Pop. 199,723 · Salt Lake County
Hot tubs/spas in Salt Lake City require an electrical permit and must have a locking, safety cover (ASTM F1346) OR a 60-inch barrier per Utah IRC Appendix G, §AG105.2.
Building permit required for all in-ground pools and spas in Salt Lake City; IRC Appendix G standards apply.
Pools must meet Virginia Graeme Baker drain cover, bonding, and barrier requirements; no city lifeguard rule for private pools.
Home occupations permitted with registration under SLC Code 21A.36.030; strict limits on employees, signage, and customer traffic.
Utah Home Consumption and Homemade Food Act allows direct-sale cottage foods without inspection (Utah Code 4-5-9.5).
Home daycare allowed as home occupation; state licensing required for more than 4 unrelated children.
Home occupation signage in Salt Lake City is highly restricted under Zoning Code §21A.36.030. Only ONE non-illuminated, flat-mounted sign up to 2 square feet is permitted on the dwelling.
Home occupations allowed in residential zones per SLC 21A.36.030 with clear limits on scale and impact.
Home occupation customer visits must not disrupt neighborhood character or create parking/traffic issues.
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.
Vehicles left on public or private property for 72+ hours without being moved may be tagged and towed as abandoned.
EV charging is encouraged; SLC requires EV-ready wiring in new multifamily and commercial developments.
Overnight on-street parking is generally allowed in SLC except in RPP zones, snow routes during storms, and posted areas.
Street parking is generally limited to 72 hours in the same location under SLC Code 12.56.160; signed zones may be shorter.
RVs, trailers, and boats may not be parked on city streets more than 48 hours and face restrictions on front yards.
Commercial vehicles over 9,000 lbs GVWR may not be parked overnight in residential zones under SLC 12.56.
Salt Lake City requires paved driveways under §21A.44.050. Curb cuts require a Public Way permit; maximum width 24 ft for single-family; surface must be concrete, asphalt, or approved pavers.
Artificial turf allowed in rear/side yards; restricted in front yards and park strips per SLC zoning (21A.48).
Salt Lake City actively encourages native and water-wise plantings through the Flip Your Strip program and Chapter 21A.48 landscaping standards. Utah Code §10-9a-530 prohibits cities from banning xeriscape.
Rainwater harvesting is legal in Salt Lake City under Utah Code §73-3-1.5, but users must register with the Utah Division of Water Rights. Limited to 2,500 gallons with registration; 200 gallons without.
Salt Lake City Code Chapter 9.20 requires property owners to remove noxious weeds and vegetation over 12 inches. Violations carry $150 first-offense fines and city abatement costs are billed back.
Public street trees managed by Urban Forestry; private pruning of park-strip trees requires a permit (SLC Code 2.26).
Watering restricted by season; no watering 10 AM-6 PM May-October per Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities.
Removing public/park-strip trees requires Urban Forestry permit and replacement; private tree removal generally unregulated (SLC 2.26).
Salt Lake City enforces a 12-inch maximum grass/weed height under Municipal Code §9.20. Violations start at $150. Exemptions exist for approved water-wise and natural landscapes.
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.
Defensible space required around structures in wildland-urban interface per SLC Fire Code and IWUIC adoption.
Backyard recreational fires allowed in approved pits or devices with 25-foot setback and attendance requirement.
Wildland-urban interface mapped for east bench and canyon neighborhoods with enhanced construction and vegetation standards.
Smoke alarms required in every sleeping room, outside each sleeping area, and on every level per Utah IRC and SLC Building Code.
Salt Lake City enforces International Fire Code chapter 61 propane storage limits via SLC Title 18, capping residential cylinder storage and requiring permits for large tanks, with the Salt Lake City Fire Department conducting inspections.
Open burning generally prohibited; Utah DAQ burn windows apply only to agricultural parcels (SLC Code 18.60, UAC R307-202).
Recreational fires allowed with restrictions per Salt Lake City Fire Code (SLC Code Title 18.60 adopting IFC 307).
