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Residential Building Permit in Unincorporated Emery County, Utah

Required 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

When you need this permit

  • 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

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Fee schedule

Base Building Permit FeeEmery 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.
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
Minimum Permit FeeEmery County Permit Process page: 'Fees: Minimum $50, calculated per square foot using ICBO 1997 UBC guidelines.'
$50
Plan Check FeeEmery County Building Permit Application, Office Use Only section: '+Plan Check Fee (Base x .65)'
65% of Base Building Permit Fee
State SurchargeEmery 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
80% of 1% of the (Base + Plan Check) subtotal

Review timeline

Plan reviewUnincorporated Emery County’s published plan-review target
1–14 business days

How long did your Residential Building Permit permit actually take in Unincorporated Emery County?

Anonymous — one question, no email. Answers are combined and only shown once at least 5 people have reported.

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Temp Pedestal / Power to Panel / Gas Line

    Pre-construction utility inspections as applicable

  2. 2

    Sub-Rough (Footings, Foundation, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing)

    Before concrete pour and before rough work is covered

  3. 3

    Rough (Building, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, Insulation, Weather Barrier, Shear Nailing, Shower Pan, Stucco Lathe, Bond Beam, Block Building)

    After framing and rough-in MEP, before drywall/wall cover — specific rough inspections depend on construction type

  4. 4

    Final (Building, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, Grading)

    All work complete; occupancy is prohibited until after final inspection and Certificate of Occupancy is issued

See the full Unincorporated Emery County inspection guide — scheduling & re-inspection fees →

Tips

  • Inspections are scheduled by calling Katrina at Sunrise Engineering, 1-800-560-6151 — the county contracts inspection services to Sunrise Engineering. A minimum of 24 business hours' notice is required for all inspections.
  • Outside city limits, a lot must be at least 10 acres (or part of a qualifying 2-acre minor subdivision recorded in the applicant's name) before a building permit will even be accepted — confirm eligibility with the Zoning Administrator before starting the application.
  • The Building Permit Point System worksheet must total exactly 1000 points; qualifying categories include proximity to an incorporated town/city, distance from an improved road, lot acreage (50 pts minimum for 10 acres, up to 200 pts max at 40 acres), culinary water service type, electrical grid access, sewage disposal type, and dwelling square footage.
  • All application documents must be emailed together to building@emery.utah.gov.
  • Permits become null and void if work is not commenced within 180 days of issuance, or if work is suspended/abandoned for 180 days after commencement.
  • An Emery Telcom Fiber Optic Service Request must be initiated during the construction phase — installing communications conduit after construction can incur significant added cost to the owner.
  • For inside-city-limits construction (Castle Dale, Clawson, Cleveland, Elmo, Emery, Ferron, Green River, Huntington, Orangeville), applicants must contact the respective city hall for that city's own requirements — this file covers unincorporated land only.
  • Rooftop or ground-mounted solar PV installations fall under this same Residential Building Permit process — the Emery County Building Permit Requirements page (emery.utah.gov/home/department-directory/bz/building-permit/) lists 'Electrical work' among the categories requiring a permit, but the county does not publish a distinct solar-specific fee line or process separate from the general valuation-based building permit described here.
  • EV charger / EVSE installation is not itemized separately anywhere in Emery County's Outside-City-Limits Building Permit packet or its Building Permit Requirements page (re-checked 2026-07-20) — a full-text review found no 'EV,' 'electric vehicle,' or 'charging station' entry. Like solar (above), 'Electrical work' is the only related category the county lists as requiring a permit, so an EV charging circuit would be expected to fall under this same general valuation-based Building Permit process rather than a distinct fee line.

Frequently asked questions

Unincorporated Emery County requires a residential building permit for: 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. If your project isn't listed, confirm with Emery County Building & Zoning Department at (435) 381-3555 before starting work.

Emery County calculates the base building permit fee from a project's total valuation (computed per component — basement, main floor, upper floor, garage, carport, porch/deck, shed, remodel, etc. — at a square-foot value per the ICBO 1997 Uniform Building Code fee schedule), with a $50 minimum. A Plan Check Fee equal to 65% of the base fee is added, plus a State Surcharge of 80% of 1% of the subtotal.

Per the county's Permit Process page, review can range 'from 24 hours to a couple of weeks (sometimes more if there are complicated plans),' depending on plan complexity.

