You are viewing the permanent link for the record currently in effect, published 2026-07-16.
Unincorporated Duchesne County building permits
VerifiedUnincorporated Duchesne County, Utah — as published 2026-07-16.
Verified 2026-07-08 · Source
Codes adopted
Permit types & fees
Residential Building Permit
VerifiedRequired for new single-family dwelling construction, additions, and structural alterations in unincorporated Duchesne County. The Duchesne County Department of Building Safety also reviews and issues building permits for the Town of Altamont and the Town of Tabiona under a full contract arrangement — those towns do not run their own building departments. Duchesne City, Roosevelt, and Myton run independent city building departments and are excluded.
Verified 2026-07-08 · Source
Requirements
- New single-family dwelling, addition, or structural alteration on any parcel — vacant/bare land always requires a permit regardless of size or use unless a qualifying agricultural exemption is filed
- Legal description of property and proof of ownership (tax notice, recorded deed, or notarized purchase contract) with proof of legal deeded access from a public right-of-way
- Site evaluated for on-site wastewater (septic) system approval before a building permit is issued, per Tri-County Health Department review
- Road Approach Permit from the Duchesne County Road Department ((435) 738-2468) or UDOT ((801) 227-8000) approved prior to building permit issuance if access is from a county- or state-maintained road
- Zoning verification and, if the site is a new parcel split, Minor Subdivision Approval from Planning & Zoning ((435) 738-1135 or 1152)
- Complete construction documents per Utah Code § 17-36-55(1)(e) / § 17-36-8(c): elevations (new construction), floor plans, foundation/structural/framing detail, electrical/mechanical/plumbing design, energy code compliance documentation, structural calculations (except trusses), and a statement of code compliance
Required documents
- RequiredBuilding Permit ApplicationSubmitted via the county's CivicReview online portal (app.civicreview.com) or in person/by mail to the Department of Building Safety. One paper set or an electronic PDF plan set is accepted.
- RequiredComplete Site PlanPer Utah Code § 17-36-8(8)(b): drawn to scale with north arrow and legend; lot size/dimensions, setbacks, easements, property lines, topography (if slope >10%), retaining walls, hard surface areas, curb/gutter elevations, utilities (water meter/sewer lateral), street names, driveway locations, defensible-space provisions if in the Wildland Urban Interface, and nearest hydrant location
- RequiredComplete Set of Building Plans (PDF or paper)Floor plans for each level with door/window locations and sizes, foundation/footing plan with reinforcement details, elevations of all four sides, framing detail plans, electrical plan (wiring methods, circuit counts, panel location), plumbing layout, and stair/fireplace cross-section details as applicable. 1/4" = 1'-0" scale preferred.
- RequiredProof of Culinary Water SourceReceipt/letter from an approved public water system, proof of an existing or new culinary well (inorganic water test required, 4-6 week turnaround via Tri-County Health Department), or an approved individual water cistern design
- RequiredOnsite Wastewater Disposal Permit or Sewer Connection ProofConstruction/Operating Permit from the Tri-County Health Department for septic systems, or proof of legal connection to an approved sewer treatment facility. An Operating Permit is required before the county will issue a Certificate of Occupancy.
