A. Purpose: This zone provides higher-density housing options to meet Washington County's moderate income housing goals. It supports varied housing types (apartments, duplexes, townhouses, condominiums, etc.) that allow residents to remain in their communities as life circumstances change.
Multifamily projects may have attached or detached units. An applicant requesting the PD Multifamily zone, in exchange for the highest residential density only available in this specialized zone, agrees to comply with the minimum building design elements herein for all housing types it selects in the zone as permitted by Utah Code Ann. 17-79-614(3)(h). The planned development project may have one owner, or multiple owners if units are individually platted and sold. The zone serves as an appropriate transition between single-family neighborhoods and commercial areas along collector and arterial streets. This zone only applies to property in the unincorporated county.
B. Allowed Location: The purpose is to locate higher-density housing near employment centers and the I-15 transportation corridor.
1. The Planned Development Multifamily zone is permitted on the south east side of I-15 as depicted on the zoning map, only from mile marker 16 to mile marker 31, and if any portion of the property is within one mile of the outside edge of the UDOT right-of-way.
2. A Planned Development Multifamily zone will be limited in proximity to any other PD Multifamily zone seeking approval or expansion. Using the outside perimeter of all approved PD Multifamily zones, no other PD Multifamily zone will be approved or expanded within 0.5 miles.
C. Allowed Uses: Uses not specifically permitted, permitted with standards, or conditionally permitted are prohibited.
1. P means a permitted use.
2. PS means a use permitted with standards.
3. C means a conditional use.
4. Commercial uses in the PD Multifamily zone, upon approval of a mixed uses in the zone, are limited to C-1 uses pursuant to County Ord. 10-10-3, as amended.
5. Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU): ADUs are not permitted in a PD Multifamily except in the sole discretion of the land use authority, and only if the following conditions are met:
a. The primary dwelling unit is a detached single family dwelling.
b. The ADU may be attached to, or detached from, the primary dwelling unit, maximum one thousand (1,000) sq. ft. One ADU only. (See diagrams below)
c. If the approved single family dwelling unit with its ADU is individually platted, and if the dwelling is owner-occupied with the primary residential exemption as determined by the Washington County assessor's office, it may be long term rented, as set forth in County Ord. § 10-13-18, as amended.
d. All ADUs count toward density calculations which cannot exceed the maximum dwelling units an acre in the PD Multifamily zone.
6. Short term rental units are not permitted in the PD Multifamily zone.
D. Dimensional Standards: Key requirements: See Table 1 for additional standards.
a. Standard building height limits are a minimum of ten feet and maximum of thirty-five feet (35'). HVAC or RTU equipment may be on rooftops but shall have parapet screens matching exterior building materials (max. height of equipment and screen, thirty-nine feet (39')).
b. Rooftop patios, covered or uncovered, are permitted provided that no patio covering shall exceed thirty-five feet (35') high.
2. Building Requirements: All attached multistory buildings shall include graduated heights, varied massing, varied rooflines, and multiple façade elements on all facades. All units shall meet Utah energy codes and standards. All walls, floors, and ceilings shared with an adjacent, attached unit shall have a soundproof rating of fifty (50) (lab-tested) and forty-five (45) (site-tested) or more for sound transmission class (STC) and impact insulation class (IIC) for sound mitigation.
1. Structural Design: Projects shall demonstrate variation in building heights, styles, forms, materials, setbacks, and floor plans. Design shall be site-specific, scaled appropriately, not an afterthought to stock plans, and create a cohesive aesthetic development.
2. Building Materials: A minimum of fifty percent (50%) of exterior materials shall be masonry products (such as brick, stone, or stucco) for durability and low maintenance in Washington County's climate. All exterior building materials shall be of colors that blend harmoniously with the natural colors in the vicinity and viewshed of the project site for an applicant to obtain the increased densities in the PD Multifamily zone.
3. Neighborhood Compatibility: Design shall integrate with surrounding developments through architectural compatibility and height tapering to adjacent uses.
1. Street Requirements for PD Multifamily:
a. Minimum one hundred and forty foot (140') public street frontage.
b. Fronting on a public arterial or collector roadway improved to County standards.
c. Public street frontage improvements are required, including curb, gutter, sidewalk, and master planned trail when applicable. Additional requirements may be imposed for pedestrian safety, ADA access, or erosion protection.
d. Projects over fifty (50) units require a minimum of two public street accesses.
2. Public streets: All PD Multifamily shall gain access from a public street. Streets inside the development may be public or private in accordance with land use authority approvals.
3. Private streets: The land use authority may approve private streets inside the development, and only if the following conditions are met:
a. Private streets shall have curb, gutter, and sidewalk on both sides.
b. Private streets shall be constructed to County standards.
c. Single-sided sidewalk may be approved in the sole discretion of the land use authority, and only if it finds there are enhanced connections to adjacent, off site public amenities.
d. The private streets shall be owned and maintained by a single entity or a POA.
4. Future streets: The street design of the project shall provide for future street connections for cohesive transportation and access to adjacent properties. Access to adjacent properties shall not be impeded.
5. Access to public land: If public land is used for any portion of the open space requirement pursuant to County Ord. 10-9-4(B)(12)(b), as amended, the planned development shall provide dedicated public access and a graveled parking area with a minimum of six parking spaces to access the public land.
G. Project And Utility Standards:
a. Minimum five (5) acres.
b. Minimum fifty (50) and maximum two hundred (200) dwelling units.
c. Maximum density is fifteen (15) dwelling units an acre.
2. Adjacent Properties: Where a PD Multifamily is adjacent to a residential zone, there shall be a six foot (6') solid masonry wall and a ten foot (10') landscape buffer outside the wall and along the adjacent property line.
