Do I Need a Permit for a Hot Tub in Utah?
Hot tub permit requirements. Electrical permits, structural support, barrier rules, and installation tips.
Yes — at minimum an electrical permit for the 240V circuit.
Utah-specific rules
Adopted code: 2023 NEC, adopted statewide under Utah Code § 15A-2-103. Hot-tub electrical work — equipotential bonding, GFCI protection, and the disconnect location — is governed by the statewide 2023 NEC; the tub's structural pad and site placement fall under your jurisdiction's local building rules.
Sources: Utah State Construction and Fire Codes Act (Title 15A)
Electrical Permit Is Always Required
Hot tubs require a dedicated 240V/50A circuit with GFCI protection and a disconnect switch within sight of the tub (but at least 5 feet from the water). This always requires an electrical permit and inspection — there's no exception for portable/plug-in hot tubs at this voltage.
Structural Considerations
A filled hot tub with occupants can weigh 3,000-6,000 pounds. If placing on a deck, verify the deck can handle the load — this may require a structural assessment or building permit for deck reinforcement. A concrete pad on grade is the simplest solution.
Barrier Requirements
Some cities require barriers (fencing) around hot tubs, similar to swimming pools. A lockable hard cover with clips may satisfy this requirement in some jurisdictions. Check with your city — rules vary.
120V Plug-In Hot Tubs
Smaller 120V plug-in hot tubs that use a standard outlet do not require an electrical permit. However, the outlet must still be GFCI-protected. If you're installing a new outdoor GFCI outlet for the hot tub, that outlet installation does require an electrical permit.
Any 240V hot tub needs an electrical permit ($40-$75). Check if your city also requires a barrier or building permit for the support structure.
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.
| City | Permit fee | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Alpine | $1,000.00, payable upon submission of plans and deducted from the plan check feeVerifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Home) | Residential Building Permit (New Home) → |
| American Fork | $100.00Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Bountiful | $75.50 ($75.00 permit + $0.75 state fee)Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Brigham City | Valuation-based (illustrative sample: $1,951.93 on a $250,000 valuation)Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Single-Family Dwelling) | Residential Building Permit (New Single-Family Dwelling) → |
| Cedar City | See city page for the current Electrical Permit (incl. Electric Meter) fee | Electrical Permit (incl. Electric Meter) → |
| Cedar Hills | Based on valuation (no flat table published; assessed per International Building Code valuation methodology)Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit | Residential Building Permit → |
| Centerville | $70.70Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Clearfield | Valuation-based per building permit fee table (see residential building permit fees)Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Clinton | $58.80Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit | Residential Building Permit → |
| Coalville | $10 issuance fee plus $0.035 per square footVerified | Electrical Permit → |
| Cottonwood Heights | 100% of the building valuation data table from the most current IBC edition adopted in UtahVerifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Dwelling / Remodel) | Residential Building Permit (New Dwelling / Remodel) → |
| Draper | $150.00Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Eagle Mountain | $24Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit | Residential Building Permit → |
| Enoch City | Set by the Uniform Building Code valuation table, plus a 1% State of Utah surcharge on the total building permit fee.Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit | Residential Building Permit → |
| Ephraim | ICC Building Valuation Data-based, city-limits rate (lowest of the county's three rate tiers); no static current dollar figure published -- quoted through the county's online permit portalVerifiedvia Single-Family Residential Building Permit | Single-Family Residential Building Permit → |
| Farmington | $75.00Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit | Residential Building Permit → |
| Farr West | Based on square footage and valuation; amount cannot be determined until plan review is completed by the Building Inspector.Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Single-Family Home) | Residential Building Permit (New Single-Family Home) → |
| Fruit Heights | See city page for the current Electrical Permit fee | Electrical Permit → |
| Grantsville | 0.0068 x total permit valueVerifiedvia Residential Building Permit (Single Family Dwelling) | Residential Building Permit (Single Family Dwelling) → |
