St. George building permits
VerifiedDepartment contacts, adopted codes, permit types, fees, and gotchas for St. George, Utah.
Last verified 2026-07-23 · Source · Embed this page’s badge · Version history
Building department
- Address
- 61 S Main St, St. George, UT 84770
- Phone
- (435) 627-4100
- building@sgcity.org
- Office hours
- Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Website
- Official site
- Permit portal
- Apply online at St. George's portal
Inspection guide
See how inspections work in St. George — 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.
- 2024 International Building Code (IBC), including Appendices C and J — Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(a); CURRENT as of 7/1/2026 (statute version headed 'Effective 7/1/2026 (Superseded 1/1/2027)', confirmed by direct fetch 2026-07-16). Supersedes the 2021 IBC, which governed through 6/30/2026.
- 2021 International Residential Code (IRC) — Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(b); UNCHANGED by the 7/1/2026 code cycle — remains 2021 and continues in force (confirmed by direct statute fetch 2026-07-16).
- Appendix AQ of the 2021 International Residential Code — Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(c) (confirmed by direct statute fetch 2026-07-16).
- 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC) — Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(d); CURRENT as of 7/1/2026 (confirmed by direct statute fetch 2026-07-16). Supersedes the 2021 IPC, which governed through 6/30/2026.
- 2024 International Mechanical Code (IMC) — Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(e); CURRENT as of 7/1/2026 (confirmed by direct statute fetch 2026-07-16). Supersedes the 2021 IMC, which governed through 6/30/2026.
- 2024 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) — Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(f); CURRENT as of 7/1/2026 (confirmed by direct statute fetch 2026-07-16). Supersedes the 2021 IFGC, which governed through 6/30/2026.
- 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC) — Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(g); UNCHANGED by the 7/1/2026 code cycle — remains 2023 (confirmed by direct statute fetch 2026-07-16).
- 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) — Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(h); CURRENT as of 7/1/2026 (confirmed by direct statute fetch 2026-07-16). ONE statewide edition — the statute does not split residential vs. commercial IECC editions. Supersedes the 2021 IECC, which governed through 6/30/2026.
- 2024 International Existing Building Code (IEBC) — Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(i); CURRENT as of 7/1/2026 (confirmed by direct statute fetch 2026-07-16). Supersedes the 2021 IEBC, which governed through 6/30/2026.
- Residential provisions of the 2024 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) — Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(n); CURRENT as of 7/1/2026 (confirmed by direct statute fetch 2026-07-16). Supersedes the 2021 ISPSC, which governed through 6/30/2026.
- NOTE (2026-07-16 corpus-staleness fix): This file previously stated the 2021 editions as current and only forecasted the 7/1/2026 flip; the effective date has now passed and the entries above have been corrected to state the 2024 editions (per §15A-2-103(1)(a)/(d)/(e)/(f)/(h)/(i)/(n)) as current, with the superseded 2021 editions preserved as historical context. IRC (2021) and NEC (2023) were NOT changed — verified unchanged directly against the live statute. The International Fire Code (IFC) is NOT adopted anywhere in Utah Code § 15A-2-103 — the statute has no IFC subsection; St. George's own building department page does not independently cite an IFC edition, so no IFC entry appears in this list.
Permit types & fees
Residential Building Permit
Required for new residential construction, additions, structural alterations, and changes to electrical, plumbing, or mechanical systems in St. George. Governed by the 2021 International Residential Code (IRC) as adopted under Utah Code § 15A-2-103.
Electrical Permit
Required for electrical work in St. George including new circuits, panel upgrades, service changes, and new construction wiring. Governed by the 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC) as adopted by Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(g). EV charger/EVSE installation is electrical work and falls under this general Electrical Permit; the city's Building Fee Sheet and Building Department page do not publish a separate EV-specific line item or process.
Plumbing Permit
Required for plumbing installations, alterations, and repairs in St. George including water heaters, fixture additions, and gas line work. Governed by the 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC) as adopted by Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(d), current as of 7/1/2026 (the 2021 IPC governed through 6/30/2026).
Mechanical / HVAC Permit
Required for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning installations, replacements, and ductwork modifications in St. George. Governed by the 2024 International Mechanical Code (IMC) as adopted by Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(e), current as of 7/1/2026 (the 2021 IMC governed through 6/30/2026).
Roofing Permit
Required for roof replacement, re-roofing, and structural roof repairs in St. George. Permit fees are valuation-based per the 1997 UBC building permit fee schedule.
