88 local rules on file · Pop. 1,076 · Salt Lake County
Showing ordinances that apply to Granite, UT
Granite is an unincorporated community with a population of approximately 1,076 in Salt Lake County, Utah. Because Granite is not an incorporated city, it does not have its own municipal government or city code. Instead, Salt Lake County ordinances apply directly to residential and commercial properties here. The rules below are the county-level regulations that govern your area. Nearby incorporated cities in Salt Lake County may have different rules.
Utah Code §41-6a-1406 defines abandoned vehicles as those left unattended for 48+ hours on public highways. Abandoned vehicles on private property in unincorporated Salt Lake County are prohibited. Salt Lake County Code Enforcement handles private property abandoned vehicle complaints.
Salt Lake County regulates on-street parking in unincorporated areas under Title 14 of the County Code and Utah Code Title 41 Chapter 6a. Vehicles cannot remain parked on the same public street for more than 48 consecutive hours. Parking is prohibited within 30 feet of stop signs, 15 feet of fire hydrants, in front of driveways, and on sidewalks or park strips in all cases.
Unincorporated Salt Lake County allows RV and boat storage on residential properties with screening requirements. Vehicles must be operable and registered. Storage in front setback areas in subdivisions is prohibited. Canyon properties may have additional access restrictions.
Salt Lake County restricts commercial vehicle parking in unincorporated residential zones. Vehicles over 9,000 pounds gross vehicle weight or longer than 21 feet cannot be regularly parked overnight on residential streets or in residential driveways except for active service calls. Semi-trucks, dump trucks, and box trucks must be stored at commercial yards or licensed truck parking facilities.
Amplified sound audible beyond 50 feet from source or across a property line violates SLCo Code 9.04. Outdoor events over 100 attendees require a special event permit with sound plan.
Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) noise preempted by FAA 14 CFR Part 150. Airport runs a voluntary nighttime noise abatement program. Complaints go through SLC Airport Noise Office at 801-575-2401.
Unincorporated Salt Lake County observes nighttime quiet hours from 10 PM to 7 AM under Title 6 of the County Code. During these hours, sounds that disturb a reasonable person at the property line are prohibited, including loud music, parties, power tools, and engine revving. Daytime noise must still stay within reasonable limits, and Unified Police Department enforces violations alongside county code enforcement staff.
Modified exhausts, engine revving, loud stereos, and squealing tires are prohibited on streets in unincorporated Salt Lake County. State law requires all vehicles to have functional factory-equivalent mufflers, and music plainly audible 50 feet from a vehicle can draw a citation. Unified Police Department enforces both state traffic code and county noise rules.
Commercial and industrial noise in unincorporated Salt Lake County is limited by Title 6 nuisance standards and Title 19 zoning. Loading docks, HVAC, compressors, and mechanical equipment must not be plainly audible inside nearby homes. Nighttime operations next to residential zones require mitigation. Unified Police and county code enforcement investigate complaints, with escalating penalties.
Barking dogs that continue for extended periods or recur frequently are a public nuisance under Salt Lake County Code. Typical thresholds are 15 minutes of continuous barking or 30 minutes of intermittent barking. Salt Lake County Animal Services in West Jordan investigates complaints, issues warnings, and can cite owners. Utah Code 18-1 makes dog owners strictly liable for damage, reinforcing responsible control.
No countywide leaf blower ordinance in Salt Lake County. Must comply with general noise limits (10 PM to 7 AM quiet hours) and construction-hour window. Salt Lake City has proposed gas blower restrictions.
Construction permitted 7 AM to 8 PM weekdays and 8 AM to 8 PM weekends/holidays in unincorporated Salt Lake County. Outside these hours requires a special permit from the building division.
Salt Lake County requires building permits for accessory structures in unincorporated areas. Title 15 (Building Code) and Title 19 (Zoning) govern shed placement, setbacks, and size. Structures must comply with zone-specific setback requirements and cannot be placed in required front yards.
Garage conversions to habitable space in unincorporated Salt Lake County require building permits and Utah Residential Code compliance. If converted to an ADU, Chapter 19.15 rules apply including lot size minimums and parking requirements. Certificate of occupancy required before habitation.
