Orem's Building Safety: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles building safety a little differently. In Orem, Utah, there are 3 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Childcare Center Rules

Orem allows commercial child and adult day care facilities only in the C1, C2, and HS zones, and every operator must submit a site plan under 22-14-20 showing a loading/unloading area for children and adults plus a fenced outdoor play area.

Key details: Allowed zones: C1, C2, and HS only. Play area fence height: 6 feet minimum. Site plan authority: Section 22-14-20. Loading area: Separate child/adult drop-off shown on plan. Enacted: Ord. No. O-98-0015, 2/24/1998.

A day care sited outside the C1, C2, or HS zones, or operating without an approved 22-14-20 site plan showing the required loading area and the six-foot fenced play yard, is a zoning code violation enforced by Orem's Zoning Administrator and Development Services Department. The City can withhold or revoke site plan approval, deny a certificate of occupancy, or pursue code enforcement remedies available under Chapter 22 until the site plan is brought into compliance.

Building Permits

Before Orem's Building Safety Division will issue a building permit, every fee has to be paid and every required bond posted: permit fees, City utility fees like sewer and water connection charges, and proof the sewer and water lines already reach the lot with the final grade set.

Key details: Governing section: Orem City Code § 7-3-1. Prerequisite: Fees, utility charges, bonds paid/posted first. Sewer/water rule: Lines installed & grade set (waivable). Subdivision rule: Plat must be recorded before permit. Bond range: $1,000 residential; $4,000-$10,000 nonresidential.

Violating any provision of Chapter 7, including issuing or accepting work under a permit obtained without the required fees, bonds, or recorded plat, is a Class B misdemeanor under Section 7-3-9: up to a $1,000 fine, up to six months in jail, or both, with each day of a continuing violation charged as a separate offense.

Plumbing Permits

Orem City Code 7-1-1 adopts the Utah State Construction Code, defined in Utah Code 15A-2-103 and 15A-2-104, as the design and construction standard for every structure in the city, a package that bundles in the International Plumbing Code. No building permit covering plumbing work may issue until required utility fees are paid and utilities are in the ground.

Key details: Adopted code: Utah State Construction Code (15A-2-103, -104). Includes: International Plumbing Code component, statewide. Local adoption section: Orem City Code § 7-1-1. Permit prerequisite: Sewer/water lines installed before permit issues. Utility fees due: Sewer connection, sewer inspection, water meter/connection.

Working without the required permit, or starting plumbing-related construction before sewer and water lines are installed and fees are paid, violates Sections 7-1-1 and 7-3-1. The Chief Building Official can withhold or void a permit, and Development Services can issue a stop-work order; a related improvement bond can also be drawn down and, if it falls below the required threshold, the City may halt work until the bond is replenished.

The Bottom Line

Orem's building safety 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 Orem is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Orem can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.