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Utah County amends lot‑coverage rules, adopts 15% cap and removes 5,000 sq. ft. limit for accessory structures
Summary
The commission adopted an amendment to sections 5‑3 and 5‑4 of the county land‑use ordinance affecting TR and RR‑5 zones, moving from fixed square‑foot caps to percentage lot coverage and setting coverage at 15% while removing a 5,000 sq. ft. cap; motion passed 3–0.
The Utah County Board of Commissioners adopted an amendment to the county land‑use ordinance affecting accessory and agricultural structures in TR and RR‑5 zones, replacing prior fixed square‑foot caps with a percentage‑based lot coverage standard and removing a 5,000 square‑foot cap.
Greg Robinson of Community Development explained staff's proposal, developed from a year of building‑permit research, recommending a 10 percent lot‑coverage limit for accessory structures, ag structures and greenhouses in TR and RR‑5 zones with a maximum building size of 5,000 square feet. The planning commission recommended approval of staff's proposal by a unanimous 5–0 vote.
Applicant Helena Carter Thomas, who lives in an RR‑5 zone, said the current square‑foot limits were too restrictive for some property owners and asked the commission for flexibility. "I don't really like the 5,000 cap," she said, adding that a percentage approach would be more practical for owners of varying parcel sizes.
Commissioners discussed alternatives and agreed to adopt the amendment with a modified limit of 15 percent lot coverage and removal of the 5,000 square‑foot cap. Commissioner discussion focused on balancing flexibility for agricultural uses and smaller residential lots while preventing disproportionate industrial‑scale buildings in residential zones. The motion to adopt regular agenda item #6 with the change to 15 percent and removal of the 5,000 sq. ft. cap passed by voice vote 3–0.
The ordinance change replaces the prior fixed caps for many small parcels with a percentage that scales with lot size, and staff said it will allow applicants some flexibility in combining accessory, agricultural and greenhouse uses under a single coverage limit.