Salt Lake County adopted an ADU ordinance update (June 4, 2024) making ADUs easier to build in unincorporated residential areas. Internal ADUs require lots of at least 6,000 sq ft; detached ADUs require at least 7,000 sq ft. One ADU per lot permitted. Detached ADUs may be up to 20 feet tall. One parking space required for the ADU. Utah Code §10-9a-530 (HB 462, 2022) mandates ADU allowance.
Properties in unincorporated Salt Lake County within the Wildland-Urban Interface must maintain defensible space under Unified Fire Authority rules and the Utah-adopted IWUIC. Zone 1 (0-30 feet from structures) requires lean-clean-green vegetation management, zone 2 (30-100 feet) requires reduced fuel loading, and roofs, gutters, and decks must be kept clear of combustible debris.
Unincorporated Salt Lake County follows the Utah-adopted International Residential Code, which requires smoke alarms in every sleeping room, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of a dwelling including basements. Alarms in new construction and major remodels must be hardwired with battery backup and interconnected. Carbon monoxide alarms are required outside sleeping areas in homes with fuel-burning appliances or attached garages.
Outdoor burning in unincorporated Salt Lake County is regulated by the Utah Division of Air Quality (DAQ) and the Unified Fire Authority (UFA). Open burning is prohibited on red/yellow air action days. Burn bans are frequently implemented in the Wasatch Front area due to air quality inversion conditions. Stage 1 fire restrictions may ban all open burning during high fire danger periods.
Portable fire pits are allowed in unincorporated Salt Lake County valley residential areas under Unified Fire Authority rules (max 3-foot by 2-foot fuel area, 25-foot clearance). Canyon and WUI foothill properties face heightened restrictions. No burning on air quality action days.
Consumer (Class C, 1.4G) fireworks are legal in unincorporated Salt Lake County only during state-authorized windows: July 2-5, July 22-25 (Pioneer Day), and December 31 through January 1. Discharge is prohibited outside those dates and is banned year round in designated wildfire-restricted areas along the Wasatch and Oquirrh foothills and in canyons under Unified Fire Authority fire marshal order.
Salt Lake County does not actively enforce a grass-height ordinance at the county level - the Salt Lake County Health Department (SLCoHD) explicitly states it cannot investigate noxious weed or overgrown vegetation complaints. In incorporated areas (Salt Lake City, West Valley City, West Jordan, Sandy, Murray, South Salt Lake, etc.), each municipality enforces its own grass and weed height limit. Salt Lake City Code Sec. 9.16.040 caps weeds and grass at 6 inches; South Salt Lake Code Sec. 8.04 applies the same 6-inch standard.
Backyard composting is permitted and encouraged in unincorporated Salt Lake County for residential yard and vegetable kitchen waste. Compost bins must be maintained to avoid odor, vermin, and leachate nuisance. Large-scale composting requires a UDAF registration or a state solid waste permit depending on volume and feedstock.
Salt Lake County itself does not maintain a stand-alone tree-trimming ordinance for private property. In incorporated cities, street-tree pruning requires a permit: Salt Lake City Code Sec. 2.26.190 makes adjoining private property owners responsible for street-tree maintenance and requires a permit from the Department of Public Lands before pruning or removing any public tree. In the Foothills and Canyons Overlay Zone (Title 19 Chapter 19.72), no vegetation may be removed outside the approved limits of disturbance.
Salt Lake County encourages native, drought-tolerant landscape under Title 19 Chapter 19.77 (Water Efficient Landscape Design Standards). For new development and certain redevelopments, turf grass shall not exceed thirty percent (30%) of the area to be landscaped, with a strong preference for water-wise and native plants. Utah Code Sec. 17-50-339 (HB 282, 2022) prohibits HOAs from banning water-wise or native plants in front, side, or rear yards.
Rainwater harvesting in Salt Lake County is allowed but state-regulated under Utah Code Sec. 73-3-1.5. Capture is limited to two underground containers of up to 2,500 gallons each, OR up to two above-ground containers of up to 100 gallons each, and requires free registration with the Utah Division of Water Rights when over 100 gallons. Captured water must be used on the parcel where it is collected.
