Accessory Structures in St. George, UT

If you live in St. George or are thinking about moving there, accessory structures are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. St. George has 5 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of accessory structures, and some of them might surprise you.

Shed & Carport Rules

St. George exempts small one-story accessory structures from a building permit: sheds under 200 square feet can go in the side or rear yard without one, but they still have to follow the city's placement, height, and setback rules.

Key details: Permit-exempt size: under 200 sq ft. Max height: 20 feet. Rear-yard street setback: 20 feet. Separation from other structures: 6 feet (or 0 ft if under threshold). Governing chapter: Title 10, Ch. 7 (Residential Zones).

Building or maintaining a structure in violation of Title 10's zoning provisions is a class C misdemeanor under St. George City Code § 10-1-14, and unpermitted oversized sheds can be red-tagged by code enforcement.

ADU Rental Restrictions

St. George bans short-term rental of accessory dwelling units outright and only permits an ADU where the property owner actually lives on-site, in either the main house or the ADU itself.

Key details: Short-term ADU rental: Not permitted. Occupancy rule: Owner must live on property. Long-term rental: Requires deed restriction. Rental ADU: Business license required. Violation penalty: Class C misdemeanor.

Class C misdemeanor under City Code 10-1-14; the city can also deny or revoke the accessory dwelling permit and rental business license for noncompliant short-term use.

Compared to other cities, St. George takes a harder line on adu rental restrictions. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

ADU Owner Occupancy

St. George requires an owner-occupant to live in either the single-family home or the accessory dwelling unit before the city will permit an ADU, and bars short-term rental of the unit.

Key details: Owner-occupancy: Owner must live in home or ADU. Short-term rental: Not permitted for ADUs. Deed restriction: Recorded restriction required before renting ADU. Max ADUs per lot: One, or two if Downtown.

Renting an ADU without owner-occupancy or the recorded deed restriction violates the zoning code; the city can deny or revoke the accessory dwelling permit and pursue code enforcement for the unpermitted use.

Garage Conversions

Converting an existing garage or carport into an accessory dwelling unit is allowed, but St. George requires the lost parking to be replaced elsewhere on the property if the change would leave the home short of its required off-street parking.

Key details: Permit required: Accessory dwelling permit. Parking rule: Lost garage parking must be replaced. Tandem parking: Not allowed as replacement. Units per lot: One ADU or guesthouse per lot.

Creating an ADU or living space in a garage without an approved accessory dwelling permit, or without replacing displaced parking, is a zoning violation enforceable by the community development department; noncompliant units can be denied permits or ordered corrected.

ADU Rules

St. George allows one accessory dwelling unit per single-family lot, but only if the owner lives on-site and the ADU is never rented short-term.

Key details: Units per lot: 1 (2 in Downtown Boundary). Occupancy rule: Owner must live on property. Short-term rental: Not permitted. Max detached height: 25 feet. Extra parking: 1 additional space required.

Building or renting an ADU without the required accessory dwelling permit, deed restriction, and rental business license is a code violation enforced by the Community Development Department; short-term rental of an ADU is expressly prohibited.

The Bottom Line

St. George's accessory structures rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming St. George is broadly strict or permissive.

This guide is based on St. George's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.