| Heber City | Valuation-based per the ICC Building Safety Journal fee tables, updated biannuallyVerifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Construction) | Residential Building Permit (New Construction) → |
| Herriman | $100Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Highland | As Set Forth by the International Code Council (valuation-based; no fixed city table published)Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Home) | Residential Building Permit (New Home) → |
| Holladay | Determined per project valuation using the 1997 Uniform Administrative Code, Table 3-AVerifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Dwelling / Remodel) | Residential Building Permit (New Dwelling / Remodel) → |
| Hurricane | $1–$500: $24 flat. $501–$2,000: $24 + $3 per additional $100 or fraction, up to $2,000. $2,001–$40,000: $69 + $11 per additional $1,000 or fraction, up to $40,000. $40,001–$100,000: $487 + $9 per additional $1,000 or fraction, up to $100,000. $100,000–$500,000: $1,027 + $7 per additional $1,000 or fraction, up to $500,000. $500,001–$1,000,000: $3,827 + $5 per additional $1,000 or fraction, up to $1,000,000. $1,000,001–$5,000,000: $6,327 + $3 per additional $1,000 or fraction, up to $5,000,000. $5,000,001 and over: $18,327 + $1 per additional $1,000 or fraction.Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit | Residential Building Permit → |
| Ivins | Based on Valuation, using the City's 1997 Valuation CodeVerifiedvia Residential Building Permit | Residential Building Permit → |
| Kaysville | $195 plus any impact fee difference (e.g., amperage increase)Verified | Electrical Permit / Service Upgrade → |
| La Verkin | Based upon 90% of the square foot construction costs chart (dated 06/18/08)Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit | Residential Building Permit → |
| Layton | Valuation-based per building permit fee table (see residential building permit fees); plan check is 40% of permit fee (residential) or 65% (commercial)Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Lehi | Valuation-based per Lehi City building permit fee scheduleVerified | Electrical Permit → |
| Lindon | Determined using 1997 Uniform Building Code, Table 1-A, applied to project valuationVerifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New SFD, Townhome, Duplex, ADU) | Residential Building Permit (New SFD, Townhome, Duplex, ADU) → |
| Logan | 8% of the Building Permit FeeVerified | Electrical Permit → |
| Mapleton | Based on IBC valuation table, multiplied by a 0.005 factorVerifiedvia Residential Building Permit | Residential Building Permit → |
| Midvale | 5% of the Building Permit FeeVerified | Electrical Permit → |
| Millcreek | $70Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Moab | $1.00–$500.00: $85.00 flat. $501.00–$2,000.00: $100.00 for the first $500 plus $3.66 for each additional $100 (or fraction). $2,001.00–$25,000.00: $119.90 for the first $2,000 plus $16.80 for each additional $1,000 (or fraction). $25,001.00–$50,000.00: $506.30 for the first $25,000 plus $12.12 for each additional $1,000. $50,001.00–$100,000.00: $809.30 for the first $50,000 plus $8.40 for each additional $1,000. $100,001.00–$500,000.00: $1,229.30 for the first $100,000 plus $6.72 for each additional $1,000. $500,001.00–$1,000,000.00: $3,917.30 for the first $500,000 plus $6.72 for each additional $1,000. $1,000,001.00 and up: $7,277.30 for the first $1,000,000 plus $6.72 for each additional $1,000.Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit | Residential Building 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.Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit | Residential Building Permit → |
| Morgan County | $100.00Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Murray | $100Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Nephi | Based off valuation (no flat citywide table published; fee computed by the contracted plans examiner/building inspector from project valuation)Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit | Residential Building 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–$1,000,000: $3,827 for the first $500,000 plus $5 for each additional $1,000 (or fraction thereof). $1,000,001–$5,000,000: $6,327 for the first $1,000,000 plus $3 for each additional $1,000 (or fraction thereof). $5,000,001 and over: $18,327 for the first $5,000,000 plus $1 for each additional $1,000 (or fraction thereof).Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit | Residential Building Permit → |
| North Logan | As established in the 1997 Uniform Building Code (Table No. 3-A), adjusted annually by the CPIVerifiedvia Residential Building Permit | Residential Building Permit → |
