Davis County · 44,481 residents
Bountiful ADU rules
Bountiful: internal ADUs allowed (lot 6,000+ sq ft); detached ADUs allowed with conditions (lot 8,000+ sq ft). Owner occupancy applies.
Internal ADU (inside the home)
Detached ADU (backyard building)
Not yet fully verified · last reviewed September 7, 2026 See sources
Bountiful ADU rules at a glance
| Rule | Internal ADU (basement, attic, inside the home) | Detached ADU (backyard building) |
|---|---|---|
| Allowed? | Allowed | Allowed with conditions |
| Minimum lot | 6,000 sq ft. Statewide statute includes a small-lot pathway around 6,000 sq ft for many internal ADUs — confirm how Bountiful applies it on your zone. | 8,000 sq ft. Local practice commonly cites ~8,000 sq ft buildable land for detached ADUs. S.B. 284’s ≥11,000 sq ft floor still requires by-right (not CUP) treatment on qualifying lots beginning October 1, 2026. |
| Owner occupancy | Owner-occupancy required (primary dwelling or ADU). | Owner-occupancy plus deed restriction required. |
| Parking | +1 off-street parking for the ADU. | Show existing and proposed stalls on a site sketch; +1 off-street is typical for ADUs. |
| Size limits | Local size caps and percentage-of-home rules vary—confirm current standards with Planning. | Commonly about 350–1,250 sq ft—confirm current standards with Planning. |
| Height | Not yet verified — confirm with the city | Accessory-structure height limits; 2025 Council also approved ADU height-related rules. |
| Setbacks | Not yet verified — confirm with the city | Behind the front building line; accessory-structure setbacks and height apply. |
| Permit process | Staff review/approval path plus building permit; deed restriction / single-family character standards apply. Separate utility meters prohibited. | Today: Administrative Committee CUP + building permit. Through 2026: city is aligning definitions/process so S.B. 284-covered lots move toward permitted use. |
What the Bountiful council decided
Recorded votes and actions on ADU rules, linked to the public meeting record on OpenUtah.
· Administrative Committee · Approved (3-0)
Administrative Committee approved a short-term rental within an accessory dwelling unit at 36 West 1350 North.
Read the meeting record
State law: detached ADUs from October 1, 2026
Bountiful 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 Bountiful 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; Bountiful makes the decision.
- The statewide map screen starts a new external ADU at about 11,000 sq ft. Bountiful's researched external minimum is 8,000 sq ft. Lots below that city minimum stay highly unlikely on the map even when they clear 11,000 sq ft.
- "Likely" above 15,000 sq ft is this site's planning band for a large recorded lot. It is not a sentence in the Bountiful 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 Bountiful
Bountiful’s published guidance separates staff-reviewed internal ADUs from detached units requiring Administrative Committee conditional-use review. That difference affects the paperwork and sequence, not just the building design. The application inventory also includes a nonconforming-status determination, which may help clarify the history of an existing apartment.
Bring these to your review
- Choose internal conversion or detached structure
- Existing permit history if a second unit already exists
- Site layout and owner-occupancy plan
The question to resolve first
Does this proposal need staff review, a detached conditional-use application, or an existing-use determination?
Sources
We link only to government sources and public meeting records. Codes change; confirm the current version with Bountiful before you apply.
- Bountiful City Planning — ADU information
Published city guidance
- Bountiful Planning applications
Published application inventory
- Utah S.B. 284 (2026), enrolled bill
Statewide detached-ADU requirements for specified municipalities, operative October 1, 2026.
- Official Bountiful website
Common Bountiful ADU questions
Can you build an ADU in Bountiful?
Bountiful: internal ADUs allowed (lot 6,000+ sq ft); detached ADUs allowed with conditions (lot 8,000+ sq ft). Owner occupancy applies. This is planning guidance, not a permit. Confirm the zone on your parcel with Bountiful.
What lot size does Bountiful require for an ADU?
Internal ADU: 6,000 sq ft minimum. Statewide statute includes a small-lot pathway around 6,000 sq ft for many internal ADUs — confirm how Bountiful applies it on your zone. Detached ADU: 8,000 sq ft minimum. Local practice commonly cites ~8,000 sq ft buildable land for detached ADUs. S.B. 284’s ≥11,000 sq ft floor still requires by-right (not CUP) treatment on qualifying lots beginning October 1, 2026.
Does Bountiful require the owner to live on the property?
Internal ADU: Owner-occupancy required (primary dwelling or ADU). Detached ADU: Owner-occupancy plus deed restriction required.
How much parking does a Bountiful ADU need?
Internal ADU: +1 off-street parking for the ADU. Detached ADU: Show existing and proposed stalls on a site sketch; +1 off-street is typical for ADUs.
What does it cost to build an ADU in Bountiful?
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 Bountiful?
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 Bountiful 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 Bountiful 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.