Salt Lake City, UT Business Licensing & Operations: Auto Repair on Residential Property (2026)
Key Facts
- Prohibited use
- Auto repairs (item 1 of 13)
- Governing section
- § 21A.36.030.C
- Applies to
- All dwellings citywide
- Permit authority
- Business Licensing Division
Summary
Salt Lake City flatly bans running an auto repair business out of a home. It's listed first among businesses that can never qualify as a home occupation, no matter how small the operation.
C. Home Occupations Prohibited: The following businesses, regardless of their conformance with the standards in Subsection G of this section, are prohibited as home occupations: 1. Auto repairs; 2. Kennels; 3. Welding shops or machine shops;
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
Zoning code § 21A.36.030 lets most quiet businesses operate as home occupations if they stay incidental to the residence, but it carves out a prohibited list that can't qualify even if they meet every other standard. Auto repairs top that list, alongside kennels, welding/machine shops, and truck hauling. Applications go through the Business Licensing Division, but auto repair operators can't apply at all since the use itself is barred from residential home-occupation status.
Violations & Fines
Operating without a valid home occupation permit or running a prohibited use can bring permit denial, license revocation, and city zoning enforcement action against the property.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I fix cars in my garage as a side business in Salt Lake City?
Does it matter if the repair work stays inside the garage?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Salt Lake City
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Auto Repair on Residential Property in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Salt Lake County handle auto repair on residential property.