Most fence questions in St. George come down to one: do I need to get the city involved before I dig? The answer is in St. George City Code Title 10, Chapter 18, "Fences and Retaining Walls." This page translates the permit section into plain language and gives you a checklist. The wording of the code is quoted or closely paraphrased below, and the text was rechecked on September 26, 2026, when the code site showed it current through Ordinance 2026-068 (passed August 20, 2026).
What §10-18-5 says
Retaining walls of four feet or more. Rockery, segmental block, reinforced concrete, or CMU retaining walls four feet (4') or greater in height shall not be constructed without first obtaining a permit from the city of St. George unless shown in detail on an approved site development plan.
Anything in a front setback. A permit is required prior to construction for any fence or retaining wall being constructed in a front setback unless shown in detail on approved site development plans.
Two separate triggers, then: location (any fence or retaining wall in a front setback, regardless of height) and size (retaining walls of the listed types at 4 feet or greater, wherever they are). A fence in a side or rear yard is not covered by the front-setback trigger, but it still has to meet the height limits in §10-18-1, and you should confirm your particular lot with the city.
How the city measures height
Height determines whether the size trigger applies, and the code measures differently depending on the wall type:
- Concrete and CMU retaining walls are measured from the top of the footing to the top of the wall.
- Rockery and segmental block retaining walls are measured from the exposed face to finished grade adjacent to the base of the wall.
That difference matters. A CMU wall that shows 3 feet above the soil can measure taller once the footing is counted, so do not rely on a rough visual guess.
Fence heights you still have to meet (§10-18-1)
Even where no permit is required, the fence must meet the height rules. In most zones, no fence may exceed 4 feet in the front yard, and no fence may exceed 6 feet 4 inches in side and rear yards. Within 10 feet behind the sidewalk, only decorative fences with at least 50 percent of the fence open, such as picket or wrought iron, are permitted. Some zones (RE-37.5, RE-5, A-1, A-5, A-10, and R-1-40) allow up to 6 feet 4 inches in the front setback if the fence is at least 50 percent open and stays at least 10 feet from the sidewalk or property line. Barbed wire is prohibited in residential zones except for agricultural use in residential estates.
Step by step: does your project need a permit?
- Find out whether any part of the project is in a front setback. Under St. George City Code 10-18-5, a permit is required prior to construction for any fence or retaining wall in a front setback, unless it is shown in detail on approved site development plans. Check your plat or ask the city where your front setback line is.
- Identify whether you are building a retaining wall. A wall that holds back soil is a retaining wall. Rockery, segmental block, reinforced concrete, or CMU retaining walls four feet or greater in height require a permit from the city unless shown in detail on an approved site development plan.
- Measure the height the way the city does. For concrete and CMU retaining walls, measure from the top of the footing to the top of the wall. For rockery and segmental block walls, measure from the exposed face to finished grade adjacent to the base of the wall.
- Check the fence height and style limits. Under City Code 10-18-1, most zones limit front-yard fences to 4 feet and side and rear-yard fences to 6 feet 4 inches, with decorative, at-least-50-percent-open fences required within 10 feet behind the sidewalk.
- Prepare the application materials. The application must include a site plan showing property lines, sidewalks, buildings, height, and locations of all fences and retaining walls, plus a landscape and drainage plan for retaining walls.
- Submit the permit application to the City of St. George. Permits can be submitted through the city CityInspect portal. The Building Department is at 61 S Main St and can be reached at 435-627-4100, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Get HOA approval and have utilities marked. If you have an HOA, get its written approval separately from the city permit. Call 811 (Blue Stakes of Utah) before digging; the service asks for at least 3 business days of notice.
What to submit
According to §10-18-5, the application must include a site plan showing property lines, sidewalks, buildings, height, and the locations of all fences and retaining walls, plus a landscape and drainage plan for retaining walls. If a company is building the project, ask whether they prepare those drawings and whether the cost is in the quote.
Where to apply and who to call
The City of St. George Building Department is at 61 S Main St, St. George, UT 84770, open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (435-627-4100), and accepts permit submissions through the city's CityInspect portal. Contact details were checked on September 26, 2026; confirm them before you go.
Permit mistakes to avoid
- Assuming a fence in the front yard is fine because it is only 3 feet tall. In a front setback, height does not matter for the permit trigger.
- Assuming a contractor's "we never need a permit" is right without checking your lot.
- Building a retaining wall to a height that "looks" under 4 feet without measuring by the city's method.
- Skipping the drainage plan on a retaining wall.
- Getting HOA approval and thinking the city is covered, or the reverse. They are separate.
Source: St. George City Code §10-18-1 and §10-18-5 (§10-18-5 on the city code site). This page is a plain-language summary, not legal advice; the code and the city's interpretation control.