By the Utah ADU Builders Editorial Team · Last verified: July 2026
Salt Lake City ADU Permits: Requirements, Fees & Approval Steps
Every ADU in Salt Lake City needs a building permit — but the permit is only one of several approvals a legal ADU has to clear. This guide is for owners inside Salt Lake City limits planning a basement, attached, detached, or garage-conversion ADU. The city removed the old conditional-use hearing requirement for ADUs in 2023. Here is the full process, verified against current city code and official guidance.
| Question | Salt Lake City answer |
|---|---|
| Is a building permit required? | Yes — for every ADU, including a basement unit. |
| Is a conditional-use hearing the normal path? | No. The city removed that requirement for ADUs in 2023. |
| Is there an ADU-specific minimum lot size? | No. Other site limits (coverage, setbacks) still apply. |
| How big can a detached ADU be? | Up to 1,000 square feet of gross floor area. |
| How big can an internal ADU be? | No ADU-specific maximum, subject to underlying zoning. |
| Detached setbacks (from property lines) | 3 feet side and rear (corner side differs). |
| Detached height | 17 feet, up to 24 ft (pitched roof) or 20 ft (flat) with added setback. |
| Extra parking | Generally one space, with exemptions near transit and bike routes. |
| Owner occupancy | Required, with a few defined exceptions. |
| Short-term rental / Airbnb | Not allowed for an ADU. |
| Who can pull the permit? | A licensed contractor, with two narrow exceptions. |
| First plan-review target | About 14 business days — first comments, not final approval. |
| Is there a flat permit price? | No. Fees are based on your project's construction value. |
| Before anyone can move in | Inspections, a recorded covenant, and a zoning certificate. |
Sources: Salt Lake City Code §21A.40.200 and Salt Lake City Building Services — Contractor Required for an ADU.
- ADU (accessory dwelling unit): a smaller, self-contained second home on the same lot as a main house — its own kitchen, bathroom, and sleeping area. Locally also called basement apartment, mother-in-law apartment, granny flat, or backyard cottage.
- Internal ADU: created inside the existing home's footprint (a basement, attic, or attached garage).
- Detached ADU: a standalone structure, like a backyard cottage or a unit over a detached garage.
- Attached ADU: new living space added onto the main house with its own separate entrance.
- Setback: the minimum distance a structure must sit from a property line.
What we verified for this page
| Fact category | Source we checked |
|---|---|
| ADU zoning rules (size, setbacks, height, parking, owner occupancy, covenant, short-term rental) | Salt Lake City Code §21A.40.200 |
| Permit application and review workflow | Salt Lake City Building Services — permitting process |
| Permit and plan-review fee method | Salt Lake City Code §18.20.020 |
| Who can pull the permit (contractor requirement) | Salt Lake City Building Services — Contractor Required for an ADU |
| Internal-ADU impact-fee exemption | Utah Code §11-36a-202 |
| Pre-approved standard-plan library | Salt Lake City Building Services — ADU Standard Plans |
| Statewide detached-ADU requirement (effective Oct 1, 2026) | Utah Code §10-21-304 |
| City-vs-county jurisdiction | Salt Lake County — Accessory Dwelling Units |
An honest caveat before you spend money: an ADU is not automatically a smart project just because Salt Lake City has made them easier to permit. On some lots, coverage limits, a historic overlay, or utility connection costs make the honest answer "not this design" or "not this property." It's far cheaper to learn that in a feasibility review than in a third round of plan-review corrections.
Preliminary feasibility and cost guidance — not a permit decision or an approval guarantee.
Do you need a permit to build an ADU in Salt Lake City?
Yes. Salt Lake City requires a building permit to establish any ADU, whether you're finishing a basement into an apartment or building a new cottage in the backyard. An unpermitted unit can create real problems later — it can complicate home insurance and resale, and it exposes you to the city's enforcement process — so this is not a corner worth cutting.
The building permit, though, is only the visible part. A legal ADU actually moves through a stack of approvals, several of which happen at the same time inside the permit process rather than as separate errands.
