Utah County, UT Environmental Rules: Defensible Space (2026)
Key Facts
- Section
- UCC 6.11.060, Defensible Space
- Grass limit (0-30 ft)
- 5 inches maximum
- Grass limit (30-50 ft)
- 18 inches maximum
- Tree pruning
- 6 ft above ground within 50 ft
- Review step
- Written notice + site plan to Fire Marshal
- Disposal rule
- Open burning of cleared brush prohibited
Summary
In unincorporated Utah County's Wildland/Urban Interface zone, Utah County Code § 6.11.060 sets exact defensible-space clearances: grass kept under 5 inches within 30 feet of a structure, trees pruned and spaced, and all dead vegetation removed within 50 feet, with the Fire Marshal reviewing a site plan before construction begins.
Minimum Requirements: Unless otherwise specified by the Fire Marshal, minimum vegetation clearance will be as follows: Grass and Groundcovers: Dry or non-fire resistive grass and groundcovers shall be cleared and maintained to a maximum of five (5) inches in height within thirty (30) feet of the structure and a maximum of eighteen (18) inches in height from thirty (30) to fifty (50) feet from the structure. Areas beyond fifty (50) feet from the structure shall be determined by the fire marshal. Trees within fifty (50) feet of a structure shall be pruned to a height of six (6) feet above the ground, trees less than twenty (20) feet in height shall have the lower one-fourth (1/4) pruned. All trees within fifty (50) feet of a structure shall be kept free of dead or dying materials. Dead Vegetative Material: All dead vegetative material shall be removed and maintained clear within fifty (50) feet of any structure.
Full Breakdown
' The section then sets numeric clearance zones. Grass and groundcovers must be 'cleared and maintained to a maximum of five (5) inches in height within thirty (30) feet of the structure and a maximum of eighteen (18) inches in height from thirty (30) to fifty (50) feet from the structure'; beyond 50 feet the Fire Marshal sets the standard case by case. Trees within 50 feet of a structure must keep canopies at least 10 feet apart, may not extend within 10 feet of eaves, decks, balconies or chimney openings, and must be 'pruned to a height of six (6) feet above the ground,' with trees under 20 feet tall having their lower quarter pruned.
060 separately sets a 3-foot clearance around fire hydrants and a vegetation standard around propane and fuel tanks (a distinct provision covered on its own page). 090. Because defensible space is verified at the site-plan stage, a property that lets clearance lapse after occupancy can be cited on a routine Fire Marshal inspection, not just at initial construction.
Violations & Fines
Failing to maintain the § 6.11.060 clearances is a Fire Code violation. UCC § 6.06.070 classifies violating any provision of the fire chapter as a class B misdemeanor, carrying up to a $1,000 fine and six months in jail under § 1.04.010, with each day the hazard continues counted as a separate offense; open-burning cleared brush is a separate violation of § 6.11.060's disposal rule.
Frequently Asked Questions
How short does my grass have to be near my house?
Can I burn the brush I clear?
When does the Fire Marshal review my vegetation clearance?
How close can tree branches be to my roof?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Utah County
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