Salt Lake County Fence Regulations: Permit Requirements Rules (2026)

Salt Lake County Title 15 (Building) and Title 19 (Zoning) govern fence permitting in unincorporated areas. Most standard residential fences up to six feet high made of wood, vinyl, chain link, or composite do not require a building permit, though they must meet zoning setbacks, height limits, and sight distance rules. Building permits are required when a fence exceeds six feet, when a masonry or block wall exceeds three feet in height (per International Residential Code adopted by Utah), when a fence sits within a FEMA regulated floodway or floodplain, when it is within a sensitive foothill or canyon overlay such as Emigration Canyon, or when it integrates with a retaining wall over four feet. Electric gates and fences connected to the utility grid require an electrical permit. Permit applications generally require a site plan showing property lines, the proposed fence alignment, distances to structures and to the public right of way, height elevations, and a materials description. Property line surveys may be requested where disputes exist. Fees are modest for simple fences and higher for engineered walls. Inspection is required before backfilling footings on permitted walls. HOAs often have their own architectural review process that runs parallel to the county permit, and both approvals are commonly needed before construction. Work done without a permit may be required to be removed or retrofit.