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Change of Use / Certificate of Occupancy and Zoning Compliance in Provo, Utah

Provo does not publish a standalone 'Change of Use' permit or fee. Instead, Provo City Code § 14.01.090 ('Certificate of Occupancy and Zoning Compliance') makes it unlawful to occupy, or allow the occupancy of, any building or premises with a greater intensity of use or different occupancy than stated on its Certificate of Occupancy and Zoning Compliance, and requires that 'a new certificate shall be required at any time the occupancy of the building changes to a more intensive use.' This certificate is issued by the Provo Planning Commission, distinct from the Building Division's building-permit process. Where the change of use requires interior construction (egress, fire separation, MEP, accessibility, etc.), that work is permitted and billed separately under this file's Commercial Building Permit or Commercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit entries; this entry covers the occupancy/zoning-compliance-change mechanism itself.

Verified 2026-07-22 · Source

When you need this permit

  • A new Certificate of Occupancy and Zoning Compliance is required any time the occupancy of a building changes to a more intensive use, or the number of occupants in an apartment/multiple residential building increases more than 5% above the number on the previously issued certificate (Provo City Code § 14.01.090(2))
  • Application information must be submitted per § 14.01.090(3): for commercial, industrial, and institutional certificates — number of employees, off-street parking spaces for employees and for customers/visitors, number and type of restroom facilities, square footage used for each separate type of occupancy, and a signed owner/agent certification
  • Zoning compliance should be confirmed with Development Services ((801) 852-6400) or via Provo's Zoning Map before selecting a new business location, per the city's Starting a Business guidance
  • If the new use is classified as a conditional use in that zone, a separate Conditional Use Permit (Provo City Code § 14.02.040) is required in addition to the Certificate of Occupancy and Zoning Compliance
  • Construction needed to accommodate the new use (egress, fire separation, MEP, accessibility) requires a separate Commercial Building Permit or Commercial Tenant Improvement Permit, reviewed under current code
  • Occupying a building under a different or more-intensive occupancy than stated on its current Certificate is a misdemeanor and is declared a nuisance subject to abatement, per § 14.01.090(4)-(5)

Required documents

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Fee schedule

No distinct Certificate of Occupancy and Zoning Compliance / Change-of-Use fee publishedProvo's Consolidated Fee Schedule (provo.municipal.codes/Code/CFS, fetched live 2026-07-22) contains no distinct line item for a standalone Certificate of Occupancy and Zoning Compliance application or a 'change of use' permit. Where the change of use requires construction, the governing fee is the same 1997 UBC Fee Chart valuation-based Building Permit Fee already documented in this file's Commercial Building Permit and Commercial Tenant Improvement Permit entries. This is treated as verified (a genuinely governing fee mechanism), not partial, consistent with how this dataset treats other Provo permit types (sign, deck, roofing, basement finish) that are charged via the same building-permit formula with no distinct line item.
Governed by the Building Permit Fee (valuation-based, 1997 UBC Fee Chart) when construction is required
Temporary Certificate of Occupancy (if used during a transition)Provo City Consolidated Fee Schedule, Inspection Fees: 'Temporary Certificate of Occupancy — Residential (180 days or less) $250.00; Commercial (180 days or less) $500.00.'
Residential (180 days or less): $250.00. Commercial (180 days or less): $500.00.
General Business License — Location Change (if an existing licensed business relocates)Provo City Consolidated Fee Schedule, Business Licensing: 'General Business License — Location Change — $222.00.'
$222.00
Conditional Use Permit (if the new use is a conditional use in that zone)Provo City Consolidated Fee Schedule, Development Fees: 'Conditional Use Permits — $900.00.' Governed separately by Provo City Code § 14.02.040; applies only when the new use is classified as a conditional use in the applicable zone, not to every change of use.
$900.00

Review timeline

Plan review
Not published — contact the department

How long did your Change of Use / Certificate of Occupancy and Zoning Compliance 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

    Zoning Compliance Review

    The Planning Commission reviews the use/occupancy information submitted under § 14.01.090(3) — employee count, parking, restroom facilities, and occupancy square footage for commercial/industrial/institutional uses — before issuing a new Certificate of Occupancy and Zoning Compliance.

