Utah County · 95,910 residents
Orem ADU rules
Orem: internal ADUs allowed; detached ADUs are not generally allowed today. Beginning October 1, 2026, state law (S.B. 284) requires the city to permit a detached ADU on qualifying single-family lots of 11,000 sq ft or more. Owner occupancy applies.
Internal ADU (inside the home)
Detached ADU (backyard building)
Not yet fully verified · last reviewed September 7, 2026 See sources
Orem ADU rules at a glance
| Rule | Internal ADU (basement, attic, inside the home) | Detached ADU (backyard building) |
|---|---|---|
| Allowed? | Allowed | Not generally allowed |
| Minimum lot | Not yet verified — confirm with the city | 11,000 sq ft. Proposed: ≥11,000 sq ft (state floor) |
| Owner occupancy | Required; affidavit not to rent both units; temporary absence ≤3 years (job/sabbatical/voluntary service) per §22-6-9 | Proposed: required (primary or ADU) |
| Parking | City handout: at least 3 paved off-street pads (one behind front setback; max one in street-side setback). ADU Rulebook Jul 2026 ordinance read: 1 additional on-site stall 8×16 ft for apartment — confirm which standard staff currently applies | Proposed: 1 space if <650 sq ft; 2 if ≥650 sq ft |
| Size limits | Must be within footprint of primary structure; no explicit floor-area cap in accessory apartment section | Proposed tiered max by lot: 850 / 1,000 / 1,200 sq ft (and ≤50% of primary); min 200 sq ft; bedroom caps 2–3 |
| Height | Not yet verified — confirm with the city | Proposed: single-story; max 20 ft pitched / 14 ft flat; not taller than primary; loft ≤20% floor area |
| Setbacks | Outside entrance cannot face a street | Proposed: not in front yard / not closer to street than primary; additional setbacks from primary, property lines, and neighboring dwellings |
| Zones | Single-family detached homes; not in R-5 or Planned Residential Development (PRD) | Proposed: where single-family detached is allowed, except as prohibited (PRD/R5 pattern for attached) |
| Permit process | Building permit + site/floor plans; rental dwelling license; Development Services review | Proposed: same permitting/licensing as attached apartments; permitted use (no CUP) |
State law: detached ADUs from October 1, 2026
Orem 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 Orem 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; Orem makes the decision.
- Because external ADUs are not typical in the Orem research, the map does not mark a new external ADU as likely there.
- "Likely" above 15,000 sq ft is this site's planning band for a large recorded lot. It is not a sentence in the Orem code. Owner occupancy, parking, setbacks, zones, and HOA rules below still have to be checked.
Planned communities, PRDs and PUDs
Orem City Code 22-6-9 says an accessory apartment is allowed only in an owner-occupied detached single-family dwelling and is not allowed in any R5 zone or PRD zone. The map marks a lot whose class or subdivision says PRD or planned residential development as highly unlikely at any size. A detached ADU ordinance was still a proposal in September 2026 planning packets, so this PRD limit is the adopted accessory-apartment rule. Source: Orem zoning code section 22-6-9 as published on Zoneomics, read September 22, 2026.
Planning notes for Orem
Orem maintains a list of approved accessory apartments and a checklist for bringing existing apartments into compliance. If you already have a basement unit, checking its approval history is a productive first step. For a new design, we can help coordinate the site plan, parking and building work, and separately verify any newer detached-ADU pathway.
Bring these to your review
- Existing apartment permits and approval history
- Floor plan showing kitchen, bedrooms and exits
- Site plan with parking and entrance locations
The question to resolve first
Is this apartment already approved, or what remains to establish it legally?
Sources
We link only to government sources and public meeting records. Codes change; confirm the current version with Orem before you apply.
- Orem accessory apartments
City registry states it is complete through July 31, 2026
- Utah S.B. 284 (2026), enrolled bill
Statewide detached-ADU requirements for specified municipalities, operative October 1, 2026.
- Official Orem website
Common Orem ADU questions
Can you build an ADU in Orem?
Orem: internal ADUs allowed; detached ADUs are not generally allowed today. Beginning October 1, 2026, state law (S.B. 284) requires the city to permit a detached ADU on qualifying single-family lots of 11,000 sq ft or more. Owner occupancy applies. This is planning guidance, not a permit. Confirm the zone on your parcel with Orem.
What lot size does Orem require for an ADU?
Internal ADU: Not yet verified — confirm with the city. Detached ADU: 11,000 sq ft minimum. Proposed: ≥11,000 sq ft (state floor).
Does Orem require the owner to live on the property?
Internal ADU: Required; affidavit not to rent both units; temporary absence ≤3 years (job/sabbatical/voluntary service) per §22-6-9. Detached ADU: Proposed: required (primary or ADU).
How much parking does a Orem ADU need?
Internal ADU: City handout: at least 3 paved off-street pads (one behind front setback; max one in street-side setback). ADU Rulebook Jul 2026 ordinance read: 1 additional on-site stall 8×16 ft for apartment — confirm which standard staff currently applies. Detached ADU: Proposed: 1 space if <650 sq ft; 2 if ≥650 sq ft.
What does it cost to build an ADU in Orem?
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 Orem?
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 Orem 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 Orem 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.