South Jordan, UT Accessory Structures: ADU Owner Occupancy (2026)
Key Facts
- Proof required
- Voter, vehicle, license, or assessor record
- Filing
- Recorded affidavit of residency
- Inspections
- Annual, City-authorized
- State law tie
- Utah Code Title 10, ch. 9a
Summary
South Jordan requires the property owner of record to live on-site as their legal residence for any accessory dwelling unit, tracking Utah's statewide internal-ADU owner-occupancy framework.
Resident Occupancy: For all accessory dwelling units, the owner of the property, as reflected in title records, shall make his or her legal residence on the property as evidenced by voter registration, vehicle registration, driver’s license, county assessor records or similar means. Standards: The Planning Department shall approve accessory dwelling unit applications upon the following standards being met: Zoning: The Accessory Dwelling Unit Floating Zone shall be applied to conforming single-family dwellings in the following zones: A-5, A-1, R-1.8, R-2.5, R-3, R-4 and R-5. Approved accessory dwelling units shall meet the requirements of the underlying zone. Only one (1) ADU is allowed per lot. ADUs are not allowed in conjunction with mobile homes or any form of attached housing units. Lot Size: An internal ADU shall only be approved on a lot that is greater than six thousand (6,000) square feet in area. A Guesthouse shall only be approved on a lot that is equal to or greater than fourteen thousand five hundred twenty (14,520) square feet in area. The addition of an accessory dwelling unit shall not violate the maximum building coverage requirements outlined in Sections 17.40.020 and 17.30.020 of this Title. Guesthouses on flag lots are prohibited.
Full Breakdown
City Code § 17.130.030.020 requires the title-of-record owner of any South Jordan property with an ADU, in Salt Lake County, Utah, to make that property their legal residence, proven by voter registration, vehicle registration, driver's license or county assessor records. Owners must sign and record an affidavit promising to live in either the primary home or the accessory unit and to allow annual City inspections. The requirement mirrors Utah's own internal-ADU framework (Utah Code Title 10, ch. 9a), which builds owner-occupancy into what statutorily qualifies as an internal ADU statewide.
Violations & Fines
Signing a false residency affidavit or moving out risks ADU permit revocation, and refusing the required annual inspection is itself a violation of the Floating Zone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does South Jordan require the homeowner to live on the property with an ADU?
Is South Jordan's owner-occupancy rule allowed under Utah law?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in South Jordan
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ADU Owner Occupancy in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Salt Lake County handle adu owner occupancy.