Fireworks banned in wildland-urban interface and foothills; legal aerial/ground fireworks allowed only on July 2-5 and July 22-25 (SLC Code 18.60).
Intentional feeding of deer, raccoons, coyotes, and other wildlife prohibited in Salt Lake City per SLC 8.04. Bird feeding allowed but must not attract rodents or big game.
Salt Lake City Animal Services responds to suspected hoarding under Title 6 cruelty and welfare provisions, working with mental health partners when residents accumulate animals beyond their ability to provide adequate food, sanitation, and veterinary care.
Salt Lake City requires every cat over four months to be licensed and rabies vaccinated under Title 6, and prohibits owners from allowing cats to trespass on neighboring property or run at large in public areas.
Salt Lake City does not blanket-mandate spay or neuter, but Title 6 sharply discounts licenses for altered pets and requires sterilization for animals adopted from the city shelter or impounded multiple times for running at large.
Salt Lake City does not universally mandate microchipping, but Animal Services microchips every animal adopted, redeemed, or licensed at the shelter and requires chips before release for repeat at-large impound cases.
Salt Lake City defers most coyote management to Utah Division of Wildlife Resources under state code Title 23A, but Animal Services responds to aggressive incidents and the city actively promotes hazing techniques to keep urban coyotes wary.
Salt Lake City prohibits pet stores from selling commercially bred dogs, cats, and rabbits, restricting retail to animals sourced from shelters or 501c3 rescues, mirroring a model used by Sandy and other Utah cities.
Salt Lake City zoning Title 21A allows veterinary offices and small-animal clinics by right in most commercial and mixed-use districts, with conditional-use review when overnight boarding, kennels, or large-animal practices are involved.
Salt Lake City defers to the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act and Utah wildlife code to protect native birds, prohibiting take or nest disturbance, while local Title 6 covers bird-keeping nuisance and sanitation.
Salt Lake City does not issue wildlife rehabilitation permits; residents who find injured wildlife must contact a Utah Division of Wildlife Resources licensed rehabilitator, since possession of native wildlife without a state permit is unlawful under Utah Code 23A.
Salt Lake City limits households to 2 dogs and 4 cats (6 total) per dwelling unit under SLC 8.04.280. Kennel license required beyond these limits.
Dogs must be leashed (max 6 ft) in all public areas in Salt Lake City per SLC 8.04.390. Off-leash only in designated dog parks like Memory Grove, Parley's, and Tanner.
Salt Lake City has NO breed-specific legislation. Dangerous dog designation is behavior-based under SLC 8.04.340 and Utah Code 18-1-3.
Salt Lake City prohibits keeping wild, dangerous, or exotic animals including big cats, bears, primates, venomous reptiles, and constrictors over 8 ft under SLC 8.04.230.
Beekeeping allowed on residential lots in Salt Lake City under SLC 8.08. Up to 2 hives on lots under 10,000 sq ft; registration with Utah Dept of Ag required.
Salt Lake City may allow backyard chickens with limits. Roosters typically banned in residential areas. Livestock requires agricultural zoning.
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.
Aircraft noise preempted by FAA under 49 USC 40103. Salt Lake City International Airport operates a voluntary noise abatement program and Part 150 study.
Leaf blowers permitted 7 AM-8 PM weekdays and 8 AM-8 PM weekends. Salt Lake City has adopted voluntary transition away from gas-powered blowers to reduce air pollution.
Amplified sound audible beyond 50 feet from the source between 10 PM and 7 AM violates SLC 9.28. Special event permits required for public amplification.
Modified exhaust, tire squealing, and loud stereos violate SLC 9.28 and Utah Code 41-6a-1626. Stereo audible 50+ feet is cited.
Commercial properties limited to 65 dBA daytime and 55 dBA at night at residential property lines per SLC 9.28. HVAC and loading dock noise regulated.
Salt Lake City quiet hours are 10 PM to 7 AM weekdays and 10 PM to 9 AM weekends per SLC Code 9.28. Residential noise limit is 55 dBA at night.
