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Neighbor seeks ordinance after unpermitted backyard pond raised health and safety concerns
Summary
A Murray resident told the council an unpermitted backyard pond near his property raises drainage, mosquito and structural-safety concerns; code enforcement said it has taken steps but residents asked the council to consider adopting an ordinance defining 'pond' or 'pool.'
MURRAY, Utah — Two neighbors asked the council on July 15 to investigate an unpermitted pond dug on a nearby property and requested the city consider an ordinance to define and regulate backyard ponds.
Colby Alverson said the unpermitted excavation at 5470 Kenwood Drive is approximately "5 feet deep, 15 feet wide, and 10 feet long" and that the owner had said he planned to stock the feature with ducks, fish and crawfish. Alverson told the council he had already worked with code enforcement for other concerns but believes the pond poses a health and property-risk gap not clearly covered by current rules.
"This raises several serious concerns. One, drainage and erosion ... two, mosquitoes and water quality ... three, structural safety," Alverson told the council, asking whether code enforcement could take additional action under existing city code and urging an ordinance if the code does not reach ponds.
Neighbor Bob Van Baver, whose property sits behind Alverson’s, said the site has generated additional nuisance problems over time, including free‑ranging chickens and concerns about rodents and odors, and asked the city to consider limits on animals and pond installations on small residential lots.
Discussion and next steps A council member said staff would follow up: "I'll have Doug set up an appointment and we'll meet with you, and we'll go over this," the council member said, directing code-enforcement staff to meet the residents and discuss possible remedies.
Ending note Residents requested either enforcement under current code or the development of a new ordinance that would create a clear definition and standards for backyard ponds; staff agreed to meet with the residents to review the situation and next steps.
