St. George fence rules and permits

A plain-English guide for St. George, Utah homeowners. Always confirm with the city before work starts. Rules change.

Do you need a permit?

Depends. A permit is required before you build any fence in a front setback, unless the fence is shown on an approved site plan. You send a site plan with property lines, sidewalks, buildings, and fence heights and locations. Check with the St. George Building Department about side and rear yard fences.

Who to ask: St. George Building Department (website)

The rules

• Fences in side and rear yards cannot be taller than 6 ft 4 in.
• In the front yard setback, fences are limited to 4 ft. In the first 10 ft behind the sidewalk, only open decorative fences (at least 50 percent open) are allowed.
• On large-lot zones (RE-37.5, RE-5, A-1, A-5, A-10, R-1-40), a front yard fence up to 6 ft 4 in is allowed if it is at least 50 percent open and at least 10 ft from the sidewalk.
• Nothing taller than 3 ft may block view inside the sight distance triangle.
• Berms cannot be used to raise the allowed fence height.
• Fences cannot go past the property line or onto the public right-of-way. Fill the gap with concrete or gravel if a fence is within 1 ft of a public sidewalk.
• Keep fences at least 5 ft from fire hydrants and transformers, 3 ft from water meter boxes and streetlights, and 7.5 ft from power poles.
• Barbed wire and razor ribbon are banned in residential zones.

HOAs

Many newer St. George communities, such as Entrada and Divario, are master planned and may have HOA fence rules that are stricter than the city. Check your covenants first.

Call before you dig

Blue Stakes of Utah 811: dial 811. Submit a locate request about 2 business days before you dig. Free to use.

Local conditions

St. George is desert country with very hot summers and little rain. July highs average about 102 degrees.

• Caliche, a rock-hard soil layer, is widespread in the St. George and Hurricane area. Post holes can need heavy digging gear.
• Intense sun fades and dries out wood, so stain or sealer helps.
• Vinyl and metal handle heat well but can expand and shift in strong sun.
• Dry soil and wind mean posts need solid concrete footings.

Good to know

• St. George had 95,342 residents at the 2020 census and is the fifth-largest city in Utah.
• The city sets exact clearances for fences near utilities, such as 5 ft from a fire hydrant and 7.5 ft from a power pole.
• Caliche is widespread in the St. George to Hurricane area, according to the Utah Geological Survey.
• The city code was changed in August 2026 (Ordinance 2026-062) to update the fence section.