By the Utah ADU Builders Editorial Team · Last verified: July 11, 2026
Draper ADU Builders: 2026 Rules, Costs, and How to Hire the Right One
Draper allows two kinds of accessory dwelling units — detached backyard units and internal units like basement apartments — but both need a city ADU permit, owner occupancy, and rentals of at least 30 days. If you're comparing Draper ADU builders for family housing, an in-law suite, or long-term rental income, this page is for you. It's not for anyone planning a nightly Airbnb unit or an absentee rental they won't live near — Draper's current rules effectively rule those out.
An ADU (accessory dwelling unit) is a self-contained living unit — its own kitchen and bathroom — added to, created within, or detached from a single-family home on the same lot.
The 30-second answer
| Question | Draper answer today | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Does Draper allow ADUs? | Yes — detached (D-ADU) and internal (I-ADU) | "Allowed" does not mean every lot qualifies |
| Detached lot minimum | Generally at least 12,000 sq ft, residentially zoned | A narrow South Mountain exception exists; the rule also shifts Oct 1, 2026 (below) |
| Internal lot minimum | Larger than 6,000 sq ft, plus map eligibility | A lot at exactly 6,000 sq ft is a verification case |
| Two ADUs on one lot? | No — one ADU per lot | Choose internal or detached before you design |
| Owner must live on-site? | Yes | Draper's application form requires occupying the main house; the code is worded more broadly (see note) |
| Rental length | 30 consecutive days or longer | Do not plan on Airbnb/nightly income |
| Separate utility meters? | Not allowed | Builder and utility scopes must reflect shared service |
| City ADU application fee | $450, plus a $50 annual renewal fee | This is not the project cost — everything else is separate |
| Guaranteed approval date? | No | Draper does not promise a review timeframe |
Who builds ADUs in Draper — and the one thing to do first
Draper ADU projects get built by four kinds of firms: local design-build general contractors, ADU and tiny-home specialists, basement and garage finishers (for internal units), and prefab or modular providers who still need local sitework and permits. No builder — however good — can override Draper's lot size, permit, parking, or owner-occupancy rules. So the right order is feasibility first, builder second.
Here's why that order matters. A common and costly mistake is paying for design or putting down a deposit before discovering a lot-size, map, parking, setback, utility, hillside, HOA, or owner-occupancy problem that changes — or kills — the project. A builder's core job is to design and build; some design-build firms include a paid feasibility or site-review step, but many don't. Confirming whether your lot and plan are viable is worth doing before the drawings, whoever does it.
Building a detached backyard unit? You want a design-build general contractor or a dedicated ADU builder who is comfortable with Draper's foothill lots and the city's geologic-hazard review on mapped parcels.
Converting a basement into an internal ADU? You want a finisher or GC who has actually pulled a Draper ADU permit before and knows the egress and life-safety requirements.
Considering prefab or a model unit? The unit is only part of the cost. You still need a local contractor for the foundation, utility connections, sitework, and permits — so compare the full delivered-and-installed scope, not the sticker price of the box.
Can you build an ADU on your Draper lot?
Eligibility in Draper comes down to lot size, ADU type, zoning, and a city map — not the city name alone. The fastest way to avoid a dead end is to screen the property before you talk price with anyone.
Run this quick screen on your own property:
- Is it a legal single-family residential property? (Townhomes and multi-family properties don't qualify.)
- Is there already an ADU or a second kitchen on it?
- Is your proposed unit internal (inside the existing home) or detached (a separate structure)?
- What is your lot size, from county records — not the listing?
- For an internal unit, does Draper's I-ADU restriction map affect your parcel? (The city publishes a map showing where internal ADUs are prohibited. If you're in a restricted area, a Planning Commission deviation may still be possible — see below.)
- Can you fit the required extra parking? (One additional, non-tandem space for a standard ADU; two spaces for an internal-ADU map deviation.)
