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Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Permit in Provo, Utah

Required for construction of accessory dwelling units (basement apartments, detached ADUs) in Provo. ADU regulations are enforced strictly in this college-town jurisdiction.

Verified 2026-06-29 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Property must be zoned for ADU use — confirm with Provo Planning Division
  • ADU must meet building code and fire separation requirements
  • Basement bedrooms require compliant egress windows (minimum 5.7 sq ft net clear opening, sill no higher than 44 inches above floor)
  • Off-street parking must meet zone requirements

Required documents

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This checker covers one permit. A full project usually triggers several — our paid checklist will assemble all of them, from $29

Fee schedule

Accessory Dwelling Unit Development FeeProvo City Consolidated Fee Schedule (provo.municipal.codes/Code/CFS, current through Ordinance 2026-13 passed April 28, 2026), Development Fees: 'Accessory Dwelling Unit (Single) $100.00; Accessory Dwelling Unit (Multiple) $500.00.'
$100.00 (single ADU); $500.00 (multiple ADUs).
Building Permit Fee (includes MEP for ≤4 units)Provo City Consolidated Fee Schedule, Inspection Fees: building permit 'Based on the 1997 UBC Fee Chart'; MEP included for ≤4-unit residential; 'Plan review — 65% of the Building Permit Fee.'
Building permit per the 1997 UBC Fee Chart — includes plumbing, electrical, and mechanical for residential structures with 4 or fewer units. Plan review 65% of the building permit fee.

Review timeline

Plan reviewTypical estimate — confirm current times with the Provo building department
~14–28 business days

How long did your Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Permit permit actually take in Provo?

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

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Foundation

    Before concrete pour — footings, forms, rebar.

  2. 2

    Framing

    Framing, fire separation, and egress window verification.

  3. 3

    Insulation

    After insulation installed, before drywall.

  4. 4

    Final / Certificate of Occupancy

    All work complete, egress windows verified, smoke detectors in every bedroom and on every floor, certificate of occupancy issued.

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

Tips

  • Provo has specific zoning overlays that allow or restrict ADUs — check zoning via the interactive map before beginning design.
  • Basement bedrooms must have egress windows: minimum 5.7 sq ft net clear opening, sill height no more than 44 inches above the floor per IRC requirements enforced by Provo.
  • ADU rental may require a separate business license from Provo City.
  • Provo is a college town — ADU and rental regulations are strictly enforced.

Frequently asked questions

Provo requires an accessory dwelling unit (adu) permit for: Property must be zoned for ADU use — confirm with Provo Planning Division; ADU must meet building code and fire separation requirements; Basement bedrooms require compliant egress windows (minimum 5.7 sq ft net clear opening, sill no higher than 44 inches above floor); Off-street parking must meet zone requirements. If your project isn't listed, confirm with Provo City Development Services — Building Division at (801) 852-6428 before starting work.

In Provo, the published Accessory Dwelling Unit Development Fee is: $100.00 (single ADU); $500.00 (multiple ADUs).. Additional published fees: Building Permit Fee (includes MEP for ≤4 units) — Building permit per the 1997 UBC Fee Chart — includes plumbing, electrical, and mechanical for residential structures with 4 or fewer units. Plan review 65% of the building permit fee.. 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 (adu) permit in Provo typically runs 14–28 business days. This is an estimate, not a published figure — confirm current review times with Provo City Development Services — Building Division at (801) 852-6428.

You'll need: Building Plans; Site Plan; Energy Code Compliance (REScheck). Depending on your project, Provo may also ask for: Owner/Builder Certification or Contractor License. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Provo requires 4 inspection(s) for an accessory dwelling unit (adu) permit, in order: Foundation, Framing, Insulation, Final / Certificate of Occupancy. Schedule each through Provo City Development Services — Building Division ((801) 852-6428).

Apply through Provo City Development Services — Building Division at 445 W Center Street, Suite 200, Provo, UT 84601. Phone: (801) 852-6428, email: building@provo.gov. Office hours: Mon–Thu 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM (building permits issued until 5:30 PM); closed Fridays. Official information: https://www.provo.gov/200/Building.

Provo, Utah has adopted: 2024 International Building Code (IBC) — currently in effect as of July 1, 2026, superseding the 2021 IBC that was in effect through June 30, 2026 (Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(a)); Provo's own Building FAQ still lists 2021 IBC as of 2026-07-16 — see NOTE below.; 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 Plumbing Code (IPC) — currently in effect as of July 1, 2026, superseding the 2021 IPC that was in effect through June 30, 2026 (Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(d)).; 2024 International Mechanical Code (IMC) — currently in effect as of July 1, 2026, superseding the 2021 IMC that was in effect through June 30, 2026 (Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(e)).; 2024 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) — currently in effect as of July 1, 2026, superseding the 2021 IFGC that was in effect through June 30, 2026 (Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(f)).; 2021 International Fire Code (IFC) — per Provo City Building FAQ (provo.gov/Faq.aspx?QID=88) listing codes adopted as of July 1, 2021 (not adopted under Utah Code § 15A-2-103, which does not list an IFC edition; edition unconfirmed for the current period beyond this FAQ citation).; 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) — currently in effect statewide as of July 1, 2026, a single edition with no residential/commercial split under current law (Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(h)); superseding the 2021 IECC (commercial and residential editions) that Provo's Building FAQ had cited and that was in effect through June 30, 2026.; 2024 International Existing Building Code (IEBC) — currently in effect as of July 1, 2026, superseding the 2021 IEBC that was in effect through June 30, 2026 (Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(i)).; 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC) — currently in effect (Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(g)); unchanged by the July 1, 2026 statewide code-edition update. NOTE: Provo's own Building FAQ (provo.gov/Faq.aspx?QID=88) still listed 'National Electric Code 2020 Edition' as of 2026-07-16 (re-confirmed live) — this is STALE and always has been, independent of the 7/1/2026 transition; the statewide statute mandates the 2023 NEC, which supersedes the city FAQ.; 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 through June 30, 2026 (Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(n)).; NOTE (updated 2026-07-16): the July 1, 2026 transition forecast in the prior version of this entry has now occurred — confirmed live against Utah Code § 15A-2-103, current version (effective 7/1/2026, superseded 1/1/2027), read at le.utah.gov/xcode/Title15A/Chapter2/15A-2-S103.html. Provo's own Building FAQ (provo.gov/Faq.aspx?QID=88), re-fetched live 2026-07-16, still lists every code at its pre-transition July 1, 2021 edition (2021 IBC/IMC/IPC/IFGC/IRC/IFC, 2021 commercial and residential IECC, plus the already-stale 2020 NEC) — the city FAQ has not been updated to reflect either the 2023 NEC statewide mandate or the 7/1/2026 edition change; the state statute governs regardless.. Local amendments apply — see the Provo overview page for the full list.

Provo allows accessory dwelling units in certain residential zones. Check with the Provo Planning Division (801) 852-6419 to verify your property qualifies before applying for a building permit.

Sources & verification

Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-06-29.

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