Salt Lake County does not prohibit artificial turf on private residential lots. Inside Salt Lake City limits, Chapter 21A.48 (Landscaping and Buffers) prohibits artificial turf in any location where landscaping is regulated by the chapter, including required front-yard landscape areas and park strips, after a March 2024 City Council clarification. Suburban Salt Lake County cities have varied rules - confirm with the local planning office.
Salt Lake County administers the state Utah Noxious Weed Act (Utah Code Title 4 Chapter 17) but does not actively investigate residential complaints. The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food maintains the state noxious weed list and the county weed program provides identification and best-management guidance. Salt Lake City Code Sec. 9.16.030-9.16.040 enforces a 6-inch height limit on weeds and grass, with mandatory removal of puncturevine, poison ivy, and bindweed regardless of height.
Salt Lake County does not require a permit to remove most healthy trees from a private lot outside an overlay zone. Inside the Foothills and Canyons Overlay Zone (Chapter 19.72), no trees or vegetation may be removed outside approved limits of disturbance. In Salt Lake City, any removal of a public tree (street tree, park-strip tree, park tree) requires a permit from the Department of Public Lands under Code Sec. 2.26, and the permittee may be required to compensate the city by replacement or monetary assessment.
Salt Lake County is not a water utility and does not set outdoor watering schedules. Restrictions are set by the water provider serving each property - Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities, Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District (JVWCD wholesale), Granger-Hunter Improvement District, Hexagon Water (Murray), and Sandy City Public Utilities. Utah Division of Water Resources' Weekly Lawn Watering Guide is the regional baseline. Watering between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. is widely prohibited or strongly discouraged during the irrigation season (typically May 1 - October 1).
Salt Lake County limits the number of dogs and cats per household to a combined total that typically allows up to three dogs and four cats on standard residential lots. Exceeding the limit requires a kennel license and often a conditional use permit. Licensing and rabies vaccination still apply. Larger agricultural parcels allow more animals. Foster families working with shelters may have elevated allowances.
SLCo Code 8.04 requires dogs leashed (6 ft max) in all public areas. Off-leash only in designated dog parks (Tanner, Herman Franks, Millrace, Parleys). First offense 50 dollars, repeat up to 250.
Utah Code 23-13-17 and SLCo ordinances prohibit feeding deer, elk, moose, and predators. Bear and cougar sightings common in Wasatch foothills. Fine up to 2,500 dollars plus state citation.
Livestock such as horses, goats, sheep, and cattle are allowed in agricultural and agricultural-residential zones of unincorporated Salt Lake County, with acreage minimums per animal. Standard residential zones prohibit most livestock. Manure must be managed, shelters set back from neighbors, and fences maintained. Utah is an open range state but Salt Lake County has herd districts that require owners to contain animals.
Beekeeping is allowed in unincorporated Salt Lake County subject to Utah Bee Inspection Act registration with the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food. Hives should be set back from property lines, have water sources, and use flyway barriers near neighbors. Standard residential lots generally allow two to four hives. HOAs may restrict or prohibit apiaries independently.
Salt Lake County has no breed-specific legislation. Dangerous dog determinations are behavior-based under SLCo Code 8.08 and Utah Code 18-1-3. Some homeowner insurance policies restrict breeds.
SLCo Code 8.04 prohibits wild and exotic animals including big cats, non-human primates, venomous reptiles, and wolves. Utah Code R657-3 regulates controlled wildlife. Violations criminal.
Salt Lake County may allow backyard chickens with limits. Roosters typically banned in residential areas. Livestock requires agricultural zoning.
Utah Cottage Food Program (Utah Code 4-5a-102) allows home-prepared non-potentially-hazardous foods to be sold directly to consumers. Registration with the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) is required; no annual inspection of the home kitchen is needed for qualifying products. Labeling with producer name, address, and a cottage food disclaimer is required.
