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Grading & Excavation Permit in Unincorporated Utah County, Utah

Required for significant grading, excavation, or land disturbance on properties in Unincorporated Utah County. The county fee schedule lists flat rates by volume.

Verified 2026-07-16 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Grading or filling that changes drainage patterns
  • Excavation deeper than 4 feet
  • Land disturbance over 1 acre (state UPDES stormwater permit also required)
  • Cut or fill exceeding limits set in the Utah County Land Use Ordinance
  • Hillside grading in sensitive slope areas

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Grading up to 10,000 cubic yardsUtah County Code, Fee Schedule — Building Permits, Exhibit A (effective 4/3/2012), 'Permit Fee by Activity & Flat Fee.' Flat rate.
$101.00
Grading, 10,001 Cubic Yards or More (and Retaining Walls)Utah County Code, Fee Schedule — Building Permits, Exhibit A (effective 4/3/2012). Flat rate for grading of 10,001 cubic yards or more (and retaining walls). Note: retaining walls over 4 feet are otherwise $101.00. Re-verified live 2026-07-16: both grading tiers ($101.00 up to 10,000 cu yd; $303.00 for 10,001+ and retaining walls) unchanged on the codified schedule.
$303.00

Review timeline

Plan reviewTypical estimate — confirm current times with the Unincorporated Utah County building department
~10–21 business days

How long did your Grading & Excavation Permit 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

    Erosion Control

    Silt fence, inlet protection, and stabilization measures in place before work begins

  2. 2

    Rough Grade

    Cut/fill completed, verify elevations match approved plan

  3. 3

    Final Grade

    Drainage verified, slopes stabilized, permanent landscaping or erosion control in place

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

Tips

  • Erosion control measures must be in place before any grading begins — silt fence at a minimum.
  • Grading that alters drainage onto neighboring properties is prohibited — a drainage plan is required.
  • Call 811 before any excavation to locate underground utilities.
  • Disturbances over 1 acre also require a state UPDES stormwater permit from the Utah Division of Water Quality.

Frequently asked questions

Yes, for significant grading or excavation. Fees are $101.00 for grading up to 10,000 cubic yards and $303.00 for 10,001 cubic yards or more, per the county fee schedule (Building Permits, Exhibit A effective 4/3/2012). Contact the Building Division at (801) 851-8342 for project specifics.

In Unincorporated Utah County, the published Grading up to 10,000 cubic yards is: $101.00. Additional published fees: Grading, 10,001 Cubic Yards or More (and Retaining Walls) — $303.00. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Plan review for a grading & excavation permit in Unincorporated Utah County typically runs 10–21 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: Building Permit Application; Grading Plan; Erosion Control Plan. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Unincorporated Utah County requires 3 inspection(s) for a grading & excavation permit, in order: Erosion Control, Rough Grade, Final Grade. 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.

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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