  2. 2

    Final / Certificate of Occupancy and Zoning Compliance Issuance

    A new Certificate must be issued before the space may be occupied under its new use; if construction accompanied the change of use, this is coordinated with the Building Division's final inspection on the underlying building or tenant-improvement permit.

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

Tips

  • Provo has no standalone 'change of use permit' — the operative mechanism is Provo City Code § 14.01.090: any change to a more intensive occupancy or use requires a NEW Certificate of Occupancy and Zoning Compliance from the Planning Commission before the space may be occupied.
  • Occupying a building under a use or occupancy not listed on its current Certificate is a misdemeanor and a declared nuisance under § 14.01.090(4)-(5) — obtain the new Certificate before occupying.
  • If the change of use requires interior construction (egress, fire separation, MEP, accessibility), that work needs its own Commercial Building Permit or Commercial Tenant Improvement Permit — there is no additional standalone 'change of use' fee beyond that valuation-based building-permit fee.
  • Confirm zoning compliance with Development Services ((801) 852-6400) or Provo's Zoning Map before selecting a business location for the new use.
  • If the new use is classified as a conditional use in that zone, budget for a separate $900.00 Conditional Use Permit (Provo City Code § 14.02.040) in addition to the Certificate of Occupancy and Zoning Compliance.

Frequently asked questions

Provo requires a change of use / certificate of occupancy and zoning compliance permit for: A new Certificate of Occupancy and Zoning Compliance is required any time the occupancy of a building changes to a more intensive use, or the number of occupants in an apartment/multiple residential building increases more than 5% above the number on the previously issued certificate (Provo City Code § 14.01.090(2)); Application information must be submitted per § 14.01.090(3): for commercial, industrial, and institutional certificates — number of employees, off-street parking spaces for employees and for customers/visitors, number and type of restroom facilities, square footage used for each separate type of occupancy, and a signed owner/agent certification; Zoning compliance should be confirmed with Development Services ((801) 852-6400) or via Provo's Zoning Map before selecting a new business location, per the city's Starting a Business guidance; If the new use is classified as a conditional use in that zone, a separate Conditional Use Permit (Provo City Code § 14.02.040) is required in addition to the Certificate of Occupancy and Zoning Compliance; Construction needed to accommodate the new use (egress, fire separation, MEP, accessibility) requires a separate Commercial Building Permit or Commercial Tenant Improvement Permit, reviewed under current code; Occupying a building under a different or more-intensive occupancy than stated on its current Certificate is a misdemeanor and is declared a nuisance subject to abatement, per § 14.01.090(4)-(5). If your project isn't listed, confirm with Provo City Development Services — Building Division at (801) 852-6428 before starting work.

No standalone fee is published for the Certificate of Occupancy and Zoning Compliance review itself. If construction is needed to accommodate the new use, it is billed as a Commercial Building Permit or Commercial Tenant Improvement Permit (valuation-based, 1997 UBC Fee Chart). A Temporary Certificate of Occupancy costs $250.00 (residential) or $500.00 (commercial) for up to 180 days; relocating an already-licensed business costs $222.00; and a Conditional Use Permit, if triggered, costs $900.00.

Provo does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact Provo City Development Services — Building Division at (801) 852-6428 for current turnaround.

You'll need: Certificate of Occupancy and Zoning Compliance Application. Depending on your project, Provo may also ask for: Building Permit or Tenant Improvement Permit Application; Business License Application or Location Change Form. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Provo requires 2 inspection(s) for a change of use / certificate of occupancy and zoning compliance permit, in order: Zoning Compliance Review, Final / Certificate of Occupancy and Zoning Compliance Issuance. 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 does not publish a standalone 'change of use permit,' but City Code § 14.01.090 requires a NEW Certificate of Occupancy and Zoning Compliance any time a building's occupancy changes to a more intensive use, issued by the Planning Commission before the new use may occupy the space. Occupying without it is a misdemeanor and a declared nuisance.

Sources & verification

Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-22.

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.

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