This is PermitBase’s published record for Unincorporated San Juan County as of 2026-07-19. It has since been superseded — see the current record. A historical record reflects what PermitBase had verified at that time; it may not capture a real-world change the jurisdiction had made but PermitBase had not yet verified, and it includes any errors we later corrected. Snapshots are never edited retroactively.
Unincorporated San Juan County building permits
VerifiedUnincorporated San Juan County, Utah — as published 2026-07-19.
Verified 2026-07-08 · Source
Codes adopted
Permit types & fees
Residential Building Permit
VerifiedRequired for new residential construction, moving a trailer or pre-built home onto a lot, and any addition or remodeling in unincorporated San Juan County (which also covers the Town of Bluff, whose Planning & Zoning Commission issues a prerequisite Land Use Clearance before the county issues the actual building permit). Plan review for one- and two-family dwellings and townhomes must be completed within the 14-business-day statutory window required by Utah Code § 17-36-55(3)(a).
Verified 2026-07-08 · Source
Requirements
- New residential construction, moving a trailer/pre-built home onto a lot, or any addition or remodeling
- Complete set of plans drawn to scale submitted to the Building Department for review (per the county's Plan Requirements sheet)
- Per Utah Code §§ 58-22-305 & 58-3a-304, only one- or two-family dwellings not exceeding two stories are exempt from requiring a licensed Professional Engineer or Architect to prepare the plans; the Building Official may require stamped plans when project scope/design warrants it
- All commercial buildings must be designed, drawn, and stamped by a Utah Licensed Architect or Engineer
- Structural Steel, Straw Bale, Adobe, or Rammed Earth construction methods require plans drawn by a Utah Licensed Architect or Engineer regardless of building type
- Legal description and San Juan County property tax parcel number
- Sewage system approved by the San Juan County Health Department (located at 735 S 200 W Suite 2, Blanding, or in the basement of the County Administration Building in Monticello)
- Road Encroachment Permit from the San Juan County Road Department, if applicable
- Property must be deeded in the applicant's name and recorded in the San Juan County Recorder's Office before permit issuance (or a notarized statement from the legal owner granting permission to build)
- For property within the Town of Bluff: a Land Use Clearance (LUC) approved by the Bluff Planning & Zoning Commission must be obtained before the county building permit application
Required documents
- RequiredBuilding Permit ApplicationFilled out as complete as possible and signed by the owner or agent; must list all contractors/subcontractors with a copy of their Utah Contractor license (company/license holder name, license number, licensed trades, expiration date), address, phone, and email. Submitted by mail, email, or in person to the San Juan County Administrative Building.
- RequiredComplete Set of Plans (per Plan Requirements sheet)Site plan (lot dimensions, building locations/setbacks, utility lines, easements), 4 building elevations, architectural plans, foundation plan, framing plan, roof framing plan, electrical layout, plumbing layout, mechanical/appliance layout, and other structural details (guardrails, handrails, stairs, hold-downs, insulation, fireplace details, roof/wall covering) — per San Juan County's official Plan Requirements checklist.