- For a detached unit, is there enough rear-yard area that meets setbacks? (A setback is the required distance between a structure and your property lines.)
- Are you inside an HOA, a hillside or sensitive-lands overlay, or a geologic-hazard study area?
| Signal | Likely fit | Needs verification | Likely problem today |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lot & use | Qualifying single-family lot | Boundary or lot-size data unclear | Townhome / multi-family |
| Internal path | Existing home has usable space, map-compatible | Exactly 6,000 sq ft, or on the restriction map (deviation possible) | Outside qualifying conditions and no deviation |
| Detached path | 12,000+ sq ft with a workable rear yard | 11,000–11,999 sq ft (see Oct 1, 2026) | Below the threshold with no exception or new state path |
| Parking | The required stall(s) clearly fit | Driveway needs reconfiguring | No legal parking solution |
| Site | Clear buildable area | Easement, slope, access, or utility issue | Physical conflict that can't be mitigated |
If your parcel is on the internal-ADU restriction map, you're not automatically out. Draper's code lets the Planning Commission approve a deviation when the lot is at least 6,000 square feet, no detached ADU exists on it, the proposed internal unit meets the chapter's other requirements, and at least two parking stalls are provided for the unit (those two may be tandem with each other). That's a real route many homeowners don't know exists (Draper City Code § 9-31-055).
A "likely fit" from a screen like this is an early planning read — not zoning approval, engineered plans, or a permit. But it tells you whether it's worth spending money on the next step.
Starts with feasibility for your specific address, then shows a preliminary cost path. Approval and builder availability are never guaranteed.
Internal vs. detached: which ADU type fits your Draper property?
Draper's two legal categories are internal (I-ADU) and detached (D-ADU). A basement or attached-garage conversion counts as internal only when it stays inside the existing home's footprint; a backyard structure follows the detached rules. "Prefab," "tiny home," and "casita" describe products or styles — not separate legal categories. In Draper, the controlling question is internal vs. detached.
Internal / basement ADU — usually the lower-friction path
If your home already has suitable space, this is often the cheaper, faster route. But it still requires parking, building permits, egress and life-safety work, owner occupancy, and map eligibility. A finished basement is not automatically a legal ADU — Draper's own permit program exists partly to identify units that were never legally established. Internal ADUs also get two meaningful advantages under Utah law: impact fees are prohibited on internal ADUs built within an existing home, and HOA prohibitions on code-compliant internal ADUs are limited by state law.
Attached-garage conversion
This can qualify as an internal ADU if it stays within the home's footprint — but you generally must replace the required parking you lose by enclosing the garage, and structural, insulation, moisture, fire-separation, plumbing, and HVAC work can erase the apparent savings.
Detached backyard ADU — more privacy, more cost, bigger lot
The right call when separation matters — a rental you don't want sharing a wall, or independent-minded family. Expect the 12,000-sq-ft lot minimum, a rear-yard location, zone setbacks, a size cap tied to your main house, design consistency, and full utility and sitework costs. Draper's foothill geology is a real factor: lots that hit rock during excavation cost meaningfully more than flat, sandy lots.
| Path | Best fit | Main advantage | Main friction | First thing to gather |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basement / internal | Home has usable space | Reuses the existing structure; no impact fees | Map, parking, life safety | Existing plans / permit history |
| Garage conversion | Underused attached garage | Reuses the shell | Replacement parking + upgrades | Parking plan, structure review |
| Detached / site-built | Large lot, privacy needed | Separation, flexible layout | Lot size, setbacks, utilities, sitework | Survey / site plan |
| Model-based / modular | Wants a repeatable design | Easier to compare products | Still needs Draper sitework + permits | Full installed-and-connected scope |
Draper's ADU rules that most often reshape — or stop — a project
The hard part in Draper is rarely "does the city allow ADUs." It's whether your parcel clears the lot, map, parking, setback, utility, occupancy, and rental rules. Here is what the city actually requires, cited to the code and the city's own application.
