Salt Lake County, UT Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Encroachment Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Applies to
- Unincorporated county road right-of-way
- Permitting office
- County Engineering Division
- Unpermitted excavation fee
- 2x normal permit fee
- Emergency exception
- Notify division next business day
Summary
Placing a driveway, pole, pipeline, sign or other structure in a county road right-of-way in unincorporated Salt Lake County requires county engineering division approval first.
No right-of-way of any county road shall be dug up or excavated and no approach, road, driveway, pole, pipeline, conduit, sewer, ditch, culvert, billboard, advertising sign, or other structure or object of any kind or character shall be placed, constructed or maintained within any such right-of-way except as permitted by and in accordance with the regulations of the county engineering division.B.Any person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor. (Ord. 1473 (part), 2001: Ord. 792 § 1 (part), 1981: prior code § 10-3-15)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 49).
Full Breakdown
County code bars digging up a right-of-way or installing an approach road, driveway, pole, pipeline, conduit, sewer, ditch, culvert, billboard or advertising sign within a county road right-of-way except under the engineering division's regulations. A related excavation permit (§14.16.020) is required before tunneling or excavating in a county street, alley or public place, with an exception for true emergencies where the department must be notified the next working day and a formal permit secured after the fact.
Violations & Fines
Placing a structure or excavating in the right-of-way without engineering division approval is a misdemeanor under §14.16.010(B); unpermitted excavation work also draws a penalty fee of double the normal permit fee under §14.16.035.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to run a pipeline or driveway across a county right-of-way in Salt Lake County?
What happens if I excavate in a county road without a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Salt Lake County
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