Accessory Structures in Salt Lake City, UT (2026)
5 verified accessory structures rules for Salt Lake City, Utah, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
ADU Rules
Salt Lake City allows one accessory dwelling unit per lot, but the property owner must live on site, and a detached ADU is capped at 1,000 square feet and 17 feet tall.
ADU Zoning Rules in Salt Lake City
Some RestrictionsSalt Lake City Code § 21A.40.200
The owner of the property, as defined in this section, shall reside on the property... A single ADU is allowed on a property where permitted in Chapter 21A.33 of this title... The maximum building height for a detached ADU is 17 feet... Detached ADU. None may exceed 1,000 square feet in gross floor area.
ADU Owner Occupancy
Salt Lake City requires the property owner to live on-site wherever an accessory dwelling unit is built, with narrow carve-outs for duplexes, multi-family, and temporary absences.
Salt Lake City ADU Owner-Occupancy Rule
Significant Restrictions§ 21A.40.200.C
C. Owner Occupancy Required: The owner of the property, as defined in this section, shall reside on the property... a. Owner occupancy is not required for an ADU located on a property with a principal use as a duplex, multi-family dwelling, or non-residential land use. A single-family dwelling with an attached ADU does not constitute a duplex.
Shed & Carport Rules
Salt Lake City requires a building permit for accessory structures like sheds and limits them to one foot from side and rear lot lines, with footprint capped at fifty percent of the house's footprint, though at least four hundred eighty square feet is always allowed.
Salt Lake City Shed and Accessory Building Setbacks
Some RestrictionsSalt Lake City Code § 21A.40.050
In residential districts, accessory buildings shall be built at least one foot (1') from sides and rear lot lines except when sharing a common wall with an accessory building on an adjacent lot... In the FR, R-1, R-2 and SR residential districts the maximum footprint of any accessory building, shall not exceed 50% of the building footprint of the principal structure except... at least 480 squar...
Garage Conversions
Salt Lake City lets pre-1995 garage-to-living-space conversions on single-family and two-family lots become legal only after a building permit, a life-safety inspection, and replacement of any lost driveway parking spaces.
Salt Lake City Garage Conversion Legalization Rules
Some Restrictions§ 21A.44.110.D
Garages attached to single-family and two-family residential structures converted to residential uses before April 12, 1995...may be legalized by complying with the following requirements: 1. The property owner shall obtain a building permit for all building modifications...and the city shall inspect the conversion for substantial compliance with adopted life safety regulations. 2. The driveway...
Tiny Homes
Salt Lake City's zoning code defines a "Tiny House" as its own building type, capped at 400 square feet on a permanent foundation, but only inside the RMF-30 Low Density Multi-Family Residential District.
Salt Lake City Tiny House Standards
Some RestrictionsSalt Lake City Code § 21A.24.120
Tiny House: A detached residential structure that contains one (1) dwelling unit with a permanent foundation that is four hundred square feet (400 ft2) or less in usable floor area excluding lofted space. The structure has a single entry facing the street, an alley or open space on a lot, but shall not face an interior property line. Rooftop decks on tiny houses are prohibited.
Looking for Salt Lake County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Salt Lake City city rules.
Accessory Structures in Salt Lake County →