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Commercial Building Permit in Unincorporated Salt Lake County, Utah

Required for new commercial building construction in unincorporated Salt Lake County. The Greater Salt Lake Municipal Services District (MSD), which provides building permit services on the county's behalf, uses the same valuation-based "Building and Inspection Fee Calculation" table for commercial as for residential permits — the difference is entirely in the Plan Check Fee rate (65% for commercial vs. 40% for residential) and in how valuation itself is calculated (ICC Square Foot Construction Costs table by occupancy group and construction type, with a 20% deduction for shell-only buildings).

Verified 2026-07-19 · Source

When you need this permit

  • New commercial building construction on a permitted, properly zoned lot in unincorporated Salt Lake County
  • Complete architectural and structural drawings
  • Site Plan Review or applicable Land Use approval from MSD Planning prior to building permit issuance
  • SWPPP (Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan) review for qualifying sites
  • Energy code compliance documentation for the adopted commercial IECC

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Building Permit — valuation $100,001 to $500,000FY2025 Fee Schedule for Salt Lake County (adopted June 17, 2025, eff. July 1, 2025), "Building and Inspection Fee Calculation" table — same formula applies to commercial and residential; no separate commercial valuation table exists
$1,181.00 for the first $100,000 plus $6.50 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof
Building Permit — valuation $500,001 to $1,000,000FY2025 Fee Schedule for Salt Lake County, "Building and Inspection Fee Calculation" table
$3,781.00 for the first $500,000 plus $5.50 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof
Building Permit — valuation over $1,000,001FY2025 Fee Schedule for Salt Lake County, "Building and Inspection Fee Calculation" table
$6,531.00 for the first $1,000,000 plus $4.50 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof
Plan Check Fee — commercial constructionFY2025 Fee Schedule for Salt Lake County, Plan Check Fees section — explicitly distinct from the 40% residential rate. Includes up to 4 plan reviews; additional reviews billed at $80/hour
65% of the building permit fee
Shell Only construction valuation adjustmentFY2025 Fee Schedule for Salt Lake County, Supplemental Construction Valuation Tables — a shell-only commercial building's fee-determining valuation is discounted to 80% of the full new-construction valuation for its occupancy group and construction type
80% of the valuation for new construction (calculated from the ICC Square Foot Construction Costs table)
State SurchargeFY2025 Fee Schedule for Salt Lake County — applied to building permits and mechanical, plumbing, and electrical permits
1% of the permit fee
Fire Sprinklers (supplemental valuation)FY2025 Fee Schedule for Salt Lake County, Supplemental Construction Valuation Tables — used to calculate the fee-determining valuation for fire sprinkler scope within a commercial project
$6.00 per square foot
Site Plan Review — less than 3 acresFY2025 Fee Schedule for Salt Lake County, Land Use Fees section — includes agency review meeting and technical review; a Planning prerequisite separate from the Building Permit fee ($1,640 for sites 3+ acres)
$990.00
Stormwater Review — base feeFY2025 Fee Schedule for Salt Lake County — base fee per project, plus $30.00 per acre after the first acre when SWPPP is required
$200.00
Re-Inspection FeeFY2025 Fee Schedule for Salt Lake County
$50.00 per occurrence
Multi-unit InspectionFY2025 Fee Schedule for Salt Lake County, Additional Inspection Fees section
$100.00

Review timeline

Plan review
Not published — contact the department

How long did your Commercial Building Permit permit actually take in Unincorporated Salt Lake County?

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

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Foundation / Footing

    Before concrete pour — verify excavation, forms, rebar, and anchor bolts

  2. 2

    Underground / Rough-In (MEP)

    Before backfill and before closing walls or ceilings

  3. 3

    Framing

    After framing, sheathing, and rough-in mechanical/electrical/plumbing

  4. 4

    Final

    All work complete — includes necessary inspections; additional visits are charged the $50 reinspection fee

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

Tips

  • MSD does not have a separate commercial valuation table — the same "Building and Inspection Fee Calculation" table applies to commercial as to residential; only the Plan Check Fee rate (65% vs. 40%) and the valuation-determination method (ICC occupancy-group table vs. declared cost) differ.
  • A shell-only commercial building is valued at 80% of what the same building would cost as full new construction, per the fee schedule's Supplemental Construction Valuation Tables — this lowers both the building permit fee and the plan check fee.
  • Site Plan Review from MSD Planning is a separate prerequisite fee ($990 for sites under 3 acres, $1,640 for 3+ acres) — budget it in addition to the building permit and plan check fees.
  • MSD provides building permit services on behalf of Salt Lake County for all unincorporated areas — applications go to MSD Building Services (Taylorsville office), not to a city building department.

