Davis County · 11,487 residents
Woods Cross ADU rules
Woods Cross: internal ADUs allowed (lot 6,000+ sq ft); detached ADUs are not generally allowed today. Beginning October 1, 2026, state law (S.B. 284) requires the city to permit a detached ADU on qualifying single-family lots of 11,000 sq ft or more.
Internal ADU (inside the home)
Detached ADU (backyard building)
Not yet fully verified · last reviewed September 7, 2026 See sources
Woods Cross ADU rules at a glance
| Rule | Internal ADU (basement, attic, inside the home) | Detached ADU (backyard building) |
|---|---|---|
| Allowed? | Allowed | Not generally allowed |
| Minimum lot | 6,000 sq ft. Statewide statute includes a small-lot pathway around 6,000 sq ft for many internal ADUs — confirm how Woods Cross applies it on your zone. | 11,000 sq ft. S.B. 284 statewide detached floor for specified municipalities: roughly 11,000 sq ft on qualifying single-family lots (operative Oct 1, 2026). Local detached eligibility is limited or prohibited until a compliant ordinance is in force. |
| Owner occupancy | Most Utah cities still expect the owner to live in the primary home or the ADU—verify the current Woods Cross occupancy rule before you design. | Not yet verified — confirm with the city |
| Permit process | Expect zoning confirmation, a building permit, and any local registration steps Planning requires. | Not yet verified — confirm with the city |
State law: detached ADUs from October 1, 2026
Woods Cross 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 Woods Cross 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; Woods Cross makes the decision.
- Because external ADUs are not typical in the Woods Cross research, the map does not mark a new external ADU as likely there.
- "Likely" above 15,000 sq ft is this site's planning band for a large recorded lot. It is not a sentence in the Woods Cross 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 Woods Cross
Woods Cross provides an ADU application through Planning and Zoning. Sewer coordination is a separate scope: South Davis Sewer District identifies ADU additions as projects that need its review, independent of city permits. We can help coordinate the dwelling application and utility questions so those costs and approvals are considered together.
Bring these to your review
- Site plan and proposed floor layout
- Existing sewer connection information
- Occupancy and project scope
The question to resolve first
Which city approvals and separate sewer-district requirements apply to the proposed ADU?
Sources
We link only to government sources and public meeting records. Codes change; confirm the current version with Woods Cross before you apply.
- Woods Cross Planning and Zoning
Published city application index
- South Davis Sewer District permit and fee requirements
Published utility-district guidance
- Utah S.B. 284 (2026), enrolled bill
Statewide detached-ADU requirements for specified municipalities, operative October 1, 2026.
- Official Woods Cross website
Common Woods Cross ADU questions
Can you build an ADU in Woods Cross?
Woods Cross: internal ADUs allowed (lot 6,000+ sq ft); detached ADUs are not generally allowed today. Beginning October 1, 2026, state law (S.B. 284) requires the city to permit a detached ADU on qualifying single-family lots of 11,000 sq ft or more. This is planning guidance, not a permit. Confirm the zone on your parcel with Woods Cross.
What lot size does Woods Cross require for an ADU?
Internal ADU: 6,000 sq ft minimum. Statewide statute includes a small-lot pathway around 6,000 sq ft for many internal ADUs — confirm how Woods Cross applies it on your zone. Detached ADU: 11,000 sq ft minimum. S.B. 284 statewide detached floor for specified municipalities: roughly 11,000 sq ft on qualifying single-family lots (operative Oct 1, 2026). Local detached eligibility is limited or prohibited until a compliant ordinance is in force.
Does Woods Cross require the owner to live on the property?
Internal ADU: Most Utah cities still expect the owner to live in the primary home or the ADU—verify the current Woods Cross occupancy rule before you design. Detached ADU: Not yet verified — confirm with the city.
What does it cost to build an ADU in Woods Cross?
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 Woods Cross?
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 Woods Cross 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 Woods Cross 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.