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Utah County, UT Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)

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

Key Facts

RA-5 base height limit
40 feet
Windmill height limit
55 feet, blade tip
Cell/radio/TV tower limit
80 feet
Stealth antenna exception
+10 feet over existing structure
Taller unoccupied structures
Need Planning Commission conditional use
Governing section
UCLUO 12.08(G)

Summary

In Utah County's RA-5 Residential Agricultural Zone, the county's primary unincorporated residential zone, the maximum height for any structure is 40 feet, with narrow exceptions for stealth telecom antennas, windmills, utility lines, and cell towers. Taller unoccupied structures need Planning Commission conditional use approval.

City-specific rules exist: Orem, Eagle Mountain, and Provo have their own structure height limits rules that differ from Utah County's county-level regulations. If you live in one of those cities, check the city-specific page instead.

Height Requirements: The height requirements within the RA-5 Zone shall be as follows: The maximum permissible height of any Structure shall be forty (40) feet as determined by the currently adopted Building construction codes of Utah County or by any future edition of these codes that may be adopted, except for the following: An antenna of a "Stealth Telecommunications Transmission Facility" may exceed the initial elevation of the existing transmission tower, utility pole, or other existing Building or Structure to which it is attached by no more than 10 feet. For large-scale utility line Structures, there shall be no maximum height. The maximum height for Windmills shall be 55 feet measured from finished Grade to the highest point of the Windmill blade. The maximum height for a cellular telephone, radio, television, or other microwave transmission facility shall be 80 feet.

Source: Utah County Land Use §8-3-7View official code

Full Breakdown

08(G) sets the RA-5 zone's height cap at 40 feet: the maximum permissible height of any structure shall be forty feet as determined by the currently adopted building construction codes of Utah County or by any future edition of these codes that may be adopted. Five specific exceptions modify that flat limit. A stealth telecommunications transmission facility's antenna may exceed the initial elevation of the existing transmission tower, utility pole, or other existing building or structure to which it is attached by no more than 10 feet.

Large-scale utility line structures have no maximum height at all. Windmills are capped separately at 55 feet measured from finished grade to the highest point of the windmill blade, while a cellular telephone, radio, television, or other microwave transmission facility can reach 80 feet. For any other unoccupied structure that does not fit those categories, the Planning Commission may approve a taller structure as a Conditional Use under UCLUO 16 rather than the owner building by right. The ordinance also warns that the 40-foot number is a ceiling, not a guarantee: a note in the same section flags that the provisions of the Airport Overlay Zone, setback standards, or other provisions of the ordinance may result in a lesser height than that stated above, so a parcel under an airport approach or with a reduced setback could face a lower effective limit even inside RA-5. The height rule sits alongside RA-5's other dimensional standards in the same section, including a 30-foot front setback and 15-foot side and rear setbacks.

Violations & Fines

Building a structure over the 40-foot RA-5 cap, or over the specific caps for windmills (55 feet) or transmission facilities (80 feet), without the Planning Commission's Conditional Use approval under UCLUO 16 is a zoning violation. Utah County Code Section 1.04.010 makes it punishable as an infraction (up to $750) or, if classed unlawful, a misdemeanor with up to a $1,000 fine and six months in jail, each day counting separately, and the county can also refuse a certificate of occupancy or zoning compliance permit.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall can a house be in Utah County's RA-5 zone?
Up to 40 feet, per UCLUO 12.08(G), measured under the county's currently adopted building construction codes. That is the flat cap for ordinary structures; only specific exceptions like windmills, utility lines, and telecom facilities are allowed to go higher.
Can I build a windmill taller than the RA-5 height limit?
Yes, within its own separate cap. UCLUO 12.08(G) allows windmills up to 55 feet measured from finished grade to the highest point of the blade, higher than the zone's general 40-foot structure limit but still capped.
Does the airport overlay zone ever lower the RA-5 height limit?
It can. UCLUO 12.08(G) itself notes that the Airport Overlay Zone, applicable setback standards, or other ordinance provisions may result in a lower allowed height than the standard 40 feet, so parcels near an airport approach should check the overlay before assuming the full 40 feet applies.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Utah County

All Utah County rules

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