- RequiredLegal Description and County Property Tax Parcel NumberLocatable on the applicant's tax notice
- RequiredSeptic/Sewage System ApprovalApproved by the San Juan County Health Department before permit issuance; a separate Septic Permit is required when a septic system is being installed
- OptionalRoad Encroachment PermitObtained from the San Juan County Road Department (435-587-3230), if the project requires access work affecting a county road
- RequiredProof of Property Ownership / Notarized Owner PermissionProperty must be deeded in the applicant's name and recorded in the San Juan County Recorder's Office, or a notarized statement from the legal owner granting permission to build
- OptionalTown of Bluff Land Use Clearance (LUC)Required only for property within the Town of Bluff — approved by the Bluff Planning & Zoning Commission before the county building permit is submitted; valid for one year after approval per the Town of Bluff's official LUC Application
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Plan Review & Building Permit (combined) | 1.75 × square footage of the structure (example given by the county: 2,000 sq ft = $3,500) | San Juan County Planning & Building Department official webpage (sanjuancountyut.gov/building), 'Fee Structure' section, retrieved live 2026-07-08. |
| Inspection Fee | $65.00 per inspection + State mileage rate | San Juan County Planning & Building Department official webpage (sanjuancountyut.gov/building), retrieved live 2026-07-08. |
| Appeal for Time Extension | $150.00 | San Juan County Planning & Building Department official webpage (sanjuancountyut.gov/building). |
| Work Done Without Permit (Investigation Fee) | 2× permit price, plus $150/week if continued beyond a 30-day notice | San Juan County Planning & Building Department official webpage (sanjuancountyut.gov/building); also referenced in the county's Building Permit Checklist as an investigation fee equal to the permit fee. |
Commercial Building Permit
Required for new commercial building construction in unincorporated San Juan County. The county bills commercial construction under the same combined Plan Review & Building Permit formula published for residential construction (1.75 × the structure's square footage) — San Juan County's official Building Department webpage publishes no separate commercial valuation track or fee tier. The county's own Building Permit Checklist states verbatim: 'All commercial Buildings must, by Utah Law, be designed, drawn and stamped by a Utah Licensed Architect or Engineer. A building can be considered commercial by the building use, occupancy, or construction type,' and: 'ALL WORK TO BE PERFORMED ON ANY COMMERCIAL PROJECT MUST BE DONE BY LICENSED CONTRACTORS. THE OWNER OF A COMMERCIAL PROJECT C[A]NNOT ACT AS THEIR OWN CONTRACTOR IN THE STATE OF UTAH.'
Reviewed 2026-07-19 · Source
Requirements
- New commercial building construction
- "All commercial Buildings must, by Utah Law, be designed, drawn and stamped by a Utah Licensed Architect or Engineer. A building can be considered commercial by the building use, occupancy, or construction type." — quoted verbatim from San Juan County's official Building Permit Checklist
- "ALL WORK TO BE PERFORMED ON ANY COMMERCIAL PROJECT MUST BE DONE BY LICENSED CONTRACTORS. THE OWNER OF A COMMERCIAL PROJECT C[A]NNOT ACT AS THEIR OWN CONTRACTOR IN THE STATE OF UTAH." — quoted verbatim from the county's Building Permit Checklist
- Structural Steel, Straw Bale, Adobe, or Rammed Earth construction methods require plans drawn by a Utah Licensed Architect or Engineer regardless of building type
- Legal description and San Juan County property tax parcel number
- Sewage system approved by the San Juan County Health Department, or connection to public sewer where available
- Road Encroachment Permit from the San Juan County Road Department, if applicable
- Property must be deeded in the applicant's name and recorded in the San Juan County Recorder's Office before permit issuance (or a notarized statement from the legal owner granting permission to build)
Required documents
- RequiredBuilding Permit ApplicationFilled out as complete as possible and signed by the owner or agent; must list all contractors/subcontractors with a copy of their Utah Contractor license.
- RequiredComplete Set of Plans, Stamped by a Utah Licensed Architect or EngineerSite plan, elevations, architectural/foundation/framing/roof framing plans, electrical/plumbing/mechanical layouts, and other structural details — per the county's Plan Requirements checklist, with commercial plans additionally requiring a licensed architect/engineer stamp.
- RequiredLegal Description and County Property Tax Parcel NumberLocatable on the applicant's tax notice.
- RequiredSeptic/Sewage System Approval or Public Sewer ConnectionApproved by the San Juan County Health Department before permit issuance where a septic system is used.
- OptionalRoad Encroachment PermitObtained from the San Juan County Road Department (435-587-3230), if the project requires access work affecting a county road.
- RequiredProof of Property Ownership / Notarized Owner PermissionProperty must be deeded in the applicant's name and recorded in the San Juan County Recorder's Office, or a notarized statement from the legal owner granting permission to build.