The Salt Lake City ADU approval stack
| Approval or requirement | When it applies | What it establishes |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit | Every ADU | Authorization to build or convert under reviewed plans |
| Zoning review | Every ADU | That your use, size, location, parking, and site comply |
| Planning / overlay review | When an overlay or special standard applies | Compliance with historic, foothills, or other planning rules |
| Trade permits (electrical, plumbing, mechanical) | As the work requires | Authorization for regulated trade work |
| Inspections | Based on the approved work | Verification at key stages before work is covered |
| Recorded restrictive covenant | Every ADU | A document recorded against your property noting the ADU's required use and limits |
| Zoning certificate | Before occupancy | Final zoning sign-off |
| Certificate of occupancy | Where required | Authorization to legally occupy the unit |
| Business license + landlord-program enrollment | Only if you rent the ADU | Compliance with the city's rental requirements |
Most reviews (building, zoning, fire, utilities, and so on) run concurrently — the city routes your plans to every relevant department at once. Two steps that are easy to miss are the recorded covenant and the zoning certificate, because they land at the finish line, after construction, when people assume the building permit was the last hurdle. (Salt Lake City Code §21A.40.200)
Are you actually inside Salt Lake City limits?
Confirm this before anything else: a Salt Lake City mailing address does not always mean your parcel is inside incorporated Salt Lake City. If it isn't, the rules on this page don't govern your project — and applying to the wrong jurisdiction can cost you weeks. Salt Lake City's own Building Services guidance flags this exact trap.
Salt Lake City and unincorporated Salt Lake County have materially different ADU rules, and neighboring communities have their own rules too. Nearby areas like Magna and Kearns are separate municipalities served administratively through the Greater Salt Lake Municipal Services District — they aren't part of the city, and they set their own requirements. For a parcel in truly unincorporated Salt Lake County, the county's rules apply instead.
| Rule | Inside Salt Lake City | Unincorporated Salt Lake County |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum lot size | None specific to ADUs | At least 6,000 sq ft for an internal ADU; at least 7,000 sq ft for a detached ADU (6,000 sq ft in the PC Zone) |
| Detached rear setback | 3 feet | At least 10 feet from the rear line, 6 feet from the main house |
| Foundation rules | Standard building code | Concrete slab required (unless above a garage); no piers or temporary foundations |
(County column applies to unincorporated Salt Lake County only.)
If your parcel turns out to be in the county or another city, start with the Salt Lake County ADU guide or our statewide "Can I build an ADU in Utah?" guide instead.
What are Salt Lake City's ADU design rules?
The rules that shape your design depend mostly on whether the ADU is inside the main house or a separate structure. Detached ADUs carry specific size, placement, setback, height, parking, and window standards; internal units mostly follow the main building's rules and the underlying zoning. Everything below is drawn from the current ADU ordinance (§21A.40.200).
| Rule | Current standard | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Number of ADUs | One per property, where permitted | You can't stack a basement unit and a backyard cottage on the same lot |
| Owner occupancy | Required, with defined exceptions | The owner (or a qualifying relative) must live in the main house or the ADU |
| Minimum lot size | None specific to ADUs | Coverage, setbacks, and utilities can still limit what fits |
| Detached floor area | Up to 1,000 sq ft | This is a ceiling, not a promise — your buildable area may be smaller |
| Internal floor area | No ADU-specific maximum | Underlying zoning and the main building's rules still apply |
| Front-yard placement (detached) | Not permitted | Backyard and qualifying side-yard placement only |
| Interior side yard (detached) | Allowed if it meets setbacks and sits behind the main home's rear façade | A side-yard unit often has to move farther back |
| Rear setback (detached) | 3 feet | Fire, utilities, and easements can still affect the design |
| Side setback (detached) | 3 feet | Existing structures need their own analysis |
| Corner side setback | 20% of lot width or 10 feet, whichever is less | Corner lots need a separate dimension check |
| Converting an existing accessory building | May keep its existing setbacks | But any addition or new second story must meet current setbacks |
| Base detached height | 17 feet | Taller options exist — see below |
| Taller detached option | Up to 24 ft (pitched) or 20 ft (flat) | Each foot above 17 ft generally needs one more foot of side/rear setback |
| Parking | One space, unless an exception applies | Several exemptions apply (see below) |
| Lot and yard coverage | Set by the underlying zoning district | A 1,000 sq ft ADU won't physically fit every lot |
| Rooftop patio (detached) | Prohibited | Don't design a roof deck into a concept rendering |
| Second-story windows (detached) | Restricted near side/rear property lines | Plan upper-floor window placement before you submit |
| Short-term rental | Prohibited | The ADU permit path is not an Airbnb path |
| Restrictive covenant | Required | Recorded against your title (details further down) |
The parking exemptions
The default is one off-street parking space for the ADU, on top of what the main house already needs. But the ordinance waives that requirement in several situations: if your zoning district has no minimum parking requirement, if your property already has an extra qualifying stall beyond what the main house needs, if you're within a quarter mile of a public transit stop, or if you're within a half mile of a city-designated bike lane or path. Whether your lot qualifies depends on its zone and its distance from transit or a designated bike route — so it's worth checking early, because a qualifying property is spared the added parking space.
