Landscaping Rules in Salt Lake City, UT (2026)
6 verified landscaping rules for Salt Lake City, Utah, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Trimming
Salt Lake City requires trees and landscaping to keep 7 feet of clearance above sidewalks and 10 feet above streets, with street tree pruning controlled by Urban Forestry.
Salt Lake City Tree Clearance Over Walks
Some RestrictionsSalt Lake City Code § 21A.48.040
All landscaping shall: 1. Maintain a clearance from grade level to 7 feet above the sidewalk, or 10 feet above a street; ... D. Street Trees. 1. Salt Lake City's expectation is to preserve street trees. Planting, cutting, removing, pruning, and any other maintenance of street trees is subject to approval by the Salt Lake City Urban Forestry Division as described in Section 2.26.210 of this code.
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
New development in Salt Lake City must preserve city forester-designated specimen trees or pay into the tree fund and replant at a 2-caliper-inch-per-dbh-inch ratio before removing one.
Salt Lake City Specimen Tree Removal Permit
Significant RestrictionsSalt Lake City Code § 21A.48.090
Specimen trees, required to be preserved, shall not be cut, removed, pushed over, killed, or otherwise damaged. 3. Paving, Fill, Excavation, or Soil Compaction Prohibited: The tree protection zone of any protected specimen tree shall not be subjected to paving, filling, excavation, or soil compaction. 4. Mitigation: Where the city determines it is not practicable to preserve a s...
Weed Ordinances
Salt Lake City caps weeds and grass at 6 inches on any real property, with noxious species like puncturevine and poison ivy removed regardless of height.
Salt Lake City Weed Height Limit
Some RestrictionsSalt Lake City Code § 9.16.040
Weeds shall be maintained at a height of not more than six inches (6") (15.2 cm) at all times, and the cuttings shall be promptly cleared and removed from the premises. Low-growing puncturevine, poison ivy, and bindweed must be removed regardless of height. B. Weeds which are eradicated by chemicals must be done so before their height exceeds six inches (6") (15.2 cm), or they must be cut ...
Water Restrictions
Salt Lake City's mayor can proclaim mandatory water-use restrictions during drought or supply shortages, activating a graduated water shortage contingency plan enforced by the public utilities department with civil fines for violations.
Salt Lake City Water Shortage Restrictions
Some RestrictionsSalt Lake City Code § 17.16.092
During times of water shortage caused by drought, facilities failure or any other condition or event, M&I water usage within the city's water service area shall be managed, regulated, prioritized and restricted in such a manner as to prevent the wasteful or unreasonable use of water, and to preserve at all times an adequate supply of M&I water for essential uses.
Native Plants
Salt Lake City requires nearly all required shrubs, perennials, and groundcover to be drought-tolerant, adapted, or native species, and bans turf grass in park strips citywide.
Salt Lake City Native/Drought-Tolerant Plant Mandate
Some RestrictionsSalt Lake City Code § 21A.48.080.B
Drought Tolerant or Native Species: 100% of required shrubs, perennial plants, and groundcover used on a site shall be drought tolerant, adapted or native species. The city has compiled a list titled "Salt Lake City Plant List and Hydrozone Schedule"... Turf is not permitted: In the park strip... In areas with a slope greater than 25%...
Artificial Turf
Salt Lake City's zoning code bans artificial turf in any area where landscaping is required, including park strips, parking lot buffers, and other regulated landscape zones under Title 21A.
Artificial Turf Ban in Salt Lake City Landscaping
Heavy RestrictionsSalt Lake City Code § 21A.48.080.B.4
4. Artificial turf is prohibited in any location where landscaping is regulated by this chapter.
Looking for Salt Lake County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Salt Lake City city rules.
Landscaping Rules in Salt Lake County →