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Spanish Fork caps fences at 6 feet in all zoning districts (pillars up to 6.5 ft). Front yard setback limits solid fences to 3 feet, with open fences (chain link, wrought iron) allowed up to 4 feet.
Building permits are required for fences in Spanish Fork. Applications are submitted through the Community Development Department.
Fences must be built on or inside the property owner's lot. Neighbor notification is recommended but not required. Disputes over boundary fences may involve the Utah fence line law.
Spanish Fork regulates short-term rentals (STRs) through Spanish Fork City Code Chapter 19.89. STRs are strictly prohibited in single-family residential zones (R-1, RR, and F). They are only allowed by conditional use permit in specific zones - R-2-8, RM, Mixed Use, Neighborhood Commercial, and Residential Office - and in private developments such as Planned Unit Developments and condominium projects with a minimum of 8 units fronting on private streets. Spanish Fork has not codified a numeric guest cap; the dwelling's underlying International Building Code occupancy and the conditional use permit conditions control.
Spanish Fork's published Chapter 19.89 short-term rental framework and the Planning Commission's Short-Term Rental Ordinance Proposed Text Amendment memo do not codify a liability-insurance minimum or a certificate-of-insurance filing as part of the STR conditional use permit / business license process. Utah Code Section 10-8-85.4 leaves any STR insurance mandate to local choice, and Spanish Fork has not exercised that option. Insurance is otherwise driven by the conditional use permit conditions imposed under Sec. 15.3.08.060 and by carrier requirements outside the city code.
Spanish Fork allows short-term rentals subject to business licensing and safety requirements. Utah HB 217 prohibits outright STR bans in residential zones, so STRs are permitted with compliance measures.
STR operators in Spanish Fork must collect and remit Utah's transient room tax (4.7%) and applicable local and county tourism taxes.
STR guests must use off-street parking when available. On-street parking in residential areas follows standard city rules and must not create a nuisance for neighbors.
Short-term rental guests must comply with Spanish Fork's noise ordinance. Hosts are responsible for ensuring guests do not create disturbances.
Spanish Fork regulates carports as accessory structures under Spanish Fork City Code Sec. 15.3.24.090(A). All accessory structures require a building permit, must sit behind the front wall plane of the principal structure, and may not exceed 20 feet to the peak of the roof (24 feet on lots over a half-acre with matching setbacks). Detached structures over 200 square feet must maintain a minimum 5-foot setback to side and rear property lines. Combined detached accessory structure square footage cannot exceed 15% of the lot when entirely within the principal structure's setbacks, or 10% if located elsewhere on the lot.
Sheds and detached accessory structures in Spanish Fork require building permits. Structures under 200 square feet may qualify for a simplified permit process. Setback requirements from property lines apply.
Garage conversions to living space require a building permit in Spanish Fork. Converting a garage to an ADU or habitable space must meet all residential construction standards including insulation, egress, and parking replacement.
Spanish Fork permits ADUs in residential zones (except A-E, R-4, R-5, R-O) with a minimum 6,000 sq ft lot. Owner-occupancy is required. Annual registration ($60) is mandatory. ADUs are not permitted as STRs.
Utah Code §10-9a-530 and §17-27a-526 authorize internal ADUs statewide. Tiny homes on foundations are dwellings; tiny homes on wheels (THOW) are typically classified as RVs and cannot be permanent residences in Provo or Orem.
Spanish Fork follows International Building Code pool safety standards. Building permits are required for new pool construction. Electrical, plumbing, and safety inspections are mandatory.
Swimming pools in Spanish Fork must be completely surrounded by a fence or wall at least 6 feet high. Pool fences must have openings no larger than 36 square inches (except gates), with self-closing and self-latching gates.
Above-ground pools in Spanish Fork are subject to the same fencing requirements as in-ground pools. Pools over a certain size require building permits.
Utah County requires electrical permits for 240V hot tub installations. A locking safety cover meeting ASTM F1346 typically satisfies barrier rules under IRC Appendix G, adopted via Utah Code §15A-3-202.
Utah County requires building permits for all in-ground pools and above-ground pools over 24 inches deep. Provo, Orem, and county inspections cover electrical, plumbing, and barriers. IBC 2021 adopted by Utah.
Spanish Fork's noise ordinance (Title 9) prohibits disturbing noises at any hour, with stricter enforcement during nighttime hours. Sound level measurements are not required if testimony establishes a disturbance.
