Planning a backyard cottage, basement unit, or garage conversion? Permitz tells you exactly which permits your accessory dwelling unit needs, what you can skip, and what it'll cost — a complete report for your exact address in 30 seconds.
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An accessory dwelling unit is a small home — and the city treats it like one.
A detached ADU is a standalone dwelling with its own building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits. An internal conversion or attached unit follows a different path. Which one you're building determines every requirement that follows.
Salt Lake City limits ADU size, height, setbacks, and parking based on your lot and zone, and many of these rules were reset by the city's 2023 ADU ordinance. Owner-occupancy still applies to most units, too. What's allowed on your parcel isn't what's allowed two streets over.
Most ADU projects trigger a stack of permits and inspections across the building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical trades. Miss one and you're looking at a stop-work order or a failed final inspection.
Most ADU projects stall on a zoning rule or a permit nobody flagged — usually after the owner has already spent money. Your report checks Salt Lake City's code against your exact address and answers the questions that keep you up at night, in plain English, in 30 seconds.
We check your parcel's zoning, setbacks, height, and size limits — so you know what's actually allowed at your address before you fall in love with a plan or pay for drawings.
We flag the permits and steps you're exempt from. Most owners quietly over-permit and overpay the city — you'll know exactly what you don't need.
Every permit and document your ADU triggers, in plain English and in order — so your application doesn't get kicked back to the end of the line.
A fee estimate for every permit, up front. No blank checks, no surprises at the counter.
From project details to permit report in four simple steps
Tell us about your project and the property address.
Our AI instantly identifies all permits needed for your specific location and project type
Receive a plain-English breakdown of every permit, document, and requirement — then chat with our AI to refine your results
Download your PDF report and submit your application to the city with confidence
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Yes. Every accessory dwelling unit in Salt Lake City requires a building permit, and detached ADUs typically also need separate electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits. Exactly which permits apply depends on whether your unit is attached, internal, or detached, plus your lot's zoning. Your Permitz report lists every permit your specific project needs for your address.
Permit fees are based on your project's valuation and the trades involved, so they vary by project — building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits are each priced separately, plus plan-review and impact fees. Your report includes a fee estimate so there are no surprises at the counter. The Permitz report itself starts at $29.
An attached ADU shares a wall with your main home or is converted from existing interior space like a basement, while a detached ADU is a standalone structure such as a backyard cottage or garage conversion. Detached units are treated as their own small dwelling and generally carry the most permit and inspection requirements. Your report is tailored to the type you're building.
Salt Lake City allows ADUs in most residential zones, but size, height, placement, and parking rules depend on your specific lot and zone. The fastest way to know what's allowed at your address is to run a report — it checks your parcel's zoning and tells you what applies.
Timelines depend on the city's plan-review queue and how complete your application is — incomplete submittals are the most common cause of delays. Knowing every required permit and document up front is the single best way to avoid back-and-forth with the city, which is exactly what your report is for.
Not always — homeowners can often pull their own permits for owner-occupied projects, though detached ADUs frequently involve structural and trade work where a licensed contractor or design professional is required. Your report flags where professional drawings or licensed trades are typically expected.
Stop guessing which permits your Salt Lake City ADU needs. Get a clear, AI-powered report for your exact address and project.