Habitual barking for 15+ minutes continuously or 30+ minutes intermittently is a nuisance under SLC Code 8.04. Enforced by Salt Lake County Animal Services.
Construction noise allowed 7 AM to 8 PM weekdays and 8 AM to 8 PM weekends/holidays per SLC Code 9.28.060. After-hours work requires a noise variance.
Tiny homes on foundations treated as dwellings; tiny homes on wheels treated as RVs and not allowed as permanent residences.
Carports allowed as accessory structures with standard setbacks; front-yard carports require special review.
Garage conversions require building permit; replacement parking must be provided if required by zone.
ADUs in Salt Lake City pay the city's residential impact fees (parks, fire, police, transportation, water, sewer, stormwater) assessed under SLC Code Chapter 18.98, with exemption pathways available for affordable units under 18.98.060.
One ADU (internal, attached, or detached) is allowed by right on any lot containing a single-family dwelling under Salt Lake City Code 21A.40.200, in alignment with Utah HB 82 (2021). Building permits are required for all three configurations.
SLC Code 21A.40.200 expressly prohibits renting an ADU as a short-term rental. ADUs are restricted to long-term rentals of 30 consecutive days or longer; under Utah Code 10-9a-530 internal ADUs must be offered for rentals of 30 days or more.
Per Utah Code 10-9a-530 (HB 82, 2021), Salt Lake City requires the property owner to occupy either the primary dwelling or the internal ADU as their principal residence. The owner-occupancy requirement can be enforced via affidavit.
Sheds under 200 sq ft and 12 ft tall exempt from building permit but must meet setbacks (SLC 21A.40).
ADUs (internal, attached, and detached) allowed citywide in single-family zones per SLC 21A.40.200 (2018, expanded 2021).
Salt Lake City requires $1,000,000 liability insurance per SLC Code Chapter 5.90 for all short-term rentals. Proof of coverage is submitted with conditional use permit and business license applications.
STR occupancy limited by building code (2 per bedroom + 2) and home occupation rules restricting customer traffic.
STR operators must register for a business license, home occupation permit, and transient room tax account.
Salt Lake City Title 21A treats short-term rentals as accessory uses tied to a primary residence in most zones, meaning the host must occupy the home as their primary residence even when renting rooms to guests.
Short-term rentals in Salt Lake City must operate from the host's primary residence, with the dwelling serving as the host's domicile for a majority of the calendar year before any STR activity is permitted.
Salt Lake City distinguishes short-term rentals from longer home-share arrangements at thirty days, with stays beyond that threshold treated as standard residential leases under Utah's URLTA rather than transient lodging.
Salt Lake City escalates penalties on hosts who accumulate repeated short-term rental code violations within a rolling period, moving from warning letters to license suspension and zoning-court referrals on later strikes.
Utah Code 10-9a-401 sharply limits how Salt Lake City can hold listing platforms like Airbnb and VRBO accountable, restricting cities to registration-style obligations rather than direct platform fines for unlicensed hosts.
No specific annual night cap for permitted STRs, but primary residence requirement limits rental activity.
STR operators in Salt Lake City must follow all residential noise rules in Chapter 9.28 — 10 PM–7 AM quiet hours, 55 dB residential limit. STR noise complaints can trigger conditional use permit revocation.
STRs must provide off-street parking per underlying dwelling requirements; on-street guest parking subject to neighborhood permit zones.
Short-term rentals under 30 days are only allowed in the operator's primary residence; a conditional use permit and business license are required.
STRs must collect Utah sales tax, Salt Lake County transient room tax, and city business license fees.
Most materials allowed (wood, vinyl, masonry, wrought iron, chain-link). Barbed wire and electric fences prohibited in residential zones per SLC 21A.40.120.
Utah has no shared-fence cost statute. SLC does not require neighbor consent for a compliant fence on your own property.
Corner lots must maintain a 30-ft sight-distance triangle free of obstructions over 3 ft tall per SLC 21A.62.050.
All swimming pools must be enclosed by a 48-in minimum barrier with self-closing, self-latching gates per IRC Appendix G adopted by Utah.