Home occupations in unincorporated Salt Lake County may receive limited client visits, typically 1 to 3 clients at a time or 6 to 10 per day depending on zone. Clients must not generate parking demand beyond the dwelling driveway. No walk-in retail, group classes, or regular large gatherings are permitted under home occupation rules.
Home occupations in unincorporated Salt Lake County are not permitted to have exterior signage visible from the street or neighboring properties. No business signs, logos, lighting, or displays may identify the home as a place of business. Vehicle lettering on personal vehicles parked at the home is typically allowed within limits.
Utah has no shared fence cost statute — each owner responsible for their own fence. Good neighbor agreements voluntary. Utah is open range by default; herd districts reverse liability for livestock.
Building permits in unincorporated Salt Lake County are generally required for fences taller than six feet, any fence in a flood plain or foothill overlay, and all masonry walls over three feet in height. Standard residential wood, vinyl, and chain link fences under six feet typically do not need a building permit but must still meet zoning standards. Retaining wall permits are required over four feet.
Allowed residential fence materials in unincorporated Salt Lake County include wood, vinyl, wrought iron, composite, and chain link. Barbed wire and razor wire are prohibited in residential zones but allowed on agricultural parcels. Electrified fences are permitted only as low-voltage pet containment inside other fencing. Materials must be maintained in good condition. HOAs often further restrict allowable styles and colors.
Swimming pool barriers in unincorporated Salt Lake County must comply with the International Residential Code as adopted by Utah, including a minimum 48-inch fence around pools 24 inches deep or deeper. Gates must be self-closing and self-latching with latches at least 54 inches high. Above-ground pools with ladders that can be secured meet the requirement. Building permits include barrier inspection.
SLCo zoning requires 30 ft sight triangle at street corners with nothing over 3 ft tall. Driveways need 10 ft clear triangle. Violations can force removal at owner cost.
Unincorporated Salt Lake County allows fences up to six feet in rear and side yards and up to four feet in front yards under Title 19 zoning. Corner lots have clear-view triangle restrictions. Taller fences require a zoning administrator approval or variance. Retaining walls count toward height when combined with fencing. HOAs and CCRs often impose additional style and height rules.
Occupancy of short-term rentals in unincorporated Salt Lake County is limited by International Residential Code bedroom standards and by nuisance rules against over-assembly. A common operational guideline is two occupants per bedroom plus two additional, and events or parties that exceed the normal residential use of the property are not allowed.
Unincorporated Salt Lake County regulates short-term rentals under Chapter 5.19 (Title 5 - Business Licenses) and Title 19 (Zoning), which defines a short-term rental at Sec. 19.04.547. Off-street parking for STRs follows the underlying residential parking standards in Title 19 - Chapter 5.19 does not impose a separate STR-specific off-street parking minimum, but the dwelling must already comply with the parking ratio for its zoning district as part of land-use approval.
Salt Lake County's STR ordinance (Chapter 5.19) does not impose a published minimum liability-insurance amount on hosts in unincorporated areas. Utah state law (including Utah Code Sec. 17-50-338 as amended by HB 291, 2023) does not set a statewide STR insurance minimum either. Standard homeowner policies usually exclude commercial short-term rental activity, so most operators rely on Airbnb's Host Liability Insurance, Vrbo's Liability Insurance, or a stand-alone commercial STR policy.
Short-term rentals in unincorporated Salt Lake County must comply with the county Noise Control ordinance (Chapter 9.48 of Title 9 - Health and Sanitation), which prohibits unreasonably loud or disturbing noise. Chapter 5.19 ties the STR business license to compliance with all applicable county codes, so a guest-generated noise problem can support license action against the operator.
Short-term rental operators must collect Utah state sales tax, the statewide transient room tax, and any applicable local transient room tax. Operators register with the Utah State Tax Commission under Utah Code 59-12-301 and file returns on the assigned schedule. Most hosting platforms collect and remit these taxes on behalf of the operator but the operator remains legally responsible.
Salt Lake County requires STR operators in unincorporated areas to obtain a business license under Chapter 5.19. A safety inspection by the Building and Fire Departments is required before licensure (call 385-468-6700 to schedule). Inspections required every 3 years. ADUs cannot be used as STRs.
