Salt Lake City, UT Building Safety: Electrical Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit required for
- any electrical install/alteration
- Governing section
- § 18.20.010
- Code adopted
- National Electrical Code, § 18.04.040
- Unpermitted-work penalty
- up to 10% of valuation or $1,000
- Issuing office
- Division of Building Services
Summary
Salt Lake City requires a permit before any electrical installation, alteration, or improvement, and has adopted the National Electrical Code as part of the city code.
No person, firm or corporation shall erect, construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, improve, remove, convert or demolish any building, structure or premises, or make any installation, alteration or improvement to the electrical, fire, plumbing or mechanical system in a building, structure or premises, or cause the same to be done, without first obtaining the prescribed permits for each such building or structure or premises from the building official.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-21: Code current through: Ord. 40-26, passed June 16, 2026).
Full Breakdown
No person may make any installation, alteration, or improvement to the electrical system in a building, structure, or premises without first getting a permit from the building official, per City Code § 18.20.010. The city has also adopted the National Electrical Code by ordinance under § 18.04.040, so all wiring work must meet that standard on top of the local permit step. Permits go through the division of building services, with fees set on the Salt Lake City consolidated fee schedule.
Violations & Fines
Starting electrical work without a permit lets the building official raise the required fee up to 10% of the project's valuation or $1,000, whichever is greater, under § 18.20.090. Violations of Title 18 are also misdemeanors under § 18.24.020, with each day of continued violation a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Salt Lake City require a permit for electrical work?
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Salt Lake City
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Electrical Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Salt Lake County handle electrical permits.