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Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) in Unincorporated Utah County, Utah

Required for construction of a secondary dwelling unit on a residential property in Unincorporated Utah County, including basement apartments, detached cottages, and garage conversions. ADU permitting requires both a zoning clearance (Planning & Zoning) and a building permit.

Verified 2026-07-16 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Property must be in a zone permitting ADUs per the Utah County Land Use Ordinance
  • Obtain Zone Clearance from Planning & Zoning before applying for building permit
  • Separate entrance from primary dwelling
  • Adequate parking (check UCLUO for requirements)
  • Compliant with Utah HB 82 (2021) — counties must allow internal ADUs; detached ADUs subject to local zoning

Required documents

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Fee schedule

ADU building permit — R-3/R-4 Residential rateUtah County Code, Fee Schedule — Building Permits, Exhibit A (effective 4/3/2012). ADU construction follows the standard R-3/R-4 Residential per-square-foot multiplier of $1.00/sq ft. Includes Plan Review Fee and State surcharge. A separate $300.00 New Buildings submittal fee may apply. Under Utah law, impact fees for internal or attached ADUs may be reduced or waived — confirm with the Building Division at (801) 851-8342. Re-verified live 2026-07-16: $1.00/sq ft R-3/R-4 rate and $300.00 New Buildings submittal fee both unchanged on the codified schedule.
$1.00 per square foot

Review timeline

Plan reviewTypical estimate — confirm current times with the Unincorporated Utah County building department
~14–30 business days

How long did your Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) permit actually take in Unincorporated Utah County?

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

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Foundation

    Footings, forms, rebar — before concrete pour

  2. 2

    Framing

    Structure, fire separation between units, egress windows

  3. 3

    MEP Rough-In

    Mechanical, electrical, plumbing rough-ins before walls closed

  4. 4

    Insulation

    Insulation and vapor barrier before drywall

  5. 5

    Final

    All work complete, smoke/CO detectors installed, address posted, ready for occupancy

See the full Unincorporated Utah County inspection guide — scheduling & re-inspection fees →

Tips

  • A Zone Clearance from Planning & Zoning is required before applying for an ADU building permit in Unincorporated Utah County.
  • Basement apartments must have egress windows in every bedroom (minimum 5.7 sq ft net clear opening, sill no higher than 44 inches).
  • Utah HB 82 (2021) requires counties to allow internal (attached) ADUs; check the UCLUO for detached ADU eligibility in your zone.
  • Impact fees for ADUs may be reduced under Utah law — ask the Building Division.

Frequently asked questions

Unincorporated Utah County requires an accessory dwelling unit (adu) permit for: Property must be in a zone permitting ADUs per the Utah County Land Use Ordinance; Obtain Zone Clearance from Planning & Zoning before applying for building permit; Separate entrance from primary dwelling; Adequate parking (check UCLUO for requirements); Compliant with Utah HB 82 (2021) — counties must allow internal ADUs; detached ADUs subject to local zoning. If your project isn't listed, confirm with Utah County Community Development — Building Division at (801) 851-8342 before starting work.

ADU permits follow the R-3/R-4 Residential rate of $1.00 per square foot per the county fee schedule (Building Permits, Exhibit A effective 4/3/2012), which includes plan review and the state surcharge. A $300.00 New Buildings submittal fee may also apply. Contact the Building Division at (801) 851-8342 for project specifics.

Plan review for an accessory dwelling unit (adu) permit in Unincorporated Utah County typically runs 14–30 business days. This is an estimate, not a published figure — confirm current review times with Utah County Community Development — Building Division at (801) 851-8342.

You'll need: Zone Clearance Application; Building Permit Application; Construction Plans. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Unincorporated Utah County requires 5 inspection(s) for an accessory dwelling unit (adu) permit, in order: Foundation, Framing, MEP Rough-In, Insulation, Final. Schedule each through Utah County Community Development — Building Division ((801) 851-8342).

Apply through Utah County Community Development — Building Division at 51 South University Avenue, Suite 117, Provo, UT 84601. Phone: (801) 851-8342, email: comdev@utahcounty.gov. Office hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM (inspection scheduling: ShaunaL@utahcounty.gov). Official information: https://codev.utahcounty.gov/building.

Unincorporated Utah County, Utah has adopted: 2024 International Building Code (IBC), including Appendices C and J — current statewide code per Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(a), in force since July 1, 2026 (superseded the 2021 IBC); confirmed matching the County's own Building page, which lists 'International Building Code 2024' as of 2026-07-16; 2021 International Residential Code (IRC) — Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(b); unchanged by the July 1, 2026 code cycle flip; confirmed matching the County's own Building page, which lists 'International Residential Code 2021' as of 2026-07-16; 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC) — current statewide code per Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(d), in force since July 1, 2026 (superseded the 2021 IPC); confirmed matching the County's own Building page as of 2026-07-16; 2024 International Mechanical Code (IMC) — current statewide code per Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(e), in force since July 1, 2026 (superseded the 2021 IMC); confirmed matching the County's own Building page as of 2026-07-16; 2024 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) — current statewide code per Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(f), in force since July 1, 2026 (superseded the 2021 IFGC); confirmed matching the County's own Building page as of 2026-07-16; 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC) — Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(g); unchanged by the July 1, 2026 code cycle flip; confirmed matching the County's own Building page as of 2026-07-16; 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) — current statewide code per Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(h), in force since July 1, 2026 (superseded the 2021 IECC; one edition applies statewide, no separate residential/commercial split); confirmed matching the County's own Building page as of 2026-07-16; 2024 International Existing Building Code (IEBC) — current statewide code per Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(i), in force since July 1, 2026 (superseded the 2021 IEBC); confirmed matching the County's own Building page as of 2026-07-16; Residential provisions of the 2024 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) — current statewide code per Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(n), in force since July 1, 2026 (superseded the 2021 ISPSC); not separately itemized on the County's own Building page as of 2026-07-16, added here as it applies statewide; NOTE: The July 1, 2026 statewide code cycle flip (Utah Code § 15A-2-103, amended by Ch. 47, 2026 General Session) is now in effect. The County's own Building page was re-checked live on 2026-07-16 and has ALREADY been updated to reflect it — it now lists IBC 2024, IPC 2024, IMC 2024, IFGC 2024, IECC 2024, and IEBC 2024, alongside the unchanged IRC 2021 and NEC 2023. This supersedes the prior 2026-06-30 note recorded here (which said the page still showed '2021 IBC'); the County's page is current, not lagging.. Local amendments apply — see the Unincorporated Utah County overview page for the full list.

Most likely yes for internal/attached ADUs under Utah HB 82 (2021). Detached ADUs depend on your zone under the Utah County Land Use Ordinance. Start by obtaining a Zone Clearance from Planning & Zoning at https://formitable.utahcounty.gov/zone-clearance/forms/new.

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 Unincorporated Utah County 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 (ADU) in other cities

Bountiful, UtahDraper, UtahEagle Mountain, UtahKaysville, UtahLayton, UtahLehi, UtahLogan, UtahNorth Salt Lake, Utah

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