- RequiredContractor List / Owner-Builder Exemption FormNames, business addresses, phone numbers, Utah state license numbers, and business licenses for all contractors, OR a completed Owner/Builder exemption form if the applicant is building without a licensed general contractor
- OptionalHVAC Manual J/D/S CalculationsDuct sizing and equipment specification; may be submitted as a deferred submittal
- OptionalGeotechnical ReportRequired if lot slope exceeds 15%, including slope stability evaluation and retaining wall design
- OptionalFire Protection PlanRequired if the Pre-site/Wildland Urban Interface evaluation identifies defensible-space or emergency-access issues; reviewed and approved by the County Fire Warden or Fire Marshal before permit issuance
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Building Permit Fee (Valuation-Based) | Calculated from the county-adopted cost-per-square-foot valuation table published in the August issue of the ICC Building Safety Journal, applied to the project's estimated construction cost valuation | Duchesne County Permit Packet (dated July 1, 2023), 'Permit Fees' section — worked example given: a typical 1,500 sq ft single-level home with a 700 sq ft attached garage valuations to $295,654.18, yielding a base building permit fee of $1,744.36. Applicants who disagree with the county's valuation may submit a contractor's bid and a county assessor appraisal instead. |
| Plan Review Fee | 35% to 65% of the building permit fee | Duchesne County Permit Packet (dated July 1, 2023) — example given: $610.53 to $1,133.83 on a $1,744.36 base permit fee. |
| State Surcharge | 1% of the building permit fee | Duchesne County Permit Packet (dated July 1, 2023); required on all issued building permits statewide per Utah Code. |
| Card/E-Check Processing Fee | 2.5% of fees paid for debit/credit card; $0.75 flat fee for E-check | Duchesne County Permit Packet (dated July 1, 2023), 'Permit Fees' section. |
Commercial Building Permit
Required for new commercial construction in unincorporated Duchesne County (plus the Towns of Altamont and Tabiona, which fully contract building-permit review to the county). The Duchesne County Permit Packet does not itemize a distinct commercial fee table or a commercial-specific plan-review percentage separate from residential — re-verified 2026-07-19 by direct full-text extraction of the county's own 14-page Permit Packet, in which the word 'commercial' appears only in the codesAdopted context (IECC commercial provisions) and an unrelated owner-builder certification clause, never in the fee or plan-review sections. The same valuation-based fee methodology, 35%-65% plan review range, and 1% state surcharge documented for the Residential Building Permit apply to commercial projects.
Reviewed 2026-07-20 · Source
Requirements
- New commercial construction on any parcel — vacant/bare land always requires a permit regardless of size or use unless a qualifying agricultural exemption is filed
- Legal description of property and proof of ownership with proof of legal deeded access from a public right-of-way
- Site evaluated for on-site wastewater (septic) system approval before a building permit is issued, per Tri-County Health Department review, or proof of sewer connection
- Road Approach Permit from the Duchesne County Road Department or UDOT approved prior to building permit issuance if access is from a county- or state-maintained road
- Zoning verification from Planning & Zoning ((435) 738-1135 or 1152)
- Complete construction documents per Utah Code § 17-36-55(1)(e)/(c): elevations, floor plans, foundation/structural/framing detail, electrical/mechanical/plumbing design, energy code compliance documentation, structural calculations, and a statement of code compliance
- Geotechnical report if lot slope exceeds 15%, including slope stability evaluation and retaining wall design, per the county's general submittal requirements
Required documents
- RequiredBuilding Permit ApplicationSubmitted via the county's CivicReview online portal (app.civicreview.com) or in person/by mail to the Department of Building Safety. Duchesne County does not publish a distinct commercial application form — the same application is used for residential and commercial projects.
- RequiredComplete Set of Building Plans (PDF or paper)Floor plans, foundation/footing plan with reinforcement details, elevations, framing detail plans, electrical/plumbing/mechanical plans, and structural calculations. No dedicated commercial submittal checklist distinct from the general requirements was found in the county's Permit Packet.
- OptionalFire Protection PlanRequired if the Pre-site/Wildland Urban Interface evaluation identifies defensible-space or emergency-access issues; reviewed and approved by the County Fire Warden or Fire Marshal before permit issuance — applies to commercial as well as residential projects per the county's general permit process.
- OptionalGeotechnical ReportRequired if lot slope exceeds 15%, including slope stability evaluation and retaining wall design.
