Zone and lot size
Agricultural and residential-agricultural zones commonly tie animal allowances to lot size.
Ben Dickamore
KNOW THE RULES
Room for horseson paper, too.
Acreage alone doesn’t tell you how many horses you can keep. Local zoning, animal allowances, and HOA rules decide that—and they vary from city to city.
Utah horse property. It’s what we do.
Animal rights are set by each city or county—often by zone and lot size—and can come with limits on barns, setbacks from homes and property lines, and manure management. Ben checks the current rules for each property and flags listings where the horses depend on an older approval.
- Read the zone, not just the listing remarks.
- Check HOA and subdivision restrictions.
- Ask about grandfathered or nonconforming uses.
A PLAN YOU CAN FOLLOW
From the first question
to the next right step.
Start where you are. Work through the decisions together.
- 01
Pull the zoning.
Find the parcel’s zone and the city or county ordinance that applies.
- 02
Do the animal math.
Confirm how many horses—and other animals—the lot allows and how the city counts them.
- 03
Check the structures.
Setbacks, barn size limits, and permits for existing outbuildings and arenas.
- 04
Look ahead.
Nearby rezoning, new subdivisions, and annexation can change a rural area.
LOOK A LITTLE CLOSER
Rules that shape a horse property.
Confirm each one with the local planning office for the specific parcel.
Setbacks
Barns, corrals, and manure storage may need distance from homes, wells, and property lines.
HOA and CC&Rs
Some subdivisions restrict large animals even where zoning allows them.
Permits
Ask whether existing barns, arenas, and additions were permitted.
Is there a statewide rule for horses per acre in Utah?
No single statewide number applies to residential horse keeping. Cities and counties set their own animal allowances through zoning, so the same acreage can allow a different number of horses in different places.
What does “grandfathered” mean for horse property?
It usually describes a use that was allowed when it began but doesn’t meet current rules. Those rights can be limited and may not survive a change in use. Confirm the status with the city or county before relying on it.
Can Ben check a property before I make an offer?
Yes. Send the address and how many horses you plan to keep, and Ben will help you check the zoning and the questions to confirm with the planning office.
KNOW THE RULES
Your next step.
A conversation with Ben.
Share the address or area and how many horses you plan to keep.
Talk with Ben DickamoreStart with what’s on your mind.