Salt Lake City

Planning

Planning Division | (801) 535-7700 | zoning@slc.gov

Enforcement on Work Without a Certificate of Appropriateness

This Online Open House has been closed. A decision was made by the City Council on April 16, 2024. See Council’s recap. For additional information regarding the decision please contact the Staff Planner listed under the “Public Comments and Questions” section of this page. Thank you!

Zoning Text Amendment

Enforcement on Work Without a Certificate of Appropriateness

Project Location: Citywide

Application Type: Zoning Text Amendment

Petition Number: PLNPCM2023-00336

Overlay District: H Historic Preservation Overlay District

Council District: Citywide

Mayor Erin Mendenhall has initiated a petition for a zoning text amendment to address unlawful construction and demolition activities in the H Historic Preservation Zoning District Overlay. The purpose of the petition is to protect historic resources, which includes designated local historic districts and local landmark sites. The text changes are aimed at adding enforcement tools to prevent and counter potential code violations and at establishing a clear process to remedy alterations or demolition that occur without approval. The proposed changes will affect Chapter 21A.34.020 and related provisions of Title 21A-Zoning.

This proposed text amendment does the following: 

  1. Creates an enforcement subsection within the historic overlay (21A.34.020);
  2. Prohibits redevelopment of a property when a principal building is demolished without approval unless the proposal is for reconstruction;
  3. Establishes a reconstruction process;
  4. Prohibits a property owner from requesting a change of status based on a violation;
  5. Clarifies that self-imposed conditions are not eligible for Economic Hardship; and
  6. Coordinates with other city code sections that relate to reconstruction and enforcement.

Project Location

This text amendment would apply to the City’s local historic districts and to individually listed landmark sites throughout the city.

Draft Ordinance

The proposed ordinance is included as Attachment A of the staff report.

Next Steps

  • Notice of this application was sent to all registered Salt Lake City Recognized Organizations on October 3, 2023 and given a 45-day period to respond before a public hearing was scheduled.
  • Commission briefings: Staff presented preliminary draft proposal to Historic Landmark and Planning Commissions to introduce the request, gather feedback, identify key issues, and answer questions in November 2023.
  • Public hearings were held by the Historic Landmark Commission and the Planning Commission in January 2024. The Historic Landmark Commission and Planning Commission made recommendations on the proposed changes, which will be forwarded to the City Council.
  • The City Council will hold a public hearing for additional public comments and will make a final decision on the matter.

  • Historic Landmark Commission briefing: November 2, 2023
  • Planning Commission briefing: November 8, 2023
  • Public Hearing with HLC: January 4, 2024
  • Public Hearing with Planning Commission: January 10, 2024

What is the role of the Planning Staff in this Process?

Planning Staff will respond to public comments, answers questions, will make appropriate modifications to the draft ordinance, and will brief and make recommendations to the Historic Landmark Commission, Planning Commission, and City Council.

Public Comments and Questions

To submit a comment or question please contact the staff planner via email or leave a voicemail.

Mayara Lima // Mayara.lima@slcgov.com // 801.535.6141

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