Utah · Through 2026 General Session

Utah Code § 10-20-623: Residential rear setback limitations.

(1) As used in this section:
(a) "Allowable feature" means:
(i) a landing or walkout porch that:
(A) is no more than 32 square feet in size; and
(B) is used for ingress to and egress from the rear of the residential dwelling; or
(ii) a window well.
(b) "Landing" means an uncovered, above-ground platform, with or without stairs, connected to the rear of a residential dwelling.
(c) "Setback" means the required distance between the property line of a lot or parcel and the location where a structure is allowed to be placed under an adopted land use regulation.
(d) "Walkout porch" means an uncovered platform that is on the ground and connected to the rear of a residential dwelling.
(e) "Window well" means a recess in the ground around a residential dwelling to allow for ingress and egress through a window installed in a basement that is fully or partially below ground.
(2) A municipality may not enact or enforce an ordinance, resolution, or policy that prohibits or has the effect of prohibiting an allowable feature within the rear setback of a residential building lot or parcel.
(3) Subsection (2) does not apply to a historic district within the municipality.

Where this section sits in the code

Title 10 Utah Municipal Code
Chapter 10-20 Municipal Land Use, Development, and Management Act
Part 10-20-6 Land Use Regulations - Particular Situations

(1) As used in this section:

(a) "Allowable feature" means:

(i) a landing or walkout porch that:

(A) is no more than 32 square feet in size; and

(B) is used for ingress to and egress from the rear of the residential dwelling; or

(ii) a window well.

(b) "Landing" means an uncovered, above-ground platform, with or without stairs, connected to the rear of a residential dwelling.

(c) "Setback" means the required distance between the property line of a lot or parcel and the location where a structure is allowed to be placed under an adopted land use regulation.

(d) "Walkout porch" means an uncovered platform that is on the ground and connected to the rear of a residential dwelling.

(e) "Window well" means a recess in the ground around a residential dwelling to allow for ingress and egress through a window installed in a basement that is fully or partially below ground.

(2) A municipality may not enact or enforce an ordinance, resolution, or policy that prohibits or has the effect of prohibiting an allowable feature within the rear setback of a residential building lot or parcel.

(3) Subsection (2) does not apply to a historic district within the municipality.

Collected 2026-09-03T11:34:33Z. Source file · JSON

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