Frequently asked questions

Unincorporated Salt Lake County requires a commercial building permit for: New commercial building construction on a permitted, properly zoned lot in unincorporated Salt Lake County; Complete architectural and structural drawings; Site Plan Review or applicable Land Use approval from MSD Planning prior to building permit issuance; SWPPP (Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan) review for qualifying sites; Energy code compliance documentation for the adopted commercial IECC. If your project isn't listed, confirm with Greater Salt Lake Municipal Services District (MSD) — Building Services at (385) 910-7138 before starting work.

Yes. MSD charges a 65% Plan Check Fee for commercial construction versus 40% for residential, per the FY2025 Fee Schedule for Salt Lake County. Both include up to 4 plan reviews before an hourly rate applies.

Unincorporated Salt Lake County does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact Greater Salt Lake Municipal Services District (MSD) — Building Services at (385) 910-7138 for current turnaround.

You'll need: Building Permit Application; Construction Plans; Site Plan Review Approval. Depending on your project, Unincorporated Salt Lake County may also ask for: SWPPP (Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan); Energy Code Compliance Documentation. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Unincorporated Salt Lake County requires 4 inspection(s) for a commercial building permit, in order: Foundation / Footing, Underground / Rough-In (MEP), Framing, Final. Schedule each through Greater Salt Lake Municipal Services District (MSD) — Building Services ((385) 910-7138).

Apply through Greater Salt Lake Municipal Services District (MSD) — Building Services at 860 W. Levoy Drive, Suite 300, Taylorsville, UT 84123. Phone: (385) 910-7138, email: inspections@msd.utah.gov. Office hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM. Official information: https://msd.utah.gov/205/Building-Services.

Unincorporated Salt Lake 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. MSD's own Codes and Design Criteria page still lists the 2021 IBC (incl. Appendices C & J) adopted effective July 1, 2023 — live-checked 2026-07-16, MSD's own page has not been updated to the current statewide edition.; 2021 International Residential Code (IRC), including Appendix AQ (except residential energy Chapter 11) — governs per Utah Code §15A-2-103(1)(b)/(c); this edition is UNCHANGED from the prior code cycle. MSD's own page lists the same 2021 IRC + Appendix AQ exclusion, adopted effective July 1, 2023 — 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). MSD's own page still lists the 2021 IPC, adopted effective July 1, 2023 — live-checked 2026-07-16, lags the current statewide edition.; 2024 International Mechanical Code (IMC) — governs per Utah Code §15A-2-103(1)(e). MSD's own page still lists the 2021 IMC, adopted effective July 1, 2023 — 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). MSD's own page still lists the 2021 IFGC, adopted effective July 1, 2023 — 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. MSD's own Codes and Design Criteria page still displays the 2020 NEC — live-checked 2026-07-16, not updated to the statewide edition; confirm the enforced edition with MSD before starting electrical work.; 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) — one code, no residential/commercial split, per Utah Code §15A-2-103(1)(h). MSD's own page still splits it — 2015 IECC residential (IRC Chapter 11 residential energy provisions explicitly excluded from the 2021 IRC adoption) and 2021 IECC commercial — live-checked 2026-07-16, both lag the current statewide edition; the residential/commercial split itself is preserved here as MSD-published history, not carried into the governing statutory citation.; 2024 International Existing Building Code (IEBC) — governs per Utah Code §15A-2-103(1)(i). MSD's own page still lists the 2021 IEBC, adopted effective July 1, 2023 — 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). MSD's own page still lists the 2021 ISPSC, adopted effective July 1, 2023 — live-checked 2026-07-16, lags 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 MSD's own Codes and Design Criteria page — live-checked 2026-07-16.; 2006 International Wildland-Urban Interface Code (IWUIC) — adopted per Utah Code Title 65A, Chapter 8. Local amendments apply — see the Unincorporated Salt Lake County overview page for the full list.

Sources & verification

Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-19.

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

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