Persistent barking that creates a disturbance for neighbors is a violation of Spanish Fork's noise ordinance and animal control code. All dogs must be kept under control and licensed.
Construction noise is acknowledged as necessary but must not reach a level that becomes harmful or disturbing. Standard Utah construction hours (7 AM–9 PM weekdays, 8 AM–5 PM Saturdays) are the practical guideline.
Utah County regulates amplified music under general noise ordinances. Provo City Code §9.06 and Orem City Code §9-3 govern sound. Special event permits required for amplified outdoor events. Utah Code §76-9-102 applies.
Utah County has no leaf blower-specific ban. General noise ordinance limits apply during quiet hours. Gas-powered blowers widely used across Provo, Orem, and Wasatch Front neighborhoods year-round.
Aircraft noise in Utah is regulated almost entirely by the Federal Aviation Administration under federal law. Utah Code Title 72 Chapter 10 (Aeronautics Act) recognizes federal supremacy, and municipalities cannot impose flight-path or in-air noise limits.
Property owners in Spanish Fork are responsible for maintaining trees on their property. Trees overhanging public rights-of-way or creating safety hazards may be subject to city action.
Spanish Fork enforces weed abatement. Utah Noxious Weed Act (Utah Code §4-17-101) applies statewide. County weed boards enforce.
Spanish Fork does not require permits for removing trees on private residential property. Trees in the public right-of-way (parkway strip) require city approval before removal.
Spanish Fork operates a metered pressurized irrigation (PI) system and enforces water waste prohibitions under SFMC §13.28.020. The city uses a tiered rate structure to discourage over-irrigation.
Spanish Fork enforces nuisance vegetation standards requiring property owners to keep grass and weeds trimmed. Excessively tall grass or weeds may constitute a public nuisance subject to abatement.
Utah County cities permit artificial turf as a water-efficient alternative. Provo and Orem require proper drainage and limit turf in front yards to a percentage of landscaped area; HOAs cannot ban it outright under UT §57-8a-231.
Rainwater harvesting in Utah County regulated by Utah Code §73-3-1.5. Residents may collect up to 2,500 gallons underground with free state registration via Division of Water Rights. Critical due to Wasatch Front drought.
Utah Code §57-8a-231 protects homeowners' right to install water-wise landscaping. Utah County encourages Localscapes and Slow the Flow native plant designs given persistent Wasatch Front drought.
Recreational fire pits are allowed in Spanish Fork under International Fire Code standards. Below-ground pits must be at least 4 inches deep, surrounded by non-combustible material, no more than 3 feet in diameter, and the fire pile no taller than 2 feet.
Spanish Fork allows consumer fireworks during two holiday windows (July 2–5 and July 22–25) with restricted hours and geographic prohibitions near the mountains and south of the Spanish Fork River.
Open burning in Spanish Fork requires a burn permit during the permit season (March 1–May 30 and September 15–October 30). Burn day status must be confirmed via the Utah County Burn Line before each burn.
Utah County requires defensible space in WUI areas along the Wasatch foothills. Provo, Orem, and unincorporated hillside communities enforce 30-foot non-combustible zones. Utah Code §65A-8 wildland fire provisions apply.
Utah County enforces wildfire-hazard-area defensible space under Utah Code §65A-8-203 and the Utah Wildland Urban Interface Code, with mandatory 30-foot clearance, Class A/B roofing in mapped WUI zones along the Wasatch Front, and closed-fire restrictions issued annually by the state forester.
Utah Code 53-7-301 et seq. and Utah Administrative Rule R710-6 give the State Fire Marshal exclusive authority over liquefied petroleum gas, adopting NFPA 58 statewide for tank installation, storage, certification, and operator licensing.
Home occupations in Spanish Fork are allowed in residential zones with a business license. Only residents of the home may conduct the business; the occupation must be clearly secondary to residential use.
Home occupations in Spanish Fork have limited signage rights. Signs must comply with residential zone standards and cannot create a commercial appearance in residential neighborhoods.
Home occupations in Spanish Fork may have customers visit if the activity does not create significant traffic, parking, or nuisance impacts on the residential neighborhood.
Utah's Home Consumption and Homemade Food Act (UT §4-5-9.5) is one of the most permissive cottage food laws in the U.S. with no revenue cap and no registration for most shelf-stable foods sold direct-to-consumer.
Utah Code §26B-2-404 licenses in-home daycare. Utah County permits residential daycare as a home occupation; larger operations (9+ kids) need a conditional use permit under Provo and Orem zoning.