The rules people miss
A few provisions catch homeowners off guard because they don't show up in the summaries. Detached ADUs can't have rooftop patios. Second-story windows facing a side or rear property line are restricted, subject to the code's listed exceptions (for example, high clerestory windows or windows facing the main house). An ADU within 15 feet of a public alley generally needs exterior lighting and a defined path to its entrance — unless the alley appears on city plats but is unused for vehicles or is blocked by encroachments. On height, 17 feet is the base for a detached unit, but a unit placed fully within the buildable area can go up to the principal building's height, and legally existing taller accessory buildings and roof-mounted solar are treated separately. And on the size cap: the 1,000 square feet is gross floor area with specific exclusions — stairs and landings serving a second-level ADU, lofts under 7 feet, and qualifying storage basements generally don't count — so your buildable number can differ from what you'd assume.
Did a new Utah state law change Salt Lake City's rules?
Not in a way that changes your path inside the city. A Utah statute taking effect October 1, 2026 (Utah Code §10-21-304) requires cities of Salt Lake City's size to permit a detached ADU on any lot of at least 11,000 square feet that has a single-family home — and it lets cities go further and allow them on smaller lots. Salt Lake City already does exactly that: it permits detached ADUs citywide with no minimum lot size, which is more permissive than the state's 11,000-square-foot floor. So for a property inside Salt Lake City, the local ordinance on this page is what governs. Either way, it does not remove the requirement to pull a building permit.
Want deeper design detail for your project type? See our guides for detached ADUs, basement/internal ADUs, and garage conversions.
Does Salt Lake City require owner occupancy?
Generally, yes. The property owner has to live in either the main house or the ADU — you can rent one and live in the other, but under a standard ADU approval you can't own the property purely as an investment and rent out both units. The definition of "owner" is broader than many people expect, and there are three written exceptions.
Under the ordinance, an "owner occupant" includes not just someone named on the recorded deed, but also a person related to that deed owner by blood, marriage, or adoption, and the trustor of a family trust that holds legal ownership. The three exceptions are: an ADU on a property whose main use is a duplex, multi-family building, or non-residential use; a bona fide temporary absence of three years or less for something like military service, a temporary job assignment, a sabbatical, or voluntary service; and placement of the owner in a hospital, nursing home, assisted-living, or similar medical facility.
If your ownership is unusual — held in an LLC, held in a trust, or shared — confirm your eligibility before you invest in design work, because this is a reason projects can stall. (§21A.40.200)
The restrictive covenant — the step that surprises people at the finish line
Every Salt Lake City ADU requires a restrictive covenant (a legal document recorded against your property title) to be recorded with the Salt Lake County Recorder before final inspection. It describes the main home and the ADU, spells out how parking is allocated, states that neither unit can be used as a short-term rental, and — where owner occupancy applies — records that requirement too. It's enforceable by the city, and the covenant runs with the property, which means it stays attached at resale. This isn't optional paperwork; it's a condition of finishing the project, and it's an easy step to forget to budget time for.
Who can pull the permit?
