The Riverton City Council, recognizing the need for more water-conscious landscaping in the city, recently updated city ordinances regarding park strip landscaping. The park strip is the area between the sidewalk and the curb, and while that area is part of the public right-of-way, it is the homeowner’s responsibility to landscape and maintain that area. The updated ordinance allows for the use of rock cobble in the park strip, but also allows for hard surface materials such as concrete. The updated text reads as follows:

Park Strip Landscaping. The area of the street right-of-way between the curb line, or the proposed curb lines as established by the city street standard, and the property line (park strip) shall be kept free of weeds and maintained by the abutting property owner and be landscaped with sod, shrubs, trees, ground cover, bark mulch, and decorative rock cobble. Materials which minimize water use are encouraged. Hard surfacing may be installed with an approved encroachment permit issued by the public works department. Hard surfacing, and all other materials, must comply with any and all applicable Riverton City ordinances, standards, and specifications, and may not include asphalt. Hard surfacing in a park strip may be limited or prohibited in certain areas to protect existing utilities and utility easements.

Please feel free to contact the Planning & Zoning Department if you have any questions about the ordinance, or about available options for improving your park strip. The Planning & Zoning Department can be reached at 801-208-3149, via email at planning@rivertonutah.gov or during our office hours at City Hall.

Riverton City’s ordinances allow for home-based businesses as an accessory or secondary use in residential areas. The ordinance provides specific requirements to safe guard the residential character of neighborhoods. You can read the ordinance in Riverton City Code 18.190 “Home Occupations”. Home occupations must obtain a Riverton City Business license. 

There are two types of home based business, Simple and Conditional Use. Simple Home Occupations are more common. A Simple Home Occupation shows no evidence from the outside that a business is being conducted at the property. There are eight (8) specific criteria a home occupation must meet to qualify as a Simple Home Occupation.   When you apply for a business license you must sign a document stating your business will meet and follow all eight (8) criteria.

If your business does not qualify as a Simple Home Occupation, it may qualify for a Conditional Use Home Occupation. Conditional Use Home Occupations allow for uses that may be seen by the neighbors such as an employee, customers, or students coming to the home. A Conditional Use Home Occupation requires a separate application, and may require a hearing before the City’s Planning Commission. Please contact the Riverton City Planning Department if you have questions specific to your business at 801-208-3149 or planning@rivertonutah.gov.

Click here for information about Business Licensing.

Sheds below 200 square feet in size and less than 16 feet in height do not require a building permit, and may be placed within 1 foot of property line. Buildings over 200 square feet require a building permit. They are subject to increased setbacks and the exterior of the building must use materials that are present on the home. Generally, accessory buildings are limited to 20-ft in height, but in some cases they can be higher.

Riverton City’s ordinances now allow accessory dwelling units in all single-family residential zones, subject to some limitations and restrictions. The ordinance allows for rental of space within an existing home, such as a basement rental, or as part of a detached accessory structure. In addition to any building permits that may be required for construction or finishing of living space, Riverton City requires a one-time Accessory Dwelling Unit permit to be issued. The ADU permit is not required if space is being rented to family members. The ADU permit application can be found on the Applications and Permits page.

See the accessory building ordinance for more information you may also visit the Riverton City Building Department for additional information and examples.

Please contact the Planning Department with any questions.

The rules for keeping chickens in Riverton vary depending on the zoning of your property. You can find your Zoning on the map here.

• In the R-1 and RR-22 zones chickens are classified as farm animals and may be kept according to the rules of those zones.
• In the R-2, R-3, and R-4 Zones you may keep up to six chickens, but no roosters.
• In Special Development Districts (Monarch Meadows, Western Springs, and Canyon View Park, etc.) if your lot is at least 10,000 square feet, you may keep up to six chickens, but no roosters.

For single-family homes, drive approaches must be at least 18 feet wide and can be up to 40% of the lot frontage, as measured at the property line. A second driveway may be allowed, if the primary driveway does not exceed 35 feet and the second driveway is more than 25 feet from the main driveway. A Right-of-Way Encroachment Permit is required when you construct or enlarge a drive approach.

In residential subdivisions property boundaries are typically marked by the developer during construction. Rear yard property corners are typically marked with rebar, while front property corners are marked by plugs or pins set at offsets in the curb along the street. Unfortunately, property markers are frequently removed or buried as homes are built and owners install fences and landscaping. Only a professional land surveyor can mark property corners. While Riverton City staff can provide information on the size and dimension of properties within the city, we do not provide surveying services.

Riverton City staff are available to help answer your questions regarding property, zoning, and other issues, and can help with application processing and other development related questions. Contact us at 801-208-3149 or planning@rivertonutah.gov.

Riverton City’s ordinances now allow accessory dwelling units in all single-family residential zones, subject to some limitations and restrictions. The ordinance allows for rental of space within an existing home, such as a basement rental, or as part of a detached accessory structure. In addition to any building permits that may be required for construction or finishing of living space, Riverton City requires a one-time Accessory Dwelling Unit permit to be issued. That ADU permit is not required if space is being rented to family members. Click here to find the permit or click here to view Accessory Dwelling Unit ordinance. Please feel free to contact the Planning Department for any questions regarding this at planning@rivertonutah.gov.