Unincorporated Carbon County building permits

Requirements

• Any owner or owner's authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or to erect/install/enlarge/alter/repair/remove/convert/replace any electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system, must first apply to the Building Department and obtain the required permit (per Carbon County Building Permits page, quoting the adopted code's permit-requirement section)
• Signed Road Encroachment Agreement required for unincorporated-area applications — per the Building Permits page, submitted to the County Road Shop (435-636-3268); the county's New Home or Cabin Checklist packet corroborates this and further specifies a Road Encroachment Permit approved by the Carbon County Road Department is required 'if access is from a County road'
• Completed and signed Building Permit Application, including contractor's name(s) and license number(s), or a signed Owner/Builder Certification Form if the owner is completing any of the work
• A complete plan set (PDF only — jpgs and other file types not accepted) including site plan, footing/foundation plan, wall framing/columns/beams, floor framing, roof framing or stamped truss sheets, electrical plan, plumbing plan, HVAC plans with heating/cooling load calculations (Manual J & D), and gas pipe sizing calculations
• Cabins in the MR and WS zones require a natural buildable site of 20,000 square feet having slopes less than 30 percent
• Proof of fees paid for water connection (PRWID) and sewer hook-up (PRWID or Scofield Reservoir Special Service District) or, where unserved, spring/well approval from the Utah Division of Water Rights and/or Individual Wastewater (septic) approval from the Southeast Utah Health District
• Engineered WET-stamped plans (no copies accepted) required for all structures in the Scofield area D0 seismic zone (Scofield is itself an incorporated town, but the surrounding D0 seismic band and Scofield-area frost depth rule extend into unincorporated county land), and may be required elsewhere for unusual shapes/sizes, foundation/basement walls over 9 feet, walkout basements, basements with a garage, or non-rectangular log structures

Required documents

• RequiredBuilding Permit ApplicationCompleted and signed, including contractor name(s) and license number(s). Apply online at carbon.utah.gov or in person at the County Building & Planning Office.
• OptionalOwner/Builder Certification FormRequired if the owner is completing any of the work themselves (do-it-yourselfer), in lieu of a licensed contractor.
• RequiredSite Plan (PDF)Drawn to scale, showing lot shape/dimensions, street, front of lot, and setbacks to property lines of all existing and proposed structures, per the county's Residential Site Plan Requirements.
• RequiredFull Construction Plan Set (PDF, not less than 1/4" = 1')Footing/foundation plan; wall framing/columns/beams with sizes; floor framing/girder/joist/blocking sizes and spans; roof framing/rafter size and span or stamped truss sheet details; electrical plan; plumbing plan; HVAC plans with heat loss/gain calculations (Manual J & D); gas pipe sizing calculations.
• RequiredRoad Encroachment Agreement / PermitRequired specifically for unincorporated-area applications where access is from a County road. Per the Building Permits page, the signed agreement is submitted to the County Road Shop (435-636-3268); the New Home/Cabin Checklist packet states it is submitted to the Building Department and approved by the Carbon County Road Department. Contact the Building Department at (435) 636-3260 to confirm current routing.
• RequiredProof of Water/Sewer Fees PaidWater connection from PRWID; sewer hook-up from PRWID or Scofield Reservoir Special Service District; or septic approval from Southeast Utah Health District where unserved by sewer; or spring/well approval from the Utah Division of Water Rights where unserved by central culinary water.

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Zoning Administrator approval for Carbon County Planning & Zoning regulations
• If the property is in an Industrial Zone: all uses require a Conditional Use Permit, and the building permit cannot be approved until that process is complete; approval may take up to 2 months
• Signed Road Encroachment Agreement submitted to the County Road Shop (435-636-3268) if access is from a county road, per the Building Permits page (the Commercial/Industrial checklist frames this as a general county requirement, not unincorporated-only, but it is documented as an unincorporated-area requirement on the county's live Building Permits page)
• Completed and signed Building Permit Application with contractor name(s) and Utah license number(s)
• Site plan drawn to scale showing lot shape/dimensions, street, front of lot, setbacks, utilities, and septic system if applicable
• 2 sets of engineered WET-stamped plans (PDF, not less than 1/4" = 1'), sealed and signed by registered Utah Architects and/or Professional Engineers trained in the specific discipline being sealed
• Fire sprinkler system plans, if required
• Proof of fees paid for water connection (PRWID) and sewer hook-up (PRWID or Scofield Reservoir Special Service District), or spring/well and septic approval where unserved