| North Ogden | Valuation-based: 1997 Uniform Building Code, Section 107.2, Table 1-A, plus 20%Verifiedvia Residential/Commercial Building Permit | Residential/Commercial Building Permit → |
| North Salt Lake | Valuation-based per most recent ICC Building Valuation Data ScheduleVerifiedvia Residential Building Permit | Residential Building Permit → |
| Ogden | Valuation-based per Technical Code Base Fee Schedule — same table as residential building permit (minimum $70.50 for work valued at $1,200 or less)Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Orem | $40.00 base + applicable amount from Table 3B, 1997 UAC w/2023 revisionsVerified | Electrical Permit → |
| Park City | 1.32% of the total valuation of construction, plus 1% state surchargeVerified | Electrical Permit → |
| Payson | See ICC valuation table with 0.75 regional multiplierVerifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Single Family / Additions) | Residential Building Permit (New Single Family / Additions) → |
| Plain City | Valuation-based per Table 1-A of the 1997 Uniform Building Code — not a fixed dollar figure. Example brackets: $1-$500 valuation = $23.50; $501-$2,000 = $23.50 + $3.05 per additional $100 (or fraction) up to $2,000; $2,001-$25,000 = $69.25 + $14.00 per additional $1,000 (or fraction) up to $25,000; $25,001-$50,000 = $391.75 + $10.10 per additional $1,000 up to $50,000; $50,001-$100,000 = $643.75 + $7.00 per additional $1,000 up to $100,000; $100,001-$500,000 = $993.75 + $5.60 per additional $1,000 up to $500,000; $500,001-$1,000,000 = $3,233.75 + $4.75 per additional $1,000 up to $1,000,000; over $1,000,000 = $5,608.75 + $3.65 per additional $1,000.Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit | Residential Building Permit → |
| Pleasant Grove | $250.00Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Single Family) | Residential Building Permit (New Single Family) → |
| Pleasant View | $75.00Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Price | See city page for the current Residential Building Permit (New Home / Cabin) fee | Residential Building Permit (New Home / Cabin) → |
| Provo | See city page for the current Electrical Permit fee | Electrical Permit → |
| Richfield | See city page for the current Residential Building Permit fee | Residential Building Permit → |
| Riverdale | $1–$1,100: $48.36. Scales up through published valuation brackets (e.g., $23,001–$25,000: $469.50; $50,000: $773.10; $99,001–$100,000: $1,192.50). $100,000–$500,000: $1,192.50 for the first $100,000 plus $6.75 per additional $1,000 or fraction thereof. $500,001–$1,000,000: $3,880.50 for the first $500,000 plus $5.70 per additional $1,000 or fraction thereof. $1,000,001 and up: $6,730.50 for the first $1,000,000 plus $4.40 per additional $1,000 or fraction thereof.Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit | Residential Building Permit → |
| Riverton | Assessed on project valuation per the 1994 Modified UBC 1-A Fee Table (same table as the building permit); valuation estimated from scope of work per February 2020 ICC BVD TableVerified | Electrical Permit → |
| Roosevelt | $23.50Verifiedvia Residential/Duplex Building Permit | Residential/Duplex Building Permit → |
| Roy | Derived from Table 1-A of the 1997 Uniform Building Code, applied to current ICC Building Valuation DataVerifiedvia Residential Building Permit (One & Two Family Dwellings) | Residential Building Permit (One & Two Family Dwellings) → |
| Salt Lake City | $57Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Sandy | $2,967Verifiedvia Single-Family New Construction | Single-Family New Construction → |
| Santa Clara | Based on Valuation (current ICC rates)Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit | Residential Building Permit → |
| Santaquin | Cost based on the valuation of the structure, per the current Building Valuation Data sheet from the IRCVerifiedvia Residential Building Permit | Residential Building Permit → |
| Saratoga Springs | $22.00 eachVerified | Electrical Permit → |
| South Jordan | $282Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| South Ogden | $0–$1,300: $47.00 flat. $1,301–$2,000: $47.00 for the first $1,300 plus $3.05 for each additional $100 or fraction thereof. $2,001–$25,000: $68.35 for the first $2,000 plus $14.00 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof. $25,001–$50,000: $390.35 for the first $25,000 plus $10.10 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof. $50,001–$100,000: $642.85 for the first $50,000 plus $7.00 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof. $100,001–$500,000: $992.85 for the first $100,000 plus $5.60 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof. $500,001–$1,000,000: $3,232.85 for the first $500,000 plus $4.75 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof. $1,000,001+: $5,607.85 for the first $1,000,000 plus $3.65 for each additional $1,000,000 or fraction thereof.Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Additions / Alterations) | Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Additions / Alterations) → |
