Zoning › Utah › Salt Lake County › Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City, UT Zoning

Euclidean-zoning. 30 districts · 11 overlays · 7 applicable state preemptions.

Overview

Code type
euclidean
Naming convention
hybrid

RE (Residential Estate) uses lot-size suffix (RE-17 = 17k sf, RE-43 = 43k sf). R-1/R-2 are tier-encoded SF. RO-1/RO-2 add office overlay. RMF-30/35/45/75 are height-encoded multifamily (number = base max height in ft, which correlates with du/ac). D-1/D-2 downtown use tier suffix. MU-2 through MU-11 (2024-2025 consolidation) are intensity-encoded mixed-use. Overlays use letter-code suffix (H, YCI, SSSC, NWQ, TSA-UC/UN/MUEC/SP).

Worth knowing
  • Chicken-keeping permitted in residential zones citywide with restrictions (coop size limits, setback from property lines, nuisance restrictions) — reflects food-security/permaculture values
  • 4-Plex legalization (2024) eliminated functional single-family-only zoning; quadplexes now permitted by-right in all residential zones (R-1, R-2, RO-1, RO-2, RE-17, RE-43), increasing potential density significantly
  • Density bonus incentives available in RMF districts for affordability inclusion — expanding under 2024-2025 reforms

+ 9 more in Quirks & notes

Districts

res_sf 6mu 6com 5res_mf 4ind 4spec 3cbd 2
CodeNameCategory Min lotHeight CoverageFAR Du/acParking Setbacks F/S/R
RE-17Residential Estate (17k)res_sf17,000 sf[1]28 ft[2]—[3]—2.5[4]—— / — / —
RE-43Residential Estate (43k)res_sf43,000 sf[5]28 ft[6]—[7]—1[8]—— / — / —
R-1Residential (Single-Family, tier 1)res_sf—[9]30 ft[10]—[11]—10[12]—— / — / —
R-2Residential (Single-Family, tier 2)res_sf—[13]30 ft[14]—[15]—10[16]—— / — / —
RO-1Residential Office (limited commercial, tier 1)res_sf—[17]35 ft[18]—[19]—15[20]—— / — / —
RO-2Residential Office (limited commercial, tier 2)res_sf—[21]35 ft[22]—[23]—20[24]—— / — / —
RMF-30Low-Density Multifamilyres_mf—[25]30 ft[26]—[27]—30[28]—— / — / —
RMF-35Moderate-Density Multifamilyres_mf—[29]35 ft[30]—[31]—35[32]—— / — / —
RMF-45Moderate-High Density Multifamilyres_mf—[33]45 ft[34]—[35]—45[36]—— / — / —
RMF-75High-Density Multifamilyres_mf—[37]75 ft[38]—[39]—75[40]—— / — / —
CNCommercial Neighborhoodcom—[43]—[44]—[45]——[46]—15[41] / 15[42] / —
CGGeneral Commercialcom—[47]55 ft[48]—[49]——[50]—— / — / —
CBCommunity Businesscom—[51]—[52]—[53]——[54]—— / — / —
CSCommercial Servicecom—[55]—[56]—[57]——[58]—— / — / —
CCCommercial Corridorcom—[59]—[60]—[61]——[62]—— / — / —
D-1Central Business District (Downtown Core)cbd—[63]-1 ft[64]—[65]——[66]—— / — / —
D-2Downtown Southcbd—[67]100 ft[68]—[69]——[70]—— / — / —
MU-2Mixed-Use (Low-Scale)mu—[71]—[72]—[73]——[74]—— / — / —
MU-3Mixed-Use (Neighborhood)mu—[75]—[76]—[77]——[78]—— / — / —
MU-5Mixed-Use (Mid-Scale)mu—[79]—[80]—[81]——[82]—— / — / —
MU-6Mixed-Use (Regional)mu—[83]—[84]—[85]——[86]—— / — / —
MU-8Mixed-Use (High-Density)mu—[87]—[88]—[89]——[90]—— / — / —
MU-11Mixed-Use (Urban Core)mu—[91]—[92]—[93]——[94]—— / — / —
M-1Light Manufacturingind—[95]45 ft[96]—[97]———— / — / —
M-1ALight Manufacturing (Variant)ind—[98]45 ft[99]—[100]———— / — / —
M-2General Manufacturingind—[101]—[102]—[103]———— / — / —
BPBusiness Parkind—[104]50 ft[105]—[106]———— / — / —
OSOpen Space / Conservationspec—[107]—0[108]—0[109]—— / — / —
OS-COpen Space / Conservation (Variant)spec—[110]—0[111]—0[112]—— / — / —
PLPublic Landsspec—[113]——[114]———— / — / —

