Layton, Bountiful, Farmington, Kaysville, Clearfield, Syracuse, Centerville and Clinton: Davis County has a code story no other Wasatch Front county shares, the east-bench downslope winds. That's the #1 reason to engineer a steel building properly here.
Bountiful and Farmington design criteria specify an ultimate design wind speed of 140 mph (3-second gust). Dramatically higher than the ~115 mph used elsewhere along the Wasatch Front. These violent downslope canyon winds hammer the east benches of Bountiful, Centerville, Farmington and Fruit Heights. A generic steel kit engineered for 115 mph is not code-compliant on these properties, and an engineer must evaluate your specific site. This is precisely where proper anchorage and bracing separate a building that stands from one that peels apart.
| Code criteria (Davis County) | Value | What it means for your build |
|---|---|---|
| Building-permit threshold | 200 sq ft | Over 200 sq ft needs a building permit; under still needs zoning approval. |
| Design wind speed | 140 mph on east benches | Bountiful / Centerville / Farmington / Fruit Heights downslope wind region. |
| Ground snow load | 30 psf valley · 40 psf foothill | Lighter than Cache Valley, but benches climb with elevation. |
| Seismic design category | D2 | High seismic. Wasatch Fault runs through the county. |
| Frost / footing depth | 30″ | Foundation bears below frost line. |
| Adopted codes | 2021 I-codes · 2020 NEC | Statewide since July 1, 2023. |
Wind and snow values vary by exact site. East-bench properties require an engineer's site evaluation. Verify all figures with your city building department.
When a strong easterly flow pours down out of the Royalty Metal Buildings canyons, it accelerates as it drops onto the Davis County benches. The same phenomenon that famously flattened fences, roofs and big-box signage in Centerville and Farmington during past windstorms. The building code responds with a 140 mph special wind region for these areas.
For a steel building, designing to 140 mph instead of 115 mph isn't a minor tweak. It changes the anchor-bolt pattern, base connections, wall bracing and panel fasteners. We engineer every Davis County bench building to its required wind speed and provide the stamped calculations your inspector expects.
Davis County follows the 2021 IRC: a detached accessory building over 200 sq ft requires a building permit. Under 200 sq ft you still need zoning approval (Layton, for example, requires zoning sign-off even on small sheds). Any metal garage or shop with a slab and electrical requires a full permit. Layton publishes a "Residential Detached Garage/Shed Sample Site Plan" to guide your submittal.
Setbacks are governed by your zoning district. The common pattern keeps accessory buildings out of the front yard with modest side and rear yard distances; agricultural zones allow larger structures. We confirm your parcel's exact setbacks with your city before drawing the site plan.
If you're on the east benches of Bountiful, Centerville, Farmington or Fruit Heights. Near the mouth of the canyons. You're very likely in the high-wind region. Valley-floor properties to the west are typically lower. We evaluate your exact address and engineer to the correct wind speed.
Yes. Detached buildings over 200 sq ft need a building permit, and a garage with a foundation and power requires one regardless of size. Buildings under 200 sq ft still need zoning approval.
About 30 psf on the valley floor and 40 psf in foothill zones, rising with elevation. We pull your address-specific value and engineer to it.
Minimum 30 inches to bear below the frost line; bench sites with high wind also need engineered anchorage tying the building to the foundation.
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