Garage conversion rules in Orem, UT — sometimes called garage-to-ADU or accessory living unit conversions — govern permits, ceiling height, egress, and parking replacement.
Orem City Code 22-6-10(J) allows enclosing a pre-March-2000 attached carport into a garage if it sits at least 5 feet from the side and 25 feet from the front property line, the existing footprint is not enlarged in a nonconforming way, and a building permit is issued. If you convert a garage into living space and create an internal ADU, Utah Code 10-9a-530(4)(c) lets the city require replacement of the lost parking.
Orem City Code Section 22-6-10(J) ('Enclosing Existing Carports') permits attached carports in existence as of March 2000 that do not meet current setbacks - but are at least five (5) feet from the side property line and twenty-five (25) feet from the front property line - to be enclosed into a garage, provided four conditions are met: (1) the existing footprint of the carport is not increased unless the increased portion meets current Code; (2) the nonconforming setback is not made more nonconforming by reducing the existing setback; (3) carports encroaching on platted easements are not enclosed unless the easement is vacated through a plat amendment; and (4) the proposed conversion meets all applicable building and zoning codes and a building permit is issued. Separately, converting a garage's interior into habitable space to create an internal accessory dwelling unit is governed by Utah Code Section 10-9a-530: a 'primary dwelling' includes a garage if the garage is habitable space connected to the home by a common wall, and Subsection (4)(c)(ii) allows a municipality to require the owner to replace any parking spaces contained within a garage or carport when an internal ADU is created within that garage or carport. Note that Orem prohibits using a detached accessory building as a separate apartment under 22-6-8(D)(7).
Enclosing a carport or converting a garage without the required building permit, or in a way that worsens a nonconforming setback or encroaches on an easement, is a zoning and building-code violation subject to Orem code enforcement, stop-work orders, and after-the-fact permit requirements.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Orem, UT
Orem considers excessive and continuous barking a noise nuisance. Dogs must be contained on the owner's property or on a leash. Orem Animal Control responds ...
Orem, UT
Orem enforces quiet hours from 10:30 PM to 7 AM under its criminal offenses code. Loud noise plainly audible at 30 feet from a residence during quiet hours i...
Orem, UT
Utah Code 41-6a-1406 authorizes a peace officer to remove and impound vehicles at the owner's expense, including abandoned vehicles under 41-6a-1408, and Ore...
Orem, UT
Orem has no blanket overnight on-street parking ban, but Utah Code 41-6a-1408 treats a vehicle left unattended on a highway for more than 48 hours as abandon...
Orem, UT
Orem requires a minimum number of off-street paved parking spaces by zoning type. For accessory apartments, at least 3 paved off-street parking pads are requ...
Orem, UT
Orem caps continuous parking in the same on-street location at 72 hours (Orem City Code 19-3-6), and Utah state law (UCA 41-6a-1402) requires vehicles to be ...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Utah County.
See how other cities in Utah County handle garage conversions.
See how Orem's garage conversions rules stack up against other locations.
Quick Compare
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.