Utah building permits

Where to get a building permit in Utah

Apply to the building department of the city, town or county where the property is (the steps).

Utah state agencies

These offices set statewide codes or license the trades. They do not issue permits for most home projects.

Building code in Utah

For homes, the residential code is the 2021 International Residential Code³ (statewide; local amendments not allowed⁵).

Every code family, edition and effective date is on Utah building codes.

State rules on which work needs a permit

Utah Code §§ 15A-1-204(11)-(12), 15A-3-202(5)-(6), 15A-1-104

• 30 inches. "10. Decks that are not more than 30 inches (762mm) above grade at any point and not requiring guardrails, that do not serve exit door required by Section R311.4."⁹
• 4 feet. "3. Retaining walls retaining less than four feet (1219mm) of unbalanced fill, unless supporting a surcharge or requiring design per Section R404.4."⁹
• 350 square feet. "11. Grade level, non-connected conex boxes, less than 350 square feet, used for storage only."⁹
• Agricultural structures not for human occupancy exempt from the State Construction Code. (a) Except as provided in Subsection (11)(b), a structure used solely in conjunction with agriculture use, and not for human occupancy, or a structure that is no more than 1,500 square feet and used solely for the type of sales described in Subsection 59-12-104(20), is exempt from the requirements of the State Construction Code.⁵
• Plumbing, electrical and mechanical permits may still be required in exempt agricultural structures. (i) Unless exempted by a provision other than Subsection (11)(a), a plumbing, electrical, and mechanical permit may be required when that work is included in a structure described in Subsection (11)(a).⁵
• Agricultural exemption lost inside city/town limits on < 5 contiguous acres. …within the boundaries of a city or town, and less than five contiguous acres…⁵
• Remote yurts exempt. (a) A remote yurt is exempt from the State Construction Code including the permit requirements of the State Construction Code.⁵
• 5 years. …has been completed for five years or more…¹⁰
• Completed noncompliant structure defined. "Completed noncompliant structure" means a structure that was constructed and completed without…¹⁰
• Bedroom egress window: no physical change required in some existing cases. "R102.7.2 Physical change for bedroom window egress. A structure whose egress window in an existing bedroom is smaller than required by this code, and that complied with the construction code in effect at the time that the bedroom was finished, is not required to undergo a physical change to conform to this code if the change would compromise the structural integrity of the structure or could not be completed in accordance with other applicable requirements of this code, including setback and window well requirements."⁹

Applies to

All work under the State Construction Code⁵

Can local rules be stricter?

No⁵

Homeowners doing their own work

Utah Code § 58-55-305(1)(d), (e), (j), (2) (renumbered to § 58-55-110 eff. 1/1/2027) · in effect May 7, 2025¹¹

• Sole owner may build own residence without a contractor license (limits apply). …no more than one residential structure per year on the sole owner's property and no more than three residential structures per five years on the sole owner's property for the sole owner's noncommercial, nonpublic use, except that a person other than the property owner or a person described in Subsection (1)(e), who engages in building a residential structure must be licensed under this chapter if the person is otherwise required to be licensed under this chapter…¹¹
• Sole owner may build sheds, carports, detached garages incidental to the home. …structures on the sole owner's property for the sole owner's noncommercial, nonpublic use that are incidental to a residential structure on the property, including a shed, carport, or detached garage…¹¹
• Unpaid helpers working under the owner's direction exempt. …works without compensation other than token compensation that is not considered salary or wages…¹¹
• Owners and lessees maintaining their property exempt. …owners and lessees of property and persons regularly employed for wages by owners or lessees of property or their agents for the purpose of maintaining the property, are exempt from this chapter when doing work upon the property…¹¹
• Permit office must notify DOPL of owner-builder permits. (2) A compliance agency as defined in Section 15A-1-202 that issues a building permit to a person requesting a permit as a sole owner of property referred to in Subsection (1)(d) shall notify the division, in writing or through electronic transmission, of the issuance of the permit.¹¹
• Section renumbered 1/1/2027. Renumbered 1/1/2027…¹¹

Contractor licensing

Utah Code §§ 58-55-301, 58-55-501, 58-55-503 (Utah Construction Trades Licensing Act; restructured eff. 1/1/2027)

