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Change of Use / Certificate of Occupancy Permit in Unincorporated Grand County, Utah

Grand County does not publish a standalone change-of-use or certificate-of-occupancy permit type or fee line item, separate from its general Building Permit process. The county's own 'What Requires a Permit' page states that '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...shall first make application to the building official and obtain the required permit' — meaning a change of occupancy is processed as a standard Building Permit application, not a distinct application type. A written Certificate of Occupancy (CO) is issued at the end of any permitted project (new construction, alteration, or occupancy change) once work is complete and inspections pass; per the county's Building Permit Process page, 'The completed building cannot be used until a written Certificate of Occupancy has been issued.' Re-chased 2026-07-22: reviewed the full Ordinance No. 688 (2024 Consolidated Fee Schedule) Building Department fee table (§3.06.100) directly and confirmed no 'Certificate of Occupancy,' 'Change of Use,' or 'Change of Occupancy' line item exists among its Specific Projects or general fee entries.

Verified 2026-07-22 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Any owner or owner's authorized agent who intends to change the occupancy classification of a building or structure must first apply to the Building Official and obtain a permit, per Grand County's adopted permit-requirement language on its 'What Requires a Permit' page — this is the same general Building Permit application used for construction, alteration, or demolition, not a separate change-of-use form
  • Zoning sign-off is required before permit issuance, consistent with the county's standard building-permit routing — contact Grand County Zoning first to confirm the proposed new use is allowed in the parcel's zoning district
  • Southeastern Utah District Health Department, Moab Valley Fire Department, and/or Grand Water & Sewer Service Agency (GWSSA) sign-off may be required if the new occupancy classification changes life-safety, food-service, or water/sewer demand requirements, per the same multi-agency routing documented on this file's Commercial Building Permit entry
  • A written Certificate of Occupancy must be issued before the space may be used or occupied under its new classification — the completed building/space cannot be used until the CO is issued, per the county's Building Permit Process page
  • All contractors/subcontractors performing any associated alteration work must hold a current Utah State Contractor's license Contractor

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Building Permit Fee — Valuation-Based (if the occupancy change includes construction or alteration work)Grand County Ordinance No. 688 (2024 Consolidated Fee Schedule), § 3.06.100(A). No distinct change-of-use or certificate-of-occupancy valuation table was found; a change of occupancy involving physical alteration work is assessed under the same general Building Permit Fee table used for other construction.
Uses the same Ordinance No. 688 § 3.06.100(A) valuation brackets documented on this file's Residential Building Permit entry (e.g. $65.00 for valuations up to $500, scaling to $7,277.30 for the first $1,000,000 plus $6.72 per additional $1,000)
Inspection Fee — Change of Occupancy Only (no associated construction valuation)Grand County Ordinance No. 688, § 3.06.100(B): 'Inspections for which no fee is specifically indicated (minimum charge – one hour) $65.00 per hour.' Applied here as the governing figure for a change-of-occupancy inspection that involves no separately-valued construction, since no dedicated change-of-use fee line exists.
$65.00 per hour (minimum one hour)
State SurchargeGrand County Ordinance No. 688, § 3.06.100(B) note 1; Utah statewide building permit surcharge, applied to any associated Building Permit Fee.
1% of permit fee

Review timeline

Plan review
Not published — contact the department

How long did your Change of Use / Certificate of Occupancy Permit permit actually take in Unincorporated Grand County?

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

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Change of Occupancy / Final Inspection

    Verifies the space meets applicable code requirements (egress, life-safety, accessibility, and any applicable Health or Fire Department sign-off) for its new occupancy classification before a Certificate of Occupancy is issued.

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

Tips

  • Grand County has no standalone change-of-use or certificate-of-occupancy permit type or fee — it is processed as a general Building Permit per the 'change the occupancy' language on the county's 'What Requires a Permit' page, and fee-assessed either under the valuation-based Building Permit Fee table (if construction/alteration is involved) or the flat $65.00/hour general inspection fee (if the change involves no separately-valued construction work).
  • Contact Zoning first, before applying, to confirm the new use is allowed in the parcel's zoning district — the same advice the county gives for new construction applications.
  • A written Certificate of Occupancy is required before occupying a building or space under its new use — per the Building Permit Process page, the completed building 'cannot be used' until the CO is issued.

Frequently asked questions

Unincorporated Grand County requires a change of use / certificate of occupancy permit for: Any owner or owner's authorized agent who intends to change the occupancy classification of a building or structure must first apply to the Building Official and obtain a permit, per Grand County's adopted permit-requirement language on its 'What Requires a Permit' page — this is the same general Building Permit application used for construction, alteration, or demolition, not a separate change-of-use form; Zoning sign-off is required before permit issuance, consistent with the county's standard building-permit routing — contact Grand County Zoning first to confirm the proposed new use is allowed in the parcel's zoning district; Southeastern Utah District Health Department, Moab Valley Fire Department, and/or Grand Water & Sewer Service Agency (GWSSA) sign-off may be required if the new occupancy classification changes life-safety, food-service, or water/sewer demand requirements, per the same multi-agency routing documented on this file's Commercial Building Permit entry; A written Certificate of Occupancy must be issued before the space may be used or occupied under its new classification — the completed building/space cannot be used until the CO is issued, per the county's Building Permit Process page; All contractors/subcontractors performing any associated alteration work must hold a current Utah State Contractor's license. If your project isn't listed, confirm with Grand County Building Department at (435) 259-4134 before starting work.