Draper ADU rules snapshot
| Rule | Draper requirement | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Detached (D-ADU) lot minimum | Generally at least 12,000 sq ft, residentially zoned (a narrow South Mountain exception applies to certain pre-existing carriage houses) | City Code § 9-31-020 |
| Internal (I-ADU) lot minimum | Not allowed on lots 6,000 sq ft or smaller; larger lots may qualify, subject to the restriction map and possible deviation | City Code §§ 9-31-030, 9-31-055 |
| One ADU per lot | You may have an internal or detached unit, not both. When a new detached ADU is approved, the owner records a waiver of the right to add an internal unit unless the detached one is removed | §§ 9-31-030, 9-31-060 |
| Owner occupancy | Required to rent — see the important note below | § 9-31-030 + city application forms |
| Rental length | 30 consecutive days or longer; no nightly / Airbnb use of an ADU | Draper City ADU page |
| Detached size cap | Up to 50% of the primary home's square footage, not including the garage | § 9-31-040 |
| Detached height | Must conform to the main-building height limit for the property's zoning district (see note on the 35-ft figure) | § 9-31-040 |
| Design | Detached unit must match the main home's color, materials, and design | § 9-31-040 |
| Parking | One additional on-site space (not tandem or stacked behind another space); two spaces for an internal-ADU map deviation | §§ 9-31-040, 9-31-055 |
| Utility meters | No separate meters for any ADU | § 9-31-030 |
| Septic | No internal ADU where the main home is on a failing septic system | § 9-31-030 |
| Application documents | Site plan, floor plans, four-side elevations (new build) or four-side photos (existing), plus a current sewer bill or septic pumping records | § 9-5-210 / city checklist |
| Fees | $450 initial ADU application fee; $50 annual renewal fee | Draper July 2026 fee schedule |
| Sequencing | An ADU permit that authorizes construction expires if a building permit isn't issued within 180 days | § 9-5-210 |
Two places Draper's own sources don't fully agree
The honest catch
An ADU is not automatically a smart project just because Utah has become more ADU-friendly. In Draper specifically, a new ADU under the current standard rules is not a hands-off investment. The permit renews every year on a notarized affidavit that you still live on the property, the approved unit is recorded in county property records as a condition on the property, and the city's forms require you to occupy the main home. If your goal is a rental you won't live near, or nightly Airbnb income, Draper's current rules don't allow that.
(One narrow exception: an ADU that was legally established before October 1, 2021 may be able to continue under the regulations that applied when it was created — but you still need a current ADU permit, and "the previous owner said it was legal" is not proof. If that's your situation, a feasibility review is the safe first step.)
For owner-occupants, the same rules are workable: housing a parent or adult child, a long-term tenant while you live on-site, or "house-hacking" to offset your mortgage. A feasibility review is simply the fastest way to find out which category you're in before you spend on plans.
What changes for Draper detached ADUs on October 1, 2026
Through September 30, 2026, Draper's current 12,000-sq-ft detached-ADU lot minimum is the rule. On October 1, 2026, a Utah state law (SB 284, creating Utah Code § 10-21-304) sets a lower statewide floor: "specified municipalities" — a category that includes cities the size of Draper — must allow a detached ADU as a permitted use on qualifying single-family lots of 11,000 square feet or more. That state requirement is effective on October 1 regardless of when Draper updates its own ordinance.
Here's why that's worth watching: today, a Draper lot between 11,000 and 11,999 sq ft generally has no detached path (narrow exceptions aside). On October 1, the state floor appears to open one. But the state sets a floor, not the whole rulebook — Draper can still regulate size, setbacks, height, lot coverage, design, front-yard placement, owner occupancy, parking (within state limits), utilities, and rentals shorter than 90 days. So the exact local standards should be confirmed for your specific lot rather than assumed.
| Timing | What applies |
|---|---|
| Now through Sept 30, 2026 | Draper's current code — generally a 12,000-sq-ft detached minimum and current standards |
| Starting Oct 1, 2026 | The state 11,000-sq-ft floor is in effect for covered cities, on top of Draper's local standards |
| Ongoing | Confirm Draper's adopted size, setback, parking, and process details for your lot |
If your lot sits near that 11,000–12,000-sq-ft line, the timing genuinely changes your plan — it's worth confirming current status before you design or budget.