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Building Permit Fee (Valuation-Based) | Calculated from the county-adopted cost-per-square-foot valuation table published in the August issue of the ICC Building Safety Journal | Duchesne County Permit Packet (dated July 1, 2023) — same generic valuation methodology documented for the Residential Building Permit; the Permit Packet does not publish a separate commercial valuation table. |
| Plan Review Fee | 35% to 65% of the building permit fee | Duchesne County Permit Packet (dated July 1, 2023), re-verified 2026-07-19 by full-text extraction: 'a plan review fee of not less than 35% and up to as much as 65% of the building permit fee.' The packet gives this range in a worked residential example only and never uses the word 'commercial' to explain what determines where a project falls in the range — NOT confirmed that the high end specifically applies to commercial. Commercial projects should expect to fall toward the higher end given typically greater plan-review complexity, but this is not stated by the county. |
| State Surcharge | 1% of the building permit fee | Duchesne County Permit Packet (dated July 1, 2023); required on all issued building permits statewide. |
Commercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Required for interior tenant-improvement and tenant-finish work within existing commercial space in unincorporated Duchesne County. The county's Permit Packet does not publish a distinct tenant-improvement fee category or submittal checklist — the same valuation-based fee, 35%-65% plan review range, and 1% state surcharge documented for the Commercial Building Permit apply, scoped to the actual work performed.
Reviewed 2026-07-19 · Source
Requirements
- Interior tenant-improvement or tenant-finish work inside existing commercial space
- Complete construction documents scoped to the work performed (floor plan, electrical/mechanical/plumbing plans as applicable)
- Zoning verification if the tenant improvement involves a change of use or occupancy classification
Required documents
- RequiredBuilding Permit ApplicationSubmitted via the county's CivicReview online portal (app.civicreview.com); Duchesne County does not publish a distinct tenant-improvement application form.
- RequiredScope-Appropriate Plan SetFloor plan and applicable MEP plans for the tenant-improvement scope. No dedicated TI checklist is published by the county.
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Building Permit Fee (Valuation-Based) | Calculated from the county-adopted cost-per-square-foot valuation table | Duchesne County Permit Packet — same generic valuation methodology; the county does not itemize tenant improvement as its own fee category. |
| Plan Review Fee | 35% to 65% of the building permit fee | Duchesne County Permit Packet — same range documented for the Commercial Building Permit; not confirmed to be TI-specific. |
| State Surcharge | 1% of the building permit fee | Duchesne County Permit Packet |
EV Charger / EVSE Permit
Duchesne County publishes no distinct EV charger / EVSE permit or fee, and no minor-work flat fee at all. The Department of Building Safety's Permit Packet (July 2023) prices every building permit purely by estimated construction cost valuation, with no published minimum fee or standalone electrical-only category — an EV charger installation would need to go through the same valuation-based Building Permit process as any other electrical work, with no smaller flat-fee alternative documented.
Reviewed 2026-07-20 · Source
Requirements
- Installation of a Level 2 or DC fast EV charger (EVSE) at a residential or commercial property in unincorporated Duchesne County
- New dedicated 240V circuit and/or panel capacity to serve the charger, shown on the electrical plan
- Licensed electrical contractor for the installation
Required documents
- RequiredBuilding Permit ApplicationDuchesne County Department of Building Safety application; include an electrical plan for the charger circuit.
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|
Solar PV / Solar Energy System Permit
VerifiedDuchesne County publishes no distinct solar or solar-PV permit, application, or fee line item. The county's own guidance document, 'What Buildings Require a Building Permit?' (revised August 26, 2016), directly addresses solar: 'Other permits may be required for Electrical, Plumbing and HVAC equipment that are to be installed in or on the building. This includes electrical solar systems, wind generators and other alternative systems.' A rooftop or ground-mounted solar PV installation is therefore processed as an electrical-permit component of the standard Building Permit process, priced under the same valuation-based Building Permit Fee, Plan Review Fee, and 1% State Surcharge documented for the Residential and Commercial Building Permits in this file — confirmed independently against the July 2023 Permit Packet (no 'solar' mention anywhere in its 14 pages) and the County Land Use Fee Schedule (Ordinance #25-416, February 2025), which covers only zoning/subdivision/conditional-use fees and likewise contains no solar line item.
