Clearfield building permits
VerifiedDepartment contacts, adopted codes, permit types, fees, and gotchas for Clearfield, Utah.
Last verified 2026-07-03 · Source · Embed this page’s badge · Version history
Building department
- Address
- 55 South State Street, Clearfield, UT 84015
- Phone
- (801) 525-2701
- Office hours
- Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Website
- Official site
- Permit portal
- Apply online at Clearfield's portal
Inspection guide
See how inspections work in Clearfield — sequence, scheduling & re-inspection fees.
Codes adopted
Utah adopts construction codes statewide under Utah Code Title 15A (State Construction and Fire Codes Act), enforced by every jurisdiction. Chapter 4 of Title 15A codifies Legislature-enacted amendments for specific named jurisdictions (e.g., Park City, Salt Lake City, Sandy City) as part of the state construction code. Through June 30, 2026, the editions in force under Utah Code § 15A-2-103 are the 2021 IBC (with Appendices C and J), 2021 IRC, 2021 IPC, 2021 IMC, 2021 IFGC, 2021 IECC, 2021 IEBC, and 2021 ISPSC (residential provisions), together with the 2023 NEC. Effective July 1, 2026, § 15A-2-103 adopts the 2024 editions of the IBC, IPC, IMC, IFGC, IECC, IEBC, and ISPSC; the IRC remains the 2021 edition and the NEC remains the 2023 edition. Note: residential energy requirements are modified by statewide amendments, and several Utah jurisdictions document their residential energy provisions at the 2015 IECC level rather than the adopted IECC year — confirm the applicable residential energy code with your local jurisdiction. Always confirm the edition in force with your local jurisdiction.
- 2024 International Building Code (IBC), including Appendices C and J — CURRENT statewide as of 7/1/2026 per Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(a), superseding the 2021 IBC. Clearfield's own Design Criteria and Adopted Codes document (rev. 9/29/2023, effective 7/1/2023) still lists the 2021 IBC — live-checked 2026-07-16 via direct PDF fetch of clearfield.city/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Design-Criteria-Letterhead.pdf, confirming the city's document has NOT been updated to reflect the 7/1/2026 statewide flip. The statute controls regardless of the city document's lag.
- 2021 International Residential Code (IRC) — REMAINS CURRENT; Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(b) did NOT change this edition in the 7/1/2026 amendment. Matches Clearfield's Design Criteria and Adopted Codes document.
- Appendix AQ of the 2021 IRC — statewide per Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(c); not separately itemized in Clearfield's own Design Criteria and Adopted Codes document, added here per statute.
- 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC) — CURRENT statewide as of 7/1/2026 per Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(d), superseding the 2021 IPC. Clearfield's Design Criteria document (rev. 9/29/2023) still lists the 2021 IPC — live-checked 2026-07-16, confirming lag. The statute controls.
- 2024 International Mechanical Code (IMC) — CURRENT statewide as of 7/1/2026 per Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(e), superseding the 2021 IMC. Clearfield's Design Criteria document (rev. 9/29/2023) still lists the 2021 IMC — live-checked 2026-07-16, confirming lag. The statute controls.
- 2024 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) — CURRENT statewide as of 7/1/2026 per Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(f), superseding the 2021 IFGC. Clearfield's Design Criteria document (rev. 9/29/2023) still lists the 2021 IFGC — live-checked 2026-07-16, confirming lag. The statute controls.
- 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC) — statewide-mandatory edition per Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(g); UNCHANGED by the 7/1/2026 amendment (the 2023 NEC baseline predates this code cycle). Clearfield's own Design Criteria document (rev. 9/29/2023) lists the 2020 NEC — one edition behind the statewide-mandatory floor, confirmed still unchanged via live PDF fetch 2026-07-16. Per Utah Code § 15A-1-204 (statewide-mandatory construction code), the 2023 NEC governs regardless of Clearfield's own document.
- 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), single unsplit statewide edition — CURRENT as of 7/1/2026 per Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(h) (no residential/commercial split under current law). Supersedes Clearfield's own split scheme: the Design Criteria document (rev. 9/29/2023) separately cited 2021 IECC commercial provisions plus 2015 IECC residential provisions and 2015 IRC Chapter 11, Energy Efficiency, for residential energy — preserved here as history. Live-checked 2026-07-16: Clearfield's Design Criteria document still shows this pre-2024 split scheme; the statute controls.
