Home Addition Permits in Utah

Who issues the permit

In Utah, building permits are issued locally. If your home is inside a city, that city's building department handles the permit. If it is in an unincorporated area, the county does. In Davis County, the county's Community and Economic Development office issues permits for unincorporated areas only and directs everyone else to their city. Bountiful, Centerville, Farmington, Kaysville, Layton, North Salt Lake and Woods Cross each run their own process.

That matters because the building code is largely the same statewide, but the application steps, fees, forms, zoning rules and review times are not.

The codes that apply

Utah adopts a State Construction Code by statute. Under Utah Code section 15A-2-103, as of the version effective July 1, 2026, houses are governed by the 2021 International Residential Code, along with Utah's statewide amendments and any approved local amendments. The same section adopts the 2023 National Electrical Code and other codes for plumbing, mechanical and fuel gas work.

Cities also publish local design criteria that feed into the code: frost depth, snow load, wind speed and seismic design category. Bountiful's criteria, for example, list a 30 inch frost depth and seismic design category D2. Those values shape footings, framing and connections, so the designer and engineer need them before drawings are finished.

What gets reviewed

A permit application for an addition is usually looked at from several angles:

• ZoningSetbacks from property lines, height, lot coverage and any other limits in the zone. Some cities route this through a separate planning review.
• StructureFoundations, framing, beams, connections and resistance to wind and earthquake forces, often with an engineer's calculations.
• Life safetyEgress windows for bedrooms, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, stairs, guards and fire separation where required.
• EnergyInsulation, windows and air sealing for the new conditioned space.
• Site and right of wayDrainage, utilities, and protection of the street, curb and sidewalk during construction.

What a complete submission usually includes

Requirements differ by city, but addition permits commonly call for:

• A site plan showing the house, the addition and distances to property lines
• Floor plans of the addition and the affected parts of the existing house
• Exterior elevations and building sections
• Foundation and framing plans, with structural engineering where the design requires it
• Energy compliance information
• Contractor information, or an owner-builder declaration

Cities can also require local forms. Bountiful, for instance, takes permit applications through its online CityInspect portal, and for additions to existing homes it uses a curb, gutter and sidewalk bond, with photos of the street-side improvements submitted to the City Engineer before the permit is issued. Our Bountiful permit guide covers that city in more detail.

Inspections during construction

Once work starts, the building department inspects at set points before work is covered up. The exact list is on the permit, but on an addition it typically includes footings and foundation, framing, rough electrical, plumbing and mechanical, insulation, and a final inspection. Work cannot move past a stage until that inspection passes.

Utah law also sets an expectation for timely inspections. If a city cannot provide an inspection within three business days of the request, the applicant may use an approved third-party inspection firm, after notifying the city. Bountiful's published policy lists the firms it has contracted for this.

Zoning, HOAs and other approvals

A building permit confirms the addition meets code and zoning. It does not cover private rules. If your neighborhood has an HOA or recorded covenants, they may have their own design approval and limits on height, materials or placement. Get that approval before finalizing drawings. Our guide to HOA approval for additions explains how to approach it.

Some properties have other layers too. Bountiful, for example, has adopted a Local Wildland Urban Interface Area near its foothills, where new construction and major remodels follow additional fire-resistant construction requirements. Easements, slopes and retaining walls can also bring extra review. For setbacks specifically, see home addition setback requirements.

Who can do the work

Contractors in Utah are licensed through the Division of Professional Licensing, and you can look up a contractor's license status on its website. Electrical and plumbing work have their own licensing requirements. Utah also allows some owner-builder work on a homeowner's own house; if you go that route, the responsibility for meeting code and passing inspections is yours.

How to avoid permit delays

1. Check zoning first. Confirm setbacks, height and coverage for your lot before design is detailed.
2. Submit complete drawings. Missing engineering or unclear details are the most common reason for correction rounds.
3. Settle HOA approval early. Changing drawings after permit review restarts part of the process.
4. Plan for the city's own steps, such as bonds, right-of-way photos or utility coordination.
5. Schedule inspections ahead. Many cities need advance notice, and office days vary.

We handle the permit process as part of every project. See our process for where it fits, and Utah building codes for additions for more on specific code topics.

Permit questions