Vehicles parked in driveways must not overhang the sidewalk or public right-of-way. Driveways must be paved for ADUs. Unlicensed vehicles and inoperable vehicles may not be stored in driveways long-term.
Spanish Fork regulates street parking under Title 10. Vehicles may generally park on residential streets but must comply with time limits, visibility requirements, and nuisance prohibitions.
Spanish Fork limits recreational vehicle and trailer parking on residential streets. RVs may generally be parked on private property if screened from public view, but long-term street storage is not permitted.
Spanish Fork restricts storage of large commercial vehicles and equipment in residential zones. Work vehicles used by residents may be permitted under limited circumstances.
Utah Code §41-6a-1405 defines abandoned vehicles as those left on public property 48+ hours or on private property without consent. Provo Code §9.45.100 and Orem Code §10-5 authorize tagging and towing after notice.
Provo bans overnight street parking from 3 AM to 5 AM year-round (Provo Code §9.45.050). Orem and unincorporated Utah County restrict overnight parking during snow season. Vehicles may be ticketed or towed.
Utah County cities follow the 2021 International Building Code with Utah amendments requiring EV-ready parking in new multifamily construction. Residential Level 2 installations need a Utah-licensed electrician and an electrical permit.
Spanish Fork has no breed-specific legislation. Utah Code §18-2-101 prohibits cities from enacting breed-specific laws, making BSL unenforceable statewide.
Spanish Fork prohibits animals from running at large at any time. All animals must be on a leash whenever they are not on the owner's property. Dogs are allowed on trail systems but must remain leashed.
Spanish Fork limits livestock and farm animals in residential zones. Chickens (up to 6 hens, no roosters) and pot-bellied pigs (1 per lot with permit) are permitted. Commercial kenneling requires industrial zoning.
Beekeeping is regulated in Utah under Utah Code §4-2-103 (Utah Department of Agriculture and Food). Spanish Fork residential zones generally permit beekeeping with standard setback and registration requirements.
Spanish Fork may allow backyard chickens with limits. Roosters typically banned in residential areas. Livestock requires agricultural zoning.
Utah Admin. Code R657-3 and Utah County nuisance ordinances prohibit intentional feeding of big game (deer, elk, moose) and predators (bears, cougars). Violations are Class B misdemeanors under Utah Code §23-13-14.
Spanish Fork enforces a juvenile curfew for minors under 17. Nighttime curfew hours typically run 11 PM to 6 AM on school nights with later weekend hours.
Utah County parks and trails close at 10 PM and reopen at 6 AM per Utah County Code Title 8. Provo parks close at 11 PM, Orem parks at 10:30 PM. After-hours presence is a class C misdemeanor under Utah Code §76-6-206.
Spanish Fork participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and regulates development in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs). The Spanish Fork River corridor is a significant flood risk area.
Utah County requires a grading permit for excavation or fill over 50 cubic yards or any grading on slopes over 30 percent, per the Land Use Ordinance and IBC Appendix J. Drainage cannot be redirected onto adjacent parcels. Wasatch foothill sites face stricter geotechnical review.
Utah County requires an approved erosion and sediment control plan before any grading or construction activity, with Wasatch Front foothill sites facing stricter slope stabilization rules. Silt fence, wattles, and stabilized construction entrances are standard. County inspectors can halt work for uncontrolled sediment.
Utah County enforces stormwater management under its MS4 permit with UDEQ, requiring Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPP) for land disturbance over 1 acre. Provo and Orem operate separate MS4 programs. Utah Lake watershed protection is a priority given ongoing algal bloom concerns.
Utah County has no ocean coastline but regulates development near Utah Lake, the Provo and Spanish Fork Rivers, and Jordanelle Reservoir tributaries. Shoreline buffers, floodplain restrictions, and US Army Corps §404 wetland permits apply near Utah Lake, a sovereign lake managed by the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire & State Lands.
Utah County food trucks require reciprocal permits under Utah Code §11-56-103. Utah County Health Department food permit mandatory. Provo Mobile Vendor license required. Statewide portability recent.
Utah County cities designate food truck vending zones subject to Utah Code §11-56 state reciprocity. Provo allows mobile food with restrictions near brick-and-mortar. Orem has downtown Center Street zones.
Utah County cities maintain no-knock registries. Provo and Orem both operate opt-out lists. Posted signs carry legal weight. Utah Code §76-6-206 trespass enforcement applies to ignored signs.
