Horse Property in Riverton & the Southwest Salt Lake Valley, UT

I'm Amy Atkinson, an Associate Broker with Presidio Real Estate – River Heights, and I've helped Utah buyers and sellers since 2005. Horse property is one of my specialties. I help buyers find homes with real animal rights, and I help sellers price and market acreage the right way. I owned horses myself years ago, so I know what buyers look for in a barn, pasture and water setup. In Riverton and the 10 cities around it, the difference between a big lot and a lot where you can actually keep horses comes down to zoning, lot size and water.

What counts as "horse property"?

A home is only horse property if the zoning allows large animals on that lot. A big backyard isn't enough. Every city below has zones that allow horses, but the rules differ, so I confirm animal rights with the city's planning office before you write an offer.

Salt Lake County

• Riverton: a former farming town of alfalfa, wheat, sugar beets and dairy, with horse-property pockets near its western edge. The city code counts each horse as one "animal unit," and how many you can keep depends on zone and lot size.
• Bluffdale: the A-2 (2-acre minimum) and A-5 (5-acre minimum) zones include large-animal rights, and the city's trail system includes equestrian routes.
• Herriman: allows agricultural animals in its A-.25, A-.50, A-1, R-1-21 and R-1-43 zones. Barns and corrals must sit at least 40 feet from any street.
• South Jordan: farm animal rights apply in the R-1.8, A-1 and A-5 zones on lots of at least half an acre. The USU Bastian Agricultural Center (2100 W 11400 S) has an 85,000-square-foot arena, open-ride times and boarding.
• Draper: allows horses in the RA1, RA2, A2 and A5 zones. A 20,000-square-foot lot allows two horses, plus one for each extra 10,000 square feet. Riders use the Andy Ballard Arena and the Sadler Trail into Corner Canyon.
• West Jordan: allows horses in its rural residential zones on lots of at least 20,000 square feet, which fits two horses. The West Jordan Arena at Veterans Memorial Park hosts the Western Stampede rodeo.
• Sandy: neighborhoods zoned with an "A" suffix (for example R-1-40A) allow farm animals, with 10,000 square feet per large animal. Dimple Dell Regional Park has 15+ miles of trails open to horseback riders.

Utah County

• Lehi: allows two horses per half acre in the A-1, RA-1, TH-5 and R-1-22 zones, with no set maximum on 5+ acres in agricultural zones. The Lehi Round-Up Rodeo grounds are in town, and the North Utah County Equestrian Park is next door in Highland.
• American Fork: the RA-1 (1-acre minimum) and RA-5 (5-acre minimum) zones allow livestock. The North Utah County Equestrian Park sits near the American Fork/Highland line.
• Saratoga Springs: farm animals and stables are allowed in the A and RA-5 zones (5-acre minimums) and the RR zone (1-acre minimum), and riding arenas are permitted in A and RA-5.
• Eagle Mountain: horses are allowed on residential lots of 1 acre or more (four horses on 1–2 acres), with half-acre lots allowed two horses in the equine overlay zone. The Pony Express Memorial Park Arena hosts the Pony Express Days rodeo.

Where to ride

The Jordan River Parkway Trail allows horses from 9800 South to 14600 South and from Perry Farms to the Jordan Narrows, where there's parking for horse trailers.

Before you buy, I check:

• The zoning and animal rights for that exact address
• Irrigation water shares, and whether they transfer with the sale
• HOA rules (CC&Rs) that can limit animals even where the city allows them
• Permits on barns, arenas and outbuildings
• Whether the appraisal can find comparable acreage sales

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a big lot guarantee horse rights?

No. Zoning and HOA rules decide it, not lot size alone.

What's the smallest lot where I can keep a horse?

In several of these cities it's about half an acre in the right zone, but it varies, so check the exact address.

Do I need a special loan?

Not always, but appraisals on acreage can be tricky. Ask your lender early.

Ready to look?

Browse current horse-property listings across all 11 cities below, or call me at (801) 718-3166. I'll check animal rights on any home before you fall in love with it. Learn more about me here.