Salt Lake County · 26,003 residents
South Salt Lake ADU rules
South Salt Lake: 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)
Not yet fully verified · last reviewed September 7, 2026 See sources
South Salt Lake 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. Parcel ≥6,000 sq ft and ≥50 ft depth front-to-rear. | 6,000 sq ft. Same parcel standards: ≥6,000 sq ft and ≥50 ft depth. |
| Owner occupancy | Owner or immediate family member must live in primary or ADU. | Owner or immediate family in primary or ADU. |
| Parking | One additional parking site required; bedroom-count additions may require more for additions/attached/external. | One additional parking site baseline; additional by bedroom count for external ADUs. |
| Zones | R1 and RM land use districts. | R1 and RM. |
| Permit process | ADU Predevelopment Application ($50) before building permit/business license; rental ≥30 days; Unit B addressing; no separate utility meters. | Predevelopment application then building permit; Ord. 2024-01 ADU design/permitted-use standards; short-term rental prohibited; max one internal AND one external per parcel. |
State law: detached ADUs from October 1, 2026
South Salt Lake 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 Salt Lake 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 Salt Lake makes the decision.
- The statewide map screen starts a new external ADU at about 11,000 sq ft. South Salt Lake'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 Salt Lake 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 South Salt Lake
South Salt Lake identifies both internal and external ADU opportunities. Its predevelopment process helps establish the requirements before construction permitting. We can help assemble the property information, ownership affidavit and concept drawings into a complete submission, then address review comments before the building-permit stage.
Bring these to your review
- Measured site plan and parcel zoning
- Internal or external concept drawings
- Ownership and occupancy arrangements
The question to resolve first
Which predevelopment materials and current dimensional standards apply to your layout?
Sources
We link only to government sources and public meeting records. Codes change; confirm the current version with South Salt Lake before you apply.
- South Salt Lake Community Development FAQ
Published city guidance includes internal and external ADUs
- South Salt Lake ADU predevelopment application
Published application packet; verify current submission requirements
- Utah S.B. 284 (2026), enrolled bill
Statewide detached-ADU requirements for specified municipalities, operative October 1, 2026.
- Official South Salt Lake website
Common South Salt Lake ADU questions
Can you build an ADU in South Salt Lake?
South Salt Lake: 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 Salt Lake.
What lot size does South Salt Lake require for an ADU?
Internal ADU: 6,000 sq ft minimum. Parcel ≥6,000 sq ft and ≥50 ft depth front-to-rear. Detached ADU: 6,000 sq ft minimum. Same parcel standards: ≥6,000 sq ft and ≥50 ft depth.
Does South Salt Lake require the owner to live on the property?
Internal ADU: Owner or immediate family member must live in primary or ADU. Detached ADU: Owner or immediate family in primary or ADU.
How much parking does a South Salt Lake ADU need?
Internal ADU: One additional parking site required; bedroom-count additions may require more for additions/attached/external. Detached ADU: One additional parking site baseline; additional by bedroom count for external ADUs.
What does it cost to build an ADU in South Salt Lake?
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 Salt Lake?
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 Salt Lake 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 Salt Lake 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.