Plan on hiring a licensed contractor. Salt Lake City requires a contractor's license to obtain the building permit for an ADU or internal ADU, with two narrow exceptions: where there's a change of use with no construction, or where the value of the work is under $7,000 and includes no mechanical, electrical, or plumbing work. Just as important, the State's Owner-Builder Certification Agreement cannot be used for an ADU or internal ADU — that agreement is for non-commercial personal use, and the city treats an ADU as intended for long-term rental, so the exemption doesn't apply. Unless your project fits one of those two narrow exceptions, a licensed contractor pulls the permit. (Salt Lake City Building Services — Contractor Required for an ADU)
What plans and documents do you need to submit?
A complete Salt Lake City ADU packet needs a scaled site plan plus construction drawings detailed enough for zoning, building, structural, fire, and utility reviewers to sign off. Additional engineering, energy, slope, stormwater, or historic documents depend on your specific property and scope. The safest move is always to build your packet from the city's current residential checklist rather than an older saved copy, since it's revised periodically. At a high level, expect three buckets:
Your site plan
- Property lines and easements
- Existing and proposed structures with dimensions
- Required setbacks
- Parking and the path to the ADU entrance (as applicable)
- Utility connections and trench routes (water, sewer, power, gas)
- Drainage and topography where slope threshold is met
- Drawn to scale
Your construction drawings
- Existing and proposed floor plans with room uses and dimensions
- Exterior elevations for new work
- Foundation and framing details
- Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing layouts
- Egress and window/door details
- Energy-compliance documentation
- Square-footage calculations
- Structural calculations and engineer's stamp (when required)
Conditional documents
- Historic-preservation approval (covered exterior work in a historic district)
- Impact-fee assessment (project types the city identifies)
- Geotechnical report (when slope or the city triggers it)
- Separate trade applications (electrical, plumbing, mechanical)
How do you apply — the step-by-step permit process
Salt Lake City runs the whole process online. You apply through the city's Citizen Access Portal, upload plans through its ProjectDox plan-review system, and — this is the part people miss — your project does not enter the review queue until it clears pre-screening and the plan-review fee is paid. Opening an application is not the same as being under review. (Salt Lake City Building Services — permitting process)
- Confirm jurisdiction and feasibility. Verify the parcel is inside Salt Lake City, and pressure-test the basics: ADU type, rough building envelope, parking, overlays, and any obvious site constraints.
- Develop plans for the right project type. Don't start from a generic backyard-cottage plan without checking whether your lot can actually support that design.
- Assemble the current packet. Use the city's live residential checklist, not an article or an old PDF.
- Submit the online application through the Citizen Access Portal, listing the owner, applicant, and contractor (if selected).
- Upload drawings to ProjectDox. You'll get an upload invitation by email after the application starts.
- Clear pre-screening. The city checks whether your submission is complete enough to enter formal review.
- Pay the plan-review fee. The review clock doesn't start until this is done.
- Concurrent review. Your plans go to every relevant department at once — potentially Building, Structural, Fire, Zoning, Planning, Public Utilities, Engineering, Transportation, and Urban Forestry.
- Respond to correction comments. Cloud your revisions, reference sheet numbers, and resubmit. Corrections are normal — they are not a denial.
- Permit issuance. Pay final permit and applicable impact fees, add your licensed contractor to the project, and print the approved plans and permit card.
- Build with inspections. Required inspections — which, depending on scope, can include footing/foundation, framing, rough trades, insulation, drywall, and finals — must happen before that work is covered.
- Record the covenant and finish. Record your restrictive covenant, complete final inspections, obtain the zoning certificate, and — where a certificate of occupancy is required — complete that final step before anyone moves in.
How long does a Salt Lake City ADU permit take?
Salt Lake City targets first plan-review comments within about 14 business days for one- and two-family residential projects — but only after your submission has cleared pre-screening, entered the queue, and had the plan-review fee paid. That target is for first comments, not permit issuance, and definitely not a finished ADU. Total time depends on how many correction rounds your plans need and how deep the queue is when you submit.
