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Accessory Structures in Salt Lake County, UT (2026)

5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 5 cities in Salt Lake County, Utah.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Salt Lake County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

ADU Rules

An ADU in unincorporated Salt Lake County needs a building permit before construction, an owner-occupancy affidavit recorded against the property, and a business license before it can be rented.

Salt Lake County ADU Permit & License Process

Significant Restrictions

Salt Lake County Code §19.15.110 - ADU design standards; §19.15.120 - Affidavit and notice; §19.15.130 - Business licensing

A. An approved building permit is required for all ADUs before an ADU is constructed, and all other applicable provisions of this chapter and the Salt Lake County Code must be met before an ADU can be rented. ... B. A building permit may not be issued for an ADU until the applicant has provided written confirmation from the applicable water supplier that the ADU complies with all applicable wat...

ADU Owner Occupancy

The property owner must live in either the main house or the ADU on any accessory dwelling unit lot in unincorporated Salt Lake County, with only narrow exceptions.

Salt Lake County ADU Owner-Occupancy Requirement

Significant Restrictions

Salt Lake County Code § 19.15.090 - Owner occupancy

The principal unit or the ADU must have owner occupancy, except for medical, military service, or religious reasons for a time period of up to two years. If an absence is warranted due to the above reasons, an on-site manager shall be designated. The property owner may not receive rent for the unit that was occupied by the owner. An application for an ADU shall include evidence of owner occupan...

ADU Rental Restrictions

An ADU in unincorporated Salt Lake County cannot be rented at all without a business license, and once licensed it can only be leased for 30 consecutive days or longer: Code Section 19.15.150 bars short-term rental use outright, and Section 19.15.130 makes the license mandatory before any rent is collected and for as long as the unit stays rented.

Salt Lake County ADU Rental Restrictions

Significant Restrictions

Salt Lake County Code §§ 19.15.130, 19.15.150 (see also § 19.15.090, § 19.15.140(D))

19.15.130 - Business licensing. Prior to renting out any ADU, a business license must be obtained. That license must be maintained as long as the unit is rented out. 19.15.150 - Short-term rental use prohibited. Units approved as ADUs shall not be used as short-term rentals. Any rentals shall be made for thirty consecutive days or more. ... 19.15.090 - Owner occupancy. The principal unit or the...

Shed & Carport Rules

In unincorporated Salt Lake County's R-1 zones, an accessory building like a shed or detached garage stays a permitted use only up to 800 square feet on lots under half an acre, or 1,200 square feet on larger lots; go bigger and it becomes a conditional use needing planning commission approval, under Code Section 19.14.020.

Salt Lake County R-1 Accessory Building Rules

Some Restrictions

Salt Lake County Code § 19.14.020 - Permitted uses; §§ 19.14.050(B), 19.14.060(B), 19.14.070

19.14.020 - Permitted uses. Permitted uses in the R-1 zones are as follows: All R-1 zones-Accessory uses and buildings customarily incidental to a permitted use provided the total square footage of all accessory buildings does not exceed eight hundred square feet on lots under one-half acre or one thousand two hundred square feet on lots one-half acre or larger... 19.14.050.B Accessory Building...

Garage Conversions

An existing garage in unincorporated Salt Lake County can become an accessory dwelling unit, but it must meet every ADU standard and pass building-code safety upgrades first.

Salt Lake County Garage-to-ADU Conversion Rules

Some Restrictions

Salt Lake County Code § 19.15.110(E), (L) - ADU design standards

Conversions of an existing space to an ADU will require compliance with safety requirements per building code including, but not limited to, egress windows with window wells in case of emergency, and sufficient HVAC and climate control for the ADU.F.IADUs shall not require a separate HVAC or firewall.G.The owner shall provide a separate address marking for emergency services and mailing service...

Accessory Structures by City in Salt Lake County

5 cities in Salt Lake County have their own accessory structures rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.

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