or repair of substantial damage in a special flood hazard area, and development is barred outright in the regulatory floodway absent an engineer's no-rise certification..

Also covered: Erosion Control (restrictive), Vehicle Idling Restrictions (moderate), Defensible Space (moderate). See the full environmental rules guide for Sandy for details.

Noise Ordinances

Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound: Sandy City Code Section 13-2-4 bans operating a loudspeaker or sound-amplifying equipment, fixed, mobile or mounted on a sound vehicle, on any street, sidewalk, park or public property to advertise, give talks or play music to a crowd unless the operator first obtains a permit under Section 13-2-8..

Also covered: Vehicle Noise (moderate), Decibel Limits (moderate), Aircraft Noise (moderate). See the full noise ordinances guide for Sandy for details.

Short-Term Rentals

Repeat Violator Strikes: A Sandy short-term rental owner who racks up a third violation notice in any 12-month period loses the STR license and special use permit automatically and is banned from applying again for two years, on top of a civil fine..

Also covered: Taxes & Fees (moderate), Short-Term Rental Permits (strict), Occupancy Limits (moderate). See the full short-term rentals guide for Sandy for details.

Business Licensing & Operations

Auto Repair on Residential Property: Sandy City Code § 21-11-5 flatly prohibits auto body repair, motor vehicle repair, and the storage, service, or sale of automobiles, tow trucks, ATVs, or other motorized vehicles as a home occupation, because the City has found these uses impair the value of residential neighborhoods..

Also covered: Massage Establishments (restrictive), Secondhand Dealers (restrictive), Pawnbrokers (restrictive). See the full business licensing & operations guide for Sandy for details.

Noise from Specific Sources

Delivery Truck Noise: Sandy City bars loading, unloading or handling boxes, crates, containers or garbage containers between 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.

Also covered: Generator Noise (moderate), Bar & Nightclub Noise (moderate), HVAC & Mechanical Noise (moderate). See the full noise from specific sources guide for Sandy for details.

Public Conduct

Public Urination: Sandy City Code Section 13-1-11 makes it a Class C misdemeanor to urinate or defecate anywhere in public other than a restroom, if the person should know the act will likely cause affront or alarm to someone else. The offense sits in Title 13's public peace chapter..

Also covered: Loitering Rules (moderate), Public Alcohol Use (moderate), Skateboarding Rules (moderate). See the full public conduct guide for Sandy for details.

Curfew Laws

Juvenile Curfew: Sandy bars minors under 16 from public places between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m., and minors under 18 between 1:00 a.m.

Also covered: Park Curfew (moderate). See the full curfew laws guide for Sandy for details.

Property Maintenance

Property Blight: Sandy City Code § 19-1-2 defines 'blight' broadly, covering debris, rotting or crumbling structures and fences, and dead or overgrown landscaping, regardless of neighboring conditions. The Community Development Director investigates complaints, issues written notice under § 19-1-4, and can abate uncorrected weeds, garbage, or refuse violations under § 19-1-7..

Also covered: Vacant Lot Maintenance (moderate), Snow & Sidewalk Clearing (moderate). See the full property maintenance guide for Sandy for details.

Hotels & Lodging

Transient Occupancy Tax: Sandy City Code § 6-15-1 levies a 1.5 percent municipal transient room tax on amounts charged for tourist home, hotel, motel, or trailer court accommodations regularly rented for less than 30 consecutive days. Unlike most city fees, this levy is collected and administered entirely by the Utah State Tax Commission, not by Sandy itself..

Special Events & Permits

Park Event Permits: Sandy City requires written permission before anyone holds a parade, celebration, or paid activity in a City park or recreation facility, and a reservation with the Parks and Recreation Department controls who gets priority use of a field, court, or pavilion..

Also covered: Street Fair Rules (moderate), Parade Permits (moderate). See the full special events & permits guide for Sandy for details.

Homelessness & Encampment Rules

Encampment Sanitation: Sandy City Code Section 13-11-3 prohibits camping, lodging or remaining overnight in any city park or recreation facility unless the area is specifically designated for that purpose. The Sandy Police Department enforces the rule alongside Parks and Recreation staff, who may evict violators on the spot under Section 13-11-7..

Outdoor Cooking

Smoker Rules: Sandy City Code Section 13-11-3 bans open fires in city parks and recreation facilities except inside barbecue or grill areas the City or Salt Lake County has provided. The Parks and Recreation Director sets facility rules and coordinates enforcement with the Sandy Police Department, which has authority throughout every recreational facility in the city..

