Salt Lake County · 49,463 residents
Murray ADU rules
Murray: internal ADUs allowed; detached ADUs allowed (lot 10,000+ sq ft).
Internal ADU (inside the home)
Detached ADU (backyard building)
Not yet fully verified · last reviewed September 7, 2026 See sources
Murray ADU rules at a glance
| Rule | Internal ADU (basement, attic, inside the home) | Detached ADU (backyard building) |
|---|---|---|
| Allowed? | Allowed | Allowed |
| Minimum lot | Statewide statute includes a small-lot pathway around 6,000 sq ft for many internal ADUs — confirm how Murray applies it on your zone. | 10,000 sq ft. ≥10,000 sq ft. |
| Owner occupancy | Owner must reside in primary dwelling or ADU; affidavit recorded with Salt Lake County Recorder before application accepted. | Owner must occupy principal unit or ADU. |
| Parking | 1 additional off-street space (total 3 on property) for attached ADUs. | 1 additional off-street space (total 3 on property). |
| Zones | All zoning districts that allow single-family dwellings; max one ADU per lot. | Zones allowing single-family as permitted use. |
| Permit process | ADU permit by Community & Economic Development Director/designee (Ch. 17.78); licensed contractor required (owner-builder not allowed); business license for long-term rental; STR <30 days prohibited. | ADU permit + building permit via licensed contractor; recorded affidavit; business license to rent. |
State law: detached ADUs from October 1, 2026
Murray 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 Murray 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; Murray makes the decision.
- The statewide map screen starts a new external ADU at about 11,000 sq ft. Murray's researched external minimum is 10,000 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 Murray 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 Murray
Murray’s published process calls for a recorded owner-occupancy and rental affidavit before the ADU application is accepted. The city also directs homeowners to use a licensed contractor rather than an owner-builder route. We can help organize these early requirements while comparing an internal or detached design and the separate rental-license step.
Bring these to your review
- Recorded-affidavit preparation and owner information
- Site and floor plans with unit areas
- Contractor plan and intended long-term use
The question to resolve first
Are the affidavit and application materials ready for Murray’s planning and building reviews?
Sources
We link only to government sources and public meeting records. Codes change; confirm the current version with Murray before you apply.
- Murray City ADU regulations
Published city guidance
- Utah S.B. 284 (2026), enrolled bill
Statewide detached-ADU requirements for specified municipalities, operative October 1, 2026.
- Official Murray website
Common Murray ADU questions
Can you build an ADU in Murray?
Murray: internal ADUs allowed; detached ADUs allowed (lot 10,000+ sq ft). This is planning guidance, not a permit. Confirm the zone on your parcel with Murray.
What lot size does Murray require for an ADU?
Internal ADU: Statewide statute includes a small-lot pathway around 6,000 sq ft for many internal ADUs — confirm how Murray applies it on your zone. Detached ADU: 10,000 sq ft minimum. ≥10,000 sq ft.
Does Murray require the owner to live on the property?
Internal ADU: Owner must reside in primary dwelling or ADU; affidavit recorded with Salt Lake County Recorder before application accepted. Detached ADU: Owner must occupy principal unit or ADU.
How much parking does a Murray ADU need?
Internal ADU: 1 additional off-street space (total 3 on property) for attached ADUs. Detached ADU: 1 additional off-street space (total 3 on property).
What does it cost to build an ADU in Murray?
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 Murray?
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 Murray 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 Murray 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.