Salt Lake County, UT Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)

Salt Lake County Code Title 19 (Zoning) regulates fence heights in unincorporated residential areas. The standard allowances are six feet in side and rear yards and four feet in front yards, measured from finished grade. On corner lots and near driveways, a clear-view triangle limits fence height to typically three feet within a 25 to 30 foot sight distance from the curb corner to preserve visibility for drivers and pedestrians. Taller fences, up to eight feet, may be approved by the zoning administrator if the property backs onto arterial roads, commercial uses, or unusual topography, and a variance is available for other cases through the Board of Adjustment. Where fences sit atop retaining walls, the combined height of the wall plus fence is considered for zoning purposes in many cases, especially where a wall exceeds two to three feet. Barbed wire and razor wire are prohibited on residential fences but allowed on agricultural parcels and some industrial uses. Electric fences for pets must use low-voltage containment systems and cannot be the primary perimeter in residential zones. Permits are generally required for fences over six feet or for fences in flood plains. HOAs along the Wasatch Front commonly require specific materials such as vinyl, wrought iron, or cedar and restrict chain link to rear yards or prohibit it entirely.