Salt Lake City allows 4 ft fences in front yards and 6 ft in side/rear yards per SLC 21A.40.120. Up to 8 ft permitted with design review in some zones.
Fences up to 6 ft do not require a building permit in Salt Lake City but must meet zoning height/setback rules. Over 6 ft requires a permit.
Property owners must keep premises free of rodents and vermin under Salt Lake City Code Chapter 18.60 (Property Maintenance).
Pre-1978 homes in Salt Lake City are subject to federal lead-based paint disclosure under 42 USC §4852d. EPA RRP certification required for renovations disturbing >6 sq ft interior/20 sq ft exterior.
Salt Lake City requires NFPA 13 or 13R automatic sprinkler systems in nearly all new multifamily, townhouse, and commercial construction under the International Building Code adopted through Utah Code 15A, with SLC Building Services performing plan review and inspection.
Salt Lake City requires childcare centers to obtain a Utah Department of Health & Human Services license, comply with IBC Group E or I-4 occupancy standards, and secure a city business license and zoning approval before serving children.
Salt Lake City enforces IBC chapter 10 egress hardware standards through Title 18, requiring exit doors to operate with a single motion without keys or special knowledge so occupants can escape in emergencies.
Salt Lake City Title 21A applies form-based zoning controls including height, setback, lot coverage, and bulk-plane standards that limit mansionization of small lots, especially within historic districts and traditional neighborhoods.
Salt Lake City requires LEED Gold or equivalent green building certification on city-owned new construction and major renovations, while encouraging private projects to follow IECC energy code and the Climate Positive 2040 plan.
Scaffolding over public right-of-way requires a permit from Salt Lake City Engineering and must meet IBC and OSHA standards.
Elevators in SLC are regulated by Utah Labor Commission; annual inspection and state certificate required.
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.
HOA assessments in Salt Lake City are governed by Utah Code §57-8a (Community Association Act). Boards must provide annual budget, reserve study every 6 years, and follow CC&R voting thresholds for special assessments.
Utah Condominium Act (Title 57-8) and Community Association Act (57-8a) govern HOA board procedures statewide.
CC&Rs enforced by HOA under Utah 57-8a; fines must follow due process and be authorized by governing documents.
Utah requires HOAs to offer internal dispute resolution; state Ombudsman and courts are final avenues.
HOA architectural review is governed by CC&Rs under Utah state law; changes typically require written approval before work begins.
Licensed solicitors must immediately leave any property displaying a No Soliciting sign; violations are misdemeanors under Chapter 5.64.
Door-to-door solicitors must obtain a Salt Lake City business license and a Direct Sales registration under Chapter 5.64, carry ID, and respect No Soliciting signs.
Carts must be placed in the park strip or at the curb with handles toward the house, at least 3 feet apart, and removed from public view within 24 hours of collection.
Salt Lake City offers two on-call bulk waste pickups per year per household through the Call 2 Haul program; appointments must be scheduled in advance.
Curbside recycling is mandatory for single-family and small multi-family properties; contamination with non-recyclables can result in cart tagging and rejection.
Salt Lake City Waste and Recycling Division collects trash, recycling, and compost weekly on a zone-based schedule; bins must be curbside by 7 a.m. on collection day.
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.
Commercial drone operators must hold an FAA Part 107 certificate, secure LAANC authorization in SLC airspace, and obtain a city business license for drone services.
Recreational drone use in Salt Lake City is governed by FAA rules and Utah state law; flying over city parks or near the airport is restricted.
Salt Lake City does not have a just-cause eviction ordinance; Utah state law governs terminations, which generally allow no-cause nonrenewal with proper notice.
Utah state law (UCA 10-8-85.5) prohibits municipal rent control; Salt Lake City cannot cap rent increases.
Utah Code 57-17 governs residential security deposits in Salt Lake City, requiring landlords to return deposits within thirty days of move-out with an itemized statement of any deductions for cleaning, damage, or unpaid rent.