Solar Panel Permit
Required for installation of rooftop or ground-mounted solar photovoltaic systems in St. George. Typically requires a building permit (structural mounting) and a separate electrical permit (wiring/inverter).
Swimming Pool Permit
Required for construction of new swimming pools, spas, and hot tubs in St. George. St. George publishes a specific flat permit fee for swimming pools, distinct from the general valuation-based fee scale.
Deck Permit
Required for new deck construction or structural modification of existing decks in St. George. Permit fees are valuation-based per the 1997 UBC building permit fee schedule.
Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU)
Required for construction of a secondary dwelling unit on a residential property in St. George, including basement apartments, detached cottages, and garage conversions. Utah HB 82 (2021) requires most cities to allow internal ADUs.
Demolition Permit
Required for partial or complete demolition of structures in St. George, including utility disconnection coordination and any required asbestos surveys.
Water Heater Permit
Required for water heater installation, replacement, or conversion in St. George. A specific subset of the plumbing permit for this common project type. Even like-for-like replacements require a permit.
Basement Finish Permit
Required for finishing or remodeling an unfinished basement in St. George, including framing, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work.
Commercial Building Permit
Required for new commercial construction in St. George, regulated by the 2024 IBC (current statewide per Utah Code § 15A-2-103, effective 7/1/2026). St. George publishes a dedicated 'Commercial Plan Submittal Requirements' checklist distinct from its residential process, and calculates the fee from the same 1997 Uniform Building Code valuation-based Building Fee Sheet used for residential permits — Based on Valuation, Plan Check 65% of the building permit fee, and a 1% D.O.C. (state surcharge), with a $60.60 minimum permit fee.
Commercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit
Required for tenant improvement and tenant finish work in existing commercial buildings in St. George. St. George's Commercial Plan Submittal Requirements checklist form includes a 'Shell Permit Number' field, indicating the city expects tenant-finish submittals to reference the shell building's original permit. An earlier version of this entry attributed a specific accessibility quote to a numbered "item 14" on that checklist; independent re-verification against the actual 2-page checklist document found no such item or quote, so that specific claim has been removed. General IBC accessibility compliance for the remodeled/improved area remains a standard code requirement, just not one specifically documented in this checklist.
Sign Permit
Required in St. George to erect, raise, move, extend, enlarge, alter, or change the text of any sign, per St. George City Code Title 9, Chapter 13 (Signs and Displays). A $100 flat Sign Permit Fee applies to new freestanding sign locations, in addition to any applicable Building Permit fee; there is no separate Sign Permit Fee for wall signs or panel changes. Permanent Sign Applications are submitted online via CitizenServe.
EV Charger / EVSE Permit
St. George does not publish a distinct EV-charger/EVSE fee category. Installing electric vehicle charging equipment (EVSE) is electrical work and falls under the city's general Electrical Permit, which is valuation-based per St. George's 1997 UBC fee scale (no separate flat-fee electrical schedule exists). This is confirmed directly by St. George's own electrical-permit entry, which explicitly states EV charger/EVSE installation falls under the general Electrical Permit and that the city's Building Fee Sheet and Building Department page publish no separate EV-specific line item or process.
Fire Sprinkler / Fire Alarm System Permit
Required for installation, modification, or extension of automatic fire sprinkler systems and fire alarm/detection systems in commercial and multi-family buildings in St. George. Governed by the fire-protection-system provisions of the 2024 International Building Code (IBC), adopted statewide under Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(a), which incorporates NFPA 13 (sprinklers) and NFPA 72 (fire alarm and detection) by reference. St. George's own site does not publish separately named 'fire sprinkler permit' and 'fire alarm permit' pages or a distinct fee schedule for either — both scopes are processed as fire-protection-system submittals within the Building Department's commercial permitting and deferred-submittal process (see the Commercial Plan Submittal Requirements and Commercial Deferred Submittal Agreement forms on the Permits and Inspections page), with plan review and inspection coordinated through the Fire Department/Fire Marshal. This entry covers both scopes under a single combined permit type to match how St. George actually organizes the process.
Certificate of Occupancy / Change of Use Permit
Required before any building, structure, or tenant space in St. George is occupied or its use changed, per St. George City Code § 9-1-3 (Certificates of Occupancy). Triggered by new construction, remodeling, tenant improvement, or a change in occupancy classification under the 2024 International Existing Building Code (IEBC), adopted statewide under Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(i). For commercial tenants this process is coordinated with St. George's business/occupational licensing process, which requires Planning and Zoning approval, a Fire Department inspection, and Building Department approval before a new or relocated business can open — St. George's own Business License Overview states that a newly constructed, remodeled, or Tenant-Improved location must obtain a Certificate of Occupancy or Final Construction approval as part of that process.