It helps to think of the timeline in honest stages:
| Stage | What can be said accurately | What it does not mean |
|---|---|---|
| Feasibility | Depends on your property and project | A guaranteed same-day answer |
| Plan preparation | Depends on scope and your designer | A fixed drafting duration |
| Application + upload | Partly in your control | That uploading equals queue entry |
| Pre-screening | Variable | That the 14-day clock has started |
| First review | City target ~14 business days after queue acceptance | Permit approval in 14 days |
| Corrections + re-review | Depends on the comments and your responses | One correction round for everyone |
| Permit issuance | After approval, fees, and permit-holder setup | Immediate issuance after first review |
| Construction + inspections | Project-dependent | A city-controlled timeline |
| Final occupancy | After all final approvals | Permission to move in the day the permit issues |
The variables that add review rounds are predictable: incomplete site or construction plans, a design that doesn't match the intended ADU type, setback/height/parking/coverage conflicts, historic-overlay review, and unresolved structural or utility questions. Complete, coordinated plans and prompt, complete responses to review comments are what reduce avoidable resubmissions. (Salt Lake City Building Services — permitting process)
How much do ADU permits and plan review cost?
There is no single flat price for a Salt Lake City ADU permit — a number quoted without knowing your project's construction valuation and scope isn't reliable. The base building-permit fee is calculated from your project's total construction valuation using the city's consolidated fee schedule; the plan-review fee is 65% of that permit fee; and expedited review, where offered, costs twice the standard plan-review fee. Trade permits, impact fees, and utility work stack on top depending on the project.
| Fee category | How it works |
|---|---|
| Building-permit fee | Based on total project valuation, per the current fee schedule |
| Plan-review fee | 65% of the building-permit fee |
| Impact fee | Project-specific; internal ADUs get a narrow state-law exemption (below) |
| Trade permits (electrical / plumbing / mechanical) | Added when regulated work requires them |
| Utility connection charges | Vary widely by service, capacity, and site |
| Right-of-way permit | Only if the work affects public space (e.g., trenching in the street) |
| Re-inspection charges | Only when applicable |
| Covenant recording | A county recording charge applies — check the current amount |
The valuation-based permit fee and 65% plan-review figure come from Salt Lake City Code §18.20.020; dollar amounts are set in the separately published consolidated fee schedule.
We keep dollar totals off this page on purpose, because valuation, project type, trade scope, and impact-fee treatment vary too much for a single number to be honest — and the city's fee schedule is periodically amended. For construction budgets (not permit fees), see our Utah ADU cost guide.
How do the requirements change by ADU type?
Every ADU type needs a permit — but the central risk shifts by project. Internal and basement conversions focus heavily on the existing structure and life-safety design; detached and garage-conversion projects add more direct questions about siting, setbacks, height, coverage, parking, and utilities. This matrix is the quickest way to see where your path is likely to get complicated.
| Issue | Internal / basement ADU | Attached addition | New detached ADU | Detached garage conversion | City standard-plan project |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Building permit | Required | Required | Required | Required | Required |
| ADU size rule | No internal max; zoning applies | Confirm classification + envelope | Up to 1,000 sq ft | Must comply with current ADU rules | Depends on plan; site still controls |
| Detached setbacks | Not applicable | Addition setbacks apply | Current detached standards | Existing may be retained; additions must comply | Site standards still apply |
| Detached height | Not applicable | Main-building rules | 17 ft base + taller options | Existing + proposed alteration reviewed | Plan height must fit the lot |
| Parking | ADU rule unless exempt | ADU rule unless exempt | ADU rule unless exempt | ADU rule unless exempt | ADU rule unless exempt |
| Impact fees | Internal-within-existing exemption may apply | Don't assume exemption for new expansion | Project-specific assessment | Project-specific assessment | Project-specific assessment |
| Historic review | Mainly if exterior work | More likely with visible exterior work | Applies in overlays | Applies in overlays | Applies in overlays |
| Main early risk | Existing conditions + legal conversion path | Envelope + classification | Fit on lot + site-development cost | Existing foundation, structure, setbacks, utilities | Assuming a listed plan guarantees site approval |
| Covenant + final approvals | Required | Required | Required | Required | Required |
The cheapest-looking path isn't always the lowest-risk path — a basement can save on new-site work but bring hard egress, ceiling-height, structural, or utility questions, so don't call it "cheapest" without a property-specific estimate.