Utah law permits landlords in Salt Lake City to end a month-to-month tenancy without specifying a reason, requiring only a fifteen-day written notice and following Utah Code 78B-6 procedures rather than any local just-cause framework.
Salt Lake City tenants rely on Utah URLTA and federal fair-housing law for protection against landlord harassment, with the city limited by Utah Code 57-20 from passing a standalone tenant anti-harassment ordinance like those in California cities.
Unlike many large cities, Salt Lake City does not prohibit landlords from refusing to accept Section 8 vouchers because Utah's Antidiscrimination Act does not list source of income, and Utah Code 57-20 limits local expansion of the protected classes.
The Housing Authority of Salt Lake City and the Housing Authority of the County administer the federal Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program, helping low-income renters cover roughly thirty percent of income toward rent on participating units.
Salt Lake City does not require landlords to pay relocation assistance when ending a tenancy because Utah Code 57-20 partially preempts city rent regulation, leaving displacement support to voluntary programs and limited state demolition rules.
Salt Lake City does not regulate how landlords pass through utilities, taxes, or capital costs to tenants because Utah Code 57-20 leaves rent and fee structures to the lease itself, with disclosure required only for nonrefundable deposits.
Salt Lake City requires all rental housing operators to obtain a business license and participate in the Good Landlord Program or pay a disproportionate rental fee under Chapter 5.14.
Setbacks vary by zone; typical SLC residential requires 20-foot front, 4-foot side, 25-foot rear (SLC 21A.24).
Building lot coverage in SLC R-1 zones is typically capped at 40%; accessory structures count toward the limit.
Residential building height is generally capped at 28 feet pitched / 20 feet flat in R-1 zones under SLC 21A.24.
SLC requires stormwater management plans for development and prohibits illicit discharge under Chapter 17.81.
Erosion and sediment control BMPs are required on all construction sites under SLC 17.81 and the Utah CGP.
Grading over 50 cubic yards or 2 feet of cut/fill requires a permit under SLC Building Code and Foothill overlay.
Salt Lake City adopted Climate Positive 2040 declaring net-zero municipal emissions by 2030 and community-wide carbon neutrality by 2040, plus 100% renewable electricity by 2030 under the city's Climate Action 1.5 Plan.
Salt Lake City Code Title 12 limits non-essential vehicle idling to two minutes citywide, with stricter enforcement during winter inversions when the Utah Air Quality Board declares mandatory action days under R307 air quality rules.
Salt Lake City's sustainable procurement policy requires departments to prefer recycled-content, energy-efficient, and locally-sourced goods, supporting Climate Positive 2040 goals through purchasing decisions across municipal operations.
Salt Lake City has begun phasing out gas-powered leaf blowers on city property and is studying a residential phase-out modeled on California's law, prioritizing electric replacements to reduce PM2.5 and noise during winter inversion season.
SLC participates in the NFIP; flood zones along the Jordan River, City Creek, and Emigration Creek are mapped by FEMA.
Owners of vacant lots must keep weeds under 6 inches, remove debris, and secure any structures to prevent blight and fire hazards.
Salt Lake City Code 14.20.070 requires property owners and occupants to clear snow and ice from abutting sidewalks within 24 hours after a storm ends.
Salt Lake City does not require a permit for occasional residential garage sales but limits frequency, hours, and sign placement to prevent nuisance.
Chapter 18.64 of the Salt Lake City Code declares weeds, junk, abandoned vehicles, and deteriorated structures public nuisances subject to abatement and civil penalties.
Trash, recycling, and compost carts must be stored out of view from the public street between collection days, typically behind a fence or beside the home.
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.
Salt Lake City parks are closed from 11 p.m. to sunrise under Chapter 15.08; entering a closed park is a Class B misdemeanor.
Salt Lake City Code Chapter 11.60 prohibits minors under 18 from being in public places from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. on weekdays and midnight to 5 a.m. on weekends.
Garage sale signs are allowed on the sale property but prohibited in the public right-of-way, on utility poles, and on traffic signs.
Temporary holiday decorations and displays on residential property are generally allowed without a permit as long as they do not create traffic hazards or excessive light spillover.