Salt Lake City Code §11.44.070 sets a tiered juvenile curfew: minors under 16 may not loiter on sidewalks, streets, alleys, or public places between 11:00 PM and 5:00 AM, and minors under 18 may not do so between 1:00 AM and 5:00 AM. Salt Lake County's unincorporated curfew under Chapter 10.60 follows a similar tiered model — under 16 by 10:00 PM and 16-17 by midnight. Suburbs operate their own ordinances: West Valley City §9-10-103 (under 18, midnight–5 AM), Sandy §6-1-37 (under 18, midnight–5 AM), West Jordan, Murray, and South Jordan all mirror the midnight–5 AM standard. Exceptions exist for minors accompanied by a parent/guardian, traveling to/from work or school, exercising First Amendment rights, or carrying written parental authorization.
Salt Lake City Code §15.08.020 closes all city parks to the public between 11:00 PM and 5:00 AM. Salt Lake County's regional parks (Wheeler Historic Farm, Sugar House Park, Big Cottonwood Regional Park, Liberty Park is city, etc.) are open dawn to dusk — approximately 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM — and posted signs at each park control the exact hours. Being in a park after closing is criminal trespass, and rangers/police regularly clear lots at closing. Camping, open fires, alcohol, and unleashed dogs are prohibited at all hours. Special-event permits are required for gatherings over 50 people. Some county facilities (off-leash dog parks, ball fields with lights) have extended hours posted on entrance signage.
Trash and recycling carts in unincorporated Salt Lake County must be the standard 95, 60, or 35 gallon carts provided by the Wasatch Front Waste and Recycling District. Residents may not use personal cans for automated collection. Carts must be placed at the curb by 7 AM, removed within 24 hours of pickup, and stored out of direct street view on non-collection days.
Curbside recycling in unincorporated Salt Lake County is single-stream, collected every other week by the Wasatch Front Waste and Recycling District. Accepted materials include paper, cardboard, metal cans, and plastic bottles and jugs numbered 1 and 2. Glass is not accepted curbside but can be dropped at Momentum Recycling bins. Plastic bags, tanglers, and food waste contaminate loads and are prohibited.
Illegal dumping in unincorporated Salt Lake County is prosecuted under Utah Code Sections 76-6-106.3 and 76-10-807 and County ordinance. Dumping on public or private land without permission can result in fines up to 10000 dollars, cleanup costs, and in aggravated cases a third-degree felony. The County offers free tip lines and reward programs for information leading to convictions.
Unincorporated Salt Lake County residents get two on-call bulky waste pickups per calendar year through the Wasatch Front Waste and Recycling District, plus an Area Cleanup delivered dumpster program each spring and fall. Bulky items must be scheduled in advance, placed at the curb by 7 AM, and limited to household items. Hazardous waste, tires, and construction debris are excluded.
Most unincorporated Salt Lake County residents receive waste and recycling service through the Wasatch Front Waste and Recycling District. Trash is typically collected weekly on a fixed day by neighborhood, with curbside recycling collected every other week. Carts must be placed at the curb by 7 AM on collection day and removed within 24 hours of pickup. Schedules shift by one day after major holidays.
Unincorporated Salt Lake County prohibits weeds and uncultivated vegetation over 12 inches tall on developed residential lots under County ordinance and the Utah Noxious Weed Act at Utah Code Section 4-17-101. Property owners are responsible for controlling weeds along the property line to the curb. Violations receive written notice with 10 days to abate before County contractor cleanup and lien.
Unincorporated Salt Lake County prohibits storing inoperable or unregistered motor vehicles in public view on residential property. Vehicles must be currently registered, operable, and licensed or stored fully inside an enclosed garage or behind a 6 foot sight-obscuring fence. Violations receive written notice with 15 days to cure before tow and impound at owner expense.
Salt Lake County enforces stormwater regulations under its UPDES MS4 permit administered by the Utah Division of Water Quality. Title 17 of the County Code prohibits illicit discharges to storm drains and requires erosion control plans for construction over one acre or smaller sites draining to sensitive waters. Violations carry fines up to $5,000 per day.