Confidence: confirmed partial under review not found

Overlays

H
Historic Preservation Overlay
HP
§21A.34.020 · c§21A.34.020
TSA-UC
Transit Station Area (TSA) — Urban Center Station
TOD
§21A.26.078 (TSA districts) / SLC Transit Station Area Development Guidelines (June 2017) · p§21A.26.078
TSA-UN
Transit Station Area (TSA) — Urban Neighborhood Station
TOD
§21A.26.078 · p§21A.26.078
YCI
Yalecrest Compatible Infill Overlay
CON
§21A.34.120 · c§21A.34.120
SSSC
South State Street Corridor Overlay
COR
§21A.34.090 · c§21A.34.090
NWQ
Northwest Quadrant Overlay
ENV
§21A.34.140 · c§21A.34.140
FP
Floodplain Overlay
FP
§21A.34 (SLC floodplain combining) + city Flood Damage Prevention ordinance · p§21A.34
AFPP
Airport Flight Path Protection Overlay
AIR
§21A.34.040 · p§21A.34.040
G-MU
Gateway-Mixed Use Overlay
COR
§21A.34 (Gateway district overlay provisions) · p§21A.34
SNB
Sugar House Business District Overlay
COR
§21A.34 (Sugar House Master Plan implementation) · p§21A.34
PMU
Pedestrian-Oriented Mixed-Use Standards
CON
§21A.24 (Mixed-Use District standards) · p§21A.24

State preemptions

UT HB 82 — Internal ADU Mandateapplies
Qualifying condition
SLC is a Utah municipality (1st-class city, pop 200,000) with residential zones (RE-17, RE-43, R-1, R-2, RO-1, RO-2). Cities must permit internal ADUs by-right in residential zones. SLC implements via §21A.40.200 which exceeds the state floor (also permits detached ADUs).
UT HB 406 — Accessory Dwelling Unitsapplies
Qualifying condition
HB 406 (2021) expanded ADU authorization; SLC as a 1st-class city with established residential fabric has adopted detached-ADU permissions via §21A.40.200 (max 17 ft base, up to 24 ft pitched/20 ft flat with increased setbacks, 1 parking stall with transit/bike-lane exemptions).
UT SB 174 — Single-Family Housing Modificationsapplies
Qualifying condition
Applies to all Utah cities with single-family districts. SLC's RE-17, RE-43, R-1, R-2, RO-1, RO-2 are affected. Limits certain material/aesthetic restrictions beyond Utah Construction Code.
UT HB 462 — Moderate Income Housing Planapplies
Qualifying condition
Salt Lake County is in the WFRC MPO; SLC (pop 200,000, well above the 5,000 threshold; county pop 1,160,000 > 100k threshold) is required to include MIH plan in General Plan. Must select ≥3 of 23 moderate-income housing strategies, report annually to Utah DWS Workforce Services. HB 462 also caps RDA-area zoning restrictions in qualifying Redevelopment Agency project areas.
UT HB 462 Station Area Planningapplies
Qualifying condition
SLC has multiple UTA TRAX light rail stations and the FrontRunner North Temple / Salt Lake Central commuter rail stations within city limits. Cities with fixed-guideway stations must adopt certified Station Area Plans meeting statutory density/use/infrastructure criteria, or face transportation-funding sanctions.
UT Land Use Development & Management Act (LUDMA)applies
Qualifying condition
LUDMA is the enabling statute for all municipal land-use authority in Utah. SLC's Title 21A is promulgated under LUDMA §§10-9a-101 et seq.
UT HB 37 (2025) — Voluntary Density Bonusapplies
Qualifying condition
HB 37 (2025) rejected hard statewide preemption of single-family zoning in favor of a voluntary density-bonus framework. Applies to all Utah municipalities.

Adopted building codes

Statewide; local may lag

IBC
2021
IRC
2024
NEC
2023
IFC
2021
IECC (Residential)
2021
IECC (Commercial)
2021

Click a code label to open its state-by-state adoption atlas.

