Salt Lake City, UT Building Setbacks & Zoning: Lot Coverage Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- R-1/7,000 max coverage
- 40% of lot area
- FR-1/43,560 max coverage
- 25% of lot area
- Counts toward cap
- principal + accessory buildings
- Enforcement
- Zoning Administrator, civil fines
- Fine (residential)
- $50 per day per violation
Summary
In the R-1/7,000 single-family zone, Salt Lake City limits building coverage, the footprint of every principal and accessory building, to 40% of the lot area, leaving the rest as yard, driveway, or open space.
F. Maximum Building Coverage: The surface coverage of all principal and accessory buildings shall not exceed forty percent (40%) of the lot area.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-21: Code current through: Ord. 40-26, passed June 16, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Salt Lake City's R-1/7,000 Single-Family Residential District, the city's most common single-family zone, caps building coverage at 40% of lot area under Salt Lake City Code § 21A.24.060(F). The cap counts the combined footprint of principal and accessory buildings, house, garage, sheds, but not open decks, patios, or driveways. Denser lots aren't exempt: R-1/5,000 lots also fall under a district-specific coverage table, while the low-density FR-1/43,560 Foothills Estate district (§ 21A.24.020) allows only 25% coverage given its steep-slope and drainage concerns.
Violations & Fines
Zoning Administrator enforcement; unpermitted overage triggers a stop-work/correction order, then civil fines of $50 per day per violation on residential property until corrected (§ 21A.20.040.A).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the 40% cap include my shed or garage?
Is 40% the limit everywhere in Salt Lake City?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Salt Lake City
Compare Salt Lake City to another location·View the Utah building setbacks & zoning overview
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Lot Coverage Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Salt Lake County handle lot coverage limits.