Fence Regulations in Salt Lake City, UT (2026)
4 verified fence regulations for Salt Lake City, Utah, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Height Limits
Salt Lake City caps front-yard fences at 4 feet and side/rear fences at 6 feet in residential zones, and requires a building permit for nearly every fence under Zoning Code Section 21A.40.120.
Salt Lake City Fence Height & Permit Rules
Some RestrictionsSalt Lake City Code § 21A.40.120(E)(1)(a)
a fence, wall or hedge located between the front property line and front building line of the facade of the principal structure that contains the primary entrance shall not exceed four (4) feet in height. (2) A fence, wall, or hedge located at or behind the primary facade of the principal structure shall not exceed 6 feet in height.
Fence Permit Requirements
Salt Lake City requires a building permit before building almost any fence, with a fee tied to construction cost or valuation.
Salt Lake City Fence Permit Rules
Some RestrictionsSalt Lake City Code § 21A.40.120(C)(1)-(2)
A building permit shall be obtained prior to construction of any fence that does not exceed six feet (6') in height and is not made of concrete or masonry or does not require structural review under the Uniform Building Code regulations. The permit is to ensure compliance with adopted regulations. 2. A building permit and fee are required for fences and walls which exceed six feet (6') ...
Retaining Walls
In Salt Lake City's Foothills Protection and FR-1/FR-2/FR-3 districts, retaining walls cap at 4 feet above established grade, and any wall taller than that needs a state-licensed structural engineer's stamp tied to a geotechnical report.
Salt Lake City Retaining Wall Height Cap
Some RestrictionsSalt Lake City Code § 21A.24.010.P.8
No retaining wall may exceed four feet (4') in height above the established grade except as provided in subsections P6a, P6b and P6c of this section. In a terrace of retaining walls, each four foot (4') vertical retaining wall must be separated by a minimum of three (3) horizontal feet, and any six foot (6') retaining wall must be separated from any other retaining wall by a minimum of five (5)...
Material Restrictions
Salt Lake City zoning bans barbed wire, razor wire, and electric security fences on residential property, limiting them to agricultural, commercial, and manufacturing zones.
Salt Lake City Bars Barbed, Razor, Electric Fences
Significant RestrictionsSalt Lake City Code § 21A.40.120
G. Barbed Wire Fences: Permitted Use: Barbed wire fencing is allowed as a permitted use in the following instances: 1. AG, AG-2, AG-5, AG-20, A, CG, M-1, and M-2 districts... J. Electric Security Fences: 1. Permitted Use: Electric security fences are allowed as a permitted use in the M-1 and M-2 zones. Electric security fences on parcels or lots that abut a residential zone are prohibited.
Looking for Salt Lake County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Salt Lake City city rules.
Fence Regulations in Salt Lake County →