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Accessory Dwelling Unit (Accessory Apartment) Permit in Orem, Utah

Orem calls these 'Accessory Apartments.' They must be registered and licensed annually ($55 one-time fee for ADU landlord license). A building permit is required for construction or conversion, including all associated trades. Rescinding an existing approval costs $50. Consultations available at $151 (eligible to apply to permit fee if application received within 6 months).

Verified 2026-07-16 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Zoning eligibility — verify your property is in an eligible zone (contact Planning Division or review the Orem City Code)
  • Accessory Apartment consultation with Building Safety Division recommended (eligible for credit toward permit fee)
  • Building permit application submitted online through CityInspect portal
  • Plans showing ADU unit layout, egress, kitchen, and bathroom facilities
  • Landlord license application through Finance Department ($55 one-time for ADUs)

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Building Permit (valuation-based, Table 3A)Orem City FY 2025-2026 Adopted Budget, Building Safety Permits (p. 204–206).
Based on ICC BVT valuation — see building permit fee table (Table 3A, 1997 UAC w/2023 revisions; minimum $86.00)
Accessory Apartment ConsultationOrem City FY 2025-2026 Adopted Budget, Building Safety Special Inspections (p. 206).
$151.00 (eligible to apply toward building permit fee if application received within 6 months)
ADU Landlord License Fee (one-time)Orem City FY 2025-2026 Adopted Budget, Finance — Landlord License Fees (p. 210). Re-verified 2026-07-16 against the live FY 2026-2027 Tentative Budget, Exhibit B - Fee Schedule (orem.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Tentative-Budget-FY-2026-2027.pdf, p. 16, Finance — Landlord License Fees): 'Landlord License Fee - Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) - One-time' lists FY 2026 Adopted Fee $55.00 (confirms this entry) alongside FY 2027 Proposed Fee $57.00 — a proposed, not-yet-adopted increase. Orem's FY 2026-2027 budget remains in Tentative/Interim status as of 2026-07-16 (no Adopted FY 2026-2027 budget is published; a Truth-in-Taxation property-tax-increase hearing is pending, per the site's own 'Proposed Property Tax Impact Schedule' filing), so the FY 2025-2026 Adopted figure of $55.00 remains the currently-effective fee. Re-check after formal FY 2026-2027 adoption.
$55.00
Rescind Accessory Apartment ApprovalOrem City FY 2025-2026 Adopted Budget, Building Safety Miscellaneous Fees (p. 206).
$50.00
Plan ReviewOrem City FY 2025-2026 Adopted Budget, Building Safety Plan Review (p. 205).
Lesser of 65% of permit fee or actual cost

Review timeline

Plan reviewTypical estimate — confirm current times with the Orem building department
~10–20 business days

How long did your Accessory Dwelling Unit (Accessory Apartment) Permit permit actually take in Orem?

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Inspection process

  1. 1

    Framing / Rough-in

    Framing and all trade rough-in work inspected before walls are closed

  2. 2

    Final

    All work complete; unit ready for occupancy

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

Tips

  • Contact the Orem Planning Division before starting to verify zoning eligibility for an ADU on your property.
  • The $151 consultation fee can be applied to your building permit fee if you submit an application within 6 months.
  • ADUs require a one-time landlord license ($55) through the Finance Department — this is separate from the building permit.
  • ADUs cannot be sold separately from the primary residence in most cases — confirm current zoning rules with Planning.

Frequently asked questions

Orem requires an accessory dwelling unit (accessory apartment) permit for: Zoning eligibility — verify your property is in an eligible zone (contact Planning Division or review the Orem City Code); Accessory Apartment consultation with Building Safety Division recommended (eligible for credit toward permit fee); Building permit application submitted online through CityInspect portal; Plans showing ADU unit layout, egress, kitchen, and bathroom facilities; Landlord license application through Finance Department ($55 one-time for ADUs). If your project isn't listed, confirm with Building Safety Division at (801) 229-7198 before starting work.

In Orem, the published Building Permit (valuation-based, Table 3A) is: Based on ICC BVT valuation — see building permit fee table (Table 3A, 1997 UAC w/2023 revisions; minimum $86.00). Additional published fees: Accessory Apartment Consultation — $151.00 (eligible to apply toward building permit fee if application received within 6 months); ADU Landlord License Fee (one-time) — $55.00; Rescind Accessory Apartment Approval — $50.00; Plan Review — Lesser of 65% of permit fee or actual cost. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Plan review for an accessory dwelling unit (accessory apartment) permit in Orem typically runs 10–20 business days. This is an estimate, not a published figure — confirm current review times with Building Safety Division at (801) 229-7198.

You'll need: Building Permit Application; ADU Floor Plans; Landlord License Application. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Orem requires 2 inspection(s) for an accessory dwelling unit (accessory apartment) permit, in order: Framing / Rough-in, Final. Schedule each through Building Safety Division ((801) 229-7198).

Apply through Building Safety Division at 56 North State St., 2nd Floor, Orem, UT 84057. Phone: (801) 229-7198, email: help@orem.gov. Office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM. Official information: https://orem.gov/buildingpermits/.

Short-term rental regulations may differ from accessory apartment requirements. Contact Orem's Planning Division or Finance Department to verify current rules.

Contact the Orem Planning Division at orem.gov or (801) 229-7000 for current ADU density and eligibility rules.

Sources & verification

Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-16.

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

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Accessory Dwelling Unit (Accessory Apartment) Permit in other cities

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