If you've searched "can I build an ADU in Utah," you've probably run into conflicting answers — some pages talk about a 2021 law, others mention new rules for 2026. Here's what's actually true, in plain English.
In 2021, Utah passed HB82, which requires most cities in the state to allow accessory dwelling units on single-family lots — meaning a city generally can't ban ADUs outright. HB82 also removed the statewide owner-occupancy requirement, so in theory you don't have to live on the property to build or rent out an ADU.
The key word is "in theory." HB82 set a statewide floor, but it left cities in control of the details: size limits, setbacks, parking requirements, and design standards. Some cities also kept their own local owner-occupancy rules on the books — Salt Lake City, Provo, and Ogden all still require it today, even though the state-level requirement is gone. We cover each city's specifics on our Salt Lake City, Provo, and Ogden ADU pages.
Utah's legislature followed up in 2026 with SB284, which requires every city with a population of 5,000 or more to permit detached ADUs — not just internal or attached units. Cities that don't already have a compliant ADU ordinance are required to adopt one by October 2026.
This matters most in cities that historically limited ADUs to a specific overlay zone or to attached/internal units only. Provo is a good example: it had an ADU overlay that didn't cover the whole city, and SB284 is expanding where a detached ADU is allowed. Park City is seeing something similar, with larger lots (roughly 11,000+ sq ft) now having a clearer path to a detached unit.
Two things are true at the same time in Utah right now:
Laws and ordinances change, and every lot is different. The only way to know exactly what your property qualifies for is to have someone check your specific zoning — which is exactly what we do during your free site visit, at no cost.