| South Salt Lake | Building 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 + YVerifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Remodel) | Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Remodel) → |
| South Weber | Gross Area x Square Foot Construction Cost x Permit Fee Multiplier, per the 2025 ICC Building Code Valuation DataVerifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Construction) | Residential Building Permit (New Construction) → |
| Spanish Fork | As set by 2021 IRC/IBC valuation table (same general Building Permit fee — no separate flat electrical sub-permit rate is published)Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Springville | No fixed dollar figure published for a standalone electrical permit was found in Springville's official Building Fees section of the FY2025 Comprehensive Fee Schedule (which lists only Building Permit Fee and Plan Check Fee as 'Assessed by Plans Examiner,' with no separate electrical line item).Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| St. George | Valuation-based per the 1997 Uniform Building Code fee scale (same tiers as residential building permit above)Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Syracuse | $100.00 for Building Value $1-$1,000; $100.00 + $2.70 per addl. $100 (or fraction) for $1,001-$2,000; $127.00 + $16.80 per addl. $1,000 (or fraction) for $2,001-$25,000; $513.00 + $12.11 per addl. $1,000 (or fraction) for $25,001-$50,000; $816.00 + $8.40 per addl. $1,000 (or fraction) for $50,001-$100,000; $1,236.00 + $6.72 per addl. $1,000 (or fraction) for $100,001-$500,000; $3,924.00 + $5.70 per addl. $1,000 (or fraction) for $500,001-$1,000,000; $6,774.00 + $4.65 per addl. $1,000 (or fraction) for $1,000,000.00+Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Home / Addition / Remodel) | Residential Building Permit (New Home / Addition / Remodel) → |
| Taylorsville | $60.00Verified | Electrical Service Permit → |
| Tooele | Calculated from project valuation using IBC-established rate tablesVerifiedvia Residential Building Permit | Residential Building Permit → |
| Tremonton | 1% of Building ValuationVerifiedvia Residential Building Permit | Residential Building Permit → |
| Unincorporated Beaver County | Determined by the current IBC/IRC valuation methodologyVerifiedvia Residential Building Permit | Residential Building Permit → |
| Unincorporated Box Elder County | $100.00Verified | Electrical Permit (Meter Upgrade / Generator / Battery) → |
| Unincorporated Cache County | $75Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Unincorporated Carbon County | See city page for the current Residential Building Permit (New Home / Cabin) fee | Residential Building Permit (New Home / Cabin) → |
| Unincorporated Daggett County | $600 (nonrefundable at application; credited toward final plan-check/permit cost)Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit | Residential Building Permit → |
| Unincorporated Davis County | $202.00 minimumVerified | Electrical Permit → |
| Unincorporated Duchesne County | 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 valuationVerifiedvia Residential Building Permit | Residential Building Permit → |
| Unincorporated Emery County | 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 scheduleVerifiedvia Residential Building Permit | Residential Building Permit → |
| Unincorporated Garfield County | $60.00Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit | Residential Building Permit → |
| Unincorporated Grand County | $65.00Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit | Residential Building Permit → |
| Unincorporated Iron County | B.P. $111.25 + State FeeVerified | Electrical Permit (Service Upgrade, New Meter Base) → |
| Unincorporated Juab County | Valuation-based; computed by the Planning and Zoning Department from the applicant's Total Valuation at time of reviewVerifiedvia Residential Building Permit | Residential Building Permit → |
| Unincorporated Kane County | Based on ICC Current Valuation Data (average ~$2,500 per current-cycle reference) plus a 25% plan check fee and a 1% state education feeVerifiedvia Residential Building Permit | Residential Building Permit → |
| Unincorporated Millard County | $25.00 + 1% state surcharge ($0.25) = $25.25 totalVerifiedvia Residential Building Permit | Residential Building Permit → |
| Unincorporated Piute County | See city page for the current Residential Building Permit fee | Residential Building Permit → |
