Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Riverton, Utah

Riverton’s own rules

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Buildings and structures within Riverton city.

  • The city code updates automatically when Utah adopts updated code versions.
  • Construction must also comply with other relevant city ordinances; the more restrictive provision controls when there is a conflict.

  “The most recent version of the International Building Code(s) adopted by the state of Utah, including building, residential, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, administrative, energy, conservation, fuel, gas, and existing buildings code, and any adopted appendices are hereby adopted as the building code of the city.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Riverton city limits.

  • Zoning controls vary by mapped city zone.

  “The residential R-1 zone is established to provide a rural residential environment within Riverton City that is characterized by large single-family houses, a minimum of vehicular traffic and quiet neighborhoods favorable for rural family life.”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Use of a recreational vehicle as a dwelling inside Riverton city limits.

  • A compliant approved recreational-vehicle park or development is required, except visitors to a main dwelling may occupy an RV for no more than 14 days.
  • In an RV park, an individual RV space may not be used by one RV for more than 90 consecutive days or leased to one individual for more than 90 days in a calendar year.

  visitor occupancy maximum: <= 14 days (Visitors of occupants of a main dwelling unit.) · RV-park space occupancy maximum: <= 90 consecutive days (Also no lease to one individual longer than 90 days in one calendar year.)

  “No individual space in a recreational vehicle park shall be used by one individual recreational vehicle for more than 90 consecutive days, nor shall such space be rented or leased to any one individual for a period longer than 90 days in any one calendar year.”

• Permit processPartial

  Mobile-home park, RV-park, and mobile-home-subdivision approval applications inside Riverton city limits.

  • The applicant may approve an extension of the 30-day decision period.
  • After Planning Commission approval, the application and recommendations go to the local governing body within 15 days.

  planning commission decision period: <= 30 days (Unless the applicant approves an extension.)

  “Application for approval shall be in writing, submitted to the planning commission at its regular meeting, and shall be granted or denied within 30 days, unless an extension of such time is approved by the applicant. If approved by the planning commission, the application and planning commission recommendations shall be forwarded to the local governing body within 15 days.”

Rules another office applies inside Riverton

Riverton does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Dwellings and accessory uses in Riverton's R-1 residential zone.

  • R-1 subdivisions may have no more than one residential lot per one acre gross density and no more than one dwelling unit per lot.

  minimum lot area: >= 43000 square feet (For each dwelling and accessory uses.)

  “Lot Size. An area of not less than 43,000 square feet shall be provided and maintained for each dwelling and uses accessory thereto.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Dwelling structures and main buildings in Riverton's R-1 residential zone.

  • Measurements are to the foundation.
  • Attached garages have a 25-foot front-yard setback and a 25-foot driveway requirement.
  • Irregular lots use an average 25-foot rear setback, but no portion may be closer than 15 feet.

  front-yard setback: >= 15 feet (Measured to foundation or a covered front porch or patio foundation, if present.) · side-yard setback: >= 8 feet (Total 18 feet; 10-foot setback on garage side.) · rear-yard setback: >= 25 feet (Measured to foundation.)

  “Side Yard Requirements. All dwelling structures and other main buildings shall be set back from each side property line a minimum distance of eight feet, a total of 18 feet, and a minimum of 16 feet between residential dwelling units. The 10-foot setback shall be on the side of the home where the garage is located. Setbacks shall be measured to the foundation.”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Lots in Riverton's R-1 residential zone.

  maximum lot coverage: <= 40 percent

  “Building Coverage. Lots in the R-1 zone shall have a lot coverage of no more than 40 percent.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Buildings in Riverton's R-1 residential zone.

  maximum building height: <= 35 feet

  “Height of Buildings. All buildings in an R-1 zone shall be no higher than 35 feet.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Riverton or Salt Lake County directly.

• Building permit — Residential construction inside Riverton city limits.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Riverton city limits.
• Inspections — Building work inside Riverton city limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — Buildings inside Riverton city limits.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Riverton city limits.

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Riverton means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

• Water Crystal Quest Filter any source — well, rain, or creek — to drinking-clean.
• Power Bluetti Solar generators and home battery backup for living off the grid.
• Septic Soil percolation test kit Run your own perc test before paying an engineer — the first thing a septic office asks about.
• Water Well water test kit Bacteria, nitrates, hardness — know what the well on a parcel is really pumping.

These are affiliate links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Bolthole Index earns from qualifying purchases.