Salt Lake City is facing a housing shortage, with rising prices and limited availability making it increasingly difficult for many residents to find an affordable place to live.

To help address the housing shortage, Salt Lake City is considering changing some residential zoning rules to make it easier for residents to rent or own homes, specifically in areas zoned R-1, R-2, SR-1, and SR-1A. These are neighborhoods made up mostly of single-family and two-family homes. Because the project could impact your neighborhood, we want you to have a voice!

Petition Number: PLNPCM2025-01184
Contact Info: [email protected]

Mayor Mendenhall has initiated a text amendment to section 21A.62.040, Definitions of Terms, and chapter 21A.33, Land Use Tables of the zoning code to clarify the definitions of “Storage (Outdoor)” and “Storage, Public (Outdoor)” and re-evaluate the zones in which these uses are allowed.

The goal is to create clearer, more enforceable regulations that support community and economic objectives while minimizing the adverse effects of outdoor storage. The revised definitions will help streamline zoning determinations and recognize that some outdoor storage is essential for the function of certain land uses.

Staff Contact: Diana Martinez, Senior Planner
[email protected] or (801) 535-7215

Mayor Erin Mendenhall has proposed modifications to update the Landscaping and Buffers Chapter (21A.48) of the Zoning Ordinance. The new chapter was adopted by the City Council on April 26, 2023. As the new regulations have been implemented, some sections were found to need further clarification and modifications to better understand and utilize the standards.

Additionally, changes to the State Code were adopted that limit the applicability of a landscape plan. The proposed text amendment will update the chapter to align with State Code. The proposal would also allow for artificial turf in some required landscaping areas where it was not previously permitted.

Contact: Noah Elmore, Principal Planner
[email protected] or (801) 535-7971

Salt Lake City is facing a housing shortage, with rising prices and limited availability making it increasingly difficult for many residents to find an affordable place to live.

To help address the housing shortage, Salt Lake City is considering changing some residential zoning rules to make it easier for residents to rent or own homes, specifically in areas zoned R-1, R-2, SR-1, and SR-1A. These are neighborhoods made up mostly of single-family and two-family homes. Because the project could impact your neighborhood, we want you to have a voice!

Staff Contact: Jason Berntson, Associate Planner
[email protected] or (801) 535-6247

The Planning Commission forwarded a recommendation of approval to City Council on August 27, 2025.

This text amendment clarifies when an application approval expires. This applies to:

• Design Review approvals.
• Final Plat applications to subdivide land;
• Street dedication plats;
• Conditional Uses;
• Planned Developments: and
• Design Review approvals.

Staff Contact: Nick Norris, Planning Director
[email protected] or (801) 535-6173

The City Council will hear a briefing from planning staff on February 3, 2026. Dates for the hearing and decision will be announced after this briefing date.

The Salt Lake City Council has initiated a text amendment to increase front yard hedge heights alongside property lines from 4-feet to 6-feet, as well as to increase back yard fence, hedge, and wall heights from 6-feet to 7-feet in residential zoning districts.  

A separate petition – PLNPCM2025-00138 – has been initiated by the Planning Commission to increase fence heights to 6 ft. in front yards in all M-1 (Light Manufacturing) zoning districts city-wide. These petitions will be processed concurrently.

Staff Contact: Jason Berntson, Associate Planner
[email protected] or 801-535-6247

Diana Martinez, Senior Planner
[email protected] or 801-535-7215

This amendment has been transmitted to City Council. The Planning Commission forwarded a recommendation of approval, with modifications, to the City Council on September 24, 2025.

At February 12, 2025, Planning Commission meeting, the Salt Lake City Planning Commission unanimously voted to initiate a zoning text amendment to modify Section 14.52 of the Salt Lake City Code. The purpose of the amendment is to address the factors considered in the review of petitions to close or vacate public right of ways.

Staff Contact: Ben Buckley, Principal Planner
[email protected] or 801-535-7142

The proposal has been transmitted to the City Council on November 15, 2024, for their consideration.

Salt Lake City is proposing to amend the Sign Ordinance to create standards regulating electronic message centers, or electronic signs. The proposed standards will include things like brightness limits, display hours, and identify zones where they are not permitted.

Staff Contact: Katilynn Warr, Principal Planner
[email protected] or 801-535-6179

Planning Commission forwarded a positive recommendation to City Council on June 12, 2024.

The Salt Lake City Planning Division is proposing a text amendment to update the standards related to mobile businesses, which includes retail businesses operated from trucks, trailers, and vending carts. In 2017 and 2023, Utah State code was amended to expand where these types of businesses are allowed. The changes to state code also imposed limitations on what municipalities can require for the operations of such businesses in terms of zoning, business license and supplemental documentation.

Salt Lake City code needs to be updated to match these regulations. The amendment would focus on aligning the mobile business standards with city goals, supporting small businesses, and addressing state law.

Staff Contact: Seth Rios, Associate Planner
[email protected]
(801) 535-7758

The Planning Commission forwarded a positive recommendation to City Council on March 12, 2025.

At the November 13, 2024 Planning Commission Meeting, the Planning Commission voted unanimously to initiate a zoning text amendment to review the land uses that are subject to, or should be subject to, the 1,000’ prohibition from residential zoning districts. The amendment also includes reviewing whether other land uses should have the provision applied, clarifying whether the distance applies to the property or the boundaries of a use, and other related provisions that may help protect the health and safety of residents.

Staff Contact: Noah Elmore, Associate Planner
[email protected] or 801-535-7971

The Planning Commission held a public hearing on March 12, 2025. The Planning Commission forwarded a positive recommendation to City Council. 

Mayor Erin Mendenhall initiated a petition to clarify exemptions in Section 21A.02.050.B and to revise footnotes in the land use tables in 21A.33. The purpose of the amendment is to:

• Ensure uniformity in land-use tables found in chapter 21A.33 by standardizing the footnotes referencing Section 21A.02.050B
• Clarify the city’s longstanding practice of exempting necessary utility equipment (as listed in Section 21A.02.050B and updated as needed) from zoning regulations.
• Include fencing required to secure specific utility equipment within the exemption from zoning regulations.
• Emphasize that certain utility uses, such as water treatment plants and electricity generating plants, are not exempt and must comply with applicable zoning regulations. 

Staff Contact: David Stuenzi Jr., Associate Planner
[email protected] or 801-535-6135

The proposal has been transmitted to the City Council on December 19, 2025, for their consideration.

Mayor Erin Mendenhall initiated a text amendment to multiple sections of Title 21A – Zoning related to how to administer the zoning code. The changes include:

• Adding design standards as a recognized type of zoning regulation.
• Formalizing zoning approval through building permit or business license and removing obsolete site plan review process.
• Clarifying when a use or structure is considered nonconforming.
• Distinguishing and clarifying the administrative interpretation and the determination of nonconforming use processes. 
• Removing the AG-20 zoning district because the district is not mapped on the city’s zoning map and is not an active zoning district.
• Deleting chapter 21A.35 – Character Conservation Districts because none has been created since chapter was added to the code in 2013. 

This amendment will not substantially change existing standards nor change how the planning division administers the zoning code. The intent is to align the code with established processes and current practice, which will strengthen legal standing, assist staff, and enhance transparency.

Staff Contact: Daniel Echeverria, Zoning Administrator & Planning Manager 
[email protected] or 801-535-7165