Salt Lake City council adopts RMF 35/45 zoning changes to allow larger multifamily buildings
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Summary
The council voted 6–1 to amend RMF 35 and RMF 45 zoning rules, removing a 100-foot maximum building length and increasing the maximum number of dwelling units to 50 in RMF 45, a move supporters say increases housing capacity and opponents worry could affect historic districts.
The Salt Lake City Council voted to adopt an amendment to the city's multifamily zoning code that removes a 100‑foot maximum building length and increases the maximum number of dwelling units to 50 in the RMF 45 district.
Councilmember Darren Mano moved to adopt the ordinance and Councilmember Petro seconded; the measure passed on a 6–1 vote after council debate that included concerns about impacts on historic districts and parking.
Supporters framed the change as a remedy to an outdated zoning regime that limited housing supply. "This is the progressive smart policies that make our neighborhoods thriving," Councilmember Pui said, describing the amendment as part of a broader effort to permit more housing and address supply constraints. Councilmember Mano noted the long process of reform and described the change as a correction to a "broken" ordinance that had constrained multifamily development for years.
Opponents raised preservation and neighborhood-impacts questions. One council member said they would not support the measure because of possible effects on historic districts and parking, prompting discussion about mitigation and design standards.
What the ordinance changes: The adopted text amendment eliminates the 100‑foot maximum building length in RMF 45 and raises the cap on dwelling units in that zone to 50, altering the RMF 35/45 multifamily framework in Title 21 (the city's zoning code). Council members and staff said the amendment is intended to create more predictable and flexible options for multifamily development and to allow projects that better meet housing demand.
Next steps: The ordinance takes effect according to the city's normal ordinance-implementation schedule and will be applied to future multifamily development proposals in RMF 35 and RMF 45 zones. Councilmembers asked staff to monitor parking and historic-district impacts and to report back on implementation and any necessary follow-up measures.