These provisions are applicable to all new construction and development in any residential zone, or for a single family dwelling in any zone, or for multiple family dwelling projects with six units or less.
A. Construction Standards for New Residential Dwellings, or Rehabilitation of Development, Including Accessory Dwelling Units:
1. New residential dwellings, including accessory dwelling units, 1,400 square feet or greater shall install hot water recirculation systems, unless hot water delivery can be demonstrated to occur without first displacing more than 0.6 gallons of system water.
2. New residential dwellings, including accessory dwelling units, shall install plumbing fixtures to meet or exceed the water conservation requirements specified in Utah Code.
3. New residential dwellings, including accessory dwelling units, shall install Energy Star qualified appliances.
4. All multiple family units with ground floor square footage or individually platted, shall be separately metered, submetered, or equipped with alternative technology capable of tracking the water use of the individual unit, and the information shall be made available to the resident of each unit. Individually platted condominium units are excepted if a property owners’ association owns and maintains the water lines and meters. All multiple family projects require separate water meters for all outdoor water usage, including landscaping, when irrigating more than 5,000 square feet.
B. Landscape Standards: For all new single family dwellings, or multiple family dwelling projects with six units or less, the landscaping shall meet the following requirements, and be subject of code enforcement if the requirements are not followed:
1. Single Family Dwellings, and Multiple Family Dwelling Projects with Six Units or Less:
a. The total grass area for a single family dwelling shall not exceed 8% of the lot or parcel size, or the following, whichever is less:
Lot or Parcel size: | Maximum grass |
Up to 7,500 sf | 600 sf |
Up to 12,000 sf | 960 sf |
Up to 18,000 sf | 1,440 sf |
Up to 24,000 sf | 1,920 sf |
Greater than 24,000 sf to 1 acre | 1,920 up to 2,500 sf max. |
Exceeds 1 acre (per A.1.d) | 2,500 sf |
The total lawn area for attached multi-family dwellings shall not exceed 100 square feet per dwelling unit. For residential developments with limited common areas designated for the exclusive use of the adjacent dwelling shall have the same allowances as for a single family dwelling. Please note that properties with less than six dwelling units are allowed up to 600 square feet of lawn.
b. In addition, grass is prohibited in park strips, all landscape areas less than eight feet wide, and on any slope that exceeds 25% (1 foot per 4 feet of run); and
c. Each single family dwelling shall have a minimum of two water-efficient shade trees with a minimum one-and-one-half-inch (1½”) caliper trunk. Each multiple family development with six units or less shall submit, and have approved by the county, the number and selection of its shade trees, as set forth in Section 10-27-5
, below; the number of shade trees may be more or less than two per dwelling, in the sole discretion of the county.
d. If the dwelling is on a lot or parcel that exceeds one acre, these regulations only apply to the one acre portion of the lot or parcel with the footprint of the dwelling centered inside that one acre portion.
e. Non-ornamental plants and trees actively used for food production may use potable water, like garden and fruit tree areas.
2. Multiple Family Dwelling Projects with More than Six Units: Comply with the Landscape Standards in Section 10-27-4
, below.
C. Restrictive Covenants in Conflict with Water Efficiency Standards: Any homeowners or property owner’s association governing documents, such as bylaws, operating rules, covenants, conditions, and restrictions that govern the operation of a common interest development, recorded after passage of this chapter, are void and unenforceable if they conflict with the water efficiency standards in this chapter, or if they have the effect of prohibiting or restricting compliance with this chapter. (Ord. 2022-1206-O, 4-19-2022; amd. Ord. 2023-1246-O, 12-19-2023)