Utah County cities require solicitor permits. Provo City Code §5.40 mandates permit and BCI background check. Orem City Code §5-10 similar. 9 AM to sundown hours. LDS missionaries exempt.
Provo limits residential garage sales to 3 per calendar year per property under §14.34.020. Orem caps at 4 sales per year per §14-8-5. Exceeding limits triggers home occupation zoning rules.
Provo §14.34.020 limits garage sale hours to 7 AM to 8 PM. Orem §14-8-5 allows 8 AM to 8 PM. Sunday sales are permitted countywide though LDS cultural norms mean Saturday is dominant in Utah County.
Utah County does not require garage sale permits in unincorporated areas. Provo and Orem allow sales without permits but limit frequency and signs. Most Utah County jurisdictions are permit-free for residential sales.
Utah County has no general private-property tree permit. Provo requires permits for street trees under §12.16 and trees in parks. Orem §13-14 regulates public trees. Private removal is unrestricted except for heritage trees.
Provo §12.16.070 requires 2:1 replacement for permitted street tree removals. Orem §13-14-5 requires 1:1 minimum. Replacement must use approved drought-tolerant species due to Wasatch Front drought conditions.
Provo Urban Forestry designates heritage trees under §12.16.050 based on species rarity, 24+ inch DBH, and historical significance. Removal requires City Council approval. Utah County has no unincorporated heritage program.
Utah Code §10-9a-511 and §17-27a-510 protect political sign display on private property, barring cities and counties from limiting them beyond reasonable time, place, and manner rules. Utah County, Provo, and Orem allow political signs with size limits and prohibit placement in public rights-of-way.
Utah County and Provo/Orem allow small temporary garage-sale signs (typically 4 sq ft) on private property and limited off-premises directional signs, but prohibit attachment to utility poles, traffic signs, and public property. Signs must be removed within 24 hours after the sale ends.
Utah County and Provo/Orem permit residential holiday decorations without a permit. Displays must not block sidewalks or sight triangles, must use outdoor-rated electrical equipment per NEC, and inflatables must be anchored. Noise-producing displays fall under standard quiet-hour rules.
Provo §9.28.030 requires sidewalk snow removal within 24 hours after snowfall ends. Orem §13-4-5 sets 24-hour rule. Critical in Utah County given heavy Wasatch snowfall and lake-effect storms from Utah Lake.
Provo Code §9.28 and Orem Code §8-2 require trash and recycling bins to be stored out of street view except on collection day. Bins may be placed curbside after 6 PM the day before pickup and retrieved by the end of pickup day.
Utah County and cities including Provo and Orem require vacant lot owners to control weeds and refuse under Utah Code §10-11-1, with specific noxious-weed control duties under the Utah Noxious Weed Act (§4-17-101) enforced by the Utah County Weed Department.
Utah County Land Use Ordinance and municipal nuisance codes in Provo and Orem prohibit blighted property conditions including deteriorated structures, accumulated junk, and overgrown weeds, authorizing abatement under Utah Code §10-11-1 et seq. with costs liened against the property.
Provo §8.05 and Orem §12-3 property maintenance codes require neat display during sales and same-day cleanup. Items cannot be left curbside between sale days. Blight citations apply after warnings.
Utah County and Provo/Orem prohibit outdoor lighting that casts more than 0.5 foot-candles at a residential property line. Complaints are investigated by code enforcement, and security floodlights aimed at neighbors are a top complaint category around BYU and UVU student housing.
Utah County's Land Use Ordinance Chapter 10 requires fully shielded, full-cutoff outdoor fixtures in most zones with lumen caps per acre and a 3000K max color temperature for residential areas. Utah is an international dark-sky leader with several nearby IDA-certified places driving regional standards.
Utah County has 1-2 state-licensed medical cannabis pharmacies permitted under strict zoning. Provo §14.34.300 and Orem §22-14 require 600 ft buffer from schools, churches, libraries, parks. Only 15 pharmacies statewide.
Home cannabis cultivation is PROHIBITED throughout Utah County even for medical patients. Utah Code §58-37-3.7 Qualified Patient Act allows only medical use from licensed pharmacies — not home grows. Recreational is a felony.
Utah County recreational drones follow FAA 49 USC §44809. FAA registration required over 0.55 lbs. Utah Code §72-14 restricts drones near wildfires. BYU, Provo Airport, Timpanogos Cave restricted airspace.
