Fence and Block Wall Installation in Santa Clara, UT: Permits, Heights, and Costs

Santa Clara rewrote its fence and wall chapter in 2022, and it is one of the more process-driven cities around St. George: every fence and wall system gets a review by the building official before it goes in, and the city offers a fence permit application for the purpose. This page summarizes Santa Clara City Code chapter 17.28 as read on September 26, 2026.

Santa Clara fence and wall rules at a glance

• Every fence is reviewed

  The building official reviews each wall and fence system before construction, and the city publishes a fence permit application (§17.28.020(B)).

• Permit and engineering over 7 feet

  A building permit and engineered design are required for a fence system over 7 feet (§17.28.020(A)).

• 6 feet on side and rear lines

  Starting 15 feet back from the front property line (25 feet where the line is at the back of curb) (§17.28.040(A)).

• 3 feet in the front setback

  Or 4 feet for a fence at least 50 percent open, set 1 foot behind the property line (§17.28.040(B)).

• Corner-lot sight triangle

  No obstruction over 2 feet in the triangle formed 30 feet from the intersection (§17.28.050).

• Retaining walls max 6 feet

  Engineered over 4 feet; terraced at 1:1 above 6 feet; moisture-proofed on the retained side (§17.28.060).

Heights on a typical lot

On an interior lot, a 6-foot fence may run along the side and rear property lines, starting 15 feet back from the front property line where the line is measured from the back of the sidewalk, or 25 feet back where it is measured from the back of the curb. In the front setback, fences, walls, and retaining walls stay at 3 feet, unless the fence is at least 50 percent open, in which case it may be 4 feet tall if set 1 foot behind the property line.

A fence and wall system built entirely on one lot can reach 9 feet in total, and where a fence sits on a retaining wall on a shared property line, the combination is limited to 9 feet measured from the lower side (§17.28.030). Grade may not be bermed up to gain height.

Retaining walls

Santa Clara caps retaining walls at 6 feet. Above 4 feet, the wall must be engineered and approved under International Residential Code standards, and a building permit is required once the wall exceeds 4 feet measured from the bottom of the footing, a different measuring point from St. George's. Systems taller than 6 feet must be terraced into benches at a 1:1 offset, and retaining walls must be moisture-proofed on the retained side below grade. A rock wall no more than 4 feet tall with a slope no steeper than 1:1 is not treated as a retaining wall under §17.28.060.

What it costs

No Santa Clara fence or wall company publishes prices. As of September 2026, typical residential fence projects in the St. George area run about $2,400–$10,800 installed, and CMU block walls about $20–$35 per square foot. Where Santa Clara requires an engineered design, add that fee; the retaining wall cost guide shows typical engineering costs.

Who to call

Summary of Santa Clara City Code chapter 17.28 as published on the city's code library (shown as current through supplement 2026 S-25 when read on September 26, 2026). Not legal advice; the city's code and interpretation control.