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Plan Review & Building Permit (combined) | 1.75 × square footage of the structure (example given by the county: 2,000 sq ft = $3,500) | San Juan County Planning & Building Department official webpage (sanjuancountyut.gov/building), 'Fee Structure' section — the county publishes a single combined formula for Plan Review & Building Permit that applies to all construction, with no distinct commercial rate or tier. |
| Inspection Fee | $65.00 per inspection + State mileage rate | San Juan County Planning & Building Department official webpage (sanjuancountyut.gov/building). |
| Appeal for Time Extension | $150.00 | San Juan County Planning & Building Department official webpage (sanjuancountyut.gov/building). |
| Work Done Without Permit (Investigation Fee) | 2× permit price, plus $150/week if continued beyond a 30-day notice | San Juan County Planning & Building Department official webpage (sanjuancountyut.gov/building). |
Commercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Required for tenant improvement / tenant finish work inside an existing commercial building in unincorporated San Juan County. The county publishes no distinct tenant-improvement fee tier — TI/remodel work is billed under the same 1.75-times-square-footage combined Plan Review & Building Permit formula applied to the affected square footage, and remains subject to the same statewide requirement that commercial plans be stamped by a Utah Licensed Architect or Engineer and that all work be performed by licensed contractors.
Reviewed 2026-07-19 · Source
Requirements
- Tenant improvement, tenant finish, or remodel work inside an existing commercial building
- "All commercial Buildings must, by Utah Law, be designed, drawn and stamped by a Utah Licensed Architect or Engineer." — quoted verbatim from the county's Building Permit Checklist; applies to remodel/TI scope as well as new construction
- "ALL WORK TO BE PERFORMED ON ANY COMMERCIAL PROJECT MUST BE DONE BY LICENSED CONTRACTORS..." — quoted verbatim from the county's Building Permit Checklist
- Legal description and San Juan County property tax parcel number
- Property must be deeded in the applicant's name and recorded in the San Juan County Recorder's Office before permit issuance (or a notarized statement from the legal owner granting permission to build)
Required documents
- RequiredBuilding Permit ApplicationFilled out as complete as possible and signed by the owner or agent; must list all contractors/subcontractors with a copy of their Utah Contractor license.
- RequiredComplete Set of Plans, Stamped by a Utah Licensed Architect or Engineer (where scope requires)Floor plans, structural/electrical/plumbing/mechanical detail for the improved space, per the county's Plan Requirements checklist.
- RequiredLegal Description and County Property Tax Parcel NumberLocatable on the applicant's tax notice.
- RequiredProof of Property Ownership / Notarized Owner PermissionProperty must be deeded in the applicant's name and recorded in the San Juan County Recorder's Office, or a notarized statement from the legal owner granting permission to build.
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Plan Review & Building Permit (combined) | 1.75 × square footage of the affected/improved space | San Juan County Planning & Building Department official webpage (sanjuancountyut.gov/building), 'Fee Structure' section — the county publishes a single combined formula for Plan Review & Building… Show full citationHideSan Juan County Planning & Building Department official webpage (sanjuancountyut.gov/building), 'Fee Structure' section — the county publishes a single combined formula for Plan Review & Building Permit that applies to all construction, with no distinct commercial rate or tier. No reduced TI-specific rate is published; the county's example (2,000 sq ft = $3,500) is the same formula applied to new construction. |
| Inspection Fee | $65.00 per inspection + State mileage rate | San Juan County Planning & Building Department official webpage (sanjuancountyut.gov/building). |
| Work Done Without Permit (Investigation Fee) | 2× permit price, plus $150/week if continued beyond a 30-day notice | San Juan County Planning & Building Department official webpage (sanjuancountyut.gov/building). |
Sources & verification
Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-08.
Fee schedules
Applications & forms
Checklists & handouts
Codes & ordinances
Department & other records
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 San Juan County building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.