Salt Lake City, UT Fence Regulations: Material Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Barbed wire in residential zones
- Not a permitted use
- Razor wire allowed zones
- M-1, M-2, EI only
- Electric fence near residential
- Prohibited if abutting
- Barbed wire max strands
- 3, min 7 ft high
- Electric fence perimeter wall
- 6 ft min, nonelectrical
Summary
Salt Lake City zoning bans barbed wire, razor wire, and electric security fences on residential property, limiting them to agricultural, commercial, and manufacturing zones.
G. Barbed Wire Fences: Permitted Use: Barbed wire fencing is allowed as a permitted use in the following instances: 1. AG, AG-2, AG-5, AG-20, A, CG, M-1, and M-2 districts... J. Electric Security Fences: 1. Permitted Use: Electric security fences are allowed as a permitted use in the M-1 and M-2 zones. Electric security fences on parcels or lots that abut a residential zone are prohibited.
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
City Code § 21A.40.120 permits barbed wire only in AG, AG-2, AG-5, AG-20, A, CG, M-1, and M-2 districts (plus construction sites and critical infrastructure), never in a front yard, and never along a property line shared with a residential use in a CG district. Razor wire is confined to M-1, M-2, and EI districts. Electric security fences are allowed only in M-1 and M-2 zones and are flatly prohibited on any parcel abutting a residential zone, and must sit inside a nonelectrical perimeter fence at least six feet tall.
Violations & Fines
Zoning enforcement issues a notice of violation for a nonconforming fence; the property owner must remove or bring the barbed wire, razor wire, or electric fencing into compliance, with fines for continued noncompliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put barbed wire on my house fence in Salt Lake City?
Are electric fences legal near a Salt Lake City home?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Salt Lake City
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Material Restrictions in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Salt Lake County handle material restrictions.