Orem, UT Zoning Overlays & Bonuses: Downtown Design Guide (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Orem City Code 22-24-1
- Min. height, CCD-C zone
- 3 stories
- Max. street setback
- 10 ft (20 ft with public plaza)
- Ground-floor transparency, CCD-C
- 70% of facade
- Min. lot size in CCD zones
- 7,500 sq ft
- Enacted
- Ord. O-2018-0022, 6/19/2018
Summary
Orem's City Center District (CCD) zones along State Street impose detailed downtown design standards: minimum building heights, maximum (not minimum) street setbacks, mandatory materials, window transparency, and balcony requirements, enforced through the zoning permit process under City Code Section 22-24-1.
Except as otherwise provided below, there are no minimum setbacks in the CCD zones. Maximum Setbacks. Except as otherwise provided herein, the ground level story of all buildings shall be set back no more than ten feet from the back of a required sidewalk. However, buildings may be set back an additional ten feet (for a total of twenty feet) from the back of a required sidewalk if the entire additional setback area is utilized as a "space open to the public"... The area of any setback from a required sidewalk may not be used for parking, parking lot driveways, drive-thrus, or drive-thru stacking.
Full Breakdown
Orem created five City Center District zones (CCD-C Core, CCD-E Edge, CCD-Civ Civic, and CCD-Res-A and CCD-Res-B Residential) under City Code Section 22-24-1 to build a traditional downtown center along State Street. " That setback area cannot be used for parking, driveways, or drive-thru stacking. Buildings in the CCD-C zone must be at least three stories tall; CCD-E, CCD-Civ, and CCD-Res-A buildings must be at least two stories; CCD-Res-B buildings are capped at 35 feet. Exterior walls must be finished in brick, split-face block, glass, stone, or wood (Tier 1 Materials); stucco, EIFS, and aluminum composite panels (Tier 2 Materials) are limited to trim covering no more than 20% of a street-facing facade.
Street-facing ground-story windows must cover a minimum percentage of the facade that varies by zone: 70% in CCD-C, 60% in CCD-E, 50% in CCD-CIV, and 0% in CCD-Res. Plastic awnings are banned outright. Buildings two stories or taller must provide balconies of at least 50 square feet for at least half of residential units. A lot that does not meet the 50% street-frontage-occupancy test cannot be subdivided in a way that creates a new lot lacking street frontage or having a disproportionately small share of the original frontage, closing off attempts to dodge the maximum setback rule through platting.
These standards were enacted by Ordinance No. O-2018-0022 on June 19, 2018, and amended by Ordinance Nos. O-2018-0032 (12/11/2018), O-2019-0007 (3/26/2019), and O-2020-0006 (2/23/2021), which added the stepback requirement for four-story-plus residential buildings.
Violations & Fines
Development Services reviews CCD projects for compliance with Section 22-24-1 during site plan and building permit review; a project that does not meet the height, setback, materials, or transparency standards cannot receive a building permit until plans are revised or a variance is obtained from the Board of Adjustment. Prohibited uses of the setback area, plastic awnings, or unscreened trash enclosures are correctable conditions the City can require be fixed before occupancy is granted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I build a suburban-style setback in Orem's City Center District?
What building materials are allowed in Orem's CCD zones?
Is there a minimum building height in Orem's downtown zone?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Orem
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