Utah permit review deadlines
How long does it take to get a building permit in Utah?
Utah gives a city or county 14 business days to finish plan review on a house, duplex, or townhome, and 21 business days on larger residential buildings.
If the local government misses the deadline and misses again after the applicant asks, it cannot enforce plan review on plans stamped by a licensed architect or structural engineer.
See the deadlines ↓Current Utah state-level guidelines
The short answer
Utah law gives a city or county 14 business days to complete plan review for a one- or two-family dwelling or townhome, and 21 business days for other residential structures built under the International Building Code. The clock runs after a three-business-day screening period. If the local government misses the deadline, the applicant can request that it finish, and it then has 14 or 21 days. If it misses again and a licensed architect or structural engineer has stamped the plans, the local government may not enforce the plan review requirement. The rules are in Utah Code 10-20-909 for cities and 17-79-810 for counties.
By project type
Utah permit review deadlines.
Utah's deadlines apply to residential construction in cities and counties.
| Project type | Deadline | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Screening period | 3 business days | After the applicant submits. The review clock starts when it ends. |
| One- or two-family home or townhome | 14 business days | To complete plan review. |
| Other residential structures under the International Building Code | 21 business days | Lodging establishments are not included. |
| After the applicant requests completion | 14 or 21 days | A second deadline once the first is missed. |
| Building inspection | 3 business days | If the local government cannot inspect in time, the applicant can hire a listed third-party firm. |
Step by step
How Utah's review clock works.
The local government checks that the application has what the law lists: contact information, site plan, construction drawings, energy code documents, structural calculations, and a compliance statement.
Plan review covers all the reviews a city requires to issue the building permit.
After a miss, the local government gets one more 14 or 21 days.
After a second miss, the local government may not enforce plan review on plans stamped by a licensed architect or structural engineer.
What this means for a review team
- Plan review means every review needed for the permit, so all disciplines share the 14 business days.
- The completeness list is in the statute. Intake can check against it on day one.
- Inspections have their own 3-business-day clock, and the local government pays the third-party firm.
When the clock runs out
What happens when a Utah department misses the deadline.
If the local government misses the deadline twice, it may not enforce a plan review requirement on plans stamped by a licensed architect or structural engineer.
If an inspection cannot be provided within 3 business days, the applicant can hire a firm from the local list, and the local regulator pays for the inspection.
After the final inspection report from a third-party firm, the regulator must issue the certificate of occupancy no later than one business day.
Faster permit approvals start with more efficient plan review.
See how your team can spend less time chasing comments, waiting on other disciplines, and tracking down the status of a review, without changing your permitting system or CDP.
Recent changes
What changed, and when.
May 1, 2024
SB 185 takes effectAdds third-party inspections when a local government cannot inspect in 3 business days.
2025
The law moves in the Utah CodeThe municipal section is renumbered to 10-20-909 and the county section to 17-79-810. The current text, effective November 6, 2025, includes the three-business-day screening period.
City by city
How Utah cities handle review times.
Salt Lake City works under the state clock and posts matching targets.
Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City has 14 business days to review plans for houses and townhomes and 21 for apartment buildings under state law. The city posts matching targets, plus a 30-day goal for commercial projects.
Read the source →City details come from each city's public pages as of November 12, 2026. Cities change their targets and processes often, so check the linked source for the current version.
Common questions
Utah building permit deadlines, answered.
How long does it take to get a building permit in Utah?
For a house, duplex, or townhome, the city or county has 14 business days to complete plan review after a three-business-day screening period. Larger residential buildings get 21 business days. We found no state deadline for commercial projects.
What happens if a Utah city misses the plan review deadline?
The applicant can ask the city to finish, which starts a second 14 or 21 days. If the city misses again and the plans are stamped by a licensed architect or structural engineer, it may not enforce the plan review requirement.
What counts as a complete application in Utah?
State law lists it: contact information for the applicant and contractor, a scaled site plan, construction plans and drawings, energy code documentation, structural calculations, and a compliance statement. A geotechnical report can be required on steep lots.
Can I hire my own inspector in Utah?
Only if the city or county cannot provide the inspection within 3 business days of the request. Then you can hire a firm from the local third-party list, and the local regulator pays for it.
How do Utah building departments keep up with these deadlines?
Three habits show up in the departments that hit the clock. They check applications for missing items in the first few days. They let building, fire, planning, and engineering review the same plans at the same time. And they track the days left on every review, so a manager can step in before a deadline passes.
Read it for yourself
Sources.
Keep exploring
Deadlines in other states.
If you review plans in Utah
Working under Utah's review clock? See how e-PlanSoft can help you hit it consistently.
Meeting a review deadline starts with a good intake process, disciplines that work together, and a clear view of every review in progress.
Book a demoSee how collaborative review works →This page summarizes public laws, rules, and city review practices in Utah as of November 12, 2026. Deadlines vary by location and permit type. These summaries are for reference, not legal advice. Check the linked sources and local requirements for the rules that apply to your project.