A garage conversion is not automatically simple — an existing accessory building may keep its current setbacks, but additions and second stories must meet current standards, and the existing foundation, structure, and utilities still have to check out.
A new detached unit buys separation and design freedom but takes on the most site exposure — siting, setbacks, height, coverage, drainage, access, and exterior review all come into play at once.
(Rules from §21A.40.200 and the internal-ADU impact-fee exemption in Utah Code §11-36a-202.)
Compare internal, garage, detached, and standard-plan paths for your property before you request bids.
Check ADU feasibility and get a local cost path →Can a pre-approved city plan make this easier?
Sometimes — a city-listed standard plan can remove part of the design and code-review uncertainty, but it does not guarantee a permit, waive fees, skip site review, or prove the design fits your lot. Salt Lake City is explicit that a site review is still required, all fees still apply, correction comments can still be issued, and the city does not endorse any designer or contractor.
Salt Lake City's ADU standard-plan library currently includes plans from four firms: a 650 sq ft one-bedroom plan from Built By Design Construction, a detached garage-conversion plan from Brach Design Architecture, a 775 sq ft two-bedroom plan from Nest Tiny Homes, and a second-story detached garage-conversion plan from LMnt Architecture — with more listed as "coming soon." The city reviews these for minimum building-code compliance only; the plans remain the intellectual property of their respective firms, and you'd contact the firm directly to use one. This list changes, so confirm the current library before you rely on it. (Salt Lake City Building Services — ADU Standard Plans)
Disclosure: Utah ADU Builders has a partnership with Nest Tiny Homes. Salt Lake City including a Nest plan in its standard-plan library is not a city endorsement, and every property still needs its own site review, fees, permitting, inspections, and final approval. We may receive compensation if you're connected with a builder through our service. We list all four firms here neutrally so you can compare — the right plan depends on your lot and your project, not on any relationship we have.
What can delay or stop your permit?
A permit gets delayed or sent back for redesign when the use, property, plans, or site conditions don't fit the rules — or when the submission is simply incomplete. Think of these as risk factors to check early, not a ranked list of "most common denials" (the city doesn't publish denial statistics, and we won't invent them).
| Risk factor | What it does | The smart move |
|---|---|---|
| Wrong jurisdiction | The city can't process it under this workflow | Verify the parcel before drawing plans |
| Short-term-rental intent | Conflicts with the ADU use rule | Reconsider the use before spending on plans |
| Owner-occupancy uncertainty | May not meet eligibility | Resolve ownership/occupancy structure early |
| Existing unpermitted unit or work | May need separate documentation or correction | Disclose the real current condition upfront |
| Setback / height / coverage conflict | Detached design may need to shrink or move | Establish a preliminary buildable envelope |
| Parking uncertainty | Project may need a stall or a documented exemption | Check the parking rule against your lot |
| Historic or overlay issue | Adds design standards or pre-permit review | Identify overlays before finalizing exterior design |
| Incomplete site plan | Fails pre-screening or triggers corrections | Build from the current residential checklist |
| Missing structural/technical documents | Stalls review | Identify what needs an engineer's stamp early |
| Utility or service question | Can change scope and cost | Investigate capacity and routing before pricing |
| Slope / drainage / access issue | May add engineering or site requirements | Include physical site conditions in feasibility |
| Material redesign mid-review | Adds review cycles | Lock the project type before submitting |
A real dealbreaker check: some properties won't support the size, layout, use, or budget the owner first pictured. A good feasibility review sometimes concludes that a smaller ADU, an internal conversion, a different design — or no project right now — is the lower-risk answer. That's a useful outcome, not a failure, and it's a lot cheaper than finding out during review.
What happens after the permit is issued?
Permit issuance authorizes the approved work — it does not authorize move-in. Construction has to follow the approved plans, required trade permits and inspections have to be completed, the covenant has to be recorded, and the zoning certificate (and a certificate of occupancy where one is required) has to be obtained before the unit is legally occupied.