Quirks & notes

  • Chicken-keeping permitted in residential zones citywide with restrictions (coop size limits, setback from property lines, nuisance restrictions) — reflects food-security/permaculture values
  • 4-Plex legalization (2024) eliminated functional single-family-only zoning; quadplexes now permitted by-right in all residential zones (R-1, R-2, RO-1, RO-2, RE-17, RE-43), increasing potential density significantly
  • Density bonus incentives available in RMF districts for affordability inclusion — expanding under 2024-2025 reforms
  • Small Lot Dwelling Option (2025 proposal): allows 2,000 sf minimum per dwelling unit in residential zones, supporting up to ~22 units/acre in R-1/R-2 with max development
  • No minimum lot width requirement in RMF-30 through RMF-75 districts — enables narrow-lot development (30-50 ft wide) for compact, walkable development
  • Granary District Adaptive Reuse Loan Program (SSSC overlay): unique municipal forgivable-loan mechanism for historic industrial-to-mixed-use conversion
  • Northwest Quadrant three-tier overlay (Development Area / Eco-Industrial Buffer / Natural Area): rare hybrid structure allowing low-impact industrial use adjacent to Great Salt Lake sensitive habitat
  • Transit-Oriented Development height flexibility (TSA overlays): variable height allowances by station type (TSA-UC, TSA-UN, TSA-MUEC, TSA-SP) with parking reductions up to 50% in TSA-UC areas
  • No statewide single-family preemption despite HB 37 (2025) activity — Utah resisted hard preemption in favor of voluntary density bonus framework; SLC's reforms are city-driven
  • Mixed-Use Consolidation (2024-2025): major code reform reducing 26 zones to 6 MU districts (MU-2, MU-3, MU-5, MU-6, MU-8, MU-11) for simplified commercial/mixed-use framework
  • Ballpark Station Area became the first MU-8 adoption (2024), establishing the template for future high-density mixed-use rezonings
  • D-1 Central Business District has unrestricted height (within Airport Part 77 / Capitol viewplane constraints), enabling 200+ ft towers typical of SLC downtown

Formulas

Definitions

adu_internal
Accessory dwelling unit within existing single-family structure; by-right on any SF lot (p§21A.40.200)
adu_detached
Detached ADU on same lot as SF; max 17 ft base height, expandable to 24 ft pitched / 20 ft flat with increased setbacks (p§21A.40.200)
small_lot_dwelling_2025
2025 reform: dwelling units on 2,000 sf minimum per unit lot area; max 1,000 sf single unit or 850 sf per unit for duplex/triplex/4-plex; supports up to ~22 units/acre
height_residential
Measured to highest point; pitched roofs to peak, flat roofs to roof membrane (p§21A.62)
lot_coverage
Building footprint as percent of total lot area; excludes uncovered porches/decks (p§21A.62)
du_ac_formula_rmf
Calculated from max height and lot coverage standards; RMF-30 ~30 du/ac, RMF-35 ~35 du/ac, RMF-45 ~45 du/ac, RMF-75 ~75 du/ac (i from name-encoded formula)

Capacity calculations

small_lot_dwelling_max_units
lot_area_sf / 2000
adu_detached_max_height_standard_ft
17
adu_detached_max_height_with_setback_ft
24

Massing explorer

Interactive 3D comparison across every district. Drag to orbit, scroll to zoom, use the slider to walk districts, and toggle applicable overlays in the right-side panel.

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Parking
— /unit
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Max density
— du/ac
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Min lot size
— sf
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District Category Height FAR Coverage Setbacks Parking Density Min lot Overlays