It depends on scope. If the occupancy change includes construction or alteration work, the standard valuation-based Building Permit Fee table (Ordinance No. 688, § 3.06.100(A)) applies. If the change involves no separately-valued construction, Grand County's general inspection fee of $65.00 per hour (minimum one hour), per § 3.06.100(B), would apply. Confirm the applicable fee with the Building Department at (435) 259-4134 before applying.

Unincorporated Grand County does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact Grand County Building Department at (435) 259-4134 for current turnaround.

You'll need: Building Permit Application; Floor Plan / Site Plan (existing vs. proposed use). Depending on your project, Unincorporated Grand County may also ask for: Health/Fire Department Sign-Off. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Unincorporated Grand County requires 1 inspection(s) for a change of use / certificate of occupancy permit, in order: Change of Occupancy / Final Inspection. Schedule each through Grand County Building Department ((435) 259-4134).

Apply through Grand County Building Department at 59 N 200 E, Moab, UT 84532. Phone: (435) 259-4134, email: building@grandcountyutah.net. Office hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, closed 12:00–1:00 PM and on county holidays. Appointment required — call ahead before visiting; the office does not accept walk-ins.. Official information: https://www.grandcountyutah.net/143/Building-Inspector.

Unincorporated Grand County, Utah has adopted: 2024 International Building Code (IBC), including Appendices C and J — governs per Utah Code §15A-2-103(1)(a) (https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title15A/Chapter2/15A-2-S103.html), in force statewide since 7/1/2026 and binding on counties under §15A-1-204. Grand County's own Design Criteria page still lists the 2021 IBC with Appendix J (with Utah State Amendments; no Appendix C cited) — live-checked 2026-07-16, the county's own page has not been updated to the current statewide edition.; 2021 International Residential Code (IRC), including Appendix AQ — governs per Utah Code §15A-2-103(1)(b)/(c); this edition is UNCHANGED from the prior code cycle. Grand County's own Design Criteria page lists the 2021 IRC with Utah State Amendments (no distinct Appendix AQ citation) — live-checked 2026-07-16, consistent with the current statute on the base edition.; 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC) — governs per Utah Code §15A-2-103(1)(d). Grand County's own Design Criteria page still lists the 2021 IPC — live-checked 2026-07-16, lags the current statewide edition.; 2024 International Mechanical Code (IMC) — governs per Utah Code §15A-2-103(1)(e). Grand County's own Design Criteria page still lists the 2021 IMC — live-checked 2026-07-16, lags the current statewide edition.; 2024 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) — governs per Utah Code §15A-2-103(1)(f). Grand County's own Design Criteria page still lists the 2021 IFGC — live-checked 2026-07-16, lags the current statewide edition.; 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC) — governs per Utah Code §15A-2-103(1)(g); this edition is UNCHANGED from the prior code cycle. Grand County's own Design Criteria page lists the 2020 NEC with Utah State Amendments — live-checked 2026-07-16, one cycle behind the current statewide edition; verify current edition in force with the Building Department at time of application.; 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) — one code, no residential/commercial split, per Utah Code §15A-2-103(1)(h). Grand County's own Design Criteria page still splits it — 2021 IECC for commercial and 2015 IECC for residential — live-checked 2026-07-16, both lag the current statewide edition; the residential/commercial split itself is preserved here as county-published history, not carried into the governing statutory citation.; 2024 International Existing Building Code (IEBC) — governs per Utah Code §15A-2-103(1)(i). Grand County's own Design Criteria page still lists the 2021 IEBC with Utah State Amendments — live-checked 2026-07-16, lags the current statewide edition.; Residential provisions of the 2024 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) — governs per Utah Code §15A-2-103(1)(n). Grand County's own Design Criteria page text reads '2018 edition of the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code' while its hyperlink label reads '2021 ISPSC' (an internal inconsistency on the county's own page, live-checked 2026-07-16, quoted verbatim as history) — both lag the current statewide edition.; Modular Building Institute (MBI) Standards 1200 and 1205 — governs statewide per Utah Code §15A-2-103(1)(o). Not listed on Grand County's own Design Criteria page — live-checked 2026-07-16.; ICC A117.1-2009 (Accessibility); 2006 Utah Wildland-Urban Interface Code; HUD Code (manufactured/mobile homes). Local amendments apply — see the Unincorporated Grand County overview page for the full list.

No. Grand County's own materials (the 'What Requires a Permit' page and the Building Permit Process page) treat a change of occupancy as requiring the same general Building Permit application used for construction, alteration, or demolition — there is no distinct change-of-use application, checklist, or fee line item published in Ordinance No. 688's Building Department fee table.

Sources & verification

Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-22.

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 Grand County building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.

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