Utah County · 113,523 residents
Provo ADU rules
Provo: internal ADUs allowed; detached ADUs allowed with conditions (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
Provo ADU rules at a glance
| Rule | Internal ADU (basement, attic, inside the home) | Detached ADU (backyard building) |
|---|---|---|
| Allowed? | Allowed | Allowed with conditions |
| Minimum lot | Not yet verified — confirm with the city | 11,000 sq ft |
| Owner occupancy | Required (owner occupant in primary or ADU); temporary absence exception exists in code | Required |
| Parking | Minimum 4 off-street spaces for dwelling + ADU; up to 2 may be tandem | Same as internal: minimum 4 off-street total (subject to SB 284 parking caps for detached after 2026-10-01) |
| Size limits | No explicit floor-area cap found for internal ADUs | Detached structure footprint and height less than main dwelling; at least 200 sq ft; no numeric max floor area found in Ch. 14.30 |
| Height | Not yet verified — confirm with the city | Less than main dwelling height |
| Setbacks | Outside entrance on side or rear only; only primary entrance visible from front yard | Rear and/or side yard; setback 10 ft or existing primary setback from that line, whichever is less; permanent foundation; architectural compatibility; separate utility meters |
| Zones | Permitted in primarily residential zones per 14.30, subject to ADU Overlay / map exclusions (PRO zones, R2PD, certain RM/R16–R110 areas; west of I-15 broader but SDP-5 and R2PD excepted) | Same ADU Overlay / zone eligibility as internal; check Zoning Interactive Map |
| Permit process | Administrative if in ADU overlay; building permit if construction; ADU Rental Dwelling License (RADU fee ~$50 one-time + annual RDL ~$20); health/safety inspection; recorded deed restriction | Building permit + impact fees for detached; ADU RDL; city notes SB 284 may change page guidance |
What the Provo council decided
Recorded votes and actions on ADU rules, linked to the public meeting record on OpenUtah.
· City Council Meetings · Approved (4-3)
City Council approved an intent statement regarding ADUs.
Read the meeting record· City Council Meetings · Approved (5-1)
Council directed staff to draft an intent statement opposing applications to extend ADU eligibility beyond the established overlay zones.
Read the meeting record· City Council Meetings · Not recorded
Motion to replace monthly ADU enforcement presentations with quarterly email updates; the record does not state the result.
Read the meeting record
State law: detached ADUs from October 1, 2026
Provo 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 Provo 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; Provo 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 Provo 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 Provo
Provo’s ADU page explicitly warns that some guidance is changing with SB284. Its existing options include conversions, additions and detached units in qualifying areas. We can help compare the established local pathway with the newer detached framework, keeping the application date and final implementation details clear.
Bring these to your review
- Parcel location and applicable overlay
- Preferred design and proposed application date
- Existing permits, parking and entrance plan
The question to resolve first
Can your project use an existing Provo pathway now, or should it be planned around the newer detached provisions?
Sources
We link only to government sources and public meeting records. Codes change; confirm the current version with Provo before you apply.
- Provo accessory dwelling units
City flags information subject to SB284 implementation updates
- Utah S.B. 284 (2026), enrolled bill
Statewide detached-ADU requirements for specified municipalities, operative October 1, 2026.
- Official Provo website
Common Provo ADU questions
Can you build an ADU in Provo?
Provo: internal ADUs allowed; detached ADUs allowed with conditions (lot 11,000+ sq ft). Owner occupancy applies. This is planning guidance, not a permit. Confirm the zone on your parcel with Provo.
What lot size does Provo require for an ADU?
Internal ADU: Not yet verified — confirm with the city. Detached ADU: 11,000 sq ft minimum.
Does Provo require the owner to live on the property?
Internal ADU: Required (owner occupant in primary or ADU); temporary absence exception exists in code. Detached ADU: Required.
How much parking does a Provo ADU need?
Internal ADU: Minimum 4 off-street spaces for dwelling + ADU; up to 2 may be tandem. Detached ADU: Same as internal: minimum 4 off-street total (subject to SB 284 parking caps for detached after 2026-10-01).
What does it cost to build an ADU in Provo?
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 Provo?
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 Provo 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 Provo 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.