Required documents

• RequiredCommercial and Industrial Structures Building Permit Information (checklist)Official Carbon County checklist (the same document used for Price City), verified by direct PDF text extraction 2026-07-19: approval from Zoning Administrator; Conditional Use Permit if in an Industrial Zone (up to 2 months); completed/signed permit application; scaled site plan; 2 sets of engineered WET-stamped plans covering footing/foundation, wall framing, floor framing, roof framing/trusses, electrical, plumbing, HVAC with heat-loss calcs, gas pipe sizing, and fire sprinkler system if required; proof of water/sewer fees paid.
• RequiredCommercial Site Plan (example/requirements)County-published example of a commercial site plan showing elevations at property corners and utility/easement locations, distinct from the residential site plan format.
• RequiredRoad Encroachment Agreement / PermitRequired for unincorporated-area applications where access is from a county road. Per the live Building Permits page, submitted to the County Road Shop (435-636-3268).
• OptionalConditional Use Permit (Industrial Zone only)Required for all uses in an Industrial Zone; the building permit cannot be approved until this separate process is complete. County guidance states this may take up to 2 months.

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Solar Panels are explicitly listed on the Carbon County Building Permits page as a project type requiring a building permit
• Completed and signed Building Permit Application, including contractor name(s)/Utah license number(s) or a signed Owner/Builder Certification Form
• Complete plan set (PDF only) including a site plan showing panel/array placement
• Non-refundable $250.00 deposit (New Construction and Solar), applied as a credit toward the final permit fee, effective 1/1/2025
• Signed Road Encroachment Agreement if the property's access is from a county road, per the same unincorporated-area requirement documented for the residential building permit

Required documents

• RequiredBuilding Permit ApplicationSame application used for all Carbon County building permits — apply online at carbon.utah.gov or in person at the County Building & Planning Office. No separate solar-specific application form is published.
• RequiredSite Plan (PDF)Showing panel/array placement and setbacks, per the Building Permits page's general plan-set requirement — the county does not publish a solar-specific checklist (e.g. one-line electrical diagram or structural roof-load form) the way some other Utah jurisdictions in this corpus do (compare Box Elder or Cache County's dedicated solar checklists).
• Required$250.00 New Construction and Solar Deposit PaymentNon-refundable deposit required with the application, effective 1/1/2025, credited toward the final permit fee.

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Interior tenant-improvement or tenant-finish work inside existing commercial space on unincorporated county land
• Completed and signed Building Permit Application with contractor name(s) and license number(s)
• Engineered WET-stamped plans for any structural, electrical, plumbing, or mechanical work involved in the tenant finish, sealed by a Utah-registered Architect or Professional Engineer in the relevant discipline
• Fire sprinkler system plans, if the tenant improvement affects or requires fire suppression coverage

Required documents

• RequiredCommercial and Industrial Structures Building Permit Information (checklist)Same official county checklist used for new commercial construction — Carbon County does not publish a distinct, scaled-down tenant-improvement checklist. Applicants should submit only the items relevant to their actual scope.

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Installation of a Level 2 or DC fast EV charger (EVSE) at a residential or commercial property in unincorporated Carbon County
• New dedicated 240V circuit and/or panel capacity to serve the charger, shown on the electrical plan submitted with the building permit application
• Licensed electrical contractor, or a signed Owner/Builder Certification Form for owner-performed work

Required documents

• RequiredBuilding Permit ApplicationCarbon County Building & Planning Department application; include an electrical plan showing the new circuit/panel work for the charger.

Fee schedule

Requirements

• It is unlawful to erect a sign or advertising structure without first obtaining a permit from the Zoning Administrator, UNLESS the sign is one of the ordinance's specifically exempted types (per Development Code §3.3.26)
• Exempted sign types, permitted in all zones without a permit: Real Estate Sale Signs (on-premise, ≤32 sq ft, no more than 1 per 1,320 feet of frontage); Political Signs (≤32 sq ft, must be removed within 15 days after the applicable election); Unlighted Identification Nameplates (≤10 sq ft, one per premises); Institutional Identification Signs (≤32 sq ft, for an appurtenant public/charitable/religious institution); Government Signs; Public (non-advertising) Signs (e.g. utility information, danger, trespass, exit/entrance signs); Agricultural Products Signs (≤32 sq ft, advertising products grown on the same property)
• All other advertising signs (accessory and non-accessory) are permitted only in zones where signs are listed as a permitted use, subject to the ordinance's terms and conditions
• No sign may be positioned so as to create an unsafe visual clearance at any intersection or driveway
• Freestanding non-accessory signs must be set back from public streets at least the same distance required for buildings in that zone, unless the Zoning Administrator approves otherwise, and must be maintained safely with the base area kept free of noxious weeds and debris
• Any non-accessory sign located within 660 feet of the right-of-way of a Federal or state highway must be approved by the Utah Department of Transportation (the ordinance still refers to its predecessor name, the 'Utah State Highway Department') BEFORE construction, in addition to the county permit; this does not apply to signs not visible from such highways

Required documents

• RequiredSign/Zoning Permit ApplicationNo standalone sign-permit application form distinct from the county's general zoning/land-use application intake is published online. Development Code §3.3.26 directs applicants to obtain the permit from the Zoning Administrator; apply in person at the Planning & Zoning office, Suite 2600, 751 East 100 North, Price, UT 84501, (435) 636-3260/3261.
• OptionalUDOT Highway Sign ApprovalRequired only for non-accessory signs within 660 feet of a Federal or state highway right-of-way — must be obtained from the Utah Department of Transportation before construction, in addition to and before the county permit is issued, per Development Code §3.3.26.