Parking Rules

RV & Boat Parking: Sandy Traffic Code Section 14-7-5 makes it unlawful to park, store or leave any recreational vehicle, camper, boat, boat trailer, utility trailer or automobile hulk on a public street, alley, sidewalk or right-of-way at any time. The ban covers jet skis, snowmobiles and four-wheelers as recreational vehicles..

Also covered: Overnight Parking (moderate), Preferential Parking Districts (restrictive), Street Parking Limits (moderate). See the full parking rules guide for Sandy for details.

Mobility & Curb Rules

Shared E-Scooter Rules: Sandy requires a business license under Title 15 before any company can put shared e-scooters on city streets, with the license expiring every December 31. Operators must carry $1,000,000 in commercial general liability coverage and cap daily deployment groupings at ten scooters..

Also covered: Red-Light Cameras (moderate), E-Bike Classes (moderate), Bike Lane Rules (moderate). See the full mobility & curb rules guide for Sandy for details.

Soliciting & Door-to-Door

Solicitor Permits: Sandy requires anyone conducting business in the city, including door-to-door solicitors, to hold a business license before starting, a Class B misdemeanor if skipped. Sandy City Code § 15-1-2 sets the license mandate, and § 15-1-10 requires a solicitor to produce that license whenever a person being solicited asks to see it..

Trash & Recycling

Illegal Dumping: Sandy City Code Section 19-5-1 makes it unlawful to deposit, store, or collect junk, junk vehicles, or rubbish anywhere in the city, including on your own property, streets, alleys, or rights-of-way, unless the law expressly allows it. Hauling bulk waste to another address for pickup is separately defined as illegal dumping..

Also covered: Bin Placement Rules (moderate), Collection Schedule (moderate), Pickup Rules & Schedules (restrictive). See the full trash & recycling guide for Sandy for details.

Fire Regulations

Fireworks: Sandy City prohibits discharging fireworks in mountainous or brush-covered terrain, within 200 feet of waterways, trails, canyons or vacant lots, and anywhere in the wildland urban interface, citing hazardous environmental conditions. Retail sellers need a city license, and public displays need a Fire Chief-approved permit and insurance..

Also covered: Wildfire Zones (moderate), Outdoor Burning (restrictive). See the full fire regulations guide for Sandy for details.

Animal Ordinances

Coyote Management: Sandy City runs no cull or hazing program in its code. Instead, § 12-3-3 makes it flatly illegal to keep a coyote, wolf, or any coyote-dog or wolf-dog hybrid within city limits, and Chapter 12-3's stated purpose is explicitly to keep wild-animal-dog hybrids out of Sandy..

Also covered: Mandatory Spay/Neuter (limited), Dog Leash Laws (moderate), Cat Rules (limited). See the full animal ordinances guide for Sandy for details.

Swimming Pools & Spas

Pool Permits: Sandy City requires a valid building permit before any grading connected to a residential swimming pool, per Sandy City Code § 21-27-12. Private pools must also sit at least five feet from property lines and be enclosed by a six-foot fence under § 21-11-10..

Also covered: Fencing & Safety Requirements (moderate). See the full swimming pools & spas guide for Sandy for details.

Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules

Encroachment Permits: Sandy City requires anyone working in the public right-of-way, including a homeowner installing a driveway approach or replacing a sidewalk, to get a permit from the City Engineer first under City Code Chapter 10-1. Permits require liability insurance and, unless the work is homeowner concrete work, a $10,000 bond, and unpermitted work is a Class B misdemeanor with daily fines..

Also covered: Obstruction Rules (moderate), Sidewalk Repair (moderate). See the full sidewalk & pedestrian rules guide for Sandy for details.

Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors

Sidewalk & Mobile Vending: Sandy City caps street vendor carts at 3.5 feet wide by 8 feet long, requires vendors to keep at least a four-foot clear sidewalk path, and bars carts within ten feet of hydrants, curb cuts, transit stops, or handicap access ramps..

Also covered: Vending Zones (moderate), Food Truck Permits (restrictive). See the full food trucks & mobile vendors guide for Sandy for details.

Outdoor Lighting

Light Trespass & Shielding: Sandy bans unshielded floodlights, spotlights and wall-pack fixtures that point toward the street or spill glare past the property line. Section 21-23-11 requires all commercial, office and industrial site lighting to be shielded and aimed downward so neighboring properties are not affected..

Also covered: Dark Sky Rules (moderate). See the full outdoor lighting guide for Sandy for details.

