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

Which jurisdiction governs your address?

Utah County has rapid growth and shifting boundaries. The easiest way to confirm your jurisdiction: search your parcel on the Utah County recorder’s site, or call the city you think you’re in.

Major Utah County cities and their building departments:

• ✓ Provo, Provo Development Services. Phone: (801) 852-6420.
• ✓ Orem, Orem Development Services. Phone: (801) 229-7126.
• ✓ Lehi, Lehi Community Development. Phone: (385) 201-1000.
• ✓ American Fork, American Fork Community Development. Phone: (801) 763-3050.
• ✓ Spanish Fork, Spanish Fork Community Development. Phone: (801) 798-5050.
• ✓ Pleasant Grove, Pleasant Grove Community Development. Phone: (801) 785-6057.
• ✓ Saratoga Springs, Saratoga Springs Community Development. Phone: (801) 766-9793.
• ✓ Eagle Mountain, Eagle Mountain Community Development. Phone: (801) 789-6634.
• ✓ Springville, Springville Community Development. Phone: (801) 489-2704.
• ✓ Vineyard, Vineyard Community Development. Phone: (801) 226-1929.
• ✓ Payson, Payson Community Development. Phone: (801) 465-5224.
• ✓ Lindon, Lindon Community Development. Phone: (801) 785-5043.
• ✓ Mapleton, Mapleton Community Development. Phone: (801) 489-5655.
• ✓ Highland, Highland Community Development. Phone: (801) 772-4505.
• ✓ Cedar Hills, Cedar Hills Community Development. Phone: (801) 785-9668.
• ✓ Alpine, Alpine City Hall. Phone: (801) 756-6347.
• ✓ Salem, Salem City. Phone: (801) 423-2770.
• ✓ Elk Ridge, Elk Ridge City. Phone: (801) 423-2300.
• ✓ Woodland Hills, Woodland Hills City. Phone: (801) 423-1962.
• ✓ Unincorporated Utah County, Utah County Building Division & Community Development. 51 S University Ave, Suite 117, Provo, UT 84601. Phone: (801) 851-8343.

What triggers a permit requirement in Utah County jurisdictions

Utah County jurisdictions follow Utah state law and the 2024 IRC. The big-picture triggers are consistent across cities:

• ✓ Structural changes, moving walls, 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)
• ✓ Detached structures over 200 sqft
• ✓ HVAC installations and replacements
• ✓ Water heater replacements
• ✓ Solar panel installation
• ✓ Pools

Most Utah County cities follow the 200 sqft IRC exemption for detached storage sheds, but a few have specific amendments:

• ✓ Lehi, only sheds larger than 200 sqft require a permit. Under 200 sqft is exempt.
• ✓ Orem, no permit required for storage sheds 200 sqft or smaller on single-family or two-family lots; 120 sqft or smaller for multi-family lots.
• ✓ Other cities, call to confirm before building any detached structure.

Utah County permit fees

Most Utah County cities use valuation-based fee schedules with minimums in the $80-$200 range. Ballparks for common Utah County residential projects:

• ✓ 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+

Each city publishes its specific fee schedule online.

How to pull a permit in Utah County

• ✓ Confirm your jurisdiction
• ✓ For unincorporated: use Utah County Building Division portal at codev.utahcounty.gov/building
• ✓ For incorporated: visit your city’s building department portal
• ✓ Submit application with address, valuation, scope, and plans
• ✓ Pay application fee
• ✓ Plan review: 1 week to 6 weeks depending on complexity
• ✓ Schedule inspections at required stages
• ✓ Final approval

Owner-builder exemption

Utah state law allows homeowners to pull permits for their primary residence with an Owner/Builder Certification. The conditions: the structure must be your primary residence, you can’t resell within 1 year without disclosing owner-built work, and you can’t hire unlicensed contractors for licensed-required work. Maintenance/repair work under $3,000 in valuation (excluding structural) can be permitted by the owner without the formal certification.

Consequences of skipping the permit

Utah County jurisdictions issue stop work orders, double-fee penalties, and may require retroactive inspections requiring tear-out of finishes. Unpermitted additions don’t appear on appraisals, killing 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.