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Do I Need a Permit for a Commercial Tenant Improvement in Utah?

Commercial tenant improvement permit requirements. When a TI needs a permit, the permit stack, stamped drawings, contractor licensing, and change-of-occupancy triggers.

Almost always yes — a commercial tenant improvement needs a building permit, usually with electrical, mechanical, and fire permits alongside it.

Utah-specific rules

Contractors are licensed by the state, not by the city: the Utah Construction Trades Licensing Act (Utah Code Title 58, Chapter 55) requires a contractor to hold a licence issued by the Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL) before contracting, and the General Contractor licence is the classification that covers a commercial tenant improvement. A local business licence does not substitute for it, and the licence number is checked at permit application in most Utah jurisdictions.

Sources: Utah Code Title 58 Chapter 55 — Utah Construction Trades Licensing Act, Utah Code 58-55-301 — Licensure required, Utah DOPL — General Contractor licence

When a Tenant Improvement Needs a Permit

Nearly any commercial tenant improvement that moves a wall, changes the electrical or mechanical layout, or alters exits needs a building permit. Cosmetic work — paint, carpet, and like-for-like fixture swaps — usually does not. The line is structural and life-safety impact, not cost: relocating a single non-bearing partition can trigger a permit while a far more expensive finish package does not. Because a tenant improvement is commercial rather than residential, plan review is typically more involved and the accessibility and fire provisions apply in full.

The Permit Stack

A tenant improvement rarely means one permit. The building permit is the parent, and electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permits are usually pulled alongside it by the respective subcontractors. Fire sprinkler and fire alarm work commonly needs separate review, sometimes by a fire district rather than the building department. Expect each trade permit to carry its own inspections, and expect the certificate of occupancy or completion to depend on all of them passing — one open trade permit can hold up the whole space.

Stamped Drawings and Who Prepares Them

Most jurisdictions require plans prepared by a licensed architect or engineer for commercial work, with the threshold set by floor area, occupant load, or the nature of the change rather than by a single national rule. Structural modifications almost always need an engineer stamp. Energy compliance documentation for the mechanical and lighting scope is commonly required as well. Confirm the stamping threshold with the building department before you commission drawings, because redrawing a set to add a stamp is slower and more expensive than commissioning it stamped.

Contractor Licensing Is a State Question

Who may legally perform a tenant improvement is decided at the state level, and the rules differ more than most people expect. Some states license contractors centrally and separate commercial from residential qualification; some register contractors instead, tied to workers compensation rather than a trade exam; and some leave general contracting to city or county licensing while still licensing the electrical and mechanical trades at state level. The consequences of getting it wrong range from a failed inspection to a contractor losing the right to lien the property. Check the requirement for your state before signing, not after.

Assume a commercial tenant improvement needs a building permit plus trade permits, and budget for plan review. Confirm three things early: whether your drawings need an architect or engineer stamp, whether the work changes the building's occupancy classification, and how your state licenses or registers the contractor doing the work.

Permit fees by city in Utah

Verified from each city’s published fee schedule. Where a city has no separate fee listed for this project, open the city page for the current requirements and amount.