Salt Lake County protects trees in public rights-of-way and foothill overlay zones. Title 19 Chapter 19.72 foothills and canyons overlay requires preservation of mature native vegetation during development. Street tree removal requires a permit. Noxious weed control under Utah Code 4-17 is mandatory, and the County Weed Board enforces eradication of listed noxious species on private property.
Salt Lake County participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and enforces FEMA floodplain management standards under Title 16 of the County Code. Construction in Special Flood Hazard Areas along the Jordan River, Mill Creek, and Cottonwood Creek requires a floodplain development permit, elevation of finished floor at least one foot above Base Flood Elevation, and flood-resistant materials below that level.
Salt Lake County requires building permits for most construction in unincorporated areas, enforced by the County Building Services and Permits Division under Title 15 of the County Code. The County has adopted the 2021 International Building Code, International Residential Code, and International Fire Code with Utah state amendments. Permits are required for new structures, additions, most remodels, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and accessory structures over 200 square feet.
Salt Lake County Building Services conducts inspections at defined construction milestones for permitted work in unincorporated areas. Inspections must be scheduled at least one business day in advance through the County online portal or by phone. Passing each required inspection is mandatory before proceeding to the next phase of construction, and final inspection and Certificate of Occupancy are required before building use.
Construction, alterations, additions, and most accessory structures in unincorporated Salt Lake County require a building permit. Work must follow the International Residential Code, International Building Code, and other ICC codes as adopted by the State of Utah, and must pass required inspections before use or occupancy.
Salt Lake County Public Works manages streetlights in unincorporated areas, many of which are operated under contract with Rocky Mountain Power. Residents can request new or repaired streetlights through the County service request system. The County has been converting streetlights to 3000K LED fixtures to reduce light pollution and energy use consistent with dark-sky principles.
Salt Lake County has lighting standards under Title 19 zoning, with enhanced dark-sky provisions in the Foothills and Canyons Overlay Zone. Exterior lighting must be shielded and directed downward, with full-cutoff fixtures required in commercial and canyon areas. The proximity to Antelope Island State Park and International Dark Sky designations has increased awareness of light pollution along the Wasatch Front.
HOA architectural review committees (ARCs) in Salt Lake County HOAs operate under Utah Code §57-8a-218 (limits on rules and design criteria), §57-8a-217 (rulemaking procedure), and §57-8a-109 (cap on plan-review fees). Boards may adopt design criteria but cannot charge plan-review fees exceeding the actual cost of review, cannot retroactively divest an owner of approval rights vested under prior governing documents, and cannot deny plans solely because they include fire-resistant materials (important along the Wasatch Front WUI).
HOAs in Salt Lake County (Salt Lake City, West Valley City, West Jordan, Sandy, Murray) are governed by the Utah Community Association Act (Utah Code Title 57, Chapter 8a). Section 57-8a-226 requires board meetings to be open to lot owners, with written email notice at least 48 hours before each meeting to owners who request it, and a reasonable opportunity for owner comment. Boards may close meetings only to consult counsel, discuss litigation, contracts, personnel, individual privacy, or delinquent assessments/fines.
Utah Code §57-8a-208(4) gives any lot owner 30 days to request an informal hearing before the board after notice of a fine. Section 57-8a-208(5) lets the owner appeal an adverse hearing decision to district court within 180 days. Since 2025, the new Office of the Homeowners' Association Ombudsman (Utah Code Title 13, Chapter 79) provides free advisory opinions on state HOA law to owners and boards anywhere in Salt Lake County, including Salt Lake City, West Valley City, West Jordan, Sandy, and Murray.
Under Utah Code §57-8a-301, a Salt Lake County HOA automatically holds a lien on a lot for unpaid assessments, late fees, interest, court costs, reasonable attorney fees, and certain fines. The recorded declaration itself perfects the lien. Interest accrues at the statutory rate of 10% per year (Utah Code §15-1-1(2)) unless the declaration sets a different rate. The HOA may foreclose nonjudicially (after at least 30 days' written notice of intent and the owner's right to demand judicial foreclosure) under §57-8a-302/-303, or sue for a money judgment under §57-8a-307.