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Any new automatic fire sprinkler system or fire alarm system (or significant alteration to an existing one), required under the adopted 2024 IBC/IFGC and referenced NFPA standards, must have its plans reviewed before installation
• If reviewed by the Utah State Fire Marshal's Office: submit the Automatic Fire Sprinkler Plan Submittal Form and/or Fire Alarm Plan Review Submittal Form to planreviews@utah.gov or (801) 256-2390, 410 West 9800 South, 3rd Floor, Sandy, UT 84070; fee = square footage of area covered × $0.022, $75.00 minimum, payable before plan review is released
• Automatic fire sprinkler submittals require water supply analysis data (static pressure, residual pressure, flow in gpm) sourced from contract specifications, a water supply analysis, the water purveyor, or a flow test, per Utah rule R710-4-5
• Fire alarm submittals require a floor plan showing room size/use, occupancy type, project code analysis, alarm-initiating/notification device locations, alarm control/trouble-signaling equipment, annunciation, power connection, battery calculations, conductor sizing, voltage-drop calculations, and manufacturer cut sheets
• No distinct local application, checklist, or fee schedule specific to unincorporated Carbon County was found on the county's own website — confirm the applicable plan-review authority (State Fire Marshal vs. a contracted city fire department) directly with the Carbon County Building Department, (435) 636-3260, before submitting

Required documents

• OptionalAutomatic Fire Sprinkler Plan Submittal Form (Utah State Fire Marshal)Official statewide form: project/location info, sprinkler drawings and hydraulic calculations, water supply analysis data, fee = square footage × $0.022 ($75 minimum). Required if the project's plan review is handled by the State Fire Marshal's Office rather than a local authority.
• OptionalFire Alarm Plan Review Submittal Form (Utah State Fire Marshal)Official statewide form: project/location info, required technical items (floor plan, occupancy type, code analysis, device locations, battery/voltage-drop calculations, cut sheets), fee = square footage × $0.022 ($75 minimum). Required if the project's plan review is handled by the State Fire Marshal's Office rather than a local authority.

Fee schedule

Requirements

• If the project involves any construction, alteration, or reconfiguration of the space, or a change in the building's IEBC/IBC occupancy classification, a Building Permit application is required from the Building Department, reviewed under the 2024 IEBC Chapter 10 (Change of Occupancy) and the applicable 2024 IBC occupancy-classification provisions
• If a new or different business is beginning operation at an existing location with NO construction scope, a Business License Application is required and must receive Planning & Zoning Director zoning approval (Suite 2600, bring the business license application) before the Clerk's Office (Suite 1100) will issue the license
• Re-confirmed live 2026-07-23 (new detail not previously documented in this entry): per the county's own Business License page, after Planning & Zoning approval the completed application is turned in to the Clerk's Office and 'it will be sent to the Commission for approval. After approval the business license will be issued' — i.e. Business License Zoning Approval is followed by a required Carbon County Commission approval step before the license (and its underlying change-of-use authorization) is actually issued, not just a same-day Planning & Zoning sign-off as the entry previously implied
• Business license fee (confirmed directly from the county's Business License page, 2026-07-22): $100.00/year full-time, prorated $75.00 (Q2 Apr-Jun) / $50.00 (Q3 Jul-Sep) / $25.00 (Q4 Oct-Dec); $50.00/year part-time, prorated $37.50 / $25.00 / $12.50 for the same quarters
• Carbon County issues business licenses only for unincorporated-county locations; a business located within Price, Helper, East Carbon, Wellington, or Scofield city limits must apply for a business license with that city instead
• No standalone Change of Use or Certificate of Occupancy application, checklist, or fee schedule distinct from the two paths above could be located on the county's official website after a direct check

Required documents

• OptionalBuilding Permit ApplicationRequired for any physical alteration or occupancy-classification change involving construction — same application used for this file's other Carbon County building permit entries. Apply at the Building Department, Suite 2600, (435) 636-3260.
• OptionalBusiness License Application (with Planning & Zoning Zoning-Approval sign-off)Required for a new or changed business at an existing location, even with no construction scope. Must be taken to Planning & Zoning (Suite 2600) for zoning approval before the Clerk's Office (Suite 1100) will issue the license.

Fee schedule