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Permit fees by city in Utah
Permit feeSource
AlpineSee city page for the current Commercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit feeCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
American ForkSee city page for the current Commercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit feeCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Bountiful65% of Permit FeeVerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Brigham CitySee city page for the current Commercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit feeCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Cedar City$50.00 per sq ftVerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Cedar HillsBased on valuation (no flat table published; assessed per International Building Code valuation methodology)VerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
CentervilleSame tiered chart as new commercial construction — e.g., $28.30 for the first $500 of valuation, up to $6,730.50 for the first $1,000,000 plus $4.38 per additional $1,000.VerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Clearfield$23.50 for $1–$500, scaling to $5,608.75 plus $3.65 per additional $1,000 over $1,000,000VerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Clinton$58.80 for $1–$1,000 valuation, scaling to $6,730.55 for the first $1,000,001 plus $4.65 per additional $1,000VerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Coalville50% of the applicable per-square-foot commercial (IBC) valuation rateVerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Cottonwood Heights100% of the building valuation data table from the most current IBC edition adopted in UtahVerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Draper100% of the ICC Schedule (International Code Council Building Valuation Data table, as published in Building Safety Journal)VerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Eagle MountainPer the same statewide valuation table used for all structures (e.g., $635 for the first $100,000 plus $2 per additional $1,000 up to $500,000)VerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Enoch CitySee city page for the current Commercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit feeCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
EphraimICC Building Valuation Data-based, city-limits rate; no static current dollar figure published -- quoted through the county's online permit portalVerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Farmington$250.00VerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Farr WestSee city page for the current Commercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit feeCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Fruit HeightsBased on current building valuation (no published flat rate, per-square-foot table, or tenant-improvement-specific discount)VerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Grantsville0.0068 x total permit valueVerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Heber CityValuation-based per the ICC Building Safety Journal fee tables, updated biannuallyVerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Herriman$107 for the 1st $2,000 value + $21.62 for each additional $1,000 valueVerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Highland$500.00VerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
HolladayDetermined per project valuation using the 1997 Uniform Administrative Code, Table 3-AVerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement Permit
HurricaneSee city page for the current Commercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit feeCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
IvinsBased on Valuation, using the City's 1997 Valuation CodeVerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
KanabSee Building Permit Pricing Fee Schedule (separate document; not located online as of 2026-08-02) — based on number of inspections required for smaller projects, or construction cost for larger remodel/renovation projectsVerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
KaysvilleSame tiered table as new commercial construction — e.g., $5,608.75 plus $3.65 per additional $1,000 over $1,000,000VerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
La VerkinBased upon 90% of the square foot construction costs chart (dated 06/18/08)VerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
LaytonSame tiered table as new commercial construction — e.g., $5,608.75 plus $3.65 per additional $1,000 over $1,000,000VerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
LehiValuation-based per Lehi City building permit fee schedule (90% of ICC Building Valuation Data, August 2024)VerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
LindonFull Plan Review Fee — no separate flat dollar amount is published; the application fee equals the Plan Review Fee amount (see below)VerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Logan$1.00–$500: $50.00; $501–$2,000: $50 + $4/$100 over $500; $2,001–$25,000: $110 + $15/$1,000 over $2,000; $25,001–$50,000: $455 + $11/$1,000 over $25,000; $50,001–$100,000: $730 + $8/$1,000 over $50,000; higher tiers per Resolution No. 20-09VerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
MapletonSee city page for the current Commercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit feeCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
MidvaleSee city page for the current Commercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit feeCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Millcreek$76.50VerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
MoabSame sliding-scale table as new commercial construction, based on the tenant-improvement project's declared valuationVerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Monticello$1–$500: $23.50 flat. $501–$2,000: $23.50 for the first $500 plus $3.05 for each additional $100. $2,001–$25,000: $69.25 for the first $2,000 plus $14.00 for each additional $1,000. $25,001–$50,000: $391.25 for the first $25,000 plus $10.10 for each additional $1,000. $50,001–$100,000: $643.75 for the first $50,000 plus $7.00 for each additional $1,000. $100,001–$500,000: $993.75 for the first $100,000 plus $5.60 for each additional $1,000. $500,001–$1,000,000: $3,233.75 for the first $500,000 plus $4.75 for each additional $1,000. $1,000,000 and up: $5,608.75 for the first $1,000,000 plus $3.15 for each additional $1,000.VerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Morgan County$250.00VerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Murray$65.55 per square footVerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