- 2024 International Existing Building Code (IEBC) — CURRENT statewide as of 7/1/2026 per Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(i), superseding the 2021 IEBC. Clearfield's Design Criteria document (rev. 9/29/2023) still lists the 2021 IEBC — live-checked 2026-07-16, confirming lag. The statute controls.
- Residential provisions of the 2024 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) — CURRENT statewide as of 7/1/2026 per Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(n), superseding the 2021 ISPSC. Clearfield's Design Criteria document (rev. 9/29/2023) still lists the 2021 ISPSC — live-checked 2026-07-16, confirming lag. The statute controls.
- Modular Building Institute (MBI) Standards 1200 and 1205 — statewide per Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(o); not listed in Clearfield's own Design Criteria document, added here per statute.
- NOTE: A prior commercial-permit checklist PDF (undated content, hosted under a 2021 upload path) lists 2018 IBC/IMC/IPC, 2017 NEC, 2018 IFCI, 2018 IECC as 'Current Codes' — this is superseded by the Design Criteria and Adopted Codes document (rev. 9/29/2023, effective 7/1/2023) cited above, which is the more recent and more specific authority on adopted code editions
- NOTE (2026-07-16 re-verification): Utah Code § 15A-2-103, version effective 7/1/2026 (superseded 1/1/2027), took effect 15 days before this re-verification. IBC/IPC/IMC/IFGC/IECC/IEBC/residential ISPSC are now 2024 statewide; IRC (2021) and NEC (2023) did NOT change. Clearfield's Design Criteria and Adopted Codes document (rev. 9/29/2023, effective 7/1/2023) was live-checked 2026-07-16 via direct PDF fetch and is confirmed still lagging — it verbatim lists 2021 IBC/IMC/IPC/IFGC/IEBC/ISPSC, 2020 NEC, and the pre-2024 split IECC scheme (2021 commercial / 2015 residential). The statewide statute controls over Clearfield's un-updated document.
Permit types & fees
Residential Building Permit
Required for new residential construction, additions, structural alterations, and most repairs to residential buildings in Clearfield, governed by the 2021 IRC. Two complete sets of plans are required for residential submittals.
Electrical Permit
Required for electrical work in Clearfield including new circuits, panel upgrades, service changes, and new wiring. Governed by the 2023 National Electrical Code, statewide-mandatory per Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(g); Clearfield's own Design Criteria and Adopted Codes document (rev. 9/29/2023) still lists the 2020 NEC (live-checked 2026-07-16), but the statewide-mandatory 2023 edition controls. Clearfield does not publish a separate electrical fee table — electrical work is charged under the same building valuation table as other building permits. EV charger/EVSE installation is electrical work and falls under this general Electrical Permit; the Consolidated Fee Schedule (Ordinance 2025-16) does not publish an EV-specific line item — a charger circuit is charged under the same building valuation table as other electrical work.
Plumbing Permit
Required for plumbing installations, alterations, and repairs in Clearfield including water heaters, fixture additions, and gas line work. Governed by the 2024 IPC, current statewide as of 7/1/2026 per Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(d); Clearfield's Design Criteria and Adopted Codes document (rev. 9/29/2023) still lists the 2021 IPC (live-checked 2026-07-16), but the statute controls. Charged under the same building valuation fee table as other building permits.
Mechanical / HVAC Permit
Required for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning installations, replacements, and gas fireplace/log installations in Clearfield. Governed by the 2024 IMC and 2024 IFGC, current statewide as of 7/1/2026 per Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(e)/(f); Clearfield's Design Criteria and Adopted Codes document (rev. 9/29/2023) still lists the 2021 editions (live-checked 2026-07-16), but the statute controls. Charged under the same building valuation fee table.
Roofing Permit
Required for reroofing (complete replacement) in Clearfield; minor roof repairs do not require a permit. Fees are valuation-based per the building permit fee table.