What a Draper ADU costs — and why "one price" doesn't exist
There is no single "Draper ADU price," and a number quoted before anyone sees your lot won't be reliable as an all-in budget. Cost is driven by ADU type, your existing structure, site access, utilities, parking, engineering, finishes, and what a quote leaves out. Below are 2026 planning ranges from our Utah ADU cost guide, plus the Draper-specific conditions that push a project up. Treat them as statewide planning estimates, not Draper quotes.
| ADU type | Utah planning range* | What tends to push a Draper project higher |
|---|---|---|
| Detached (new backyard unit) | $200,000–$400,000+ | Foothill rock and slope, long utility runs, geologic-hazard review on mapped lots, impact fees |
| Garage conversion | $50,000–$150,000 | Replacing lost parking/garage, structural and moisture repair, utility upgrades |
| Basement / internal | $50,000–$100,000 | Egress windows, fire and life safety, panel/HVAC upgrades, legalizing prior unpermitted work |
*Planning estimates only — roughly $190–$350 per square foot all-in, statewide. Excavation, site access, utilities, and finish level are all major cost drivers, and your lot moves the number more than any published range can. Draper's foothill geology is a real factor: lots that hit rock during excavation cost meaningfully more than flat, sandy lots.
Keep the city fees separate from the project cost
Draper's ADU application fee is $450, with a $50 annual renewal fee (Draper's July 2026 fee schedule). Those are the permit fees — not the build. Design, engineering, building permits, plan review, utility work, and construction are all separate and far larger. Don't let anyone tell you "Draper ADU permits cost $450."
Impact fees depend on your ADU type
An internal ADU built within your existing home is exempt from city impact fees under Utah law. A new detached ADU is new construction and can trigger Draper impact fees — water, transportation, parks, fire, and police — collected when the building permit is issued. Exact amounts are in Draper's fee schedule; budget for them on a detached build.
How to make two builder quotes actually comparable
Insist that each bid covers the same square footage, layout, and finish level, and that it spells out — included or excluded — design, engineering, permit preparation, excavation and grading, foundation, utility trenching and service upgrades, electrical service, parking work, landscaping restoration, contingency, change-order terms, and warranty. Most "surprises" are just line items a cheaper bid quietly left out.
Compare a preliminary scope tied to your property, project type, and major site conditions — before you request final bids.
Draper's ADU permit process and documents
A Draper ADU is not authorized just because a builder says the design complies. The city requires an ADU permit from the zoning administrator before any unit is rented, and construction work needs its own building permit on top of that. Getting there is a sequence, not a single form.
The path, in order:
- Confirm feasibility(lot size, type, map, parking, utilities).
- Submit the ADU permit applicationthrough Draper's online planning portal.
- For construction or conversion work, pull the building permit it requires— an ADU permit that authorizes construction expires if the building permit isn't issued within 180 days.
- Build, with inspections at each phase.
- The city records a noticeof the approved ADU in county property records as a condition on the property.
- Renew the ADU permit every yearwith a signed, notarized affidavit.
