Utah County · 22,516 residents
Payson ADU rules
Payson: internal ADUs allowed (lot 6,000+ sq ft); detached ADUs allowed (lot 11,000+ 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
Payson 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. Not permitted on lots under 6,000 sq ft (PCC 13.20.220.4) | 11,000 sq ft. Not permitted on lots under 6,000 sq ft (PCC 13.20.221.4). Note: SB 284 statewide by-right floor is >=11,000 sq ft from 2026-10-01; local 6,000 remains more permissive where otherwise allowed |
| Owner occupancy | Required in the single-family dwelling (>=50% ownership / primary residency); temporary absence does not relieve; IADU occupancy <=4 adults; permit does not run with the land | Required in the single-family dwelling (>=50% ownership); DADU occupancy <=4 adults; permit does not run with the land |
| Parking | 3 total off-street spaces (2 primary + 1 IADU); tandem allowed; hard-surfaced; max one side yard for parking; single curb cut; if garage converted, replace the 2 primary spaces | 4 total off-street spaces (2 primary + 2 DADU); tandem allowed; same hard-surface/side-yard/curb-cut style rules as IADU section |
| Size limits | Must be within footprint of primary dwelling; no numeric floor-area max stated in 13.20.220.4 | 300–1,200 sq ft |
| Height | n/a (internal) | Max 18 ft; not permitted as a two-story structure |
| Setbacks | Exterior entrance on side or rear only with paved pedestrian access to driveway/street; interior connection to primary required | >=10 ft from side and rear property lines; not in front yard; exterior entrance with paved pedestrian access |
| Zones | Detached single-family dwellings in any Residential (R) or Agricultural (A) zone | Lots with detached single-family dwellings in any Residential (R) or Agricultural (A) zone; living area in (not above) an accessory structure |
| Permit process | IADU permit + building permit if modifying; site/floor plans; fees; address placard; recorded deed restriction; curb/gutter/sidewalk frontage required; one meter per utility | DADU permit + building permit; dimensioned site plan, floor plan, elevations; fees; address placard; recorded deed restriction; exterior similar in design/material/character to primary |
State law: detached ADUs from October 1, 2026
Payson 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 Payson 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; Payson makes the decision.
- "Likely" above 15,000 sq ft is this site's planning band for a large recorded lot. It is not a sentence in the Payson 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 Payson
Payson’s published internal-ADU process moves from a complete application through fees and inspection to an assigned unit address and recorded permit. Parking layout is a substantial part of the checklist. We can help prepare the documents and anticipate those final address and recording steps rather than treating the building work as the entire process.
Bring these to your review
- Complete floor plan and existing permit history
- Hard-surfaced parking and driveway layout
- Owner information for the recorded ADU permit
The question to resolve first
What remains before this unit can pass inspection and receive its final address and recorded approval?
Sources
We link only to government sources and public meeting records. Codes change; confirm the current version with Payson before you apply.
- Utah S.B. 284 (2026), enrolled bill
Statewide detached-ADU requirements for specified municipalities, operative October 1, 2026.
- Official Payson website
Common Payson ADU questions
Can you build an ADU in Payson?
Payson: internal ADUs allowed (lot 6,000+ sq ft); detached ADUs allowed (lot 11,000+ sq ft). Owner occupancy applies. This is planning guidance, not a permit. Confirm the zone on your parcel with Payson.
What lot size does Payson require for an ADU?
Internal ADU: 6,000 sq ft minimum. Not permitted on lots under 6,000 sq ft (PCC 13.20.220.4). Detached ADU: 11,000 sq ft minimum. Not permitted on lots under 6,000 sq ft (PCC 13.20.221.4). Note: SB 284 statewide by-right floor is >=11,000 sq ft from 2026-10-01; local 6,000 remains more permissive where otherwise allowed.
Does Payson require the owner to live on the property?
Internal ADU: Required in the single-family dwelling (>=50% ownership / primary residency); temporary absence does not relieve; IADU occupancy <=4 adults; permit does not run with the land. Detached ADU: Required in the single-family dwelling (>=50% ownership); DADU occupancy <=4 adults; permit does not run with the land.
How much parking does a Payson ADU need?
Internal ADU: 3 total off-street spaces (2 primary + 1 IADU); tandem allowed; hard-surfaced; max one side yard for parking; single curb cut; if garage converted, replace the 2 primary spaces. Detached ADU: 4 total off-street spaces (2 primary + 2 DADU); tandem allowed; same hard-surface/side-yard/curb-cut style rules as IADU section.
What does it cost to build an ADU in Payson?
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 Payson?
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 Payson 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 Payson 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.