New residential construction activity
New privately-owned residential construction onlyHousing units authorized by building permits for new privately-owned residential construction — this is not total permit volume (no commercial permits or remodels).
- Latest month (2026-05)
- 58units
58 buildings · $10M valuation
- Trailing 12 months
- 808units
11 of 12 months reported · #11 in Utah coverage by units
- Year to date (2026 YTD through 2026-05)
- 391units
361 buildings · $66.1M valuation
5 month(s) reported to Census
- Full year 2025
- 936units
828 buildings · $172.9M valuation
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey (BPS), 2026-05 vintage. Census survey data — separate from the permit-requirements verification above. All Utah building activity
Tips & gotchas
- St. George uses the 1997 Uniform Building Code valuation-based fee scale — not the newer ICC fee schedule used by many Utah cities. There are no published separate per-fixture or per-trade fees for electrical, plumbing, or mechanical permits; all use the same 1997 UBC valuation tiers.
- Minimum building permit fee in St. George is $60.60 ($60 permit + $0.60 D.O.C. surcharge). A 1% D.O.C. state surcharge applies to all permits in addition to the valuation-based fee. Plan check (plan review) is 65% of the building permit fee.
- Reinspection fees in St. George are $47.00 per hour (minimum one-half hour) per the Impact Fees document effective 4/21/21. After-hours inspection is $47/hr with a minimum of two hours.
- Soils / geotechnical reports are required for all new construction in St. George due to expansive soils. A soils compliance letter must be submitted before the final inspection.
- Apply for building permits online through the St. George CityInspect portal at stg.cityinspect.com. First-time users must register at utah.cityinspect.com/register.
- St. George's design criteria (IRC Table R301.2(1) insert on the building dept page): frost line 12 inches (shallower than northern Utah due to the warm desert climate), Seismic Design Category D/soils/engineering, Wind Speed 105 mph, Termite risk moderate to heavy.
- New single-family homes must pass Site & Shell Water, Site & Shell Wastewater, Drive Approach, and N.O.T. inspections before receiving a certificate of occupancy.
- Carbon monoxide detectors are required on every habitable level when gas appliances are present, per item 21 of the St. George Residential Final Inspection Checklist.
- As of July 1, 2026, the 2024 IBC, IPC, IMC, IFGC, IECC, and IEBC editions (and the residential provisions of the 2024 ISPSC) are the CURRENT statewide codes per Utah Code § 15A-2-103 — confirmed by direct fetch of the live statute 2026-07-16. The 2021 IRC and 2023 NEC continue unchanged. St. George's own building page does not publish a local code adoption page beyond the state mandate, so no city-page lag applies here — the fix corrects a corpus-wide staleness in this file's own codesAdopted array (it had been left forecasting the flip rather than stating it as current after the effective date passed). The International Fire Code (IFC) is not adopted under §15A-2-103 at all.
- Swimming pool permit is a flat $202 ($200 + $2 D.O.C.) per the Impact Fees schedule — one of the only permit types with a published flat fee in St. George.
- FULL SPOT-AUDIT 2026-07-23: all 7 top-level cited sources plus every permit-type-level source in this file were re-fetched live (or, for the 3 stgeorge.municipal.codes citations, confirmed WAF-blocked-not-dead and corroborated against Wayback archives) and cross-checked against every published fee, timeline, code edition, contact detail, and quoted checklist item in this file. One real drift was found and fixed: the '$25,001 to $50,000' building-permit valuation tier was corrected from $391.75 to $391.25 (see that fee entry's note for the two-source discrepancy this resolves). One misattributed citation was corrected: the Water Heater Permit's final-inspection description no longer attributes T&P-valve-discharge and seismic-strapping specifics to checklist 'item 17', which covers only the condensate/water-conditioner air gap. All other cited figures — the full 1997 UBC valuation table, the $60.60 minimum permit, 65% plan check, 1% D.O.C., $202 swimming pool fee, $47/hr reinspection fee, all 2024/2021/2023 code editions under Utah Code § 15A-2-103, the sign permit's $100 fee and 5-business-day timeline, the department phone/email/address, and all Final Inspection Checklist item citations except the one corrected above — were re-confirmed live and unchanged.