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Change of Use / Occupancy Permit in Kanab, Utah

Kanab does not maintain a separately named 'Change of Use' or 'Certificate of Occupancy' fee line in its Adopted Consolidated Fee Schedule, but the underlying requirement is real and directly codified: Section 1-8 ('Occupancy Permit Required') of the Kanab Land Use Ordinance, Chapter 01 — General Provisions, requires that 'a permit of occupancy shall be issued by a Kanab City building inspector to the effect that the use, building or premises will conform to provisions of this and related ordinances prior to occupancy, for any building erected, enlarged or altered structurally, or the occupancy, or use of any land, except for permitted agricultural uses,' and states explicitly that 'such a permit is needed whenever use or character of any building or land is to be changed.' This occupancy/change-of-use review is administered through the same Building Permit and Site Plan (Section 1-9) process documented elsewhere in this file, and is cross-checked again at business-license issuance, where the Business License Application requires sign-off from the City's Building, Zoning, and Fire Officials before business activity may commence at a location.

Verified 2026-07-21 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Change of use or character of any building or land within Kanab city limits, per Land Use Ordinance Chapter 01, Section 1-8
  • A site plan accompanying the application for modifications to the square footage, use, or occupancy of an existing building — except for single-family dwellings and their accessory buildings — per Section 1-9
  • Compliance with the zoning district regulations applicable to the new use
  • Final inspection and sign-off by the City's Building, Zoning, and Fire Officials before an occupancy permit is issued or a business may commence operating at the location

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Occupancy Permit / Change of UseThe 2024 and July 2025 Kanab City Adopted Consolidated Fee Schedules were fetched and searched directly (2026-07-21) — neither contains an 'occupancy permit,' 'certificate of occupancy,' or 'change of use' fee line. The Section 1-8 occupancy-permit requirement is administered without its own separate charge.
No distinct fee line item published
Business LicenseKanab City Adopted Consolidated Fee Schedule (July 2025), Business Licensing section — applies when the change of use involves commencing or changing a business at the location.
$50.00 per year plus $10.00 per employee
Building Permit Fee (if construction/remodel is required by the new use)Same general Building Permit fee formula documented elsewhere in this file; applies only if the change of use requires construction or remodel work, not to a pure use change with no physical alteration.
ICC Building Valuation Data × city permit multiplier, or Renovation/Remodel pricing by inspection count
Site Plan Review (if applicable)Kanab City Adopted Consolidated Fee Schedule (July 2025), Planning and Zoning section — applies where Section 1-9 requires a site plan for the modification.
$600 + $50 per acre (first City Engineer review included; $100 per additional review)

Review timeline

Plan review
Not published — contact the department

How long did your Change of Use / Occupancy Permit permit actually take in Kanab?

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Inspection process

  1. 1

    Final Inspection (Occupancy / Change of Use)

    Per Section 1-8: 'A final inspection will not be performed, and an occupancy permit will not be issued, until after the approved requirements of the site plan are met.' Scheduled by calling the Building Department at 435-644-2534.

  2. 2

    Building, Zoning, and Fire Official Sign-Off (Business License)

    Per the Business License Application, a business may not commence at a location until inspections of the City Building, Zoning, and Fire Officials are completed and the building is approved by these officials.

See the full Kanab inspection guide — scheduling & re-inspection fees →

Tips

  • Kanab's occupancy/change-of-use requirement is real and codified (Land Use Ordinance Chapter 01, Section 1-8) but has no dedicated fee — it rides on top of whatever Building Permit, Site Plan, and/or Business License fees apply to the specific change.
  • Section 1-8 also allows a permit to be issued, upon written request from the owner, 'covering any lawful use of buildings or premises existing on the effective date of this amendment, including nonconforming buildings and uses' — useful for confirming a legal nonconforming use rather than triggering a full new-use review.
  • The Business License Application itself warns that operating a business 'without final approval is a Class B Misdemeanor and punishable by law' — confirm the occupancy/change-of-use sign-off is complete before opening, not just after submitting the application.

Frequently asked questions

Kanab requires a change of use / occupancy permit for: Change of use or character of any building or land within Kanab city limits, per Land Use Ordinance Chapter 01, Section 1-8; A site plan accompanying the application for modifications to the square footage, use, or occupancy of an existing building — except for single-family dwellings and their accessory buildings — per Section 1-9; Compliance with the zoning district regulations applicable to the new use; Final inspection and sign-off by the City's Building, Zoning, and Fire Officials before an occupancy permit is issued or a business may commence operating at the location. If your project isn't listed, confirm with Kanab City Building Department at 435-644-2534 before starting work.

Kanab does not publish a distinct fee for its occupancy/change-of-use requirement. Land Use Ordinance Chapter 01, Section 1-8 requires a 'permit of occupancy' from the Kanab City building inspector whenever the use or character of a building or land changes, but this is administered through the general Building Permit, Site Plan Review (Section 1-9), and/or Business License process and fees rather than a standalone charge.

Kanab does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact Kanab City Building Department at 435-644-2534 for current turnaround.

You'll need: Building Permit / Site Plan Application (CityInspect); Business License Application. Depending on your project, Kanab may also ask for: Site Plan. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Kanab requires 2 inspection(s) for a change of use / occupancy permit, in order: Final Inspection (Occupancy / Change of Use), Building, Zoning, and Fire Official Sign-Off (Business License). Schedule each through Kanab City Building Department (435-644-2534).

Apply through Kanab City Building Department at Kanab City Office, 26 North 100 East, Kanab, UT 84741. Phone: 435-644-2534, email: building@kanab.utah.gov. Office hours: Monday - Thursday: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.; Friday: 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.. Official information: https://kanab.utah.gov/2152/Building-Department.

Kanab, Utah has adopted: 2024 International Building Code (IBC), including appendices C & J — effective July 1, 2026, per Kanab's Building Codes and Design Criteria page.; 2021 International Residential Code (IRC), including appendix AQ — effective July 1, 2026.; 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC).; 2024 International Mechanical Code (IMC).; 2024 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC).; 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC), issued by the NFPA.; 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC).; 2024 International Existing Building Code (IEBC).; 2024 International Swimming Pool & Spa Code (residential).. Local amendments apply — see the Kanab overview page for the full list.

Sources & verification

Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-21.

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

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