You'll need: Building Permit Application; Outside City Limits Building Permit Checklist; Plat / Ownership Documentation; Detailed Plot Plan; Letter of Intent for Water/Sewer Hookup; Complete Construction Plans (PDF); Emery Telcom Fiber Optic Service Request; Residential Property Declaration (Form PT-24); Emery County Building Permit Point System Qualifications. Depending on your project, Unincorporated Emery County may also ask for: Road Encroachment Permit; Health Department Septic Approval; Owner/Builder Certification Agreement. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Unincorporated Emery County requires 4 inspection(s) for a residential building permit, in order: Temp Pedestal / Power to Panel / Gas Line, Sub-Rough (Footings, Foundation, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing), Rough (Building, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, Insulation, Weather Barrier, Shear Nailing, Shower Pan, Stucco Lathe, Bond Beam, Block Building), Final (Building, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, Grading). Schedule each through Emery County Building & Zoning Department ((435) 381-3555).

Apply through Emery County Building & Zoning Department at 75 East Main St, Room 106, PO Box 417, Castle Dale, UT 84513. Phone: (435) 381-3555, email: building@emery.utah.gov. Office hours: Mon–Fri 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM, except county holidays. Official information: https://emery.utah.gov/home/department-directory/bz/.

Unincorporated Emery County, Utah has adopted: 2021 International Residential Code (IRC), plus Appendix AQ of the 2021 IRC — Emery County Building & Zoning, with State of Utah Amendments — Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(b)/(c); unchanged by the July 1, 2026 revision — still the current edition; 2024 International Building Code (IBC), including Appendices C and J — Emery County Building & Zoning, with State of Utah Amendments — Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(a); current edition as of July 1, 2026 (2021 edition governed through June 30, 2026); 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC) — Emery County Building & Zoning, with State of Utah Amendments — Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(d); current edition as of July 1, 2026 (2021 edition governed through June 30, 2026); 2024 International Mechanical Code (IMC) — Emery County Building & Zoning, with State of Utah Amendments — Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(e); current edition as of July 1, 2026 (2021 edition governed through June 30, 2026); 2020 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, unchanged by the July 1, 2026 revision; the county page has not been updated to reflect the statewide 2023 adoption (same discrepancy documented in the Cache County file for this corpus).; 2024 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) — Emery County Building & Zoning, with State of Utah Amendments — Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(f); current edition as of July 1, 2026 (2021 edition governed through June 30, 2026); 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) — Emery County Building & Zoning, with State of Utah Amendments — Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(h); current edition as of July 1, 2026 (2021 edition governed through June 30, 2026); statute has no residential/commercial split — one edition applies to both; 2024 International Existing Building Code (IEBC) — Emery County Building & Zoning, with State of Utah Amendments — Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(i); current edition as of July 1, 2026 (2021 edition governed through June 30, 2026); 2024 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC), residential provisions — Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(n). ADDED 2026-07-16: this code is not listed on Emery County's own building-code pages, but it is adopted statewide by statute, so it applies here regardless of the county page's omission.; Utah Wildland Urban Interface Code — Emery County Building & Zoning; COUNTY-PAGE LAG (live-checked 2026-07-16): the Emery County Building Permit Requirements page (emery.utah.gov/home/department-directory/bz/building-permit/) still lists '2021' for IBC, IPC, IMC, IFGC, IECC, and IEBC (plus '2020' for NEC, noted above) — the page has not been updated for the July 1, 2026 statewide flip to 2024 editions. The 2024 editions and 2023 NEC listed in this array are the legally in-force editions per Utah Code § 15A-2-103, not the county page.; NOTE (verified 2026-07-16 against the live Utah Code § 15A-2-103 text, version headed 'Effective 7/1/2026 / Superseded 1/1/2027'): the 2024 editions of IBC, IPC, IMC, IFGC, IECC, and IEBC listed above took effect July 1, 2026, replacing the 2021 editions; IRC (2021) and NEC (2023, per statute — see county-page discrepancy note above) did not change. The 1/1/2027 version of the statute carries identical editions, so no further flip is expected then. This file previously forecast this change but still led with the 2021 editions as current — corrected on this date.. Local amendments apply — see the Unincorporated Emery County overview page for the full list.

Generally no. The Emery County Outside City Limits Building Permit Checklist requires at least 10 acres of property, or a minor subdivision of at least two-acre lots, recorded in the applicant's name on County records, before a permit application will be accepted.

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.

Other permits in Unincorporated Emery County

Commercial Building PermitCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish PermitEV Charger / EVSE PermitSolar PV Installation PermitSign PermitFire Sprinkler & Fire Alarm Plan Review PermitChange of Use / Certificate of Occupancy

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