Salt Lake County · 19,080 residents
Bluffdale ADU rules
Bluffdale: internal ADUs allowed (lot 6,000+ sq ft); detached ADUs allowed (lot 11,000+ sq ft).
Internal ADU (inside the home)
Detached ADU (backyard building)
Not yet fully verified · last reviewed September 7, 2026 See sources
Bluffdale ADU rules at a glance
| Rule | Internal ADU (basement, attic, inside the home) | Detached ADU (backyard building) |
|---|---|---|
| Allowed? | Allowed | Allowed |
| Minimum lot | 6,000 sq ft. >6,000 sq ft within single-family dwellings in primary residential, mixed-use, and special district zones. | 11,000 sq ft. Permitted on lots/parcels with no more than one single-family dwelling in listed zone categories. |
| Owner occupancy | Owner occupant in primary or ADU; documentation forms; notice recorded. | Owner in primary or ADU. |
| Parking | 1 off-street space required (not including 2 for main dwelling). | 2 off-street spaces required (not including 2 for main dwelling). |
| Zones | Primary residential, mixed use, special district zones. | Primary residential, mixed use, special district zones. |
| Permit process | ADU permit via Land Use Authority + building permit; application fee $150; only one ADU of any type per lot. | ADU permit + building permit; rental ≥30 days; no separate meters; no separate addressing. |
State law: detached ADUs from October 1, 2026
Bluffdale is a “specified municipality” under Utah S.B. 284. Beginning October 1, 2026, it must permit one detached ADU as a permitted use on a lot of 11,000 sq ft or more that has a detached single-family home. The city can still apply setbacks, height, design, owner-occupancy and limited parking rules, and it may allow detached ADUs on smaller lots. How the state ADU laws work.
How our property map screens Bluffdale lots
The map colors parcels using the rules on this page and the recorded lot size. A color is a planning screen, not a permit; Bluffdale makes the decision.
- "Likely" above 15,000 sq ft is this site's planning band for a large recorded lot. It is not a sentence in the Bluffdale code. Owner occupancy, parking, setbacks, zones, and HOA rules below still have to be checked.
Planned communities, PRDs and PUDs
Reviewed on September 22, 2026 against this city's research file, its published ADU page where one was found, and Utah meeting packets. No adopted sentence was confirmed that allows or bans an ADU in every PUD, PRD, PRUD, or planned community. If the assessor class or subdivision name says PUD, PRD, PRUD, planned unit development, planned residential development, planned community, resort community, or master planned community, the map keeps that lot highly unlikely regardless of size. A plat, CC&Rs, or development agreement can still prohibit an ADU where the zone allows one.
Planning notes for Bluffdale
Bluffdale publishes pathways for both internal and detached units. Its FAQ describes detached units as permanent structures on permanent foundations, intended for occupancy of at least 30 consecutive days, and calls for owner-occupancy documentation. Ask whether the city’s ADU toolkit or loan program fits your project before paying for custom plans; program availability is not guaranteed.
Bring these to your review
- Owner-occupancy documentation
- Foundation concept and long-term occupancy plan
- Parcel area and proposed unit location
The question to resolve first
Could the ADU toolkit or current loan program help this project, and what conditions would apply?
Sources
We link only to government sources and public meeting records. Codes change; confirm the current version with Bluffdale before you apply.
- Bluffdale Land Use Ordinances — ADU FAQ, BCC 11.20.020 and 11.340.040
Published city guidance
- Bluffdale ADU Loan Program application
Published program application; availability and eligibility require confirmation
- Utah S.B. 284 (2026), enrolled bill
Statewide detached-ADU requirements for specified municipalities, operative October 1, 2026.
- Official Bluffdale website
Common Bluffdale ADU questions
Can you build an ADU in Bluffdale?
Bluffdale: internal ADUs allowed (lot 6,000+ sq ft); detached ADUs allowed (lot 11,000+ sq ft). This is planning guidance, not a permit. Confirm the zone on your parcel with Bluffdale.
What lot size does Bluffdale require for an ADU?
Internal ADU: 6,000 sq ft minimum. >6,000 sq ft within single-family dwellings in primary residential, mixed-use, and special district zones. Detached ADU: 11,000 sq ft minimum. Permitted on lots/parcels with no more than one single-family dwelling in listed zone categories.
Does Bluffdale require the owner to live on the property?
Internal ADU: Owner occupant in primary or ADU; documentation forms; notice recorded. Detached ADU: Owner in primary or ADU.
How much parking does a Bluffdale ADU need?
Internal ADU: 1 off-street space required (not including 2 for main dwelling). Detached ADU: 2 off-street spaces required (not including 2 for main dwelling).
What does it cost to build an ADU in Bluffdale?
Wasatch Front planning bands are often about $55,000–$145,000 for an internal suite, $70,000–$175,000 for a garage conversion, and $95,000–$250,000 or more for a new detached unit, before unusual site work. These are planning ranges, not bids.
Can an HOA block an ADU in Bluffdale?
City approval does not override CC&Rs or plat notes. Read the HOA documents and your subdivision plat before you design. A private restriction can stop a unit the city would otherwise allow.
Before you design: general checks for any Utah ADU
General planning advice, not Bluffdale code.
- Confirm the zoning district on the city zoning map. The county assessor’s “residential” class is not zoning.
- Read your HOA CC&Rs and subdivision plat notes; private restrictions can block a unit the city allows.
- Sketch existing and proposed parking. Driveway geometry and access often decide what fits.
- Ask early about sewer, water and electrical capacity; utilities can force a redesign.
- Expanding a building’s footprint usually triggers full setback and height rules.
Nearby city ADU rules
Want to know what fits on your Bluffdale lot?
Free, no obligation. We review your parcel against these rules and, if you want, introduce independent design and construction partners. Partners may pay us for referrals.
Utah ADU Builder provides educational planning guidance. This page is not legal advice and not a permit. Population: UGRC POPLASTESTIMATE / Census-derived municipal estimates (manual fill where UGRC blank). Editorial standards.