Orem building permits

Building department

Address

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

Website

Official site

Permit portal

Apply online at Orem's portal

Inspection guide

See how inspections work in Orem — sequence, scheduling & re-inspection fees.

Codes adopted

Utah adopts construction codes statewide under Utah Code Title 15A (State Construction and Fire Codes Act), enforced by every jurisdiction. Chapter 4 of Title 15A codifies Legislature-enacted amendments for specific named jurisdictions (e.g., Park City, Salt Lake City, Sandy City) as part of the state construction code. Through June 30, 2026, the editions in force under Utah Code § 15A-2-103 are the 2021 IBC (with Appendices C and J), 2021 IRC, 2021 IPC, 2021 IMC, 2021 IFGC, 2021 IECC, 2021 IEBC, and 2021 ISPSC (residential provisions), together with the 2023 NEC. Effective July 1, 2026, § 15A-2-103 adopts the 2024 editions of the IBC, IPC, IMC, IFGC, IECC, IEBC, and ISPSC; the IRC remains the 2021 edition and the NEC remains the 2023 edition. Note: residential energy requirements are modified by statewide amendments, and several Utah jurisdictions document their residential energy provisions at the 2015 IECC level rather than the adopted IECC year — confirm the applicable residential energy code with your local jurisdiction. Always confirm the edition in force with your local jurisdiction.

• 2021 International Residential Code (IRC) — currently in effect; unchanged by the July 1, 2026 statewide code-edition update (Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(b))
• 2024 International Building Code (IBC), including Appendices C and J — currently in effect as of July 1, 2026, superseding the 2021 IBC that was in effect July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026 (Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(a))
• 2024 International Mechanical Code (IMC) — currently in effect as of July 1, 2026, superseding the 2021 IMC that was in effect July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026 (Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(e))
• 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC) — currently in effect as of July 1, 2026, superseding the 2021 IPC that was in effect July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026 (Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(d))
• 2021 International Fire Code (IFC) — effective July 1, 2025 (not adopted under Utah Code § 15A-2-103, which does not list an IFC edition; edition unconfirmed for the current period)
• 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC) — currently in effect; unchanged by the July 1, 2026 statewide code-edition update (Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(g))
• 2024 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) — currently in effect as of July 1, 2026, superseding the 2021 IFGC that was in effect July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026 (Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(f))
• 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) — currently in effect as of July 1, 2026, superseding the 2021 IECC that was in effect July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026 (Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(h))
• Residential provisions of the 2024 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) — currently in effect as of July 1, 2026, superseding the 2021 ISPSC that was in effect July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026 (Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(n))
• 2006 Uniform Wildlife Conservation Code (UWUIC)
• 2009 ANSI A117.1 Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities

Permit types & fees

• Residential Building Permit

  Required for new single-family homes, additions, structural alterations, accessory structures, and attached garages — any work regulated by the adopted 2021 IRC or 2021 IBC. Valuation is calculated using current ICC Building Valuation Tables (BVT). All submittals are online only via the CityInspect portal.

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• Electrical Permit

  Required for new electrical installations, panel upgrades, circuit additions, wiring for additions or remodels, and any work involving the electrical system. All submittals online via CityInspect portal. EV charger/EVSE installation is electrical work and falls under this general Electrical Permit — Orem's FY 2025-2026 Adopted Budget fee schedule does not publish a separate EV-specific fee line item; the standard Table 3B fixture/circuit-based fee applies.

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• Plumbing Permit

  Required for new plumbing installations, water heater replacement, re-piping, drain/waste/vent work, fixture additions, gas line work, and any plumbing system modification. All submittals online.

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• Mechanical / HVAC Permit

  Required for new HVAC equipment installation, furnace and air conditioner replacement, ductwork additions or modifications, exhaust fans, and gas appliance connections. All submittals online.

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• Roofing Permit

  Required for full roof replacement (tear-off and re-roof) and new roof installations. Like-for-like shingle-over-shingle repairs on small areas may not require a permit — contact the Building Safety Division to confirm. Valuation is based on ICC BVT or cost of materials and labor.

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• Solar PV Permit

  Required for rooftop solar photovoltaic system installation. Typically requires both a building permit (structural) and an electrical permit. All submittals online via CityInspect portal.

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• Deck / Patio Cover Permit

  Required for new decks, deck additions, and patio covers (attached or detached). Structural decks attached to the home require a building permit. All submittals online.

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• Basement Finish Permit

  Required for finishing an unfinished basement in an existing home (framing, drywall, electrical, plumbing). Uses a special fee structure: $40 base + 1.5% of ICC BVT valuation + applicable trade fees (Tables 3B, 3C, 3D). All submittals online.

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• Accessory Dwelling Unit (Accessory Apartment) Permit

  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).

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• Fence Permit

  Standard fences in Orem do not require a building permit (no building permit fee). Height and location are regulated by zoning; a fence that exceeds allowed height or otherwise triggers a Development Review Application is reviewed by Planning at the published Development Review fee. Confirm your fence's height/zone requirements with Orem before installing.

