Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Permits and Zoning office located?
The permits office is located at
451 South State Street Room 215, Salt Lake City. This is the
City and County Building located between 400 and 500 South and
between State Street and 200 East. You will find parking on
State Street, 200 East and limited parking on 500 South. There
is also short term, 30 minute parking in the circle on 200 East.
Additionally there is parking under the Library. The entrance is
on 400 South between 200 and 300 East. Our hours of operation
are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm
and Wednesday 9:00 am to 4:30 pm.
Why do I need a permit?
The purpose of building permits is
provide minimum requirements to safeguard the public safety,
health and general welfare and safety to life and property from
fire and other hazards attributed to the built environment. No
person, firm or corporation shall erect, construct, enlarge,
alter, repair, move, improve, remove, convert or demolish any
building, structure or premises, or make any installation,
alteration or improvement to the electrical, plumbing or
mechanical system in a building, structure or premises, or cause
the same to be done, without first obtaining the prescribed
permits for each such building or structure or premises from the
building official.
When do I need a permit?
Basically, all work being done
requires a permit. The only exception to this is painting,
laying flooring or other very cosmetic issues. Please check with
the Permits Office if you are not sure. The permit staff can be
reached at (801) 535-7752. Other exemptions include: playhouses
and similar uses under 200 square feet; oil derricks; movable
cases, counters and partitions not over five feet high;
retaining walls which are not over two feet in height measured
from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, unless
supporting a surcharge or impounding flammable liquids; water
tanks supported directly upon grade if the capacity does not
exceed five thousand gallons and the ratio of height to diameter
or width does not exceed two to one; painting, papering and
similar finish work; temporary motion picture, television and
theater stage sets and scenery; window awnings supported by an
exterior wall of Group R, Division 3, and Group M occupancies,
when projecting not more than fifty-four inches.
Can I obtain the permit myself?
If the structure is YOUR primary
residence (the one you reside in), you may take out the permits.
If this is a rental or commercial property, you will need to
have a contractor obtain the permits and do the work required.
If the work being done can be considered general
maintenance or repair under $1000 in valuation, an owner may
obtain the permit. General maintenance does include roofing, but
does not include anything structural, i.e., cutting in a new
window, putting up taking down a structural load bearing wall.
The best way to determine if the work is general
repair/maintenance or goes beyond this scope is to call the
office and speak to a plans examiner.
How are permit fees decided?
Permit fees are based on the value
of the project. The value of the project is all material and a
reasonable labor, or is based on the contractor’s bid. There are
fee tables and valuation tables on the web site for determining
these figures.
Salt Lake City accepts only cash, checks and echecks for
payment.
When do I need a contractor?
Unless the work in considered
non-structural maintenance, you will need a contractor for any
work being done on a rental property, whether it is a single
family dwelling or multiple tenant building. You will also need
a contactor on any commercial project. See “Can I obtain the
permit myself.”
Who is responsible for getting the permit?
If there is a contactor on the job,
it is his responsibility according to state law to obtain the
permit and see to the inspections. Be aware, if you hire a
contractor and take out the permits yourself, you are liable for
the work being done to code and not your contactor. This means
that if there are corrections to be made in the work, we come
back to you, not your contactor. If you hire a contactor, make
sure that he takes out the permit and has the inspections done.
If you have any questions, call the Permits office at (801)
535-7752.
Who is responsible for the inspections?
The person who obtained the
permits, whether it be owner or contactor, is the person
responsible for making sure the inspections are done and passed.
What happens when you don't obtain a permit?
If you do not take out the permit
and the City is made aware of this, we issue what is called a
Stop Work (RED TAG) on the address. With this red tag, you could
be charged a double fee on the job. If a permit is still not
obtained, a citation may be issued. Payment of such increased
fees shall not relieve any persons from fully complying with the
requirements. Eventually, if no permit is obtained, we can file
a “Certificate of Non-Compliance” on the property, letting all
interested parties know that work was done on the address
without permits and inspections. This can hold up the sale of
the property until it is resolved.
Exception-Emergency Work.
This provision shall not apply to emergency work when it shall
be proved to the satisfaction of the building official that such
work was urgently necessary and that it was not practical to
obtain a permit therefore before the commencement of the work.
In all such cases, a permit must be obtained as soon as it is
practical to do so, generally the next day, and if there be an
unreasonable delay in obtaining a permit, a double fee, as
herein provided, shall be charged.
How do I find out if the contractor I've hired
is a state licensed contractor?
To find out whether a contractor is
licensed or if he is licensed to perform the work that is being
done, you will need to contact the Utah State Department of
Professional Licensing (DOPL) at (801) 530-4849. Or you may find
the information
on their web site
.
What does zoning do for me?
The purpose of zoning is to promote
the health, safety, morals, convenience, order, prosperity and
welfare of the present and future inhabitants of Salt Lake City,
to implement the adopted plans of the City, and to carry out the
purposes of the Municipal Land Use Development and Management
Act, which is intended to: lessen congestion in the streets or
roads; secure safety from fire and other dangers; provide
adequate light and air; classify land uses and distribute land
development and utilization; foster the City's industrial,
business and residential development; and protect the
environment.
