Washington County, UT Accessory Structures: ADU Owner Occupancy (2026)

4 requires that either the accessory dwelling unit (ADU) or the primary single-family dwelling on the same lot be owner-occupied before the other unit can be rented on a long-term basis. The code defines "owner-occupied" precisely: the owner must physically occupy the unit for at least 183 consecutive calendar days during the calendar year, and the exemption ties to the primary residential exemption the Washington County Assessor's office grants for that parcel, not merely legal title. A temporary absence for religious, military, or other legitimate purposes still counts as owner occupancy so long as it does not exceed two years, but while the owner is away the code bars advertising the owner-occupied unit for rent separately from the ADU.

3, the county also requires the owner to record a deed restriction, on a form the county accepts, before the non-owner-occupied unit may be long-term rented; the restriction must state that the lot or parcel will remain owner-occupied. f, and renewal of that license depends on the owner continuing to prove compliance with the occupancy standard. Only one ADU on a property may ever be rented, and the non-owner-occupied unit is capped at housing no more than one family. Community Development staff review ADU land use permit applications for compliance with this section alongside the standard site plan, floor plan, and utility plan submittals, and route them to the fire authority, health department, and Building Division before a permit issues. The section was most recently amended by Ordinance 2025-1292-O on May 6, 2025.