• License required unless exempt. (a) A person engaged in the construction trades licensed under this chapter, as a contractor regulated under this chapter, as an alarm business or company, or as an alarm company agent, shall become licensed under this chapter before engaging in that trade or contracting activity in this state unless specifically exempted from licensure under Section 58-1-307 or 58-55-305.¹²
• Classification: residential and small commercial contractor. …residential and small commercial contractor…¹²
• Unlicensed contracting is unlawful conduct. …engaging in a construction trade, acting as a contractor, an alarm business or company, or an alarm company agent, or representing oneself to be engaged in a construction trade or to be acting as a contractor in a construction trade requiring licensure, unless the person doing any of these is appropriately licensed or exempted from licensure under this chapter…¹³
• Class A misdemeanor. (a) A person who violates Subsection 58-55-501(1) through (7), (9), (10), (12), (14), (15), (16)(e), or (21) through (28), Subsection 58-55-308(2), or Subsection 58-55-504(2), or who fails to comply with a citation issued under this section after the citation is final, is guilty of a class A misdemeanor.¹⁴
• $1,000. …for a first offense handled under Subsection (5)(a), a fine of up to $1,000…¹⁴
• $2,000. …for a second offense handled under Subsection (5)(a), a fine of up to $2,000…¹⁴
• Licensing chapter restructured 1/1/2027. Superseded 1/1/2027…¹²

Handyman limits

Utah Code § 58-55-305(1)(h) (eff. 1/1/2027: § 58-55-110(2)(n), (3)) · in effect May 7, 2025¹¹

• $7,000. …subject to Subsection 58-1-401(2) and Sections 58-55-501 and 58-55-502, a person engaged in the alteration, repair, remodeling, or addition to or improvement of a building with a contracted or agreed value of less than $7,000, including both labor and materials, and including all changes or additions to the contracted or agreed upon work…¹¹
• Licensed electrical/plumbing contractor required if the project involves those systems. …shall be performed by a licensed electrical or plumbing contractor, if the project involves an electrical or plumbing system…¹¹
• HVAC work requires licensed HVAC contractor. …installation, repair, or replacement of a heating, ventilation, or air conditioning system (HVAC) on a Subsection (1)(h)(i) project must be performed by an HVAC contractor licensed by the division…¹¹
• $3,000. …if the total value of the project is greater than $3,000, the person shall file with the division a one-time affirmation, subject to periodic reaffirmation as established by division rule, that the person has…¹¹

Deadlines for permit decisions and inspections

Utah Code § 10-20-909 (municipalities); § 17-79-810 (counties)

• 3 business days. (f) "Screening period" means the three business days following the day on which an applicant submits an application.¹⁵
• 14 business days. (a) Except as provided in Subsection (7), once a municipality determines an application is complete, or proceeds to review an incomplete application for plan review under Subsection (3)(b)(ii), the municipality shall complete a plan review of a construction project for a one-or two-family dwelling or townhome by no later than 14 business days after the day on which the screening period for the application ends.¹⁵
• 21 business days. (b) Except as provided in Subsection (7), once a municipality determines an application is complete, or proceeds to review an incomplete application for plan review under Subsection (3)(b)(ii), the municipality shall complete a plan review of a construction project for a residential structure built under the State Construction Code that is not a one- or two-family dwelling, townhome, or a lodging establishment, by no later than 21 business days after the day on which the screening period for the application ends.¹⁵
• Missed deadline + stamped plans: plan review cannot be enforced. …a licensed architect or structural engineer, or both when required by law, stamps the plan.¹⁵
• Plan review fee refunded if review requirement cannot be enforced. (b) If a municipality is prohibited from enforcing a requirement to have a plan review under Subsection (8)(a), the municipality shall return to the applicant the plan review fee.¹⁵
• 3 business days. (b) If a municipality cannot provide a building inspection within three business days after the day on which the municipality receives the request for the inspection, the building permit applicant may engage a third-party inspection firm from the third-party inspection firm list described in Section 15A-1-105.¹⁵
• Only one resubmittal for 1-2 family/townhome plans (footprint/site issues). (c) A municipality may only require a single resubmittal of plans for a one- or two-family dwelling or townhome if deficiencies in the plan would affect the site plan interaction or footprint of the design.¹⁵
• 14 business days. (a) Except as provided in Subsection (7), once a county determines an application for plan review is complete, or proceeds to review an incomplete application for plan review under Subsection (3)(b)(ii), the county shall complete a plan review of a construction project for a one- or two-family dwelling or townhome by no later than 14 business days after the day on which the screening period for the application ends.¹⁶

Applies to

Construction projects incl. any permitted work on 1-2 family dwellings/townhomes¹⁵

Private plan review and inspections

Utah Code § 15A-1-105; § 10-20-909(2); § 17-79-810(2)