Verified 2026-07-21 · Source
Requirements
- Installation of a rooftop-mounted or ground-mounted solar PV (photovoltaic) system, or another 'alternative system' such as a small wind generator, on a property in unincorporated Duchesne County (or the Towns of Altamont/Tabiona, which fully contract building-permit review to the county)
- Electrical plan showing the solar array wiring, inverter location, disconnect, and point of interconnection to the building's electrical service, per the county's general 'Other permits may be required for Electrical...equipment' guidance covering solar systems
- If the installation involves new structural mounting (e.g., a ground-mount rack or a roof structural modification), the same site plan and structural submittal requirements documented for the Residential/Commercial Building Permit apply
- Licensed electrical contractor's name, business address, phone number, and Utah state license number submitted with the application, or an Owner/Builder exemption form if self-installed
Required documents
- RequiredBuilding Permit ApplicationSubmitted via the county's CivicReview online portal (app.civicreview.com) or in person/by mail to the Department of Building Safety. Duchesne County does not publish a distinct solar or solar-PV application form — the same general Building Permit Application is used.
- RequiredElectrical Plan for Solar ArrayWiring methods, inverter location, disconnect, panel/service interconnection point, and equipment specifications for the solar PV installation. No dedicated solar submittal checklist is published by the county.
- OptionalStructural Mounting DetailRequired if the installation includes a ground-mount rack or any roof structural modification, scoped to the same structural documentation required for general construction.
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Building Permit Fee (Valuation-Based) | Calculated from the county-adopted cost-per-square-foot/valuation table published in the August issue of the ICC Building Safety Journal, applied to the solar installation's estimated construction cost valuation | Duchesne County Permit Packet (dated July 1, 2023) — same generic valuation methodology documented for the Residential and Commercial Building Permits; the county does not publish a separate solar valuation table or flat fee. |
| Plan Review Fee | 35% to 65% of the building permit fee | Duchesne County Permit Packet (dated July 1, 2023) — same range documented for other permit types; not confirmed to be solar-specific. |
| State Surcharge | 1% of the building permit fee | Duchesne County Permit Packet (dated July 1, 2023); required on all issued building permits statewide. |
| Card/E-Check Processing Fee | 2.5% of fees paid for debit/credit card; $0.75 flat fee for E-check | Duchesne County Permit Packet (dated July 1, 2023), 'Permit Fees' section. |
Sign Permit
Duchesne County publishes no distinct sign permit application or fee. County Code § 8-9-14 ('Signs, On Premises And Off Premises Advertising') sets sign STANDARDS — not a permit process or fee schedule. Per County Code § 8-1-4 ('Building Permits Required; Exceptions'): 'No construction shall occur except pursuant to a validly issued, unexpired and unrevoked building permit' — and a sign attached to real property falls under that definition. A sign in unincorporated Duchesne County is therefore reviewed and permitted under whichever Building Permit type already applies to the property (Commercial Building Permit, Commercial Tenant Improvement Permit, or Change of Use Building Permit), not as a standalone sign permit.
Reviewed 2026-07-22 · Source
Requirements
- Installation, structural alteration, or off-premises placement of an advertising or on-premises business sign in unincorporated Duchesne County (or the Towns of Altamont/Tabiona, which fully contract building-permit review to the county)
- Compliance with County Code § 8-9-14: no sign that creates visual confusion or a traffic hazard, no sign placed within a public right-of-way, and any electrical or structural sign work must meet the adopted NEC/IBC
- Sign height may not exceed 50 feet measured from roadway grade, per County Code § 8-9-14
- Written property-owner permission required for any off-premises advertising sign, per County Code § 8-9-14
- Per County Code § 8-1-4, no construction — including a sign attached to real property — may occur without a validly issued building permit; filed as part of the underlying Building Permit Application (Commercial, Commercial TI, or Change of Use) applicable to the property, since Duchesne County has no standalone sign permit application
Required documents
- RequiredBuilding Permit ApplicationDuchesne County has no distinct sign permit application; a sign is submitted under whichever Building Permit type applies to the property (e.g., Commercial Building Permit or Change of Use Building Permit) via the county's CivicReview portal (app.civicreview.com) or in person/by mail to the Department of Building Safety.
