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Washington County, UT Building Setbacks & Zoning: Lot Coverage Limits (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

C-1 lot coverage cap
60%, § 10-10-3
C-2 lot coverage cap
60%
C-3 lot coverage cap
50%
PDC lot coverage
'TBD', set per development agreement
MFG/IND lot coverage cap
60% flat, § 10-11-3
Pine Valley Overlay residential cap
50% building, 15%/10% accessory

Summary

Washington County's commercial zones cap building footprint at a fixed share of the lot: County Code § 10-10-3 sets Maximum Lot Coverage at 60% in the C-1 and C-2 zones and 50% in C-3, with PDC left "TBD" for case-by-case review. The Manufacturing and Industrial zones share a flat 60% cap under § 10-11-3.

City-specific rules exist: St. George has its own lot coverage limits rules that differ from Washington County's county-level regulations. If you live in St. George, check the city-specific page instead.

Min/ Maximum Height 8'/35' 8'/40' 8'/40' 8'/40' Maximum Structure Area 15,000 sf TBD TBD TBD Maximum Lot Coverage 60% 60% 50% TBD Street Frontage Requirement 100 feet 140 feet 140 feet 140 feet ... MFG IND Maximum Area of All Buildings and Structures 60% 60% Maximum Lot Coverage 60% 60%

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-17: Code current through: Ord. 2026-1329-O, passed 8-18-2026).

Full Breakdown

Section 10-10-3's Area, Setback and Height Requirements table for the C-1, C-2, C-3, and PDC commercial zones lists "Maximum Lot Coverage" at "60%" for C-1, "60%" for C-2, "50%" for C-3, and "TBD" for the PDC Planned Development Commercial zone, meaning PDC coverage is set individually through that zone's development agreement rather than a fixed county-wide number. The same table pairs coverage with a maximum structure area of 15,000 square feet in C-1, also "TBD" in C-2 and C-3, a minimum street frontage of 100 to 140 feet depending on zone, and a height cap of 8 feet minimum up to 35 or 40 feet maximum.

5, RA-5, RE-20, and RE-40 districts, plus a separate 15%-of-lot-area cap on detached accessory structures built within the principal structure's setbacks, or 10% if built elsewhere on the lot, with barns allowed up to 25% coverage outside agricultural districts.

Violations & Fines

Exceeding the applicable Maximum Lot Coverage percentage is a Title 10 zoning violation regardless of zone. Section 10-1-10 bars the building inspector from issuing a permit for construction that would violate the title, § 10-1-18 allows a stop-work "red tag" once an over-coverage structure is discovered mid-build, and § 10-1-11 lets the county attorney sue to compel removal of the noncompliant portion as a public nuisance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the maximum lot coverage for a commercial building in Washington County?
The percentage is set per zone: § 10-10-3 caps Maximum Lot Coverage at 60% in the C-1 and C-2 zones and 50% in C-3; the PDC Planned Development Commercial zone carries no fixed county-wide figure and is listed as "TBD," set through that zone's development agreement.
Is the lot coverage limit the same in industrial zones as commercial zones?
The Manufacturing and Industrial zones share a flat 60% Maximum Lot Coverage cap under § 10-11-3, matching the C-1 and C-2 commercial figure, though C-3 is capped lower at 50%.
Does Washington County limit lot coverage for houses?
Outside the Pine Valley Overlay Zone, the county's base residential zone articles do not print a standalone lot-coverage percentage; Pine Valley's § 10-29-4 sets a 50% building lot coverage cap and a 15%-of-lot, or 10% elsewhere on the lot, limit on detached accessory structures, specific to that overlay's districts.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Washington County

All Washington County rules

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