Davis County Permits Required: Wasatch Front Homeowner Guide (2026)

Which jurisdiction governs your address?

Davis County publishes a jurisdiction map at webportal.daviscountyutah.gov showing every parcel’s permit authority. If your property falls inside a colored municipality, that city handles your permit. If your property is in an unshaded area, Davis County itself handles it.

Major Davis County cities and their building departments:

• ✓ Layton, Layton Community & Economic Development. Phone: (801) 336-3700.
• ✓ Bountiful, Bountiful Planning & Economic Development. Phone: (801) 298-6190.
• ✓ Centerville, Centerville Community Development. Phone: (801) 295-3477.
• ✓ Farmington, Farmington Community Development. Phone: (801) 451-2380.
• ✓ Kaysville, Kaysville Community Development. Phone: (801) 497-1900.
• ✓ Clearfield, Clearfield Community & Economic Development. Phone: (801) 525-2786.
• ✓ Clinton, Clinton Community Development. Phone: (801) 614-0500.
• ✓ Syracuse, Syracuse Community Development. Phone: (801) 825-7235.
• ✓ Sunset, Sunset City Building Department. Phone: (801) 825-1628.
• ✓ Woods Cross, Woods Cross Community Development. Phone: (801) 292-4421.
• ✓ North Salt Lake, North Salt Lake Building Department. Phone: (801) 335-8700.
• ✓ Fruit Heights, Fruit Heights Building Department. Phone: (801) 546-0861.
• ✓ West Bountiful, West Bountiful Community Development. Phone: (801) 292-4486.
• ✓ West Point, West Point Building Department. Phone: (801) 776-0970.
• ✓ South Weber, South Weber Building Department. Phone: (801) 479-3177.
• ✓ Unincorporated Davis County, Davis County Community & Economic Development. 61 S Main Street, Room 304, Farmington, UT 84025. Phone: (801) 451-3279.

What triggers a permit requirement in Davis County jurisdictions

All Davis County jurisdictions follow the 2024 IRC baseline adopted by Utah HB 65. The big-picture triggers are consistent across cities:

• ✓ Structural changes, moving walls (load-bearing or not), adding rooms, building additions
• ✓ New electrical circuits or panels
• ✓ New plumbing fixtures in new locations
• ✓ New gas lines
• ✓ Basement finishing
• ✓ Decks more than 30 inches above grade
• ✓ Roof replacement (most jurisdictions, even like-for-like)
• ✓ Detached structures over 200 sqft
• ✓ HVAC installations and replacements
• ✓ Water heater replacements
• ✓ Solar panel installation
• ✓ Pools

• ✓ Interior paint, wallpaper, flooring
• ✓ Fixture replacement in existing location (faucet, light, toilet, ceiling fan swap)
• ✓ Cabinet replacement using existing layout
• ✓ Countertop replacement
• ✓ Tile and grout
• ✓ Cosmetic exterior work
• ✓ Sub-200 sqft detached storage sheds
• ✓ Decks 30 inches or less above grade

Davis County permit fees

Davis County’s minimum permit fee, for permits requiring no plan check, no construction bond, and just one inspection, is $202. Larger permits scale based on project square footage and valuation per the International Code Council’s building valuation data tables.

Most incorporated Davis County cities have similar fee structures with minimums in the $100-$250 range. Major project ballparks across Davis County jurisdictions:

• ✓ Water heater swap: $80 – $200
• ✓ Bathroom remodel: $200 – $500
• ✓ Basement finishing: $400 – $1,200
• ✓ Kitchen remodel: $300 – $800
• ✓ Roof replacement: $80 – $200
• ✓ Deck construction: $150 – $400
• ✓ Addition / new construction: $1,500 – $15,000+

Davis County adds a 2.5% credit card processing fee on online payments. Cash or check in-person at the Farmington office avoids the surcharge.

How to pull a permit in Davis County

• ✓ Confirm your jurisdiction using the Davis County jurisdiction map
• ✓ If unincorporated: use the Davis County online permit portal at daviscountyutah.gov/ced/planning/building-permits
• ✓ If incorporated: visit your city’s building department portal (each city has its own)
• ✓ Create an account, submit application with project address, valuation, scope description, and plans (required for most permits)
• ✓ Pay application fee online or in-person
• ✓ Wait for plan review: minor permits same-day to 1 week; complex permits 2-6 weeks
• ✓ Schedule required inspections at each project stage
• ✓ Receive final approval

Owner-builder exemption

Utah state law allows homeowners to pull permits for their own primary residence. You’ll need to submit an Owner/Builder Certification with your application. The conditions: the structure must be your primary residence, you’re personally responsible for code compliance, and you can’t resell within 1 year without disclosing the owner-built work. For maintenance/repair work valued under $3,000 (excluding structural), property owners can pull a permit without the formal certification.

Consequences of skipping the permit

Davis County jurisdictions issue stop work orders for unpermitted work, charge double permit fees as penalty, and may require retroactive inspections that often mean tearing out finishes to inspect underlying work. Unpermitted additions don’t appear on appraisal reports, which kills home sales. Insurance claims can be denied if damage results from unpermitted work.

Not sure if your project needs a permit?

Send us photos or video. We’ll tell you straight whether your project needs a permit in your specific jurisdiction, whether it needs a licensed contractor, and what it’ll cost. Free, no commitment.

About Handyman Jacks

Licensed Utah General Contractor (DOPL #14195166-5501). Fully insured. Holladay-based, serving the entire Wasatch Front. We handle the full range of residential repairs and improvements.

This guide is general information, not legal or permit advice. Final permit decisions belong with your specific jurisdiction’s building department. Codes, fees, and processes can change; we update this guide quarterly. Updated June 2026; next refresh September 2026.