South Jordan, UT Landscaping Rules: Native Plants (2026)
Key Facts
- Lawn cap
- 250 sq ft or 35% of yard
- Living plant cover
- 50% required at maturity
- Mulch depth
- 3-4 inches in planting beds
- Applies to
- front and side yards citywide
Summary
South Jordan caps new lawn at 250 square feet or 35% of the landscaped area and requires Localscapes-style planting beds with regionally adapted plants instead of turf in most yards.
At maturity, landscapes are required to have enough plant material (perennials and shrubs) to create at least fifty percent (50%) living plant cover at maturity at the ground plane, not including tree canopies. Lawn shall not be installed in park strips, paths, or on slopes greater than twenty-five percent (25%) or 4:1 grade. Lawn area shall not be less than eight feet (8') wide at its narrowest point. To the extent reasonably practicable, lawn shall be free from obstructions (trees, signs, posts, valve boxes, etc.). In residential landscapes, the landscaping shall adhere to the following localscapes requirements and shall be properly labeled on the landscape plan submitted to the City for review: If size permits, the landscaped areas of the front yard and back yard shall include a designed central open shape created by using lawn, hardscape, groundcover, gravel, or mulch. Gathering areas shall be constructed of hardscape and placed outside of the central open shape. In a landscape without lawn, gathering areas may function as the central open shape. Activity zones shall be located outside of the central open shape and shall be surfaced with materials other than lawn. Paths shall be made with materials that do not include lawn, such as hardscape, mulch, or other groundcover. Lawn areas shall not exceed the greater of two hundred fifty (250) square feet, or thirty-five percent (35%) of the total landscaped area.
Full Breakdown
South Jordan City Code section 16.30.040 requires new and rehabilitated landscaping in front and side yards -- for public projects, developer-installed multi-family and single-family projects, and homeowner improvements -- to follow the city's Localscapes standard: a central open shape, gathering areas, activity zones, and planting beds using regionally appropriate plants instead of turf. Lawn is capped at the greater of 250 square feet or 35% of the total landscaped area, and landscapes must reach 50% living plant cover at maturity. Rear yards are encouraged, not required, to comply.
Violations & Fines
The code sets no specific fine schedule for this chapter; noncompliant landscape plans are rejected at review, and the City Engineer may grant exceptions only for public utility infrastructure areas showing good cause.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does South Jordan require native plants in landscaping?
Do rear yards have to meet the Localscapes standard?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in South Jordan
Compare South Jordan to another location·View the Utah landscaping rules overview
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Native Plants in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Salt Lake County handle native plants.