Salt Lake County, UT Accessory Structures: ADU Owner Occupancy (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing chapter
- County Code § 19.15.090
- Max absence
- Up to 2 years
- Qualifying reasons
- Medical, military, religious only
- Variance available
- No - not waivable
Summary
The property owner must live in either the main house or the ADU on any accessory dwelling unit lot in unincorporated Salt Lake County, with only narrow exceptions.
The principal unit or the ADU must have owner occupancy, except for medical, military service, or religious reasons for a time period of up to two years. If an absence is warranted due to the above reasons, an on-site manager shall be designated. The property owner may not receive rent for the unit that was occupied by the owner. An application for an ADU shall include evidence of owner occupancy.
(Ord. No. 1924, § II, 6-4-2024; Ord. No. 1886, § II, 11-2-2021)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 49).
Full Breakdown
County zoning code requires owner occupancy of the principal unit or the ADU, allowing an absence only for medical, military service, or religious reasons and only for up to two years, with an on-site manager designated during that absence. The owner may not collect rent for the unit they occupied. Applicants must submit evidence of owner occupancy with the ADU application, and a recorded affidavit and notice bind future owners to the same requirement.
Violations & Fines
Renting out both units, or renting the owner-occupied unit while away without a qualifying medical, military or religious reason, violates the occupancy requirement; the land use hearing officer cannot grant a variance from it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to live on the property to have an ADU in Salt Lake County?
Can I rent out both the house and the ADU?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Salt Lake County
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