Your Draper ADU application-readiness checklist
From the city's official checklist and § 9-5-210:
| Required document / item | ✔ |
|---|---|
| Property Ownership Affidavit (notarized) | |
| Application Affidavit (notarized) | |
| $450 application fee | |
| Proof of sewer service — a current sewer bill, or 12 months of septic pumping records / health-department approval if on septic | |
| Scaled site plan: property boundaries and dimensions, existing and proposed buildings, parking layout, setbacks | |
| Floor plans for all floors | |
| For new construction: four-side architectural elevations with colors and materials. For an existing structure: four-side photographs |
The annual renewal most homeowners don't expect. The ADU permit is not one-and-done; it renews each year on a notarized affidavit that you still live on the property. When you sell, the permit can transfer to the new owner through their own affidavit and a city inspection — so a properly permitted unit is documented and transferable, rather than something a buyer has to legalize after the fact. (For the statewide picture, see our Utah ADU permit guide.)
How to compare Draper ADU builders
Compare builders only after you have a likely legal and physical build path — and compare them on the same written scope, not on who calls themselves "the best." These criteria apply to any builder you talk to. License, insurance, real Draper experience, and a clearly divided scope of work matter far more than a slogan.
Verify the license yourself
Confirm the builder's legal business name and active license through the Utah Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL) at dopl.utah.gov — the official state lookup, not a badge copied onto their website — and check that the license classification fits the work. Do this yourself, on the day you sign.
Ask for current insurance evidence
Rather than accepting "fully insured" marketing copy, ask for a certificate of insurance naming you as an additional insured. General liability and workers' comp should both be current.
Five questions that reveal whether a builder actually knows Draper
- 1Have you pulled a Draper ADU permit through the city's online portal?
- 2Are you familiar with Chapter 9-31 and the internal-ADU restriction map?
- 3How do you handle geologic-hazard review on Draper's foothill lots?
- 4Who owns design, engineering, the ADU permit, and the building permit — you or me?
- 5What's included for excavation, foundation, utility trenching, service upgrades, and parking?
A builder who has done this work answers in specifics. A builder who hasn't answers in adjectives.
Get the sitework and utilities in writing
Some of the largest omissions hide in the ground: excavation, rock and soil conditions, retaining walls, foundation, utility trenching, service upgrades, sewer connection, drainage, parking replacement, and site access. A low per-square-foot number with no sitework scope is not a real quote.
Draper ADU builder FAQs
The safest next step before you choose a Draper ADU builder
Check the property before you commit to a design or lean on a builder's starting price. A property-specific review can flag your likely ADU path, the rules that still need confirming, the big site and utility risks, and a realistic estimate scope — before you spend on plans or final bids. That's the difference between a project that pencils out and an expensive mismatch between your lot, the rules, and the build you wanted.
Start with your property and how you plan to use the ADU. We review likely feasibility first, then outline a preliminary cost path and potential builder options when the project looks ready for that step. This does not guarantee city approval, a final construction price, financing, rental income, or builder availability.
Utah ADU Builders is an independent ADU planning and builder-matching resource. We may receive compensation when homeowners request estimates or are connected with local professionals; that compensation doesn't control how we explain Draper's rules, costs, or risks.
Sources we checked
- 1Draper City — Accessory Dwelling Units Permits (official planning page)
- 2Draper City Code, Chapter 31 (Accessory Dwellings) — §§ 9-31-020, 9-31-030, 9-31-040, 9-31-055
- 3Draper City Code § 9-5-210 (ADU Permits)
- 4Draper City — ADU Permit Application Checklist and sworn affidavits (owner-occupancy affidavit)
- 5Draper City — Consolidated Fee Schedule, July 2026 ($450 initial application; $50 renewal)
- 6Utah Code § 10-21-303 (internal ADUs) and § 10-21-304 (detached ADUs, effective October 1, 2026) — enacted via SB 284, 2026 General Session
- 7Utah Division of Professional Licensing — license lookup
This page explains Draper's ADU rules and process for general planning. It is not legal, tax, financing, engineering, or contractor-licensing advice, and it does not guarantee permit approval, financing, rental income, property-value increase, a construction timeline, or builder availability. Rules, fees, and costs change — confirm current details for your specific property before you design, budget, or build.
Last verified: July 11, 2026