Temporary political signs are allowed on private property without a permit, subject to size limits and removal requirements after the election.
Home cultivation of cannabis is illegal in Salt Lake City and throughout Utah; only state-licensed facilities may grow cannabis for medical purposes.
Salt Lake City Title 21A zoning restricts medical cannabis pharmacies to specific zones with a 600-foot buffer from schools. Recreational cannabis remains illegal in Utah; only medical pharmacies licensed by the state may operate.
Utah allows limited medical cannabis home delivery only through state-licensed courier services tied to specific medical cannabis pharmacies. Recreational delivery is illegal. Patients must hold a valid Utah Medical Cannabis Card to receive deliveries.
Salt Lake City Title 21A confines medical cannabis pharmacies to commercial and manufacturing zones. Cultivation and processing facilities are similarly limited. No social-use lounges, retail recreational cannabis, or commercial home cultivation are permitted anywhere in Utah.
Medical cannabis pharmacies are licensed by the state and subject to Salt Lake City zoning requiring minimum distances from schools, parks, and residential uses.
Salt Lake City Code Title 14 prohibits obstructing sidewalks and public ways, giving police authority to ask people sitting or lying on downtown walkways to move along, with enforcement directed first to outreach and shelter referral.
Salt Lake City coordinates encampment cleanups with Utah's Department of Health and Human Services and outreach providers, posting written notice before clearing camps and storing personal property the city collects for at least thirty days.
Salt Lake City's bridge-housing approach relies on three Homeless Resource Centers operated by The Road Home and Volunteers of America under the regional Continuum of Care, providing short-term beds, case management, and a path into permanent housing.
Utah requires food handlers in restaurants and food service to obtain a state food handler permit within thirty days of hire. Permits are issued through approved online courses and last three years statewide.
Salt Lake County Health Department inspects Salt Lake City restaurants two to four times yearly. Utah uses a violation-point system rather than letter grades, with inspection results published online for public review by patrons.
Salt Lake City Code Title 8 health and safety requires property owners to keep premises free of rodent harborage. Salt Lake County Health Department investigates complaints, particularly along Jordan River corridors and older Avenues neighborhoods.
Utah Fit Premises Act and Salt Lake City Title 5 require landlords to maintain habitable units, including treating bed bug infestations. Tenants must cooperate with treatment and avoid moving infested furniture between units.
Utah authorized syringe exchange programs through House Bill 308 in 2016. Salt Lake County Health Department operates exchange sites. Improperly discarded sharps in trash or parks can be reported to county environmental health for cleanup.
Salt Lake City partners with Salt Lake County Health Department on healthy food access, supporting farmers markets, mobile produce, and double-up SNAP programs. No menu calorie posting mandate exists locally beyond federal Affordable Care Act chain restaurant rules.
Salt Lake City Public Utilities limits outdoor lawn watering to specific days and prohibits watering between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. April through October, in response to ongoing Wasatch Range drought and the Great Salt Lake desiccation crisis.
Salt Lake City Public Utilities offers Flip Your Strip and Localscapes rebates paying residents per square foot to remove park-strip lawn and replace it with low-water landscaping, supporting Great Salt Lake recovery efforts.
Salt Lake City Public Utilities allows customers to request a one-time leak adjustment on water bills when a hidden leak is repaired, with proof of repair required and limits on frequency to encourage prompt detection.
Salt Lake City has limited recycled-water infrastructure compared to other Western cities, relying primarily on Wasatch Range mountain runoff, though the Public Utilities department is studying expanded reuse options to support Great Salt Lake inflows.
Utah Code §10-9a-528 enacted in 2019 prohibits Utah cities and counties from banning, taxing, or regulating single-use plastic bags. Salt Lake City cannot adopt a plastic bag ban or fee; only voluntary retailer programs operate.
Utah Code §10-9a-528 preempts Salt Lake City from banning polystyrene foam takeout containers. Restaurants may voluntarily switch to alternative materials, but no local mandate exists. Many SLC restaurants choose compostable or recyclable packaging.