3. Utilities: All PD Multifamily projects shall obtain water services from the Washington County Water Conservancy District (WCWCD), and obtain wastewater services from the Ash Creek Special Service District (ACSSD), and provide will serve letters under terms acceptable to the county as a condition of a zone change. All utilities shall be underground with screened transformer and other equipment. Utilities, easements, or private roads shall be clearly platted and owned by one entity or a POA in perpetuity with recorded documentation.
4. Common Areas: All project areas outside individual units shall be designated as common or limited common area and owned and maintained by one entity or a POA in perpetuity with recorded documentation.
5. Solid Waste: Centralized storage areas shall be disbursed throughout project, screened by decorative masonry walls, and serviced by private companies. Individual trash cans are prohibited.
a. One monument sign (max 10' height × 15' width).
b. If frontage exceeds three hundred (300') or there are multiple entrances: one additional sign (max. 6' height × 10' width).
c. Wayfaring signs only as approved in project plan.
d. Monument sign lighting permitted; no electronic components.
a. Unit parking: two (2) spaces per unit (one covered and designated for a unit, one may be in common parking areas interspersed throughout the project); one additional space per approved ADU (designated for the ADU) or on the individually platted dwelling lot proximate to the ADU.
b. Guest parking: one space per three units.
c. One space per onsite employee.
d. One space for rental manager.
e. One oversized space per twenty (20) units. Oversized parking shall be screened; RVs/trailers shall not be inhabited.
f. ADA parking as required by law.
2. Tandem garage spaces may count as two parking spaces if unobstructed, and as set forth in (J)(2)(b) below.
3. All parking areas shall be paved.
4. Turning Space: Adequate space required for cars, trailers, service vehicles, waste collection, and firefighting apparatus shall be provided.
I. Open Space, Landscaping, And Amenities:
1. Open Space: Minimum twenty percent (20%) of project area (excludes roadways, driveways, front setbacks, parking). Open space shall be accessible to the entire community.
a. Minimum twenty-five percent (25%) of open space shall be landscaped (max. 10% water-intensive).
b. Required along public street frontage, around buildings, around amenity areas, and in buffers to adjacent residential zones.
c. Follow Washington County Water Conservancy District ultra-efficient landscaping requirements.
3. Required Group Amenities:
a. Fifty (50) to one hundred (100) units: two (2) amenities;
b. One hundred and one (101) to two hundred (200) units: three amenities;
5. Timing: All amenities, open space, and landscaping shall be completed before fifty percent (50%) of units are constructed, or per an executed development agreement.
a. Primary entries for all ground-floor units shall open directly onto public or private street right-of-way, or alternatively face an approved, landscaped community courtyard.
(1) Porch may encroach up to five feet (5') in the setback (steps may encroach further).
(2) Dwelling setback is fifteen feet (15'); garage setback is twenty-two feet (22').
b. Ground floor corner units may orient to one street only, subject to the following:
(1) Corner porch is required, minimum five feet by seven feet (5' x 7'); and
(2) Front façade design elements shall be repeated on all facades.
c. Non-residential buildings (leasing office, amenities, recreation, community centers) shall have twenty percent (20%) ground floor wall area in windows, doorways, and street facing displays with direct street entryway.
2. Community Orientation Standards: Each project shall feature human-oriented design not garage-dominated, vehicle-oriented design. To promote community safety, fifty percent (50%) or more of the total project units shall not have garage-dominated front facades. (See diagrams below)
a. Garage Orientation. Alley loaded garages are not considered garage-dominated.
b. The following also are not considered garage-dominated:
(1) Garage Setback. The entire garage plane shall be set back a minimum of two feet (2') from the front plane of the dwelling unit and front door. Ground-floor front door, window, and front porch (minimum five feet by seven feet (5' x 7'), covered or uncovered) shall be predominant features. If the porch is uncovered, the front door shall have a portico; and
(2) Garage Width Limit. The entire garage plane shall not exceed seventy-three percent (73%) of the entire front facade width.
(3) Porch Encroachment. If (1) and (2) are met, the front porch may encroach up to five feet (5') in the setback (steps may encroach further).
(4) Tandem Garage. If (1) is met, and the entire garage plane does not exceed fifty percent (50%) of the entire front facade width, an unobstructed tandem garage is not considered garage-dominated and is permitted to satisfy the two-space parking requirement. (See diagrams below).
K. Pedestrian Circulation:
1. The planned development shall provide a continuous on site pedestrian system connecting:
a. Entrances to units and common building entrances;
b. All public and private streets, and adjacent (off site) streets;
c. Common facilities (office, amenities, recreation; open space; trails);
d. All parking areas; and
2. Walkway standards: Each unit's front entry shall connect to a public or private street via:
a. A separate hard surface walkway minimum three foot width; or
b. A combined minimum three foot width walkway partially at driveway edge (extending three feet (3') beyond the garage door).
L. Management and Administration:
1. Property Manager: Projects with one hundred (100) units or more shall have:
a. An onsite local manager during business hours for projects where one hundred (100) or more units are not individually platted;
b. An off-site local manager available 24/7/365; and
c. The local manager shall respond on-site within two (2) hours for emergencies, complaints, or at County's request.
M. Additional Requirements:
1. Phasing: A phasing plan shall be approved with the project plan and development agreement and provide adequate performance assurance.
2. Time Limitation: Building permits shall be obtained for at least one phase of the development within thirty-six (36) months of zone change approval, or the zone automatically reverts to its previous zoning designation. This time limitation can be altered by the parties upon execution of a development agreement that expressly provides for an increased time limitation. A grading or excavation permit does not meet this requirement.
3. All projects shall comply with general requirements in Title 10, Chapter 9. (Ord. 2026-1318-O, 3-17-2026)