NephiBased off valuation (no flat citywide table published)VerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Nibley$1–$500: $24.00 flat. $501–$2,000: $24 for the first $500 plus $3 for each additional $1,000 (or fraction thereof). $2,001–$40,000: $69 for the first $2,000 plus $11 for each additional $1,000 (or fraction thereof). $40,001–$100,000: $487 for the first $40,000 plus $9 for each additional $1,000 (or fraction thereof). $100,001–$500,000: $1,027 for the first $100,000 plus $7 for each additional $1,000 (or fraction thereof). $500,001 and up: see the full table in the Commercial Building Permit entry.VerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
North LoganSee city page for the current Commercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit feeCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
North OgdenValuation-based: 1997 Uniform Building Code, Section 107.2, Table 1-A, plus 20%VerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
North Salt LakeValuation-based per most recent ICC Building Valuation Data ScheduleVerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Ogden$70.50VerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
OremSame valuation-tier schedule as the standard building permit (see residential-building-permit permit type for the full tier breakdown; minimum $86.00)VerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Park City0.61% of the total valuation of the tenant improvement scope of work, minimum fee $83.00, plus 1% state surchargeVerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
PaysonSee ICC valuation table with 0.75 regional multiplierVerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Plain City$200.00VerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Pleasant GroveSee city page for the current Commercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit feeCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Pleasant View$1–$500: $24 flat. $501–$2,000: $24 for the first $500, plus $3 per additional $100 (or fraction). $2,001–$40,000: $69 for the first $2,000, plus $11 per additional $1,000 (or fraction). $40,001–$100,000: $487 for the first $40,000, plus $9 per additional $1,000. $100,001–$500,000: $1,027 for the first $100,000, plus $7 per additional $1,000. $500,001–$1,000,000: $3,827 for the first $500,000, plus $5 per additional $1,000. $1,000,001–$5,000,000: $6,327 for the first $1,000,000, plus $3 per additional $1,000. $5,000,001 and over: $18,327 for the first $5,000,000, plus $1 per additional $1,000.VerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
PriceSee city page for the current Commercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit feeCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
ProvoFees are based upon the valuation of the building; same 1997 UBC Fee Chart mechanism as new commercial construction (see commercial-building-permit permit type)VerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
RichfieldSee city page for the current Commercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit feeCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Riverdale$1–$1,100: $48.36, scaling through published valuation brackets. $100,000–$500,000: $1,192.50 for the first $100,000 plus $6.75 per additional $1,000. $500,001–$1,000,000: $3,880.50 for the first $500,000 plus $5.70 per additional $1,000. $1,000,001 and up: $6,730.50 for the first $1,000,000 plus $4.40 per additional $1,000.VerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
RivertonSame valuation table as new commercial construction — e.g. $1,075.00 plus $5.80 per additional $1,000 over $100,000 for valuation $100,000.01–$500,000VerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
RooseveltSame citywide valuation table as the Residential/Duplex and general Commercial Building Permit: $23.50 for $1-$500, scaling to $5,608.75 for the first $1,000,000.00 plus $3.65 per additional $1,000.00 above thatVerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
RoyDerived from Table 1-A of the 1997 Uniform Building Code, applied to current ICC Building Valuation DataVerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Salt Lake City$54.55VerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Sandy$574VerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Santa ClaraBased on Valuation, using current ICC ratesVerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
SantaquinCost based on the valuation of the project, per the current Building Valuation Data sheet from the IRCVerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Saratoga SpringsBuilding permit fee is 'per fee schedule found in the International Residential Code,' with building valuation equal to 75% of the ICC 'Building Valuation Data'VerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
South Jordan$750VerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
South OgdenSame valuation-bracket table published for residential and new commercial permitsVerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
South Salt LakeBuilding Fee (B) = local multiplier x Gross ICCBVD Valuation; Plan Check Fee (P) = B x 0.65; State Surcharge Fee (Y) = B x 0.01; Total = B + P + YVerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
South WeberSee city page for the current Commercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit feeCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Spanish Fork$1,634.00VerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
SpringvilleDue in FULL when the permit application is submitted — contact the Building Department at 801.489.2704 for the amount.VerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
St. GeorgeSame tiered schedule as the Commercial Building Permit (St. George Building Fee Sheet)VerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
SyracuseSame tiered table as new commercial construction — $100.00 for Building Value $1-$1,000, scaling to $6,774.00 + $4.65 per addl. $1,000 for $1,000,000.00+VerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Taylorsville$24.00 for the first $500, plus $3.50 for each additional $100 or fraction thereof, to and including $2,000VerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
