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Utah County, UT Environmental Rules: Coastal Development (2026)

Some Restrictions

Verified 1 month ago|Source: Utah FFSL Sovereign Lands →

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Key Facts

Utah Lake OHWM: 4,489.045 ft elevation
Sovereign Lands: Utah Code §65A-10
Wetland Fill: USACE §404 permit
Riparian Buffer: 25–100 ft typical
Floodplain: FEMA NFIP permit

These county ordinances apply to of Utah County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

Summary

Utah County has no ocean coastline but regulates development near Utah Lake, the Provo and Spanish Fork Rivers, and Jordanelle Reservoir tributaries. Shoreline buffers, floodplain restrictions, and US Army Corps §404 wetland permits apply near Utah Lake, a sovereign lake managed by the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire & State Lands.

Full Breakdown

Utah Lake is classified as a sovereign navigable water under Utah Code §65A-10, with the bed owned by the state below the ordinary high-water mark of roughly 4,489.045 feet elevation. Development below that elevation requires a sovereign lands lease from the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire & State Lands (FFSL). The county's Land Use Ordinance imposes riparian and shoreline setbacks typically ranging from 25 to 100 feet from the ordinary high-water mark of rivers, streams, and Utah Lake. Wetlands, which are extensive along Utah Lake's western and southern shores, require a §404 permit from the US Army Corps of Engineers under the Clean Water Act before any fill or dredging. FEMA-mapped floodplains around Utah Lake, the Provo River, American Fork Creek, and Hobble Creek trigger floodplain development permits under Utah County Code and FEMA NFIP rules. Shoreland areas in the Geneva and Vineyard vicinity have extra environmental review given historic industrial contamination.

Violations & Fines

Unpermitted work on Utah Lake bed or below OHWM: FFSL enforcement and restoration orders. Wetland fill without §404 permit: federal fines up to $25,000 per day of violation. Building in floodplain without permit: stop-work, loss of NFIP flood insurance eligibility, fines $500 to $5,000.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I build a dock on Utah Lake from my shoreline property?

Only with a sovereign lands use authorization from Utah FFSL and, depending on design, a USACE §404/§10 permit. Private upland ownership stops at the 4,489.045-ft OHWM; the lakebed belongs to the state.

Is my Vineyard or Provo riverfront lot buildable?

Often yes, but expect a riparian setback (commonly 50 feet from the top of bank), a FEMA floodplain development permit if mapped, and Corps review if wetlands are present. Pre-application meetings with Utah County Community Development are strongly encouraged.

Utah County, UT Environmental Rules: Coastal Development (2026)

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