Salt Lake City, UT Building Safety: Permits & Inspections Overview (2026)

Salt Lake County Planning and Development Services issues building permits for unincorporated areas. Permits are required for new construction, additions, most structural alterations, roof replacements, finished basements, decks over 30 inches above grade, accessory structures over about 200 square feet (varies by code edition), electrical service changes, HVAC installations, plumbing rough-ins, gas piping, and many other work types. Utah adopts updated ICC codes at the state level under Utah Code Title 15A, and counties must follow the state-adopted editions. Minor repairs, interior painting, cabinetry, flooring, and truly like-for-like maintenance are generally permit-exempt. The permit application includes a site plan, construction drawings for structures, energy code compliance (IECC) documentation for habitable additions, and contractor licensing information. Utah requires most construction work to be performed by a licensed contractor through the Utah Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL), though owner-builders can self-perform under certain conditions on their own residence. Required inspections vary by scope but commonly include footing, foundation, framing, plumbing rough, electrical rough, mechanical rough, insulation, and final. Failing to obtain permits creates risk of retroactive permitting, forced exposure of concealed work, insurance issues, and disclosure obligations at sale.