Salt Lake County · 86,156 residents
South Jordan ADU rules
South Jordan: internal ADUs allowed (lot 6,000+ sq ft); detached ADUs allowed (lot 6,000+ sq ft). Owner occupancy applies.
Internal ADU (inside the home)
Detached ADU (backyard building)
✓ Checked against city sources on September 24, 2026 See sources
South Jordan 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. The lot must be larger than 6,000 sq ft. | 6,000 sq ft. South Jordan allows detached ADUs on lots larger than 6,000 sq ft, well below the 11,000 sq ft statewide floor, though setbacks and lot coverage limit what fits on smaller lots. |
| Owner occupancy | The owner of record must live on the property and record an affidavit saying they live in either the main home or the ADU as their permanent residence. | The owner of record must live on the property, in either the main home or the detached ADU, and record an affidavit. |
| Parking | At least one off-street parking space in addition to the home's required parking, without blocking the home's required spaces. | At least one off-street parking space in addition to the home's required parking, without blocking the home's required spaces. |
| Size limits | Not yet verified — confirm with the city | No more than 50% of the main home's living area and no more than 1,500 sq ft; must also stay within the zone's maximum lot coverage. |
| Height | Follows the height limit of the home's zoning district. | Up to 5 ft taller than the main home, with a 25 ft maximum. |
| Setbacks | Follows the setbacks of the home's zoning district. | At least 10 ft from side and rear lot lines, plus 1 ft for each foot of height over 16 ft; not in the front yard. Upper-floor windows or doors within 20 ft of a lot line must be clerestory (7 ft above the floor) or face away from it. Elevated decks and balconies must be 20 ft from lot lines. |
| Zones | Allowed with conforming single-family homes in any zone where single-family homes are a permitted use (older development agreements, such as Daybreak's, may restrict ADUs); one ADU per lot, and not with attached housing or mobile homes. | Allowed in any zone where single-family homes are a permitted use (older development agreements, such as Daybreak's, may restrict ADUs); one ADU per lot. |
| Short-term rentals | Rentals must be at least 30 consecutive days; no short-term rentals. | Rentals must be at least 30 consecutive days; no short-term rentals. |
| Permit process | Administrative ADU permit through the city's online portal, needed before the building permit, if the unit will be rented; an internal unit that won't be rented needs only a notarized affidavit. Exterior ADU doors can't be on the front of the house. | Administrative ADU permit through the online portal (with elevations), required before the building permit; no conditional use permit. Separate meters, mailboxes and addresses aren't allowed, and a converted building's living space must be at least 10 ft from lot lines. |
What the South Jordan council decided
Recorded votes and actions on ADU rules, linked to the public meeting record on OpenUtah.
· City Council · Approved
City Council approved Ordinance 2026-24 amending definitions, zones and the ADU Floating Zone to conform with state law; vote from transcript.
Read the meeting record· City Council Meeting · Not recorded
Motion made to approve Ordinance 2026-04 amending ADU Floating Zone prohibitions; the record does not state the result.
Read the meeting record· City Council Meeting · Approved (5-0)
City Council approved Ordinance 2026-03 after striking the section on prohibitions in the ADU Floating Zone.
Read the meeting record
State law: detached ADUs from October 1, 2026
South Jordan 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 South Jordan 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; South Jordan makes the decision.
- The statewide map screen starts a new external ADU at about 11,000 sq ft. South Jordan's researched external minimum is 6,000 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 South Jordan code. Owner occupancy, parking, setbacks, zones, and HOA rules below still have to be checked.
Planned communities, PRDs and PUDs
South Jordan's July 2025 ADU guidebook says the citywide ADU rules do not cover Daybreak, and that a Daybreak ADU is only permitted above a detached or semi-detached garage. The map does not mark a Daybreak lot as likely for a new internal or external ADU. Other lots in the guidebook must be in a single-family residential or agricultural zone. A PUD label outside Daybreak stays on the unconfirmed planned-community screen. Source: South Jordan ADU guidebook, July 2025, sjc.utah.gov.
Sources
We link only to government sources and public meeting records. Codes change; confirm the current version with South Jordan before you apply.
- South Jordan Accessory Dwelling Unit Guidebook (updated September 2026)
City guide to the post-Ord. 2026-24 ADU rules: 6,000 sq ft lots, 10 ft setbacks, height, 50%/1,500 sq ft size cap, parking, owner occupancy, rentals of 30+ days, permit process.
- South Jordan City Council, Sept 15, 2026 — Ord. 2026-24 adoption (OpenCity)
Staff presentation, public hearing and 3-0 roll-call adoption of the ADU and accessory-building amendments for SB 284.
- 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 population thresholds.
- Utah Code 17-60-104 — Classification of counties
County class population thresholds.
- U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2024 subcounty population estimates
July 1, 2024 population estimates for Utah places and counties.
- Official South Jordan website
Common South Jordan ADU questions
Can you build an ADU in South Jordan?
South Jordan: internal ADUs allowed (lot 6,000+ sq ft); detached ADUs allowed (lot 6,000+ sq ft). Owner occupancy applies. This is planning guidance, not a permit. Confirm the zone on your parcel with South Jordan.
What lot size does South Jordan require for an ADU?
Internal ADU: 6,000 sq ft minimum. The lot must be larger than 6,000 sq ft. Detached ADU: 6,000 sq ft minimum. South Jordan allows detached ADUs on lots larger than 6,000 sq ft, well below the 11,000 sq ft statewide floor, though setbacks and lot coverage limit what fits on smaller lots.
Does South Jordan require the owner to live on the property?
Internal ADU: The owner of record must live on the property and record an affidavit saying they live in either the main home or the ADU as their permanent residence. Detached ADU: The owner of record must live on the property, in either the main home or the detached ADU, and record an affidavit.
How much parking does a South Jordan ADU need?
Internal ADU: At least one off-street parking space in addition to the home's required parking, without blocking the home's required spaces. Detached ADU: At least one off-street parking space in addition to the home's required parking, without blocking the home's required spaces.
Can an ADU in South Jordan be a short-term rental?
Internal ADU: Rentals must be at least 30 consecutive days; no short-term rentals. Detached ADU: Rentals must be at least 30 consecutive days; no short-term rentals.
What does it cost to build an ADU in South Jordan?
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 South Jordan?
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 South Jordan 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 South Jordan lot?
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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.