Salt Lake County · 116,688 residents
West Jordan ADU rules
West Jordan: internal ADUs allowed; detached ADUs allowed (lot 10,000+ sq ft).
Internal ADU (inside the home)
Detached ADU (backyard building)
✓ Checked against city sources on September 24, 2026 See sources
West Jordan ADU rules at a glance
| Rule | Internal ADU (basement, attic, inside the home) | Detached ADU (backyard building) |
|---|---|---|
| Allowed? | Allowed | Allowed |
| Minimum lot | West Jordan's ADU code sets no separate minimum lot size for internal ADUs; they are governed by the state internal-ADU statute. | 10,000 sq ft. Detached ADUs are allowed on platted lots of 10,000 sq ft or more in the R-1, RR, RE, PC, LSFR and VLSFR zones, below the 11,000 sq ft statewide floor. |
| Owner occupancy | If the owner lives in the main home or the ADU, they may rent the other unit. If the owner lives in neither, they may rent the whole property as one unit or rent only one of the two, but not both separately. | If the owner lives in the main home or the ADU, they may rent the other unit. If the owner lives in neither, they may rent the whole property as one unit or rent only one of the two, but not both separately. |
| Parking | At least one extra paved (asphalt or concrete) 9 x 18 ft off-street space; it can't be tandem with or block the home's required parking, and 2 garage or carport spaces must stay intact. | At least one extra paved 9 x 18 ft off-street space, not tandem with or blocking the home's required parking. |
| Size limits | Not yet verified — confirm with the city | The footprint must be smaller than the main home's, and the unit may cover no more than 20% of the rear and side yard; lot coverage limits still apply. |
| Height | Not yet verified — confirm with the city | Maximum 20 ft; any part over 17 ft needs 1 ft of extra side and rear setback for each foot of height above 17 ft. |
| Setbacks | Not yet verified — confirm with the city | At least 6 ft from the house, 6 ft from the rear and interior side lot lines, and 20 ft from a corner side lot line; not in the front yard. |
| Zones | Allowed in single-family homes; not with multi-family, mobile homes or attached housing, and not where the home is on a septic tank. One ADU per property, internal or detached. | Allowed on platted lots of 10,000+ sq ft in R-1, RR, RE, PC, LSFR and VLSFR zones; one ADU per property. |
| Short-term rentals | ADUs must be rented for at least 30 consecutive days; short-term rentals are not permitted. | ADUs must be rented for at least 30 consecutive days; short-term rentals are not permitted. |
| Permit process | Submit the ADU supplemental packet with a business license application (fee paid with the license review) and record the notarized Notice of Acknowledgement with the county; a business license is required when renting. | Needs a permanent foundation and a building permit, plus Design Review Committee approval of materials and design (separate fees) and a business license when rented. A separate utility meter may be allowed if the provider approves, subject to connection fees. |
What the West Jordan council decided
Recorded votes and actions on ADU rules, linked to the public meeting record on OpenUtah.
· City Council Meeting · Approved (6-0)
City Council approved Ordinance 26-18 amending City Code 13-5B-8 (Accessory Dwelling Units); video shows the 6-0 vote on March 24, 2026.
Read the meeting record· Design Review Regular Meeting · Approved (5-0)
Design Review Committee forwarded a positive recommendation to the Planning Commission for the SHARP external ADU at 7579 S 2200 West.
Read the meeting record· Design Review Regular Meeting · Approved (5-0)
Design Review Committee gave a positive recommendation for an external ADU at 2607 W Carson Lane.
Read the meeting record· City Council
Approved Ordinance 26-18 amending City Code 13-5B-8 (ADUs): state 'detached ADU' terminology, septic prohibition, and rules for a second utility meter on detached ADUs (6-0).
Read the meeting record· Design Review Committee · Approved (5-0)
Design Review Committee gave a positive recommendation for an external ADU at 2607 W Carson Lane.
Read the meeting record· City Council Meeting · Approved (7-0)
City Council approved Ordinance 25-34 amending City Code 13-5B-8 on external accessory dwelling units.
Read the meeting record· Planning Commission · Approved (6-0)
Planning Commission forwarded a positive recommendation to City Council on the external ADU text amendment.
Read the meeting record
State law: detached ADUs from October 1, 2026
West 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 West 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; West Jordan makes the decision.
- The statewide map screen starts a new external ADU at about 11,000 sq ft. West Jordan's researched external minimum is 10,000 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 West Jordan code. Owner occupancy, parking, setbacks, zones, and HOA rules below still have to be checked.
Planned communities, PRDs and PUDs
West Jordan's planned-development use table lists an internal accessory dwelling unit as permitted in both the PRD and PC columns. An external accessory dwelling unit is listed only in the PC column, and only on lots platted at 10,000 square feet or larger. A PRD label keeps a new external ADU highly unlikely at any size, while the internal path still uses the lot-size screen. A planned-community label uses the lot-size screen for both paths. Source: West Jordan City Code title 13 planned-development use table, codelibrary.amlegal.com, read September 22, 2026.
Sources
We link only to government sources and public meeting records. Codes change; confirm the current version with West Jordan before you apply.
- West Jordan City Council, Mar 24, 2026 — Ordinance 26-18 (13-5B-8 ADUs) (OpenCity)
Meeting record and transcript: Ordinance 26-18 amending 13-5B-8 approved 6-0; attachments include the clean and legislative ADU code text.
- West Jordan Accessory Dwelling Unit application packet (March 2026)
City checklist: 10,000 sq ft platted lots in listed zones, setbacks, front-yard ban, Design Review Committee, parking, 30-day minimum rental, business license.
- 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 West Jordan website
Common West Jordan ADU questions
Can you build an ADU in West Jordan?
West Jordan: internal ADUs allowed; detached ADUs allowed (lot 10,000+ sq ft). This is planning guidance, not a permit. Confirm the zone on your parcel with West Jordan.
What lot size does West Jordan require for an ADU?
Internal ADU: West Jordan's ADU code sets no separate minimum lot size for internal ADUs; they are governed by the state internal-ADU statute. Detached ADU: 10,000 sq ft minimum. Detached ADUs are allowed on platted lots of 10,000 sq ft or more in the R-1, RR, RE, PC, LSFR and VLSFR zones, below the 11,000 sq ft statewide floor.
Does West Jordan require the owner to live on the property?
Internal ADU: If the owner lives in the main home or the ADU, they may rent the other unit. If the owner lives in neither, they may rent the whole property as one unit or rent only one of the two, but not both separately. Detached ADU: If the owner lives in the main home or the ADU, they may rent the other unit. If the owner lives in neither, they may rent the whole property as one unit or rent only one of the two, but not both separately.
How much parking does a West Jordan ADU need?
Internal ADU: At least one extra paved (asphalt or concrete) 9 x 18 ft off-street space; it can't be tandem with or block the home's required parking, and 2 garage or carport spaces must stay intact. Detached ADU: At least one extra paved 9 x 18 ft off-street space, not tandem with or blocking the home's required parking.
Can an ADU in West Jordan be a short-term rental?
Internal ADU: ADUs must be rented for at least 30 consecutive days; short-term rentals are not permitted. Detached ADU: ADUs must be rented for at least 30 consecutive days; short-term rentals are not permitted.
What does it cost to build an ADU in West 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 West 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 West 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 West 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.