Deck Permit
Required for decks over 30 inches above grade in Clearfield, with or without covers; decks 30 inches or less above grade with no roof do not require a permit. Fees are valuation-based.
Basement Finish Permit
Required for finishing or remodeling an unfinished basement in Clearfield, including framing, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work. Governed by the 2021 IRC.
Fence Permit
A fence permit (not a building permit) is required for most new fences in Clearfield; masonry or concrete fences require a full building permit. Ordinary fences (except masonry/concrete) need only the fence permit.
Demolition Permit
Required for demolition of structures in Clearfield. Clearfield publishes a specific flat demolition permit fee, unlike some neighboring Davis County cities that only use valuation-based fees.
Sign Permit
Required for permanent and temporary signage in Clearfield. Fees are flat and published in the Consolidated Fee Schedule under Planning & Zoning fees.
Street Cut / Excavation Permit
Required for any excavation, boring, or street-cut work in Clearfield rights-of-way. Fees vary by excavation type, road age, and season (winter excavations cost double).
Commercial Building Permit
Required for new commercial building construction in Clearfield, governed by the 2024 IBC (Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(a), effective 7/1/2026; Clearfield's own Design Criteria and Adopted Codes document, rev. 9/29/2023, is confirmed still listing the 2021 IBC as of live re-check 2026-07-16). All commercial/industrial submittals must complete a Pre-Submittal Process before full plan review, per the city's Commercial Plans Submittal Checklist. The base Building Permit Fee uses the same valuation chart as residential, but commercial plan check, plan check deposit, and off-site bonds are all priced differently and higher.
Commercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Required for interior tenant-finish and remodel work within an existing commercial building in Clearfield, using the city's dedicated 'Commercial Remodel or Tenant Finish' building permit application — a distinct form from New Commercial Building. Fees follow the same commercial plan-check tiers and valuation-based building permit fee as new commercial construction; Clearfield's checklist sets a stricter plan-stamping threshold (structural work, tenant finish in a shell building, or remodel area over 3,000 sq ft) than new construction.
EV Charger / EVSE Permit
Clearfield City does not publish a distinct "EV Charger" or "EVSE" fee line item. Its current Consolidated Fee Schedule (adopted 6/25/2025) does not include a separate electrical trade-permit fee table at all — electrical work, including EV charger installations, is assessed under the same project-valuation table used for the general building permit. A full-text search of the current fee schedule found no mention of "EV," "EVSE," "electric vehicle," or "charging station."
Solar / Solar PV Installation Permit
Clearfield does not publish a distinct solar or solar-PV permit application, fee, or process. Rooftop/ground-mount solar panel installations are explicitly listed as requiring a standard Building Permit in the city's 'When Do I Need a Building Permit?' handout, and the electrical interconnection (inverter, disconnect, panel tie-in) falls under the standard Electrical Permit. Neither the Consolidated Fee Schedule (Ordinance 2025-16, adopted 6-24-2025, full text reviewed across all 22 pages) nor the Building/Business Development pages contain a separate solar/PV fee line item — a solar installation is priced under the same general valuation-based Building Permit fee table used for all other construction, exactly as EV charger installations are priced under the general Electrical Permit.
Fire Sprinkler System Permit
Required for installation of an automatic fire sprinkler system in Clearfield. Clearfield is a member city of North Davis Fire District (NDFD) — confirmed live 2026-07-21 via NDFD's own Fire Marshal page, which states Deputy Fire Marshal Mike Rawlings serves 'Clearfield, Sunset, West Point, and areas of unincorporated Davis County.' NDFD's Fire Marshal's Office handles fire sprinkler plan review and permitting separately from Clearfield's own building permit process; this matches Clearfield's own Commercial Plans Submittal Checklist, which requires '(2) complete sets of fire sprinkler plans to be submitted for Fire Department review and approval' (item 13) as part of any commercial building or tenant-finish permit.
Fire Alarm System Permit
Required for installation of a fire alarm system in Clearfield. As with fire sprinkler permits, fire alarm plan review and permitting is handled by North Davis Fire District (NDFD) — confirmed live 2026-07-21 via NDFD's own Fire Marshal page, which states Deputy Fire Marshal Mike Rawlings serves 'Clearfield, Sunset, West Point, and areas of unincorporated Davis County' — separately from the City's own building permit process.
