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Salt Lake County, UT Trash & Recycling: Dumpster Rules (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Minimum setback
10 feet from property line
Applies to
Planned unit developments (PUDs)
Enclosure requirement
3 sides matching development design
Recycling
Required for all PUDs

Summary

Planned unit developments in unincorporated Salt Lake County must keep refuse dumpster enclosures at least ten feet from any perimeter property line, per county zoning code.

City-specific rules exist: West Jordan, West Valley City, Sandy, South Jordan, and Salt Lake City have their own dumpster rules rules that differ from Salt Lake County's county-level regulations. If you live in one of those cities, check the city-specific page instead.

If dumpster enclosures are provided for the development, no refuse dumpster or dumpster enclosure structure shall be located closer than ten feet to any perimeter property line. Enclosure structures must have a minimum of three sides that reflect or emulate the materials, design, and quality of the overall development. All developments shall provide recycling services.5.Parking. The following minimum parking shall be provided for all multi-family projects under this chapter:a.Table of Parking Ratios. One bedroom unit 1.5 parking spaces per unit Two or more bedroom units 2.0 parking spaces per unit Guest parking spaces 0.33 parking spaces per unit (min. of 6) Storage parking spaces for recreational vehicle storage Not Allowed

b.The parking requirements identified in this section supersede other parking requirements in this title.c.All parking areas, covered or open, except garages, shall have a landscaped buffer in accordance with Chapter 19.77, Water Efficient Landscape Design and Development Standards.d.Developments offering the amenities listed below are entitled to the applicable parking reductions. These reductions are not mandatory, but if they are chosen, are cumulative. The planning commission may further modify the required parking with support of a traffic study. Eligible Unit Parking Reductions

Amenity Reduction (stalls/unit) Car Sharing (minimum 100 dwelling units) 0.05 per car share vehicle Bicycle Lockers/Storage (1 space per unit required) 0.05

View official code

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

Salt Lake County Code §19.78.030(4) requires planned unit developments to design garbage and recycling collection so it minimizes impacts on nearby homes, and, where dumpster enclosures are used, keep the dumpster or enclosure structure at least ten feet from any perimeter property line. Enclosures must also use at least three sides that match the development's materials, design and quality, and every PUD must provide recycling service. This applies to planned unit developments in the unincorporated county, not to every commercial dumpster countywide.

Violations & Fines

No penalty class is written into §19.78.030; noncompliance is enforced through the development-approval and zoning process, and can otherwise default to an infraction under §1.12.010.

Frequently Asked Questions

How close can a dumpster enclosure sit to my property line in a PUD?
No closer than ten feet, per §19.78.030(4) of the county zoning code.
Does this rule cover every commercial dumpster in the county?
No: it's specific to planned unit developments; other commercial sites aren't bound by this ten-foot figure.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Salt Lake County

All Salt Lake County rules

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