Practically, that means: keep the approved plans on site and route material changes back through the city rather than improvising in the field; pull the electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits your scope requires; schedule inspections before work gets covered; record your restrictive covenant with the county; and obtain the zoning certificate — the universal gate before occupancy — followed by a certificate of occupancy where the project requires one.
If you're going to rent the ADU, a long-term rental may also require a city business license and enrollment in the landlord/tenant program before your zoning certificate is issued — so confirm the current rental requirement rather than assuming the building permit covered it. Long-term renting is allowed for a legal ADU; short-term rental is not. For rental planning, see our Utah ADU rental income guide (rental figures are always market-dependent and never guaranteed).
What to check before you pay for plans
Before you commission full construction documents, get clear on jurisdiction, intended use, ADU type, a rough building envelope, your parking path, overlay status, existing conditions, utilities, and a realistic budget. Unknowns in any of these are a reason to do feasibility work first — not a reason to assume the project will fail. Use this as a self-check.
Property and use
- Parcel is confirmed inside Salt Lake City limits
- Project type is clearly defined (internal, attached, detached, garage conversion, or standard-plan)
- Intended use is long-term residential, not short-term rental
- Owner-occupancy arrangement has been checked
- No existing second unit is being overlooked
Site and zoning
- Preliminary placement fits the siting rules
- Proposed size is within ADU and underlying zoning limits
- Preliminary setbacks and height have been checked
- Lot/yard coverage has been checked
- Parking space or a current exemption has been identified
- Historic, foothills, or other overlay status has been checked
- Alley, tree, slope, drainage, easement, or access issues are identified
Existing structure and utilities
- Existing basement or garage conditions are documented
- Any known unpermitted work is disclosed
- Preliminary structural questions are identified
- Water, sewer, electrical, gas, and HVAC questions are identified
- The cost path is realistic enough to justify paying for full plans
Where that leaves you
| Result | Recommended next step |
|---|---|
| Most items known and favorable | Move to design and estimate comparison |
| Several material items unknown | Do a property-specific feasibility review first |
| A proposed feature conflicts with a clear rule | Reconsider type, size, placement, or use |
| Parcel isn't in Salt Lake City | Switch to the correct city or county guide |
Request a Salt Lake City ADU feasibility review
Start with your address, proposed ADU type, intended use, and basic property details. You'll get a preliminary feasibility and cost path, then local estimate options when the project is ready — not a permit guarantee. When you're ready to compare who could build it, our Salt Lake City ADU builders page is the next stop.
Check my Salt Lake City ADU feasibility →Salt Lake City ADU permit FAQ
Sources we checked
- Salt Lake City Code §21A.40.200 — Accessory Dwelling Units (owner occupancy, size, setbacks, height, parking, windows, alley rules, covenant, zoning certificate, short-term-rental prohibition, building-permit requirement).
- Salt Lake City Building Services — Contractor Required for an ADU (licensed-contractor requirement and the narrow exceptions; owner-builder certification not usable for an ADU).
- Salt Lake City Code §18.20.020 — Fees (valuation-based permit fee; plan-review fee equal to 65% of the permit fee; expedited-review multiplier).
- Salt Lake City Building Services — General Permitting Process (Citizen Access Portal, ProjectDox, pre-screening, plan-review-fee queue gate, concurrent departmental review, ~14-business-day first-review target, inspections, certificate of occupancy).
- Salt Lake City Building Services — Accessory Dwelling Unit Standard Plans (current pre-approved plan library and the city's non-endorsement terms).
- Utah Code §11-36a-202 (impact-fee exemption for internal ADUs within an existing primary dwelling).
- Utah Code §10-21-304 (detached-ADU requirement for specified municipalities, effective October 1, 2026).
- Salt Lake County — Accessory Dwelling Units (unincorporated-county rule differences).
Last verified: July 2026. We recheck the city ordinance and permitting workflow quarterly, the fee schedule after the city's summer budget cycle, and state law after each legislative session — including a dedicated recheck once Utah Code §10-21-304 takes effect on October 1, 2026.