Salt Lake County · 36,219 residents
Midvale ADU rules
Midvale: internal ADUs allowed (lot 6,001+ sq ft); detached ADUs allowed (lot 6,001+ sq ft). Owner occupancy applies.
Internal ADU (inside the home)
Detached ADU (backyard building)
✓ Checked against city sources on September 24, 2026 See sources
Midvale ADU rules at a glance
| Rule | Internal ADU (basement, attic, inside the home) | Detached ADU (backyard building) |
|---|---|---|
| Allowed? | Allowed | Allowed |
| Minimum lot | 6,001 sq ft. Midvale does not allow an internal ADU on a lot of 6,000 sq ft or less, so the lot must be larger than 6,000 sq ft. | 6,001 sq ft. Midvale does not allow a detached (external) ADU on a lot of 6,000 sq ft or less, so the lot must be larger than 6,000 sq ft, which is already more permissive than the 11,000 sq ft statewide floor starting Oct 1, 2026. |
| Owner occupancy | The property owner must live in one of the two units as their permanent residence. | The property owner must live in one of the two units as their permanent residence. |
| Parking | Residential lots need at least two off-street spaces, and Midvale's parking table requires one space per ADU. | Residential lots need at least two off-street spaces, and Midvale's parking table requires one space per ADU. |
| Size limits | Not yet verified — confirm with the city | All accessory buildings plus the detached ADU together may total no more than the larger of 900 sq ft or 13% of the lot area. |
| Height | Not yet verified — confirm with the city | Up to 20 ft with a pitched roof or 16 ft with a flat roof (one to one-and-a-half stories). |
| Setbacks | Not yet verified — confirm with the city | A detached ADU must be in the rear or side yard, at least 2 ft (including eaves) from rear and side lot lines and at least 6 ft from the main home. |
| Zones | Allowed in the SF-1 single-family zone on a lot with one detached single-family home; other Midvale zones have their own use tables. | Allowed in the SF-1 single-family zone on a lot with one detached single-family home; other Midvale zones have their own use tables. |
| Short-term rentals | The ADU may not be rented for less than 30 consecutive days. | The ADU may not be rented for less than 30 consecutive days. |
| Permit process | A building permit is required, and before occupancy the owner must record a notice on the property's title; separate utility meters or a separate address for the ADU are prohibited, and only one internal ADU is allowed per property. | A building permit is required, and before occupancy the owner must record a notice on the property's title; separate utility meters or a separate address for the ADU are prohibited, and only one external ADU is allowed per property. |
State law: detached ADUs from October 1, 2026
Midvale 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 Midvale 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; Midvale makes the decision.
- The statewide map screen starts internal ADUs at 6,000 sq ft. Midvale's researched internal minimum is 6,001 sq ft, and the map uses that city number when the research names a status.
- The statewide map screen starts a new external ADU at about 11,000 sq ft. Midvale's researched external minimum is 6,001 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 Midvale 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.
Sources
We link only to government sources and public meeting records. Codes change; confirm the current version with Midvale before you apply.
- Midvale Planning & Zoning FAQ — Can I construct an ADU?
Official city page; says ADU eligibility depends on zoning and points residents to Title 17 and Planning & Zoning staff.
- Utah S.B. 284 (2026), enrolled copy
Enacts Utah Code 10-21-304 (effective Oct 1, 2026): specified municipalities must permit a detached ADU on single-family lots of 11,000 sq ft or more; defines 'specified municipality'.
- Utah Code 10-2-301 — Classification of municipalities
City class thresholds (third class = 30,000 to 64,999).
- Utah Code 17-60-104 — Classification of counties
County class thresholds (first class >= 1,150,000; third class 40,000 to 259,999).
- U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2024 subcounty population estimates
July 1, 2024 population estimates for Utah places.
- Official Midvale website
Common Midvale ADU questions
Can you build an ADU in Midvale?
Midvale: internal ADUs allowed (lot 6,001+ sq ft); detached ADUs allowed (lot 6,001+ sq ft). Owner occupancy applies. This is planning guidance, not a permit. Confirm the zone on your parcel with Midvale.
What lot size does Midvale require for an ADU?
Internal ADU: 6,001 sq ft minimum. Midvale does not allow an internal ADU on a lot of 6,000 sq ft or less, so the lot must be larger than 6,000 sq ft. Detached ADU: 6,001 sq ft minimum. Midvale does not allow a detached (external) ADU on a lot of 6,000 sq ft or less, so the lot must be larger than 6,000 sq ft, which is already more permissive than the 11,000 sq ft statewide floor starting Oct 1, 2026.
Does Midvale require the owner to live on the property?
Internal ADU: The property owner must live in one of the two units as their permanent residence. Detached ADU: The property owner must live in one of the two units as their permanent residence.
How much parking does a Midvale ADU need?
Internal ADU: Residential lots need at least two off-street spaces, and Midvale's parking table requires one space per ADU. Detached ADU: Residential lots need at least two off-street spaces, and Midvale's parking table requires one space per ADU.
Can an ADU in Midvale be a short-term rental?
Internal ADU: The ADU may not be rented for less than 30 consecutive days. Detached ADU: The ADU may not be rented for less than 30 consecutive days.
What does it cost to build an ADU in Midvale?
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 Midvale?
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 Midvale 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 Midvale 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: U.S. Census Bureau population estimate (2024). Editorial standards.