- RequiredSign Plan / Elevation DetailDrawing showing sign dimensions, height above roadway grade, structural mounting method, and electrical service (if illuminated or electronic), sufficient to confirm compliance with County Code § 8-9-14. No dedicated sign-plan checklist is published by the county.
- OptionalOff-Premises Sign Property-Owner ConsentWritten permission from the property owner where an off-premises advertising sign will be placed, required by County Code § 8-9-14.
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|
Fire Sprinkler / Fire Alarm Permit
Duchesne County does not publish a standalone fire-sprinkler or fire-alarm permit, application, or fee schedule. Per the county's own Business License Application guidance ('Applying For A Business License – Building & Fire Codes'), plan review for fire-protection systems is conducted jointly by the Department of Building Safety and the county's own Fire & Emergency Management Department (referred to elsewhere in county materials as the Fire Marshal's Office or Fire Warden) as part of the underlying Commercial Building Permit or Change of Use Building Permit — not as a separate fire-permit type. Utah Code § 53-7-104(2) provides that 'the fire officers of any city or county shall enforce the state fire code and rules of the state fire marshal in their respective areas,' and Duchesne County's Fire & Emergency Management Department is that local fire officer for the county, so the statewide Utah State Fire Marshal's Office submittal/fee process ($0.022/sq ft, $75 minimum, per its own Automatic Fire Sprinkler and Fire Alarm submittal forms) is not confirmed to be the applicable path here — the county appears to review fire-protection systems itself rather than deferring to the state office. This gap in a published standalone fee schedule, combined with the unconfirmed state-vs-county review question, keeps this entry at partial confidence.
Reviewed 2026-07-22 · Source
Requirements
- Installation of a fire sprinkler system or fire alarm system in a commercial building, or as part of a change-of-use alteration, in unincorporated Duchesne County
- All commercial buildings are required to have a fire hydrant within 400 feet of the building, or an approved alternative method providing an acceptable equal amount of fire protection, per the county's Business License Application guidance
- Certain occupancy uses require a fire sprinkler system be installed in the building, determined during joint plan review by the Department of Building Safety and the Fire & Emergency Management Department / Fire Marshal's Office
- Floor plan and site plan (showing building and parking-area locations) submitted to the Department of Building Safety to allow the joint Building Department / Fire Marshal's Office plan review
- Filed as part of the applicable underlying Building Permit (Commercial Building Permit or Change of Use Building Permit) — Duchesne County has no standalone fire-sprinkler or fire-alarm permit application
Required documents
- RequiredBuilding Permit Application (Commercial or Change of Use)Duchesne County has no distinct fire-sprinkler or fire-alarm permit application; fire-protection work is submitted as part of the Commercial Building Permit or Change of Use Building Permit via the county's CivicReview portal (app.civicreview.com) or in person/by mail to the Department of Building Safety.
- RequiredFloor Plan and Site PlanAt minimum, a floor plan of the building and a site plan showing the location of all buildings on the lot and parking areas, submitted so the Building Department and the Fire Marshal's Office / Fire & Emergency Management Department can conduct a joint plan review and determine minimum fire-protection code requirements for the proposed use.
- OptionalFire Sprinkler / Fire Alarm System DesignManufacturer/contractor design plans for the sprinkler or alarm system where the joint plan review determines one is required, scoped to the applicable fire code requirements for the occupancy.
