This is PermitBase’s published record for Unincorporated Emery County as of 2026-07-08. It has since been superseded — see the current record. A historical record reflects what PermitBase had verified at that time; it may not capture a real-world change the jurisdiction had made but PermitBase had not yet verified, and it includes any errors we later corrected. Snapshots are never edited retroactively.
Unincorporated Emery County building permits
VerifiedUnincorporated Emery County, Utah — as published 2026-07-08.
Verified 2026-07-08 · Source
Codes adopted
2021 International Residential Code (IRC) — Emery County Building & Zoning, with State of Utah Amendments2021 International Building Code (IBC) — Emery County Building & Zoning, with State of Utah Amendments2021 International Plumbing Code (IPC) — Emery County Building & Zoning, with State of Utah Amendments2021 International Mechanical Code (IMC) — Emery County Building & Zoning, with State of Utah Amendments2020 National Electrical Code (NEC), as listed on the Emery County Building Permit Requirements page — NOTE: Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(g) sets the 2023 NEC as the statewide in-force edition; the county page has not been updated to reflect the statewide 2023 adoption (same discrepancy documented in the Cache County file for this corpus).2021 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) — Emery County Building & Zoning, with State of Utah Amendments2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) — Emery County Building & Zoning, with State of Utah Amendments2021 Existing Building Code (IEBC) — Emery County Building & Zoning, with State of Utah AmendmentsUtah Wildland Urban Interface Code — Emery County Building & ZoningNOTE: Effective July 1, 2026 — 2024 editions of IBC, IPC, IMC, IFGC, IECC, and IEBC replace the 2021 editions per Utah Code § 15A-2-103 (version effective 7/1/2026); 2021 IRC continues in force
Permit types & fees
Residential Building Permit
VerifiedRequired for new residential construction, additions, alterations, and most structural work on unincorporated land in Emery County. The Emery County Building & Zoning Office (Castle Dale) issues and inspects permits for land outside the eight incorporated cities/towns. Outside-city-limits applicants must first satisfy the county's 10-acre (or qualifying minor-subdivision) lot-size threshold and complete the Building Permit Point System worksheet (1000 points required) before a permit is processed.
Verified 2026-07-08 · Source
Requirements
- New single-family dwelling construction, additions, and structural alterations
- Outside city limits: property must be at least 10 acres, or a minor subdivision of at least 2-acre lots, recorded in the applicant's name on County records
- Outside city limits: Building Permit Point System worksheet must total 1000 qualifying points (proximity to town, road access, lot size, culinary water, electrical, sewage disposal, dwelling size)
- Minimum dwelling size 800 sq ft (per plot-plan requirement in the Outside City Limits BP Packet)
- Zoning clearance/plot plan review by the County Zoning Administrator (plot plan submitted with application)
- Road Encroachment Permit from Emery County Road Department or UDOT if the driveway/access crosses a county or state road
- Health Department approval of septic system/drain field (Southeast Utah Health Department) where no sewer connection exists
- Letter of Intent for culinary water and/or sewer hookup from the applicable irrigation/water company or district
- Setbacks (outside city limits): front 55 ft from road center or 30 ft from right-of-way (whichever is greater; 50 ft for state/federal highways), side 10 ft, rear 10 ft minimum
- Unconventional construction (log, metal frame) requires an architect/engineer stamp; commercial buildings require a certified architect/engineer
Required documents
- RequiredBuilding Permit ApplicationEmery County Building Permit Application form (front and back signatures required from owner and contractor). Submitted with all supporting documents to building@emery.utah.gov.
- RequiredOutside City Limits Building Permit ChecklistCover checklist confirming all required items are included in the submittal packet
- RequiredPlat / Ownership DocumentationTrust deed or county plat showing ownership, road access, Tax ID number, and County-issued address
- RequiredDetailed Plot PlanShows lot dimensions, structure size (minimum 800 sq ft for dwellings) and location, utility line/connection locations, water/sewer connections, and distances to other buildings and boundary lines
- OptionalRoad Encroachment PermitFrom Emery County Road Department (435-381-3510) or UDOT, if applicable
- RequiredLetter of Intent for Water/Sewer HookupFrom the applicable irrigation company or water district serving the property
- OptionalHealth Department Septic ApprovalSoutheast Utah Health Department approval of septic system/drain fields where applicable (requires percolation test)
- RequiredComplete Construction Plans (PDF)One complete set of legible plans: footing/foundation, floor plan, electrical plan, elevations, wall sections. Unconventional construction (log, metal frame) and commercial buildings require an architect/engineer stamp.
- RequiredEmery Telcom Fiber Optic Service RequestPreconstruction fiber optic service request form for new construction, coordinating conduit installation with the power utility trench
- RequiredResidential Property Declaration (Form PT-24)Utah State Tax Commission form submitted to the County Assessor's office for the residential exemption on property under construction or unoccupied
- OptionalOwner/Builder Certification AgreementUtah DOPL form required if the owner is not using a licensed contractor; filed with the county, which forwards it to the state
- RequiredEmery County Building Permit Point System QualificationsWorksheet scoring proximity to town, road access, lot size, culinary water, electrical, sewage disposal, and dwelling size — total must equal 1000 points
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Base Building Permit Fee | Valuation-based, per square foot value assigned to each building component (basement, main floor, second floor, garage, carport, covered porch/patio/deck, on-site improvements, storage shed, remodel) using the ICBO 1997 Uniform Building Code (UBC) valuation/fee schedule | Emery County Building Permit Application (Building Type & Fee Calculation table) and Permit Process page (emery.utah.gov/home/department-directory/bz/permit-process/): fee 'is based on the valuation of the project which is determined on a cost per square foot basis, according to ICBO 1997 UBC fee schedule recommendations.' The county does not publish its own dollar-per-square-foot table separately from the referenced ICBO 1997 UBC schedule; office staff compute Total Valuation on the application, then apply the base fee schedule below. |
| Minimum Permit Fee | $50 | Emery County Permit Process page: 'Fees: Minimum $50, calculated per square foot using ICBO 1997 UBC guidelines.' |
| Plan Check Fee | 65% of Base Building Permit Fee | Emery County Building Permit Application, Office Use Only section: '+Plan Check Fee (Base x .65)' |
| State Surcharge | 80% of 1% of the (Base + Plan Check) subtotal | Emery County Building Permit Application, Office Use Only section: '+80% of 1% State Surcharge Fee', applied to the subtotal of base fee plus plan check fee |
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 Emery County building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.