Salt Lake City, UT Building Safety: Green Building Code (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing chapter
- City Code Ch. 18.50
- Mechanical equipment minimum
- 80% efficiency
- Boarded-structure wall insulation
- R-11 minimum
- Replacement windows
- Double-pane required
- Enforcement
- Building inspector, daily civil fines
Summary
Salt Lake City forces existing residential buildings to meet energy-efficiency upgrades, insulation, double-pane windows, 80%-efficient mechanical equipment, whenever remodeling, a boarded-structure reoccupancy, or a new addition triggers Chapter 18.50's energy conservation requirements.
A. Upgrading: Existing residential units shall be upgraded whenever any of the following events occur: 1. Whenever wallboard, plaster or other finish material is removed which exposes wall cavities of foundations, exterior walls, floors or ceilings, these spaces shall be insulated to the degree it is practical... 6. All replacement windows shall be double pane... 8. New mechanical equipment installed shall meet a minimum of 80% efficiency.
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
Under City Code Chapter 18.50 (Existing Residential Housing), specific triggering events force energy upgrades on existing homes: opening up wall, ceiling, or floor cavities requires insulation to the extent practical; foundations opened during remodeling must be insulated to the current Utah energy code; boarded structures being reoccupied need R-11 walls, R-32 ceilings/roofs, and R-7 floors; and new mechanical equipment must hit at least 80% efficiency. Replacement windows must be double-pane and doors weatherstripped. The building inspector enforces the chapter.
Violations & Fines
Building inspector issues a written warning notice with a correction deadline; if uncorrected, a notice and order follows under §18.24.040 with civil fines accruing daily per the city's consolidated fee schedule until the violation is fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every existing house have to be upgraded right away?
What happens if I don't comply after a notice?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Salt Lake City
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Green Building Code in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Salt Lake County handle green building code.