Utah ADU Rules - 2026

Can you build a backyard home on your Utah lot?

Utah's new ADU law (SB284) changed the answer for thousands of homeowners. Tap your city on the map, or scroll the full list below - 34 Wasatch Front cities, kept current as ordinances update toward the October 2026 deadline.

Tracker last reviewed June 11, 2026

Find your city

Hover a dot to see the city; tap or click to pull up its rules.

Detached allowed Conditional Updating / confirm

Pick a city to see its rules

Tap any dot on the map and this panel fills in with that city's ADU rules — lot size, height, owner-occupancy, and a link to the official source.

What SB284 actually does

The statewide floor - then your city fills in the details

In 2026 Utah passed SB284, expanding the state's ADU rules to detached units - backyard cottages, garage apartments, standalone guest houses. Before this, many cities could prohibit them outright. Here's the shape of it:

Cities must allow them

Cities with 5,000+ residents must permit detached ADUs, and cities without an ADU policy must adopt one by October 2026.

The 11,000 sq ft line

Lots 11,000 sq ft or larger are squarely who the law opens doors for - though many cities allow ADUs on smaller lots too.

One ADU per lot

Across Utah, you get one ADU per lot - internal or detached, not both - and it can't be sold off separately.

Your city sets the specifics

The state sets the floor. Setbacks, height, size caps, parking, owner-occupancy, and design are still your city's call.

That last point is the whole game. Two homeowners a mile apart in different cities can get different answers. The map and list here keep the city details straight - but ordinances are changing month to month right now, so always confirm with your city before you design or budget.

Not sure how your lot reads under the new rules?

We build ADUs across the Wasatch Front and handle the part most homeowners dread - zoning, permitting, and hookups. Tell us your city and lot, and we'll tell you what's actually possible.

Talk to our ADU team

This tracker is general information from Cocoon Homes to help Utah homeowners get oriented - not legal advice, and not a substitute for your city's planning department or the current Utah Code. Rules change; we note when each city was last reviewed, but always confirm specifics with your city before relying on them.