Wasatch County Permits Required: Heber Valley Homeowner Guide (2026)

Which jurisdiction governs your address?

Wasatch County cities and their building departments:

• ✓ Heber City, Heber City Building Department. Phone: (435) 654-4830.
• ✓ Midway, Midway City Building Department. Phone: (435) 654-3223.
• ✓ Charleston, Charleston Town. Phone: (435) 654-5651.
• ✓ Daniel, Daniel Town. Phone: (435) 654-2222.
• ✓ Wallsburg, Wallsburg Town. Phone: (435) 654-1521.
• ✓ Independence, Independence Town. Phone: (435) 654-3211.
• ✓ Hideout, Hideout Town. Phone: (435) 658-9008.
• ✓ Unincorporated Wasatch County, Wasatch County Planning & Zoning / Building Department. Phone: (435) 657-3221.

What triggers a permit in Wasatch County jurisdictions

Wasatch County strictly enforces the 200 sqft accessory structure rule. From the county’s own guidance: all structures exceeding 200 square feet require a permit. Single-story, detached accessory structures under 200 square feet do not require a permit.

• ✓ Structural changes, moving walls, adding rooms, 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
• ✓ Snow-load–driven roof reinforcement (often required at altitude)
• ✓ Septic system work (common in Wasatch County)

• ✓ Interior paint, wallpaper, flooring
• ✓ Fixture replacement in existing location
• ✓ Cabinet or countertop replacement using existing layout
• ✓ Tile and grout
• ✓ Cosmetic exterior work
• ✓ Detached structures 200 sqft or smaller, single-story
• ✓ Decks 30 inches or less above grade

Wasatch County permit fees + impact fees

Wasatch County is one of the few Utah counties with a significant county-level impact fee on new construction. Current impact fee for new single-family residences: $3,085. This is in addition to standard permit fees. The impact fee funds infrastructure for the rapid growth the Heber Valley is absorbing.

Standard permit fee ballparks across Wasatch 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: $1,500 – $15,000+ (plus possible impact fee on additions over a certain size)
• ✓ New single-family residence: full permit + $3,085 impact fee

Special considerations for Wasatch County properties

Snow load: Wasatch County requires significantly higher roof and structural snow load capacity than valley-floor jurisdictions. The 2024 IRC plus county amendments. Roof framing, deck framing, and accessory structures all need higher load capacity. Engineering review is required for many projects that would be prescriptive in Salt Lake or Davis Counties.

Septic systems: Many Wasatch County properties (especially outside Heber City) are on septic. Bathroom additions and kitchen remodels may require septic capacity review.

HOA review: Most Heber Valley subdivisions and developments have active HOAs with their own architectural review committees. HOA review is in ADDITION to county/city permit review and must be completed first for visible exterior work.

Resort-area amendments: Properties in or near Park City/Deer Valley boundaries face additional design review requirements driven by resort-area aesthetic guidelines.

Owner-builder exemption

Same Utah state law applies, with the local caveat that Wasatch County’s rapid second-home market means many properties don’t qualify because they aren’t primary residences. The owner-builder exemption only applies to your primary residence. If you’re building or remodeling a second home, vacation rental, or investment property, you must hire a licensed contractor.

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.