A Salt Lake County HOA may enforce its CC&Rs by fines, suspension of common-area privileges, or lawsuit, but must follow strict procedure. Utah Code §57-8a-208 caps initial fines and requires a written warning at least 14 days (or 48-hour cure for continuing violations) before any fine is imposed. Utah Code §57-8a-213 gives the board discretion to decline enforcement when the position is weak, the rule is inconsistent with law, or the violation is immaterial — but it forbids arbitrary or capricious enforcement.
Salt Lake County and every city within it (Salt Lake City, West Valley City, West Jordan, Sandy, Murray, Taylorsville, South Jordan, Draper, Riverton, Cottonwood Heights, Holladay, Millcreek, Herriman, Bluffdale, Midvale, South Salt Lake) are barred from enacting rent control. Utah Code Title 57, Chapter 20 (Local Rent Control Prohibition) expressly preempts any county, city, or town ordinance that would cap rents or fees on private residential property. Landlords may raise rent freely on month-to-month tenancies with 15 days' written notice under Utah Code §57-17-7. Fixed-term leases can only be changed when they renew. There is no statewide rent cap and no local one.
Salt Lake County itself does not run a county-wide rental registry, but every major city in the county requires a rental dwelling business license under authority of Utah Code §10-1-203.5 and §10-8-85.5. Salt Lake City Code Chapter 5.14 ($342/unit, discounted to $35/unit with Landlord/Tenant Initiative enrollment), West Valley City Code §17-2-802, West Jordan City Code 4-2R-2 (Good Landlord Program), Sandy, Murray, South Salt Lake (Title 5 §5.15), and Cottonwood Heights all require a license per rental unit. Most cities offer a 'Good Landlord' discount of 80–95% for landlords who complete an approved training class and adopt a standardized lease addendum with criminal-conduct provisions.
Utah is an at-will, no-just-cause eviction state, and Salt Lake County is preempted from imposing just-cause requirements on private residential landlords. A landlord in Salt Lake City, West Valley City, Sandy, Murray, or unincorporated Salt Lake County can terminate a month-to-month tenancy without giving any reason by serving 15 days' written notice under Utah Code §57-17-7. Fixed-term leases simply expire without renewal. Statutory eviction grounds in Utah Code §78B-6-802 (Forcible Entry and Detainer Act) — nonpayment, lease violation, nuisance, criminal activity, holdover — require only 3 calendar days' notice to quit before the landlord can file an unlawful detainer action.
Recreational drone flying in Salt Lake County is governed primarily by FAA Part 107 / 49 USC §44809 (TRUST test, sub-400 ft AGL, visual line of sight, no flight in controlled airspace without LAANC authorization) and Utah state law. Critical Salt Lake County constraint: nearly the entire Salt Lake Valley sits within the Class B airspace of Salt Lake City International Airport (KSLC) — recreational pilots MUST obtain LAANC authorization before flying anywhere from downtown SLC east to Holladay and south to Sandy. Utah preempts local drone ordinances under Utah Code §72-14-103, but property owners and park managers may still restrict drones on their land. Drone flights are PROHIBITED in Antelope Island State Park (March–November), restricted in Great Salt Lake State Park (permit only), and require written permission from the park manager for all Utah State Parks per R651-602-8.
Commercial drone work in Salt Lake County (real estate photography, construction progress mapping, inspections, surveying, ski-resort marketing) requires the FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate plus FAA registration of every aircraft over 0.55 lb. Because the Salt Lake Valley is blanketed by KSLC Class B airspace (and Hill AFB Class D restrictions to the north), nearly every commercial mission requires LAANC authorization or a Part 107 Waiver. Utah preempts city/county commercial drone ordinances under Utah Code §72-14-103, but operators are subject to Utah's drone trespass (§76-6-206), voyeurism (§76-9-702.7), wildfire (§65A-3-2.5), and correctional-facility (§76-10-2402) statutes. Drones used in critical infrastructure inspections, public safety, or first-responder support may apply for FAA Part 107.39 waivers (flight over people) and Part 107 BVLOS waivers.