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• Demolition Permit

  Required for demolition of structures or portions of structures. Fee is $40 base plus the applicable Table 3A (1997 UAC w/2023 revisions) fee based on valuation. All submittals online via CityInspect portal.

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• Swimming Pool / Hot Tub Permit

  Required for in-ground and above-ground swimming pools (over 24 inches deep), hot tubs, and spas. Requires building permit (structural/excavation), electrical permit (bonding, lighting, GFCI), and plumbing permit (water supply and drain). Safety barrier/fence is required by code.

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• Commercial Building Permit

  Required for new commercial construction in Orem, regulated by the adopted 2024 IBC. Fees are assessed on the same Table 3A, 1997 UAC w/2023 revisions valuation table used for all Orem building permits (no separate commercial valuation table is published); distinct commercial-specific line items exist for Fast Track plan review and Temporary Certificate of Occupancy. All submittals are online only via the CityInspect portal.

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• Commercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit

  Required for interior tenant-finish or remodel work within an existing commercial building in Orem. Orem's own Tenant Improvement Plan Requirements document (Building Safety Division, revised 7/2023) lists the exact plan-set contents required before submittal. Fees are assessed on the same Table 3A valuation-based building-permit basis Orem uses for all building permits — no separate flat tenant-improvement fee is published.

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• Sign Permit

  Required in Orem for most sign types under City Code Chapter 14 (Signs), including freestanding, electronic message center (EMC), canopy, changeable copy, entry/exit, inflatable, hillside letter signs, and flag pole signs over 20 feet tall. The fee is valuation-based, matching the city's general Building Safety Permit structure: a $40.00 base fee plus the applicable amount from Table 3A of the 1997 Uniform Administrative Code (w/2023 revisions), per Orem's FY 2025-2026 Adopted Budget fee schedule.

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• EV Charger / EVSE Permit

  Orem has no distinct EV charger/EVSE permit type or fee line item — installing electric vehicle charging equipment is electrical work that falls under the city's general Electrical Permit. Orem's own Electrical Permit entry explicitly states: 'EV charger/EVSE installation is electrical work and falls under this general Electrical Permit — Orem's FY 2025-2026 Adopted Budget fee schedule does not publish a separate EV-specific fee line item; the standard Table 3B fixture/circuit-based fee applies.' Solar PV and EV charger installations are both flagged in Orem's Electrical Permit tips as requiring this same general Electrical Permit.

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• Fire Sprinkler System Permit

  Required for installation of an automatic fire sprinkler (fire protection) system for new construction, or modification/extension of an existing system for a tenant improvement, in Orem. Plan review, permits, and inspections for fire sprinkler systems are handled directly by the City's own Fire Prevention Division — this is Orem's own fee schedule and process (the same Fire Prevention Division also serves as the contracted fire-prevention plan-review and inspection authority for neighboring Lindon and Vineyard, but the fees and procedure below are Orem's own, not a cross-jurisdiction reference). Sprinkler review/inspection is separate from, but coordinated with, the Building Safety Division's building-permit plan review for the same project. Fees are assessed by project square footage under the FIRE section of Orem's FY 2025-2026 Adopted Budget Fee Schedule and bundle the plan check with the required inspections; a mandatory third-party code compliance review applies to any project with 20 or more sprinkler heads.

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• Fire Alarm System Permit

  Required for installation of a new fire alarm system, or modification/extension of an existing system, for new construction or a tenant improvement in Orem. As with fire sprinkler systems, plan review, permits, and inspections are handled directly by Orem's own Fire Prevention Division (which also serves as the contracted fire-prevention plan-review and inspection authority for Lindon and Vineyard) — the fees and process below are Orem's own. Fire-alarm review/inspection is separate from, but coordinated with, the Building Safety Division's building-permit plan review for the same project. Fees are assessed by project square footage under the FIRE section of Orem's FY 2025-2026 Adopted Budget Fee Schedule and bundle office plan review, the 24-hour test, and the final inspection; a mandatory third-party code compliance review applies to any project with 5 or more alarm devices.

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• Change of Use / Change of Occupancy (Business License Application)

  Orem does not publish a standalone Change of Use or Change of Occupancy permit or fee. Per the city's own Business Licensing FAQ, a business license exists in part 'to make sure that zoning and building codes are enforced,' and any change of use — a new business occupying an existing building or tenant space, or an existing licensed business relocating to a new address within Orem — is processed through a Commercial (or Home Occupation) Business License Application, or, for an already-licensed business, a Business Name Change / Location Change form, either of which 'may require a new building and/or fire inspection.' Where construction is required to accommodate the new use, that work is permitted and billed separately under this file's commercial-building-permit or commercial-tenant-improvement-permit entries — this entry covers only the use/occupancy-change and business-license review itself, not any associated construction.

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