Salt Lake City, UT Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Front-yard fence height
- 4 feet max
- Side/rear fence height
- 6 feet max
- Building permit
- Required for nearly all fences
- Placement
- Entirely within property lines
- Overlay districts
- Foothill, Historic add extra rules
Summary
Salt Lake City caps front-yard fences at 4 feet and side/rear fences at 6 feet in residential zones, and requires a building permit for nearly every fence under Zoning Code Section 21A.40.120.
a fence, wall or hedge located between the front property line and front building line of the facade of the principal structure that contains the primary entrance shall not exceed four (4) feet in height. (2) A fence, wall, or hedge located at or behind the primary facade of the principal structure shall not exceed 6 feet in height.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-21: Code current through: Ord. 40-26, passed June 16, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Under City Code Section 21A.40.120, fences and walls must sit entirely inside the property line. In residential districts, a fence, wall, or hedge between the front property line and the front building line is capped at 4 feet; anywhere at or behind the primary facade it can rise to 6 feet. A building permit is required for virtually any fence, and masonry, concrete, or over-height fences need reinforcement and foundation details on the plans. Foothill Protection, Historic Preservation Overlay, and FR-1/FR-2/FR-3 districts layer on additional fencing rules.
Violations & Fines
Unpermitted or over-height fences are zoning violations; the city can seek a court order to enter and abate them, then bill the owner and file a property tax lien for costs (Section 21A.20.090/.100). Uncodified violations default to a class B misdemeanor up to $1,000 (Section 1.12.050).
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can my fence be in a Salt Lake City front yard?
Do I need a permit for a backyard fence?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Salt Lake City
How Salt Lake City compares: Cities That Allow the Tallest Residential Fences·Compare Salt Lake City to another location·View the Utah fence regulations overview
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Height Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Salt Lake County handle height limits.