Utah County requires a grading permit for excavation or fill over 50 cubic yards or any grading on slopes over 30 percent, per the Land Use Ordinance and IBC Appendix J. Drainage cannot be redirected onto adjacent parcels. Wasatch foothill sites face stricter geotechnical review.
Utah County enforces IBC 2021 Appendix J Grading and the Land Use Ordinance grading provisions. A grading permit is required for earthwork over 50 cubic yards, any fill deeper than 2 feet, cuts deeper than 5 feet, or any grading on slopes steeper than 30 percent. Provo City Code §15.04 and Orem City Code §16-3 impose substantially similar thresholds within city limits. Retaining walls over 4 feet tall (measured bottom of footing to top of wall) require a separate building permit with engineered plans sealed by a Utah-licensed PE. Historic drainage patterns must be preserved; owners may not redirect concentrated flow onto neighboring properties, which violates Utah common law and county code. Engineered geotechnical reports are required on hillside lots because of landslide and debris-flow hazards mapped along the Wasatch Front. Compaction testing at 90–95 percent modified Proctor is required for structural fill. Final grade certification must match approved plans before certificate of occupancy.
Unpermitted grading over threshold: stop-work order and fines $250 to $2,500 plus retroactive permit fees. Redirecting drainage onto neighbors: civil liability under Utah common law plus corrective work. Slope failure from improper grading: owner liable for damages and remediation. Missing compaction tests: certificate of occupancy withheld.
Provo, UT
Provo City Code §8.02.100 defines excessive barking as continuous noise for 10 minutes or intermittent barking for 30 minutes or more disturbing any person, ...
Provo, UT
Provo's noise ordinance Chapter 9.06 permits construction noise during daytime hours. Exemptions for special construction projects may be obtained by permit ...
Provo, UT
Provo regulates noise under City Code Chapter 9.06 using decibel limits. The residential daytime maximum is 85 dBA. Quiet hours of 10 PM–7 AM are the general...
Provo, UT
Provo City Code Chapter 14.37 governs off-street parking. For one-family dwellings with ADUs, driveway parking in the front yard is allowed if it leads to re...
Provo, UT
Provo City Code Chapter 9.31 requires all vehicles to have current registration and move at least 400 feet every 72 hours. Parking near fire hydrants (15 ft)...
Provo, UT
Provo City Code Chapter 9.31 governs commercial vehicle parking in residential zones. All vehicles require current registration. Commercial vehicles parked o...
See how Provo's grading & drainage rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.