Change of Use / Change of Occupancy
Clearfield does not publish a distinct 'Change of Use' or 'Change of Occupancy' permit or fee line item. Full-text review of the current Consolidated Fee Schedule (Ordinance 2025-16, adopted 6-24-2025, all sections including Business License Fees reviewed directly 2026-07-21), the 'When Do I Need a Building Permit?' handout, and the Commercial Remodel or Tenant Finish Building Permit Application and Checklist found no standalone change-of-use/change-of-occupancy application. Where a change of use also involves construction, occupancy classification is determined as part of the existing Commercial Building Permit or Commercial Tenant Improvement/Tenant Finish Permit process — Clearfield's own Commercial Plans Submittal Checklist requires the Occupancy Group, Occupant Load, and sprinklered/unsprinklered status to be stated on the plan title page (Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(i) statewide-mandatory 2024 IEBC governs change-of-occupancy determinations). Where no construction is involved, a new business occupying an existing space is billed under the same General Business License fee table as any other new business, or files a $5 Amended License / Change of Information filing if only updating an existing license's details.
New residential construction activity
New privately-owned residential construction onlyHousing units authorized by building permits for new privately-owned residential construction — this is not total permit volume (no commercial permits or remodels).
- Latest month (2026-05)
- No data reported
- Trailing 12 months
- No data reported
- Year to date
- No data reported
- Latest full year
- No data reported
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey (BPS), 2026-05 vintage. Census survey data — separate from the permit-requirements verification above. All Utah building activity
Tips & gotchas
- Clearfield City's building permit fee table is identical in structure and dollar values to neighboring Layton City's — both use the same statewide-style valuation brackets ($23.50 base up to $5,608.75 + $3.65/$1,000 over $1M). Clearfield's is confirmed current via Ordinance 2025-16 (adopted 6-24-2025); confirm which city's schedule is more recently updated if comparing.
- Clearfield does NOT publish separate electrical, plumbing, mechanical, or fence permit fee tables — all are charged under the same building valuation table, except demolition ($150 flat) and signs ($500 permanent / $100 temporary), which ARE discrete flat fees.
- Plan check fee is 20% of the building permit fee for residential and pools (lower than Bountiful's 29% and Layton's 40%); commercial plan check is 65% (value $1–$100,000), 60% ($100,001–$500,000), or 50% (over $500,000).
- Clearfield's own published Design Criteria and Adopted Codes (rev. 9/29/2023) lists the 2020 NEC — one edition behind the 2023 NEC that is statewide-mandatory per Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(g) (also used in neighboring Bountiful and Layton). No newer Clearfield-published document was found as of live-check 2026-07-16; the statewide 2023 NEC controls regardless — confirm with the Building Division at (801) 525-2701 before starting electrical work.
- A superseded commercial-permit checklist PDF (hosted under a 2021 upload path) lists older 2018 IBC/IMC/IPC, 2017 NEC, 2018 IFCI, 2018 IECC codes — do not use this document; the Design Criteria and Adopted Codes (rev. 9/29/2023) is the more authoritative and recent source.
- No published review-timeline SLA (days to plan review or permit issuance) was found anywhere on Clearfield's Building/Community Development pages, fee schedule, or permit handouts, despite exhaustive checks (site pages, PDF fee schedule, Design Criteria document, permit handout, Wayback Machine snapshots). All permit types in this file mark reviewTimelineDays as null with reviewTimelineVerified: false.
- Clearfield's official website migrated from www.clearfieldcity.org (no longer resolves) to clearfield.city; the old domain's /departments_services/ URL structure was retired — use https://clearfield.city/business-development/ going forward.
- Fence permits (for non-masonry/concrete fences) are explicitly required per the city's own handout but have no published dollar fee in the current Consolidated Fee Schedule — call (801) 525-2701 to confirm cost before applying.
- Two complete sets of plans and specifications are required for residential submittals (three sets for commercial per the Commercial Remodel checklist).