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Residential Building Permit in Unincorporated Salt Lake County, Utah

Required for new residential construction, additions, and structural alterations in unincorporated Salt Lake County. Permits are issued by the Greater Salt Lake Municipal Services District (MSD), which provides building permit and inspection services under contract with Salt Lake County. Apply through MSD CityWorks portal at msd.utah.gov/portal.

Verified 2026-06-30 · Source

When you need this permit

  • New single-family residential construction
  • Additions to existing residential structures
  • Structural modifications — load-bearing wall removal, foundation alterations
  • Conversion of unfinished space to habitable space
  • Any construction work with a valuation over $2,000 (minimum permit fee applies regardless)

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Building Permit — minimum fee / valuation up to $2,000FY2025 Fee Schedule for Salt Lake County, adopted June 17, 2025, effective July 1, 2025. Source: msd.utah.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1471/FY-2026-SLCo-Fee-Schedule
$70.00
Building Permit — valuation $2,001 to $25,000FY2025 Fee Schedule for Salt Lake County, adopted June 17, 2025. Example: $3,400 valuation = $76.50 + $33.00 = $109.50.
$76.50 for the first $2,000 plus $16.50 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof, to and including $25,000
Building Permit — valuation $25,001 to $50,000FY2025 Fee Schedule for Salt Lake County, adopted June 17, 2025.
$456.00 for the first $25,000 plus $12.00 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof, to and including $50,000
Building Permit — valuation $50,001 to $100,000FY2025 Fee Schedule for Salt Lake County, adopted June 17, 2025.
$765.00 for the first $50,000 plus $8.50 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof, to and including $100,000
Building Permit — valuation $100,001 to $500,000FY2025 Fee Schedule for Salt Lake County, adopted June 17, 2025.
$1,181.00 for the first $100,000 plus $6.50 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof, to and including $500,000
Building Permit — valuation $500,001 to $1,000,000FY2025 Fee Schedule for Salt Lake County, adopted June 17, 2025.
$3,781.00 for the first $500,000 plus $5.50 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof, to and including $1,000,000
Building Permit — valuation over $1,000,001FY2025 Fee Schedule for Salt Lake County, adopted June 17, 2025.
$6,531.00 for the first $1,000,000 plus $4.50 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof
Plan Check Fee — residential constructionFY2025 Fee Schedule for Salt Lake County, adopted June 17, 2025. Includes up to 4 plan reviews; additional reviews charged at $80/hour.
40% of the building permit fee
Plan Check Fee — commercial constructionFY2025 Fee Schedule for Salt Lake County, adopted June 17, 2025.
65% of the building permit fee
State SurchargeFY2025 Fee Schedule for Salt Lake County, adopted June 17, 2025. Applied to building permits and mechanical, plumbing, and electrical permits.
1% of the permit fee
Re-Inspection FeeFY2025 Fee Schedule for Salt Lake County, adopted June 17, 2025.
$50.00 per occurrence

Review timeline

Plan reviewTypical estimate — confirm current times with the Unincorporated Salt Lake County building department
~10–21 business days

How long did your Residential 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. Call inspection hotline (385) 910-5830 by 3:00 PM for next business day; provide approximate time window between 8:30 AM and 3:00 PM for concrete inspections.

  2. 2

    Framing

    After framing, sheathing, and roof — before insulation or wall cover. MSD stamped plans must be on-site printed full size.

  3. 3

    Insulation

    After insulation installed, before drywall.

  4. 4

    Final

    All work complete, ready for occupancy. Certificate of Occupancy issued upon passing.

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

Tips

  • Building permits for unincorporated Salt Lake County are issued by the Greater Salt Lake Municipal Services District (MSD), not Salt Lake County directly. Apply at msd.utah.gov/portal through the CityWorks system.
  • To schedule an inspection, call the MSD Building Inspection Hotline at (385) 910-5830 or email inspections@msd.utah.gov before 3:00 PM for the following business day. Footing/concrete inspections require a time window of 8:30 AM–3:00 PM.
  • MSD-stamped plans must be on-site and printed full size during all inspections — electronic copies on a tablet are not sufficient.
  • Valuations for new construction follow ICC building valuation tables, updated periodically. MSD uses supplemental tables for specific items: decks at $22/sqft, carports at $22/sqft, fences at $20/lineal foot, retaining walls at $59/lineal foot.
  • Building without a permit results in a fee of 200% of the standard permit fee plus 1% per day after 10 business days notice.

Frequently asked questions

Unincorporated Salt Lake County requires a residential building permit for: New single-family residential construction; Additions to existing residential structures; Structural modifications — load-bearing wall removal, foundation alterations; Conversion of unfinished space to habitable space; Any construction work with a valuation over $2,000 (minimum permit fee applies regardless). If your project isn't listed, confirm with Greater Salt Lake Municipal Services District (MSD) — Building Services at (385) 910-7138 before starting work.

Permit fees are valuation-based per the FY2025 Fee Schedule for Salt Lake County (adopted June 17, 2025): $70 minimum for valuations up to $2,000; $76.50 plus $16.50 per additional $1,000 for $2,001–$25,000; $456 plus $12 per additional $1,000 for $25,001–$50,000. Plan check (residential) is 40% of the permit fee. A 1% state surcharge also applies.

Plan review for a residential building permit in Unincorporated Salt Lake County typically runs 10–21 business days. This is an estimate, not a published figure — confirm current review times with Greater Salt Lake Municipal Services District (MSD) — Building Services at (385) 910-7138.

You'll need: Building Permit Application; Construction Plans (full-size, stamped); Site Plan; Energy Compliance Documentation. Depending on your project, Unincorporated Salt Lake County may also ask for: Engineered Truss Plans. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Unincorporated Salt Lake County requires 4 inspection(s) for a residential building permit, in order: Foundation / Footing, Framing, Insulation, 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.

The Greater Salt Lake Municipal Services District (MSD) issues building permits and provides inspections for unincorporated Salt Lake County under contract with the county. Apply at msd.utah.gov/portal. Contact Building Permits and Inspections at (385) 910-7138, Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–4:30 PM.

Sources & verification

Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-06-30.

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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