Accessory Structures

ADU Rental Restrictions: Sandy City prohibits renting an accessory apartment, extended living area, or guesthouse for less than 30 consecutive days unless the property has separate short-term rental approval, and bars mixing short-term and long-term rentals on the same property at once..

Also covered: ADU Owner Occupancy (restrictive), Shed & Carport Rules (moderate), ADU Rules (restrictive). See the full accessory structures guide for Sandy for details.

Zoning Overlays & Bonuses

Downtown Design Guide: Every building proposed in Sandy's Central Business District must clear a dedicated architectural review committee, which checks design, colors, and materials against the Sandy City Architectural Design Standards before the Planning Commission ever sees the application, under Sandy City Code Section 21-23-21..

Also covered: Density Bonus Law (moderate). See the full zoning overlays & bonuses guide for Sandy for details.

Garage & Yard Sales

Frequency, Duration & Permits: Sandy City caps residential garage sales at three per calendar year, each lasting no more than 48 consecutive hours and spaced at least 14 days apart. The sale must be held at the seller's own residence and can only include used items from that home..

Rental Property Rules

Repairs & Habitability: Sandy City Code requires every foundation, exterior wall, and roof to be built and kept in good repair so interior rooms stay weathertight, watertight, and rodentproof. Exterior surfaces must be painted, stained, or built from decay-resistant material.

Tree Protection

Parkway Planting: Sandy's citywide landscaping standards put parkstrip upkeep on the adjacent property owner and only allow street trees where the parkstrip is at least eight feet wide by eight feet long, with turf, mulch, and clear-vision height limits spelled out for every strip in the city..

Also covered: Heritage & Protected Trees (moderate). See the full tree protection guide for Sandy for details.

Solar Energy

Panel Permits: Sandy treats solar energy systems as an accessory use requiring a building permit routed through the Community Development Department for design review. Roof-mounted panels must sit flush with no visible relief, and ground-mounted units over six feet must move to a rooftop instead..

Home Business

Zoning & Home Occupation Permits: Every home occupation in Sandy must be licensed by the Business License Office unless a narrow exemption applies, and the city sorts businesses into a by-right Category I or a Planning Commission-reviewed Category II conditional use. The city can terminate a home occupation outright if the owner violates the standards..

Also covered: Home Daycare (moderate), Signage Rules (restrictive), Customer Traffic Restrictions (moderate). See the full home business guide for Sandy for details.

Historic Preservation

Historic-Cultural Monuments: Sandy designates historic areas, districts, landmark sites, and buildings of significance under City Code 21-18-3 through nomination to the Community Development Department, review by the Historic Preservation Committee, and a City Council vote after a public meeting..

Building Setbacks & Zoning

Setback Rules: Sandy's zoning table sets minimum yard setbacks by R-1 and R-2 subdistrict: 30 feet to the living area in most zones, dropping to 25 feet in R-1-8 INF and R-1-6, with side yards as tight as 6 feet and rear yards from 20 to 30 feet. Corner lots carry added street-side setbacks..

Also covered: Lot Coverage Limits (moderate), Structure Height Limits (moderate). See the full building setbacks & zoning guide for Sandy for details.

Fence Regulations

Material Restrictions: Sandy bans barbed wire and similar intrusion-deterrent fencing on residential and vacant lots unless the Director approves it for public safety, health or welfare, including farm-animal and utility fencing. Commercial and industrial properties get a standing exception for security purposes..

Also covered: Retaining Walls (moderate), Height Limits (moderate). See the full fence regulations guide for Sandy for details.

Sign Regulations

Digital Billboards: Off-premises signs, including billboards, are banned citywide under Sandy's sign code, and any digital or LED sign that is allowed is capped at one footcandle of brightness at the property line. A required dimmer switch must let owners dial that intensity down after installation..

Also covered: Window Signs (moderate), Freeway-Facing Signs (moderate), Political Signs (moderate). See the full sign regulations guide for Sandy for details.

Landscaping Rules

Water Restrictions: Sandy City bans sprinkler irrigation of any public or private landscape between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

Also covered: Tree Trimming (moderate). See the full landscaping rules guide for Sandy for details.

Holiday Decorations

Lawn Ornament Rules: Sandy treats holiday decorations as exempt, noncommercial displays under its sign code: no permit, size or number limit applies as long as they stay on the lot and don't interfere with traffic signals. Nonresidential properties, however, must take displays down within 14 days after the holiday..

What to Do With This Information

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