• Applicant may use a third-party inspection firm from the local list. (a) Subject to the provisions of this section and Subsections 10-20-909(2) and 17-79-810(2), after submitting a request for inspection, a building permit applicant may engage a third-party inspection firm from the local regulator's third-party inspection firm list to conduct or complete an inspection for the scope of work identified under the original request for inspection.¹⁷
• Applicant must notify the local regulator first. (b) If a building permit applicant wishes to engage a third-party inspection firm in accordance with Subsection (2)(a), the building permit applicant shall first notify the local regulator of the third-party inspection firm the building permit applicant intends to engage.¹⁷
• Local regulator pays the third-party firm. (i) The local regulator shall pay the cost of the inspection to the third-party inspection firm after the local regulator receives the third-party inspection report indicating the third-party inspection firm completed the inspection.¹⁷
• Certificate of occupancy issued on third-party final report. (b) The local regulator shall promptly issue the certificate of occupancy or letter of completion after the third-party inspection firm submits the final inspection report to the local regulator as described in Subsection (3)(a)(ii).¹⁷
• 3 business days. (b) If a municipality cannot provide a building inspection within three business days after the day on which the municipality receives the request for the inspection, the building permit applicant may engage a third-party inspection firm from the third-party inspection firm list described in Section 15A-1-105.¹⁵
• 3 business days. (b) If a county cannot provide a building inspection within three business days after the day on which the county receives the request for the inspection, the applicant may engage an inspection with a third-party inspection firm from the third-party inspection firm list, as described in Section 15A-1-105.¹⁶

Selling a home with unpermitted work

No Utah statute requiring disclosure of unpermitted work was found; agent duty in Utah Admin. Code R162-2f-401a

• Real estate agents may not keep a known property defect confidential. …confidentiality, which prohibits the agent from disclosing, without permission, any information given to the agent by the principal that would likely weaken the principal's bargaining position if it were known, but excepting any known material fact concerning:(i) a defect in the property…¹⁸
• Agent must verify marketing information before listing. …before offering any property for sale or lease, make reasonable efforts to verify the accuracy and content of the information and data to be used in the marketing of the property…¹⁸

Accessory dwelling units (ADUs)

Utah Code §§ 10-21-101, 10-21-303, 10-21-304 (municipalities); § 17-80-303 (counties); IRC amendments in § 15A-3-202

• Internal ADU is a permitted use in residential zones. …the use of an internal accessory dwelling unit is a permitted use…¹⁹
• Internal ADU defined (within footprint, long-term rental). …within the footprint of the primary dwelling described in Subsection (16)(a) at the time the internal accessory dwelling unit is created; and (c) for the purpose of offering a long-term rental of 30 consecutive days or longer.²⁰
• Internal ADU must meet building, health and fire codes. (2) An internal accessory dwelling unit shall comply with all applicable building, health, and fire codes.¹⁹
• 6,000 square feet. …prohibit the creation of an internal accessory dwelling unit if the lot containing the primary dwelling is 6,000 square feet or less in size…¹⁹
• 30 days. …prohibit the rental or offering the rental of an internal accessory dwelling unit for a period of less than 30 consecutive days…¹⁹
• City may require owner occupancy for renting an internal ADU. …prohibit the rental of an internal accessory dwelling unit if the internal accessory dwelling unit is located in a dwelling that is not occupied as the owner's primary residence…¹⁹
• $100. …state that if the owner of the property fails to cure the violation within the time period described in Subsection (4)(b)(ii), the municipality may hold a lien against the property in an amount of up to $100 for each day of violation after the day on which the opportunity to cure the violation expires…¹⁹
• 11,000 square feet. (a) A specified municipality shall adopt a land use regulation that permits a detached accessory dwelling unit on any lot or parcel that is 11,000 square feet or larger and contains a single-family dwelling, if the single-family dwelling is a permitted use on the lot or parcel.²¹
• No conditional use permit for detached ADU in residential zone. …require a conditional use permit for a detached accessory dwelling unit if the proposed detached accessory dwelling unit is located in a primarily residential zone…²¹
• 90 days. …rented for less than 90 consecutive days…²¹
• Specified municipality defined. …a city of the fifth class with a population of 5,000 or more, if the city is located within a county of the first, second, or third class.²⁰
• IRC fire separation exemption for ADUs. "3. Accessory dwelling units separated by walls or floor assemblies protected by not less than 1/2-inch (12.7 mm) gypsum board or equivalent on each side of the wall or bottom of the floor assembly are exempt from the requirements of this section."⁹

Applies to

Areas zoned primarily for residential use¹⁹

Can local rules be stricter?

City may not add restrictions beyond those listed¹⁹

New state laws not yet in effect

These Utah statutes have been enacted but do not apply until the date shown; until then, the law in force applies. Each entry quotes the enacted text.

• From 1/1/2027: same owner-builder limits in § 58-55-110(2)(p). …the sole property owner builds for the sole owner's noncommercial and nonpublic use no more than one residential structure per year on the sole owner's property and no more than three residential structures per five years on the sole owner's property…²² Utah Code § 58-55-110 (eff. 1/1/2027); in effect from January 1, 2027
• $7,000. …subject to Subsection (3), a person working on a project that has a total cost of less than $7,000 including labor, material, and changes to the agreed upon work if the construction trade…²² Utah Code § 58-55-110(2)(n) (eff. 1/1/2027); in effect from January 1, 2027