What is my zoning?
Click here to determine the zoning of your property.
What can I do in this zone?
The use allowed in the zone if
determined by the Salt Lake City Zoning Ordinance, Title 21A.
Follow this link to get to the zoning ordinance to determine the
use and
go to Title 21A.
If my home is in a historic district, what is
my first step in taking out a permit?
If your home is in an historic
district, or in fact a historic structure, you will need to
contact Salt Lake City Planning. From there you can determine
what can or cannot be done to this structure.
What is a site plan?
A site plan is a drawing comprised
of the verified property line location, dimensions, direction
from back of curb or sidewalk to property line, dimension of
parkway strip, lot square footage, scale and north arrow
direction; streets, alleys, affected easements and
right-of-ways; location and dimensions of all hard surfaced
areas including curb and gutter, sidewalks, driveways, parking
spaces, loading areas, garbage areas and access points to public
streets or alleys; the size, shape and location of all existing
and proposed structures including overhang projections, garages,
carports, sheds and the distance to the nearest point of any
dwelling or garage on abutting properties. Front, side and rear
yard setback dimensions from property line to all existing and
proposed structures; parking strip layout, including lawn areas,
location of existing and proposed street trees, sprinkler system
and curb cuts. To see a sample site plan,
click here.
What comprises a set of plans?
A set of plans necessary to obtain
a permit could contain a number of items including:
-
a site plan
-
a floor plan
-
cross sections
-
elevations
-
engineered truss details
-
existing/proposed topography
-
soils reports
-
joist layouts
-
footing/foundation details
-
heat loss calculations
-
drainage plans
-
parking calculations
-
any other pertinent information
What design criteria is required?
Design criteria is the basic
information required to draw or construct plans. To find a
complete listing,
click here.
What codes are currently being used?
To find a complete listing of the
current codes being used within the corporate limits of SLC,
click here.
What do you look for on a tenant finish?
The following is what is looked at
for a tenant finish: the path of egress travel; elevator
lobbies; ADA compliance; glazing; emergency lighting and
exiting; smoke detectors, alarms, horns; seismic bracing;
penetrations; wood used in fire-penetrated walls, etc.
How long does it take to get my plans approved
and permit issued?
Minor plan reviews can be done over
the counter. Plans that are logged in are reviewed on a first
come, first served basis. The size of the plans are not taken
into consideration when reviewing. Plans requiring a more
complete review can take anywhere from three to six weeks for
first review. After the first review is completed, the next
review depends on when the corrections or additional information
come in. When the corrections or additional information come in
they are done as soon as possible and do not go back into the
system to wait for another review. For plan check information
and status you can call the office with your plan review number
that is given to you at the time you log the plans in and pay
the plan review fee.
How do I schedule an inspection?
You may schedule an inspection one
of two ways. You may call the automated interactive voice
response system at (801) 535-6436. To use this system you only
need to know you permit number and the code for the type of
inspection being requested. You receive this list of codes at
the time your permit is issued or you can find it
here.
You may also schedule inspections
online.
How many pets can I have in my home?
The zoning ordinance does not deal
with animals. Please call Salt Lake County Animal Services.
Do I need a permit for a garage? what do I
need?
Yes, a permit is required to tear
down or build a garage.
Click here for
this information.
Do I need a permit for a fence? what do I need?
Fences that exceed the height
allowance in the zoning ordinance do require a permit. Also,
fences in the Foothill Districts and Historic Districts require
a permit. "Fence" means a structure erected to provide privacy
or security which defines a private space and may enhance the
design of individual sites. A wall or similar barrier shall be
deemed a fence. Generally a fence can be 4 foot high in the
front and 6 feet in side and rear yards. For additional
information regarding the safety of fences, locations, plans,
click here.
Do I need a permit to replace doors or windows?
what do I need?
Yes, permits are needed to replace
exterior doors or windows. We normally require a window schedule
to replace windows. The window schedule includes a listing of
the size and type of window being added/replaced and the room
that the window is in, i.e., bedroom, living room, etc.
What are the requirements for a boiler
operator/steam engineer?
To find the requirements of
obtaining a boiler operator or steam engineer certificate,
click here.
What are impact fees?
Click here
for information about impact fees.
How can I find historical records/archived
plans, how long are they kept, and what happens to them after?
Commercial is kept for seven years
after the issue date (assuming they are finalized), and
residential (which includes duplexes only) is kept for one year
after the final date. The plans are then destroyed/incinerated.
Why are separate permits/inspections required?
Salt Lake City code states that
each contractor shall procure a permit to cover the work he or
she performs. This is to ensure that the correct tradesman is
responsible for the work the he/she is performing.
Can I get copies of plans/permits?
Plans that drawn up are considered,
whether stamped by a professional engineer, architect or other
design professional, by default, to be copyrighted. Copyrighted
plans cannot be copied without express permission of the
designer.
Why is a contractor required to take out
permits on rental property or commercial projects?
State law states that rental
property is considered commercial property and work on all
commercial property must be have permits issued to state
licensed contractors to ensure than the work being done is to
current code.