Sources & references

Primary source
Title 21A — Zoning, Salt Lake City Code
Through 2026 amlegal supplement · retrieved 2026-04-19
Citations
  1. [1] i
  2. [2] §21A.24.010
  3. [3] §21A.24.010
  4. [4] i
  5. [5] i
  6. [6] §21A.24.010
  7. [7] §21A.24.010
  8. [8] i
  9. [9] §21A.24.050
  10. [10] §21A.24.050
  11. [11] §21A.24.050
  12. [12] i§21A.24.050
  13. [13] §21A.24.060
  14. [14] §21A.24.060
  15. [15] §21A.24.060
  16. [16] i§21A.24.060
  17. [17] §21A.24.080
  18. [18] §21A.24.080
  19. [19] §21A.24.080
  20. [20] i§21A.24.080
  21. [21] §21A.24.090
  22. [22] §21A.24.090
  23. [23] §21A.24.090
  24. [24] i§21A.24.090
  25. [25] §21A.24.110
  26. [26] §21A.24.110
  27. [27] §21A.24.110
  28. [28] §21A.24.110
  29. [29] §21A.24.120
  30. [30] §21A.24.120
  31. [31] §21A.24.120
  32. [32] §21A.24.120
  33. [33] §21A.24.130
  34. [34] §21A.24.130
  35. [35] §21A.24.130
  36. [36] §21A.24.130
  37. [37] §21A.24.140
  38. [38] §21A.24.140
  39. [39] §21A.24.140
  40. [40] §21A.24.140
  41. [41] §21A.26.010
  42. [42] §21A.26.010
  43. [43] §21A.26.010
  44. [44] §21A.26.010
  45. [45] §21A.26.010
  46. [46] §21A.26.010
  47. [47] §21A.26.050
  48. [48] i§21A.26.050
  49. [49] §21A.26.050
  50. [50] §21A.26.050
  51. [51] §21A.26.030
  52. [52] §21A.26.030
  53. [53] §21A.26.030
  54. [54] §21A.26.030
  55. [55] §21A.26.040
  56. [56] §21A.26.040
  57. [57] §21A.26.040
  58. [58] §21A.26.040
  59. [59] §21A.26.060
  60. [60] §21A.26.060
  61. [61] §21A.26.060
  62. [62] §21A.26.060
  63. [63] §21A.30.020
  64. [64] §21A.30.020
  65. [65] §21A.30.020
  66. [66] §21A.30.020
  67. [67] §21A.30.030
  68. [68] i§21A.30.030
  69. [69] §21A.30.030
  70. [70] §21A.30.030
  71. [71] §21A.24
  72. [72] §21A.24
  73. [73] §21A.24
  74. [74] §21A.24
  75. [75] §21A.24
  76. [76] §21A.24
  77. [77] §21A.24
  78. [78] §21A.24
  79. [79] §21A.24
  80. [80] §21A.24
  81. [81] §21A.24
  82. [82] §21A.24
  83. [83] §21A.24
  84. [84] §21A.24
  85. [85] §21A.24
  86. [86] §21A.24
  87. [87] §21A.24
  88. [88] §21A.24
  89. [89] §21A.24
  90. [90] §21A.24
  91. [91] §21A.24
  92. [92] §21A.24
  93. [93] §21A.24
  94. [94] §21A.24
  95. [95] §21A.28.020
  96. [96] §21A.28.020
  97. [97] §21A.28.020
  98. [98] §21A.28.025
  99. [99] §21A.28.025
  100. [100] §21A.28.025
  101. [101] §21A.28.030
  102. [102] i§21A.28.030
  103. [103] §21A.28.030
  104. [104] §21A.32
  105. [105] §21A.32
  106. [106] §21A.32
  107. [107] §21A.32.130
  108. [108] §21A.32.130
  109. [109] §21A.32.130
  110. [110] §21A.32.130
  111. [111] §21A.32.130
  112. [112] §21A.32.130
  113. [113] §21A.32.140
  114. [114] §21A.32.140

Research status

Publication gates

primary url presentpassed
no aggregator citedpassed
confidence tags full formpassed
overlays have parameters trigger confidencepassed
preempt section city specificpassed

Data quality

66%completeness44 confirmed30 partial16 inferred
Documented gaps
  • Complete Table 21A.24 master dimensional values (min_lot_sf, lot_coverage, exact heights for R-1/R-2/RO-1/RO-2/RE-17/RE-43) — amlegal.com 403.
  • Complete Table 21A.26 commercial dimensional tables (CN excluded — has confirmed values from §21A.26.010).
  • MU-2 through MU-11 consolidated district dimensional tables — 2024-2025 consolidation under implementation; §21A.24 not retrieved live.
  • M-1 / M-2 industrial dimensional tables — §21A.28 not retrieved live.
  • Full overlay parameter tables for TSA subdistricts (§21A.26.078), Floodplain (§21A.34), Airport (§21A.34.040), Gateway-MU, Sugar House — amlegal 403.
  • HB 462 Station Area Plan certification status for each SLC UTA/FrontRunner station.
  • Parking ratios by land use (§21A.44).
  • Density bonus calculation formulas for RMF districts.
  • Small Lot Dwelling ordinance enactment status (proposed 2025 vs. adopted).

Known issues

cohort:needs-dom-retrievalfreshness:volatileblocker:amlegaldata:gaps-present

Verification

last_verified_at2026-04-19T00:00:00Z
verifier_specialistverification-pass
verifier_version1.0
verification_resultpassed
atomic_claims_checked48
atomic_claims_passed48
atomic_claims_failed0
failed_claims
narrative_refnarratives/salt-lake-city-ut/slc-2026-04-19-v2.json

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