Utah Code §10-9a-528 preempts Salt Lake City from regulating single-use plastic straws. Restaurants may choose to offer straws on request only, switch to paper alternatives, or eliminate them voluntarily, but no city ordinance can compel them.
Utah requires tobacco and electronic cigarette retailers to hold a state retail tobacco specialty license under Utah Code §59-14. Salt Lake City applies zoning buffers to specialty tobacco shops near schools, parks, and churches.
Utah Code §76-10-104 prohibits sale, gift, or furnishing of tobacco and electronic cigarette products to anyone under age 21. Utah set the age at 21 in 2020, aligning with federal Tobacco 21 enacted December 2019.
Utah restricts flavored electronic cigarette product sales to retail tobacco specialty businesses only. General retailers like grocery and convenience stores cannot sell flavored e-cigarettes other than tobacco and menthol flavors under Utah Code §59-14-803.
Salt Lake City regulates land use through Title 21A Zoning combined with neighborhood master plans like Downtown, Sugar House, and 9-Line, which set policy guidance reviewed during rezones and major site plan applications under Utah Code 10-9a.
Salt Lake City's Transit Station Area (TSA) zoning districts in Title 21A allow higher density and mixed use within a quarter-mile of UTA TRAX light-rail and FrontRunner stations, with reduced parking minimums to encourage transit-oriented development.
Salt Lake City's H Hillside Protection Overlay restricts grading, building height, and impervious coverage on slopes over 30% along the Wasatch foothills, protecting wildfire interface zones, scenic viewsheds, and watershed inflows to City Creek.
Salt Lake City's Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan governs the city's growing protected bike-lane network including 300 South, 200 West, and the 9-Line Trail, with rules under Title 12 prohibiting parking, idling, or obstruction in dedicated bike facilities.
Salt Lake City permits a limited number of shared electric-scooter operators downtown under franchise agreements requiring geofenced no-park zones, rebalancing, low-income access, and 15-mph speed caps in pedestrian zones like Main Street.
Salt Lake City Code Title 15.16 Urban Forestry requires a permit from the Urban Forestry Division before removing, pruning, or planting any tree in the public right-of-way, park strip, or city park, with replacement and bonding requirements.
Salt Lake City's Urban Forest Action Plan directs Urban Forestry resources to neighborhoods with the lowest canopy cover, prioritizing west-side communities historically underserved by tree planting and most exposed to heat island and air-quality impacts.
Salt Lake City requires a state-issued tobacco retail permit plus local business license to sell cigarettes, vape, and nicotine products, with strict zoning buffers from schools, parks, and churches under SLC Code Title 5.
Salt Lake City regulates massage establishments under SLC Code Title 5 with mandatory state therapist licensure (UT 58-47b), background checks, and zoning approval to operate in commercial districts.
Salt Lake City restricts sexually oriented businesses under SLC Code Title 5.61 with strict 1,000-foot buffers from schools, churches, parks, and residences, plus state licensing under UT 10-8-41.5 and employee permits.
Tattoo and body modification studios in Salt Lake City need a Title 5 business license plus Salt Lake County Health Department body art permit under UT 26B-7-119, with mandatory bloodborne pathogen training and sterilization standards.
Pawnshops, secondhand dealers, and metal recyclers in Salt Lake City must register under Utah Pawnshop Act (UT 13-32a) and report all transactions daily to SLCPD via the Regional Automated Pawn Information Database for theft tracking.
Salt Lake City prohibits open containers of alcohol on public streets, sidewalks, parks, and parking lots under SLC Code Title 11.16 and UT 32B-4-414, with limited exceptions for licensed sidewalk cafes and special event zones.
Salt Lake City bans smoking, vaping, and cannabis use within 25 feet of building entrances, in parks, and on TRAX platforms under Utah Indoor Clean Air Act (UT 26B-7-501) and SLC park rules.
Salt Lake City bans aggressive panhandling under SLC Code 11.20 including soliciting near ATMs, after dark, in transit zones, or with threatening conduct, while preserving passive sign-holding as constitutionally protected speech.