TooeleCalculated from project valuation using IBC-established rate tablesVerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Tremonton1% of Building ValuationVerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Unincorporated Beaver CountyDetermined by the Current IBC/IRCVerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Unincorporated Box Elder CountyState ICC Fee Structure (valuation-based; no flat dollar table published)VerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Unincorporated Cache County$1,500VerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Unincorporated Carbon CountySee city page for the current Commercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit feeCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Unincorporated Daggett CountySee city page for the current Commercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit feeCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Unincorporated Davis CountySee city page for the current Commercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit feeCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Unincorporated Duchesne CountySee city page for the current Commercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit feeCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Unincorporated Emery CountyValuation-based, per square foot value assigned to the 'Remodel' line on the Building Type & Fee Calculation tableVerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Unincorporated Garfield County$20.00 base, then based on bid priceVerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Unincorporated Grand County$260.00 non-refundable (or 10% of the estimated building permit fee for large-scope projects)VerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Unincorporated Iron CountyB.P. Contractor's Estimate, P.C. 40% to 65% + State FeeVerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Unincorporated Juab CountySee city page for the current Commercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit feeCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Unincorporated Kane CountySee city page for the current Commercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit feeCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Unincorporated Millard CountySee city page for the current Commercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit feeCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Unincorporated Piute CountySee city page for the current Commercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit feeCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Unincorporated Rich CountySet by the fee table in the International Residential Code (IRC) edition adopted at the time of applicationVerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Unincorporated Salt Lake County35% of the valuation for new construction (calculated from the ICC Square Foot Construction Costs table for the applicable occupancy group and construction type)VerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Unincorporated San Juan CountySee city page for the current Commercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit feeCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Unincorporated Sanpete CountySee city page for the current Commercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit feeCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Unincorporated Sevier CountySee city page for the current Commercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit feeCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Unincorporated Summit County0.0075 (3/4 of 1%) of construction valuation; $100 minimum feeVerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Unincorporated Tooele CountyValuation-based, per Uniform Building Code fee-calculation provisionsVerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Unincorporated Uintah County$0.35 per sq ftVerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Unincorporated Utah County$0.30 per square footVerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Unincorporated Wasatch CountySee city page for the current Commercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit feeCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Unincorporated Washington CountySee city page for the current Commercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit feeCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Unincorporated Wayne CountySee city page for the current Commercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit feeCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Unincorporated Weber County$69.25 for the first $2,000, scaling through published brackets to $5,608.75 for the first $1,000,000 plus $3.65 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereofVerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Vernal$1–$500: $49.50 flat. $501–$2,000: $49.50 for the first $500 + $2.75 per additional $100 (or fraction). $2,001–$25,000: $91.00 for the first $2,000 + $12.75 per additional $1,000 (or fraction). $25,001–$50,000: $352.00 for the first $25,000 + $9.25 per additional $1,000. $50,001–$100,000: $580.00 for the first $50,000 + $6.75 per additional $1,000. $100,001–$500,000: $895.00 for the first $100,000 + $5.50 per additional $1,000. $500,001–$1,000,000: $2,855.00 for the first $500,000 + $4.50 per additional $1,000. $1,000,001 and up: $4,995.00 for the first $1,000,000 + $3.00 per additional $1,000.VerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
VineyardSame valuation-based table as general Building Permit Fees (see Residential Building Permit entry) — Vineyard applies one fee table to all Commercial permit sub-types (New Construction, Tenant Finish, Sign, Addition, Repair).VerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Washington CitySame tiered schedule as the Commercial Building Permit (Washington City Building Department Master Fee Schedule)VerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Washington TerraceSet by the 'Building Permit Fee Schedule' in the most current adopted code edition, applied to project valuation from the ICC 'Building Valuation Data' table.VerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
West Bountiful$300VerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
West HavenEstablished in WHCC § 151.15, as amendedVerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
West Jordan$60.50 base + $3.70 per each additional $100 (or fraction thereof) over $500VerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
West PointBased on building valuation and square footageVerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
West Valley CityValuation-based per the same codified fee table used for all building permits, including new commercial construction (West Valley City Municipal Code § 1-2-103(1)(a)(i)): $0–$500 value = $26; $501–$2,000 = $25 for the first $500 plus $4 per additional $100 (min $50); $2,001–$25,000 = $76 for the first $2,000 plus $16 per additional $1,000; $25,001–$50,000 = $430 for the first $25,000 plus $12.50 per additional $1,000; $50,001–$100,000 = $708 for the first $50,000 plus $9.50 per additional $1,000; $100,001–$500,000 = $1,094 for the first $100,000 plus $7.50 per additional $1,000; $500,001–$1,000,000 = $3,600 for the first $500,000 plus $6.50 per additional $1,000; over $1,000,000 = $6,000 for the first $1,000,000 plus $5.50 per additional $1,000. Plus a 1% state surcharge (§ 1-2-103(1)(b)) and 5% technology surcharge (§ 1-2-103(1)(m)) per building permit.VerifiedCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Woods CrossSee city page for the current Commercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit feeCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit

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