Salt Lake County Code Chapter 5.17 requires anyone engaged in door-to-door residential solicitation in unincorporated Salt Lake County to register with the County Licensing Official and obtain a photo identification badge before knocking on any residence. The badge must be worn visibly at all times while soliciting. Cities like Sandy, Murray, West Jordan, West Valley City, and Salt Lake City have parallel ordinances under their own business-license titles (Salt Lake City Code §5.64 covers solicitation permits). Registration applications typically require government ID, fingerprints or a background check, a list of all solicitors on a single permit, and disclosure of the goods or services being sold.
Salt Lake County Code §5.17.140 gives any resident the right to post a 'No Solicitation' sign at the main entrance door or on the property line near the walkway, and requires every solicitor to check each residence for such a notice before knocking or ringing the bell. Ignoring a posted sign is itself a violation. Most cities in the county (Salt Lake City, Sandy, Murray, West Jordan, West Valley City) mirror this rule. Solicitation hours are also restricted — door-to-door sales are generally prohibited after sunset or 9:00 PM and before 9:00 AM. Aggressive tactics, refusal to leave when asked, or returning to a posted house are separately punishable.
All new construction in Salt Lake County must comply with the 2021 International Residential Code (IRC) and 2021 International Building Code (IBC) anchor bolt and continuous load-path requirements as adopted under Utah Code §15A-2-103. The Greater Salt Lake Municipal Services District (GSL MSD), which serves unincorporated Salt Lake County, assigns Seismic Design Category D2 for residential and D for commercial — the second-highest seismic risk category — based on proximity to the Wasatch Fault. Wood-frame braced wall lines require 1/2-inch minimum anchor bolts at maximum 6 feet on center with 3-inch square plate washers, located within 12 inches of each end of every plate section. For EXISTING URM and pre-1975 wood-frame houses, retrofit is voluntary — primarily delivered through Salt Lake City's Fix the Bricks grant program, which funds roof-to-wall connections (not foundation anchoring of wood-frame houses) for income-qualifying URM homeowners.
Unlike California, neither Salt Lake County nor any Salt Lake County city (Salt Lake City, West Valley City, West Jordan, Sandy, Murray, South Jordan, Cottonwood Heights, Draper, Taylorsville, Riverton, Holladay, Herriman, Midvale, Magna) has adopted a mandatory soft-story seismic retrofit ordinance for existing multi-family wood-frame buildings. New construction is instead regulated by the 2021 International Building Code (IBC) and 2021 International Residential Code (IRC) as adopted statewide under Utah Code §15A-2-103, with Seismic Design Category D2 (residential) and D (commercial) along the Wasatch Front. Existing soft-story buildings (apartments over tuck-under parking or open storefronts) are addressed only voluntarily — primarily through education, FEMA grants, and the Salt Lake City 'Fix the Bricks' program (which focuses on URM houses, not soft-story apartments).
Utah building codes have prohibited construction of NEW unreinforced masonry (URM) buildings since the 1970s, but an estimated 140,000+ existing URM structures remain along the Wasatch Front — many in Salt Lake City's historic neighborhoods (Avenues, Sugar House, Liberty Wells, Marmalade) and older portions of Murray, Midvale, and Magna. Neither Salt Lake County nor any of its cities has adopted a MANDATORY URM retrofit ordinance like California cities have for SROs or apartment buildings. The primary regulatory tool is Salt Lake City's voluntary 'Fix the Bricks' grant program, which provides up to 75% FEMA cost-share for life-safety retrofits (roof-to-wall anchors and chimney bracing) on owner-occupied URM houses built before 1975. Risk was confirmed by the March 18, 2020 Magna M5.7 earthquake which damaged multiple URM structures including the Salt Lake Temple's Angel Moroni statue. Geologic-hazard land-use regulation is provided by Salt Lake County Code Chapter 19.75 (Geologic Hazards Ordinance for Natural Hazard Areas).