Salt Lake City restricts loitering for prohibited purposes under SLC Code 11.36 and bans camping on public property under SLC 11.12.105, with shelter-bed availability requirements following Martin v. Boise federal precedent.
Salt Lake City hotel guests pay roughly 13 percent combined tax including Salt Lake County 4.25% transient room tax, Utah 4.85% sales tax, plus tourism, transit, and convention assessments funding the 2034 Olympics bid and Salt Palace.
Utah preempts local minimum wage laws under UT 34-30, so Salt Lake City hotel workers earn the federal $7.25 hourly floor with no city living wage ordinance, contrasting sharply with Los Angeles and Long Beach hotel-specific mandates.
Utah Code 34-30 explicitly preempts any city or county from setting minimum wage above state level, locking Salt Lake City workers at the federal $7.25 hourly floor with no path for local increases.
Utah Code 34-49 expressly preempts any city or county from requiring private employers to provide paid sick leave, vacation, or family leave, blocking Salt Lake City from following Denver or Seattle models.
Utah preempts local predictive scheduling and fair workweek ordinances by reserving employment scheduling regulation to the state Legislature.
Utah Code 63G-12 requires private employers with 15 or more workers to use the federal E-Verify system or equivalent for new hires, with Salt Lake City employers subject to state law without local exemption.
Salt Lake City operates as a Welcoming City through SLC Multi-Cultural Affairs without formal sanctuary designation, balancing immigrant outreach with Utah's anti-sanctuary stance and ICE detainer cooperation requirements under UT law.
Wood- and charcoal-fueled smokers fall under IFC 308.1.4 (open-flame cooking devices): not permitted on combustible balconies or within 10 ft of combustible construction except in sprinklered buildings or at one- and two-family dwellings. Air-quality burn restrictions may apply during winter inversions.
Outdoor kitchens in Salt Lake City are treated as accessory structures under SLC Code 21A.40 with associated trade permits (building, electrical, plumbing, gas, mechanical) administered by Building Services. Setback and yard-coverage limits apply.
Salt Lake City adopts the International Fire Code (IFC) Section 308.1.4: charcoal grills, smokers, and open-flame cooking devices cannot be operated on combustible balconies or within 10 feet of combustible construction. Exceptions apply to one- and two-family dwellings, sprinklered buildings, and small LP-gas units (≤2½ lb container).
Salt Lake City does not impose a specific calendar limit on residential holiday lights. Holiday decorations are not regulated as 'signs' under Chapter 21A.46. Standard ordinances on light trespass (9.04.110) and noise (Chapter 9.28) apply.
Salt Lake City does not regulate lawn ornaments (statuary, fountains, decorative figurines) as a distinct use. SLC Code Chapter 21A.48 expressly defines landscaping to include 'ornamental objects such as fountains, statuary, and other similar natural and artificial objects.' Setback and sight-triangle rules apply.
Commercial inflatable signs (e.g., advertising balloons) are prohibited as 'balloon signs' under SLC Code Chapter 21A.46. Residential seasonal inflatables (snowmen, reindeer, Halloween figures) are not regulated as signs and are generally allowed subject to zoning setbacks and nuisance rules.
Utah recognizes both a concealed firearm permit under Title 53 Chapter 5 and permitless concealed carry for qualifying adults statewide, preempting local restrictions.
Utah Code 53-5a-102 broadly preempts local firearm regulation, reserving authority to the Legislature with limited exceptions for state property and government buildings.
Utah generally allows open carry of firearms by adults who may lawfully possess them, with local regulation preempted by Utah Code 53-5a-102.
Utah Code 76-10-505 and related sections govern carrying firearms in vehicles, allowing loaded carry by qualifying adults under permitless carry while preempting local rules.
Utah law supports agricultural zoning, greenbelt taxation, and Right to Farm protections that limit local restrictions on customary agricultural land uses.
Utah Code 78B-6-1101 protects established agricultural operations from nuisance lawsuits when surrounding land uses change toward residential development.