Utah County, UT Fence Regulations: Fence Permit Requirements (2026)

Utah County Land Use Ordinance (UCLUO) § 2.08 defines "Fences" and sets the trigger for county review: any fence, wall, or similar structure standing taller than six feet above natural grade must obtain either a Utah County building permit or a Utah County Zoning Compliance permit before it goes up. The same section bars builders from repurposing scrap for fencing, specifically naming tires, automobile bodies or parts, hay bales, wooden pallets, and metal storage containers as prohibited fence materials, with the list illustrative rather than exhaustive, meaning the Zoning Administrator can reject other improvised materials too.

Height and placement are separately governed by UCLUO § 4.76, Fences And Walls. A sight-obscuring fence, gate, wall, hedge, or berm is capped at three feet between a public street and the required building setback line, and at eight feet farther back from the street. Corner lots get an exception: the fence along the non-fronting street may run eight feet high to within thirty feet of the front property line. A fence that is not sight-obscuring may reach eight feet anywhere outside the setback zone; inside it, ordinary structure setback and height rules apply. Any gated access entry needs separate design approval from both the Utah County Engineer and the Utah County Fire Marshal, covering minimum gate width, clearance height where the gate has overhead cross-members, and setback so a waiting vehicle clears the county or state road. Fences next to county roads must also sit back at least half the required right-of-way width, measured from the road centerline.