West Valley City, UT Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- R-1 zones (4/6/7/8/10/12, RS, RE, R-1-20, A/A-1/A-2)
- 30 ft. / 2.5 stories max
- R-2 zones (R-2-6.5, R-2-8) & R-4
- 35 ft. / 2.5 stories max
- RM zone
- Up to 75 ft. (asterisked, stepback rule applies)
- RMH zone
- 12 ft. / 1 story max
- Accessory buildings, all zones
- 20 ft. / 1 story max
- Minimum building height
- 1 story, all zones
Summary
West Valley City caps most single-family zones at 30 feet and 2.5 stories under the Agricultural and Residential Standards Table, Municipal Code Section 7-6-202, with 35 feet in the R-2 zones, up to 75 feet in the RM zone, and a flat 20-foot, 1-story ceiling on accessory buildings in every zone.
The following tables indicate Lot size, setback, Building Height, and Accessory Building requirements within the Agricultural and Residential Zones of the City: Maximum Building Height for all Buildings except Accessory Buildings (feet): RM 75* | SH 36* | RB 35* | R-4 35 | RMH 12* | R-2-6.5 35 | R-2-8 35 | R-1-4 30 | R-1-6 30 | R-1-7 30. Maximum Building Height for Accessory Buildings (feet): 20 [all zones]. Minimum Building Height for all Buildings (Stories): 1 [all zones]. *See the specific zone for additional requirements and/or exceptions.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 26-30, passed June 23, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Section 7-6-202's first standards table sets Maximum Building Height for all buildings except accessory buildings at 30 feet (2.5 stories) in R-1-4, R-1-6, and R-1-7, and at 35 feet (2.5 stories) in R-2-6.5, R-2-8, and R-4. The RB zone allows 35 feet, the SH zone 36 feet, and the RM zone up to 75 feet, each marked with an asterisk directing the reader to that zone's own Specific Requirements section for the governing detail; RMH, the mobile home park zone, is capped at just 12 feet and 1 story. The table's second grid, covering R-1-8, RS, R-1-10, R-1-12, RE, R-1-20, A, A-1, and A-2, sets every one of those zones at a flat 30 feet and 2.5 stories. Every zone in both tables caps accessory buildings at 20 feet and 1 story, and every zone requires a minimum building height of 1 story.
The asterisk on the RM entry is not decorative: Section 7-6-210(6), the RM zone's Specific Requirements section, explains that an RM building near a residential use of two stories or less is capped at 25 feet at the minimum side and rear setback, and every foot of height above 25 feet requires an additional foot of setback from that minimum line, up to the table's 75-foot ceiling. Height itself is measured under Section 7-2-108 from the average finished grade of the front yard, and building height exceptions for penthouses, elevator housings, chimneys, flagpoles, and similar rooftop equipment are allowed above the table's limits without counting as additional floor space.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the height table without an approved variance or the RM stepback allowance is enforced under the Code's general penalty, Section 1-1-109, as a Class B misdemeanor, with each day the oversized structure stands treated as a separate offense. The Community and Economic Development Department reviews building plans for compliance before permit issuance and enforces Title 7 under Section 7-1-113.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum house height in West Valley City's most common single-family zones?
Can apartment buildings be taller than single-family homes in West Valley City?
What is the height limit for a detached garage or shed?
Where do I find the exact height limit for my specific zone?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in West Valley City
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