Utah County commercial drone operators require FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate. Real estate and construction photography common. Utah Code §63G-18 governs government drone use. Provo Airport airspace strict.
Utah County limits residential lot coverage to 40% in RA-1 zones per Title 8. Provo R1 allows 40% building coverage per §14.10.050. Orem R6.5 permits 40% per §22-5-6. Stormwater rules apply above threshold.
Utah County Land Use Ordinance Title 8 sets unincorporated setbacks at 30 ft front, 10 ft side, 30 ft rear for RA-1 zones. Provo Zoning §14.10 and Orem §22-5-3 regulate incorporated setbacks.
Utah County unincorporated residential zones cap building height at 35 ft per Title 8. Provo §14.10 and Orem §22-5-5 also set 35 ft residential limits. Foothill CE-1 zones restrict to 28 ft to protect mountain views.
Utah County cities require trash bins at curb with lids closed on pickup day. Provo City Code §8.08 and Orem City Code §8-2-8 require bins removed within 24 hours. 3 feet apart minimum.
Utah County cities offer opt-in curbside recycling. Provo biweekly pickup accepts paper, cardboard, plastics #1-#2, aluminum. Orem via Republic Services. Glass NOT accepted curbside; drop-off only.
Utah County cities offer bulk pickup via scheduling or cleanup weeks. Provo hosts spring cleanup. Orem offers on-call service. South County Landfill accepts self-haul. Hazmat excluded.
Utah County cities provide weekly curbside trash via municipal or contracted haulers. Provo Waste and Recycling runs weekly pickup. Orem uses Republic Services. Unincorporated areas contract private haulers.
Utah does not require just cause for evictions. Landlords follow Utah Code §78B-6-802 (unlawful detainer) with a 3-day notice for nonpayment or lease violation, or 15-day notice for no-cause month-to-month termination. Self-help evictions like lockouts are banned under §57-22-4.5.
Utah law preempts local rent control under Utah Code §10-8-85.4 and §17-50-335, which bar cities and counties from capping private rental rates. Utah County, Provo, and Orem therefore have no rent control, and landlords may raise rent to market rate with proper notice under Utah Code §78B-6-802.
Provo operates a mandatory Residential Rental Licensing program under PCC Chapter 6.26, with fee discounts for landlords completing Good Landlord training. Orem has a Rental Dwelling License under OCC §22-9. Utah County unincorporated areas do not have countywide rental registration but rely on state law.
Utah County requires combined building and electrical permits for rooftop PV systems, issued through expedited residential solar review. Utah Code §10-9a-305 bars unreasonable local restrictions, and Rocky Mountain Power administers net metering under Utah PSC rules. Fire setbacks follow IFC 2021 §1205.
Utah Solar Rights Act (§57-8a-801 through §57-8a-805) prohibits HOAs from banning rooftop solar panels. HOAs may impose reasonable aesthetic conditions but cannot reduce system efficiency by more than 20% or raise installed cost by more than 10%. Approval must issue within 60 days.
Utah Title 34 Chapter 40 establishes the state minimum wage and preempts local governments from enacting their own minimum wage ordinances.
Utah preempts local paid leave mandates through employment regulation provisions, leaving private-sector leave benefits to employer discretion or state law.
Utah preempts local predictive scheduling and fair workweek ordinances by reserving employment scheduling regulation to the state Legislature.
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 Code 63G-12-301 and following sections require private employers with 15 or more employees to use a status verification system such as E-Verify for new hires.
Utah Code 17-22-9.5 requires county sheriffs to cooperate with federal immigration authorities, effectively preempting sanctuary policies through HB 497 enforcement provisions.
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.
Utah Code 11-39-110 preempts local governments from regulating auxiliary containers including plastic bags, foam containers, and similar packaging items.
Utah Code 11-39-110 prevents local bans on polystyrene foam food containers by classifying them as preempted auxiliary containers under state law.
Utah Code 11-39-110 preempts local regulation of plastic straws and similar single-use service items as auxiliary containers under state law.
Utah Code 76-10-104 prohibits sale, furnishing, or provision of tobacco and electronic cigarettes to anyone under 21 years of age statewide.
Utah restricts flavored electronic cigarette products outside specialty tobacco retailers, regulating where minors-prohibited flavored vapes may lawfully be sold.
Utah regulates vape retailers under Title 26B and Title 59, requiring licensing, age verification, and compliance with state nicotine and flavor restrictions.