Salt Lake County · 136,650 residents
West Valley City ADU rules
West Valley City: internal ADUs allowed; 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
West Valley City ADU rules at a glance
| Rule | Internal ADU (basement, attic, inside the home) | Detached ADU (backyard building) |
|---|---|---|
| Allowed? | Allowed | Allowed |
| Minimum lot | Statewide statute includes a small-lot pathway around 6,000 sq ft for many internal ADUs — confirm how West Valley City applies it on your zone. | 11,000 sq ft. ≥11,000 sq ft on single-unit dwelling residential lots. |
| Owner occupancy | Not yet verified — confirm with the city | Staff draft requires owner live in house or DADU. |
| Parking | Not yet verified — confirm with the city | Staff/PC SB 284 draft (2026-06-09): state caps — 1 space if <650 sq ft, 2 if ≥650 sq ft. |
| Zones | Eligible on single-unit dwellings west of 4000 West; internal ADUs not allowed east of 4000 West in RB, RE, all R-1, and all A zones. | Single-family residential lots. |
| Permit process | Must meet WVC Code 7-7-115.5; IADU questionnaire references business license and rental ≥30 consecutive days. | Building permit; business license if rented; rental ≥90 days in staff draft; conversion path for shed/garage required by state. |
State law: detached ADUs from October 1, 2026
West Valley City 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 Valley City 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 Valley City 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 West Valley City 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 West Valley City
West Valley City’s internal-ADU questionnaire asks about the number of units, utility meters and exterior changes. These are useful early checks for a basement conversion. We can help organize the answers and permit history, then confirm the current standards or a separate detached pathway if your preferred plan is outside the home.
Bring these to your review
- Existing floor plan and proposed exterior changes
- Utility-meter arrangement
- Existing unit approvals and preferred ADU type
The question to resolve first
Does the internal questionnaire fit this proposal, or is another current ADU process required?
Sources
We link only to government sources and public meeting records. Codes change; confirm the current version with West Valley City before you apply.
- West Valley City internal ADU questionnaire
Published city questionnaire for internal units
- Utah S.B. 284 (2026), enrolled bill
Statewide detached-ADU requirements for specified municipalities, operative October 1, 2026.
- Official West Valley City website
Common West Valley City ADU questions
Can you build an ADU in West Valley City?
West Valley City: internal ADUs allowed; 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 West Valley City.
What lot size does West Valley City require for an ADU?
Internal ADU: Statewide statute includes a small-lot pathway around 6,000 sq ft for many internal ADUs — confirm how West Valley City applies it on your zone. Detached ADU: 11,000 sq ft minimum. ≥11,000 sq ft on single-unit dwelling residential lots.
Does West Valley City require the owner to live on the property?
Internal ADU: Not yet verified — confirm with the city. Detached ADU: Staff draft requires owner live in house or DADU.
How much parking does a West Valley City ADU need?
Internal ADU: Not yet verified — confirm with the city. Detached ADU: Staff/PC SB 284 draft (2026-06-09): state caps — 1 space if <650 sq ft, 2 if ≥650 sq ft.
What does it cost to build an ADU in West Valley City?
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 Valley City?
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 Valley City 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 Valley City 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.