West Valley City allows detached buildings up to 20 ft tall with small rear setbacks. Here are the rules for a steel garage or shop and what one costs in Salt Lake County.
| West Valley City at a glance | What it means for your building |
|---|---|
| Permit needed | Not for a one-story detached building of 200 sq ft or less, but Planning and Zoning still approves the location (801-963-3312). Over 200 sq ft needs a building permit. |
| Height | 20 ft and one story (12 ft in RMH). In a rear yard: 14 ft at the minimum setback, then 1 ft farther back for each extra foot, up to 20 ft. |
| Rear yard setbacks | 1 ft from side and rear lot lines, 3 ft from the house. Corner or double-frontage lots: 20 ft from any street unless a sound wall separates them. |
| Side yard | Must meet the main side setbacks (8 ft in R-1-8). |
| Coverage | Accessory buildings can cover up to 25% of the rear yard. Agricultural zones (A, A-1, A-2) have no 25% cap but need 10 ft side and rear setbacks. |
| Close to the line | A wall less than 5 ft from the property line needs a 5/8 in. Type X firewall. The city wants 2 sets of plans and 2 site plans. |
| Elevation | About 4,300 ft, Salt Lake County. |
From West Valley City's published code and permit pages, checked October 2026. Rules change, so confirm with the city before you build. Snow, wind and seismic values: see the Salt Lake County guide.
Building package estimates for Salt Lake County from our live estimator (October 2026, 3:12 roof, 10×10-class roll-up doors). Foundation, site prep and erection are separate.
| Building | Salt Lake County estimate |
|---|---|
| 24×30×12 garage or small shop | $16,600 – $20,700 |
| 30×40×14 shop, 2 roll-up doors | $28,800 – $35,900 |
| 40×60×16 shop, 2 roll-up doors | $57,800 – $72,000 |
Your written quote is the firm number. More on steel shop pricing in Utah →
West Valley's ban on metal siding applies only to the small sheds (under 120 sq ft and under 8 ft tall) that are allowed inside a side-yard setback. We found no general metal ban for rear-yard garages and shops.
If you want a shop bigger than 25% of your rear yard, an agricultural zone lot is the place to look. Send us your address and we will help you check your zone.
3600 S Constitution Blvd, West Valley City, UT 84119 · 801-963-3283 · Mon to Thu, 7 AM to 6 PM. City permit page →
A one-story detached building of 200 square feet or less does not need a building permit, but Planning and Zoning still approves where it goes. Anything larger needs a building permit.
Up to 20 feet and one story in most residential zones. In a rear yard it can be 14 feet tall at the minimum setback and must step back 1 foot for each extra foot of height.
The city bans metal exteriors only on the small sheds allowed inside a side-yard setback. We found no general ban on metal for rear-yard garages and shops, but confirm with the city for your lot.
A 30x40 shop with 14-foot walls and two roll-up doors estimates at about $28,800 to $35,900 for the building package in Salt Lake County on our live estimator (October 2026). Foundation and erection are separate.
Get a live estimate now, then a firm quote with drawings engineered for your address.