Salt Lake City Slashes Lot Size, Parking Requirements for Middle Housing Zones

A new ordinance alters regulations for middle housing zones, removing barriers that made multifamily development impractical or too expensive.

1 minute read

December 12, 2025, 7:00 AM PST

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


View of residential neighborhood with large trees and mountains in background in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Salt Lakr City created middle housing zones in 1995, but new development has been stymied by regulations. | Jason Finn / Shutterstock

The Salt Lake City Council approved zoning code changes that will make it easier to build multifamily housing in middle housing zones that were created in 1995, reports Jacob Scholl in Building Salt Lake. 

According to Scholl, “The two zones are considered a vehicle for creating mid-density, missing middle residential housing, though technical issues have largely prevented development within the zone.” The new ordinance reduced minimum lot size, eliminates lot width minimums, and reduces the number of required parking spots to one spot per unit. 

“Tuesday’s zoning code changes are the latest that have been approved by the City Council, as they approved an overhaul of the city’s mixed-use zoning code earlier this year. In just this year alone, the council has discussed industrial land use changes near residential areas, as well as changes to its single-family zoning code.”

Wednesday, December 10, 2025 in Building Salt Lake

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