| Unincorporated Rich County | Set by the fee table in the International Residential Code (IRC) edition adopted at the time of application — Rich County does not publish a separate dollar-figure fee schedule; per Rich County Ordinance for Building Permits and Certificates of Occupancy (adopted 2025), Section 2.D: 'The County adopts the building permit fees set out in the International Residential Code applicable at the time of application.'Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit | Residential Building Permit → |
| Unincorporated Salt Lake County | $70.00Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Unincorporated San Juan County | 1.75 × square footage of the structure (example given by the county: 2,000 sq ft = $3,500)Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit | Residential Building Permit → |
| Unincorporated Sanpete County | See city page for the current Residential Building Permit fee | Residential Building Permit → |
| Unincorporated Sevier County | See city page for the current Residential Building Permit fee | Residential Building Permit → |
| Unincorporated Summit County | 0.0075 (3/4 of 1%) of construction valuation; $100 minimum fee (covers the cost of one inspection)Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit | Residential Building Permit → |
| Unincorporated Tooele County | Valuation-based, per Uniform Building Code fee-calculation provisionsVerifiedvia Residential Building Permit | Residential Building Permit → |
| Unincorporated Uintah County | $50.00Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Unincorporated Utah County | $101.00Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Unincorporated Wasatch County | approx. $1.25 per sq ft (as of 6/13/2016 per the county's published FAQ figure; includes all square footage — finished, unfinished garage, porches, and decks)Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit (Single Family Dwelling, New Construction) | Residential Building Permit (Single Family Dwelling, New Construction) → |
| Unincorporated Washington County | Valuation-based per the Washington County building permit fee schedule (see residential building permit fees above)Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Unincorporated Wayne County | See city page for the current Residential Building Permit fee | Residential Building Permit → |
| Unincorporated Weber County | $150.00Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Vernal | $50.00Verified | Electrical Permit (Maintenance / Repair) → |
| Vineyard | $1 to $1,300: $86 flat. $1,301–$2,000: $86 for the first $1,300 plus $3 per additional $100 or fraction thereof. $2,001–$40,000: $107 for the first $2,000 plus $11 per additional $1,000 or fraction thereof. $40,001–$100,000: $525 for the first $40,000 plus $9 per additional $1,000 or fraction thereof. $100,001–$500,000: $1,065 for the first $100,000 plus $7 per additional $1,000 or fraction thereof. $500,001–$1,000,000: $3,865 for the first $500,000 plus $5 per additional $1,000 or fraction thereof. $1,000,001–$5,000,000: $6,365 for the first $1,000,000 plus $3.50 per additional $1,000 or fraction thereof. $5,000,001 and over: $20,354 for the first $5,000,000 plus $2 per additional $1,000 or fraction thereof.Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Remodel) | Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Remodel) → |
| Washington City | $30.00Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit (Single Family) | Residential Building Permit (Single Family) → |
| Washington Terrace | Set by the 'Building Permit Fee Schedule' in the most current adopted code edition, applied to project valuation determined from the 'Building Valuation Data' table published in the current issue of ICC's 'Building Standards.'Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit | Residential Building Permit → |
| West Bountiful | $1,000Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit | Residential Building Permit → |
| West Haven | Established in WHCC § 151.15, as amendedVerifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Additions / Remodels) | Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Additions / Remodels) → |
| West Jordan | $70Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| West Point | Based on building valuation and square footageVerifiedvia Residential Building Permit | Residential Building Permit → |
| West Valley City | $53Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Woods Cross | $1.00–$500.00: $24.70 flat. $501.00–$2,000.00: $24.70 + $3.20 per additional $100 (or fraction). $2,001.00–$25,000.00: $72.70 + $14.70 per additional $1,000 (or fraction). $25,001.00–$50,000.00: $410.80 + $10.60 per additional $1,000. $50,001.00–$100,000.00: $675.80 + $7.40 per additional $1,000. $100,001.00–$500,000.00: $1,045.80 + $5.90 per additional $1,000. $500,001.00–$1,000,000.00: $3,405.80 + $5.00 per additional $1,000. $1,000,001.00 and up: $5,905.80 + $3.80 per additional $1,000.Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Single-Family Dwelling) | Residential Building Permit (New Single-Family Dwelling) → |