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Fire-Protection Permit Fee (Simple Scope, e.g., Fire Alarm Install) | $55.55 | Duchesne County Business License Application, 'Applying For A Business License – Building & Fire Codes': 'if your proposed use is similar to the previous use you may only need to install a fire alarm or something simple like that. This would most likely require a minimum permit fee of $55.55.' |
| Building Permit Fee (Valuation-Based, Extensive Fire-Protection Scope) | Calculated from the county-adopted cost-per-square-foot valuation table published in the August issue of the ICC Building Safety Journal | Same generic valuation methodology documented for the Commercial Building Permit; the county's guidance states 'the permit fee will be based on an estimated construction valuation' for more extensive alterations, and 'for major projects, the permit and associated alterations can be fairly costly.' Not confirmed whether the 35%-65% plan review fee or 1% state surcharge apply on top of this for a fire-protection-only scope. |
Change of Use Building Permit
VerifiedRequired when a building's proposed occupancy or use classification differs from its prior use in unincorporated Duchesne County. Per the county's own Business License Application guidance: 'If the building you plan on using for the business has been used for any other purpose than what you are proposing to use it for, you may need to change the Occupancy use classification of the building or reclassify it in a different class of the same Occupancy group... To do this, you will need to obtain a change of use building permit from the Duchesne County Department of Building Safety.' Unlike the sign and fire-sprinkler/alarm gaps documented elsewhere in this file, this is a genuinely distinct, named permit type in the county's own materials, though it shares the same application and joint Building Department / Fire Marshal's Office review process as other permit types rather than having its own dedicated form.
Verified 2026-07-22 · Source
Requirements
- A building's proposed use or occupancy classification differs from its previously approved use, or is reclassified within a different class of the same Occupancy group, in unincorporated Duchesne County
- Floor plan and site plan (building and parking-area locations) submitted to the Department of Building Safety for joint plan review by the Building Department and the Fire Marshal's Office / Fire & Emergency Management Department
- Any building alterations required to bring the space into compliance with the code requirements for the new use (e.g., door-size changes, ADA ramp, restroom remodel, fire alarm installation) completed under the issued change-of-use permit before occupancy
- A Certificate of Occupancy issued by the county before the space may be occupied for the new use, consistent with the Certificate of Occupancy requirement documented for the Residential and Commercial Building Permits in this file
Required documents
- RequiredBuilding Permit ApplicationDuchesne County does not publish a distinct change-of-use application form — the same general Building Permit Application (via the county's CivicReview portal, app.civicreview.com, or in person/by mail to the Department of Building Safety) is used, noted as a change-of-use scope.
- RequiredFloor PlanFloor plan of the building sufficient for the Building Department and Fire Marshal's Office to determine the minimum code requirements for the proposed new use, per the county's Business License Application guidance.
- RequiredSite PlanSite plan showing the location of all buildings on the lot and parking areas, submitted alongside the floor plan for joint plan review.
- OptionalBusiness License Zoning Clearance FormWhere the change of use accompanies a new business license, the county's Business License Zoning Clearance Form records the prior use, proposed use, and whether the activity occurs within a structure, and is routed to Planning & Zoning, Building Department, and Fire Department for review/approval.
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Change of Use Permit Fee (Minimum, Like-for-Like Use) | $55.55 | Duchesne County Business License Application, 'Applying For A Business License – Building & Fire Codes': 'if your proposed use is similar to the previous use you may only need to install a fire alarm or something simple like that. This would most likely require a minimum permit fee of $55.55.' |
| Change of Use Permit Fee (Valuation-Based, Extensive Alterations) | Calculated from the county-adopted cost-per-square-foot valuation table published in the August issue of the ICC Building Safety Journal | Duchesne County Business License Application: 'If you need to do more extensive alterations like increase door sizes, add an ADA ramp and remodel restrooms, then the permit fee will be based on an estimated construction valuation. For major projects, the permit and associated alterations can be fairly costly.' Same generic valuation methodology documented for the Commercial Building Permit; not confirmed whether the 35%-65% Plan Review Fee and 1% State Surcharge documented for other permit types are itemized separately for change-of-use scope, or already folded into this valuation-based figure. |
Sources & verification
Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-08.
Fees, timelines, and adopted codes are researched from each jurisdiction's published records — see how we verify. Requirements change and vary by project, so always confirm the current details with the Unincorporated Duchesne County building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.