Orem, UT Accessory Structures: Tiny Homes (2026)

Orem City Code does not have a tiny-home category; standalone tiny dwellings are constrained by several existing provisions. Section 22-6-8(F) provides that only one single-family dwelling may be constructed per lot in a residential zone, so a separate tiny home as a second residence on the lot is generally not permitted. Section 22-6-8(D)(7) states an accessory building/structure located in a residential zone shall not be designed or used as a guest house or a separate apartment unit, foreclosing a detached habitable tiny structure in the backyard.

Section 22-6-8(D)(9) prohibits shipping containers, semi-trailers, boxcars, PODS, or similar structures from being installed or maintained on a residential lot, ruling out container-conversion tiny homes. Tiny dwelling space created within the footprint of an owner-occupied detached single-family home can, however, qualify as an 'internal accessory dwelling unit' that is a permitted use under Utah Code Section 10-9a-530, subject to building, health, and fire codes. The City's residential development standards also set minimum dwelling footprints (for example, 800 to 1,000 square feet excluding the garage, reducible to 650 square feet with a qualifying second story under 22-6-8(A)), which a primary tiny dwelling would have to meet.