Davis County · 34,062 residents
Clearfield ADU rules
Clearfield: internal ADUs allowed (lot 6,000+ sq ft); detached ADUs allowed. Owner occupancy applies.
Internal ADU (inside the home)
Detached ADU (backyard building)
Not yet fully verified · last reviewed September 7, 2026 See sources
Clearfield 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. Statewide statute includes a small-lot pathway around 6,000 sq ft for many internal ADUs — confirm how Clearfield applies it on your zone. | No explicit citywide DADU minimum lot size found in the adopted chapter text reviewed. S.B. 284 still requires by-right treatment on qualifying ≥11,000 sq ft lots. |
| Owner occupancy | Owner must reside full-time in the primary dwelling or the ADU. | Owner occupancy required (primary or ADU). |
| Parking | +1 off-street parking space for the ADU. | +1 off-street parking typical; confirm statutory caps as the city maintains S.B. 284 alignment. |
| Size limits | Not yet verified — confirm with the city | Floor area typically 200–1,000 sq ft; footprint ≤50% of the primary dwelling. Lot coverage uses a sliding scale by lot size. |
| Height | Not yet verified — confirm with the city | Generally single-story; flat roof ≤12', pitched ≤18'; over-garage height exception up to 25' or primary height. |
| Setbacks | Not yet verified — confirm with the city | Rear 10' (20' if over garage), side 10', corner side 20', and 10' from the primary dwelling—confirm current chapter text. |
| Zones | Not yet verified — confirm with the city | Single-family and agricultural zones under the ADU chapter. |
| Permit process | Registration with Community Development; business license if rented; building permit as needed. No separate utility meters; cannot sell/subdivide the ADU separately. | Same registration/building-permit path as internal ADUs; site standards for rear-yard placement apply. |
State law: detached ADUs from October 1, 2026
Clearfield 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 Clearfield 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; Clearfield makes the decision.
- No numeric external minimum is recorded for Clearfield. The map keeps the statewide 11,000 sq ft external screen and shows the researched status (generally allowed) on the property report.
- "Likely" above 15,000 sq ft is this site's planning band for a large recorded lot. It is not a sentence in the Clearfield 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 Clearfield
Clearfield describes both internal and backyard ADUs and says they may be allowed in single-family and agricultural zones. Its process includes registration and an owner-occupancy declaration. Complete application materials matter: staff-reviewed applications still need the full checklist before review starts.
Bring these to your review
- ADU application and owner-occupancy declaration
- Zoning confirmation if the parcel designation is unclear
- Complete site and floor plans for the chosen unit type
The question to resolve first
Can this ADU be registered through staff review, and what building approvals are still needed?
Sources
We link only to government sources and public meeting records. Codes change; confirm the current version with Clearfield before you apply.
- Utah S.B. 284 (2026), enrolled bill
Statewide detached-ADU requirements for specified municipalities, operative October 1, 2026.
- Official Clearfield website
Common Clearfield ADU questions
Can you build an ADU in Clearfield?
Clearfield: internal ADUs allowed (lot 6,000+ sq ft); detached ADUs allowed. Owner occupancy applies. This is planning guidance, not a permit. Confirm the zone on your parcel with Clearfield.
What lot size does Clearfield 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 Clearfield applies it on your zone. Detached ADU: No explicit citywide DADU minimum lot size found in the adopted chapter text reviewed. S.B. 284 still requires by-right treatment on qualifying ≥11,000 sq ft lots.
Does Clearfield require the owner to live on the property?
Internal ADU: Owner must reside full-time in the primary dwelling or the ADU. Detached ADU: Owner occupancy required (primary or ADU).
How much parking does a Clearfield ADU need?
Internal ADU: +1 off-street parking space for the ADU. Detached ADU: +1 off-street parking typical; confirm statutory caps as the city maintains S.B. 284 alignment.
What does it cost to build an ADU in Clearfield?
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 Clearfield?
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 Clearfield 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
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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.