Before You Build in Sandy, UT: Permit & Rule Checklist (2026)

Utah has no shared fence cost statute. Sandy neighbors typically split costs by agreement. Fence must be on your property or on the exact boundary line with neighbor consent.

Sandy requires a building permit for fences over 6 feet tall and for masonry or retaining walls over 4 feet. Standard residential fences under 6 ft generally do not need a permit.

Swimming pools in Sandy must be enclosed by a barrier at least 48 inches tall with self-closing self-latching gates per the Utah-adopted International Residential Code Appendix G.

Sandy fence height limits: 4 ft in front yards and 6 ft in side and rear yards in residential zones. Taller fences require a permit or variance.

Sandy requires a building permit for any in-ground or above-ground pool over 24 inches deep, with plan review for structure, barriers, and electrical.

Hot tubs and spas with locking safety covers meeting ASTM F1346 are exempt from the 48-inch barrier requirement but still require electrical permits.

Above-ground pools over 24 inches deep require a permit and barrier; pools with 48+ inch walls can serve as their own barrier if ladders are removable or secured.

Sandy pools must meet Virginia Graeme Baker Act anti-entrapment standards, have compliant drain covers, and provide rescue equipment for any pool serving more than a single family.

Pool barriers in Sandy must be at least 48 inches high with self-closing, self-latching gates, per IRC Appendix V and Utah state pool safety law.

Sandy permits both internal and detached ADUs in single-family zones under Utah Code §10-9a-530 (HB 462/SB 174). Internal ADUs are permitted by right with registration; detached ADUs require a conditional use permit. Owner-occupancy cannot be required by state law.

Sandy allows garage-to-living-space conversions with a building permit, full code compliance (egress, insulation, HVAC), and typically a requirement to replace lost off-street parking. Converting to a rentable ADU falls under Sandy's internal ADU ordinance.

Carports in Sandy require a building permit when attached to the home or exceeding 200 sqft. They must meet front-yard setbacks (typically 25-30 ft) and side-yard setbacks (3-5 ft), with maximum height usually 15 feet.

Tiny homes on permanent foundations are permitted in Sandy as primary dwellings or internal ADUs if they meet full Utah IRC code. Tiny homes on wheels (THOWs/RVs) are NOT permitted as permanent dwellings — they are treated as RVs and cannot be occupied long-term on residential property.

Sandy allows backyard sheds up to 200 sqft without a building permit; sheds 200-1,000 sqft require a permit. Setbacks are typically 3 feet from side/rear property lines and sheds must stay behind the front facade of the primary residence.

Open burning in Sandy is prohibited year-round for yard waste and requires a DAQ/Fire Marshal permit for any allowable burn. Utah's mandatory 'no-burn' air action days and the Wasatch Front winter inversion period (Nov 1-Mar 1) prohibit all solid-fuel burning including fire pits.

Recreational fire pits in Sandy are allowed with clean wood or propane only, must be at least 15 feet from any structure, and are prohibited during state air action days and wildfire restriction periods. Fire pit size is limited to 3 feet in diameter under IFC §307.

Sandy requires trees overhanging public sidewalks to maintain 8 feet vertical clearance and 14 feet over streets. Property owners are responsible for trimming trees on their property and in the park strip adjacent to their lot.

Sandy follows Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District's stage-based watering schedule — typically 3 days/week by odd/even address during normal years, reduced to 2 days during Stage 2 drought. No watering between 10 AM and 6 PM year-round; winter watering prohibited Nov-Mar.

Private trees on residential property in Sandy can generally be removed without a permit, but street trees, park-strip trees, and trees in HOA-governed areas require approval. Removal in designated sensitive lands (hillside/foothill overlays) requires a land-disturbance permit.