Salt Lake City Building Department | Permits, Inspections & Contact

Salt Lake City Building Services is the local building official for construction inside incorporated Salt Lake City. Salt Lake County is not a single permitting jurisdiction: properties in West Valley City, Sandy, West Jordan, and other municipalities use their own city departments, while unincorporated areas are handled through the Greater Salt Lake Municipal Services District.

Applying for a Salt Lake City building permit

Salt Lake City requires building permit applications to be submitted through its Citizen Access Portal. Applicants generally create an account, choose the building permit type, submit the application and fee, and then upload plans through ProjectDox when electronic plan review is required. Commercial, multifamily, historic-district, and site-development projects may need concurrent zoning, planning, fire, engineering, utilities, transportation, or landmark approvals.

The city states that construction, alteration, repair, improvement, conversion, or demolition work and many electrical, plumbing, or mechanical changes require the prescribed permits before work begins. Use the city’s permit information and self-help instructions to determine whether separate trade permits or additional agency reviews apply.

Inspections, code compliance, and occupancy

After permit issuance, request inspections through Citizen Access, the city’s inspection instructions, or the automated inspection line at (801) 535-6000. The city’s inspection office is at 349 South 200 East, fourth floor. Keep approved plans and required documents available at the job site and schedule each inspection before work is covered.

Salt Lake City states that a certificate of occupancy is posted in Citizen Access after the permit and inspection process is complete. A commercial change of use, historic property, or project with transportation, fire, or utility conditions may require additional closeout approvals before occupancy.

Zoning and plan review

Check Salt Lake City’s zoning map and Title 21A before preparing plans. The Planning Division notes that the Citizen Access Portal can be used to research property information and application progress. Exterior work in a local historic district may require a certificate of appropriateness before a building permit can be issued.

Official contact information

Building permit processing is available at City Hall, 451 South State Street, Room 215, Salt Lake City, Utah 84111. Permit processing is (801) 535-7968; general building code questions are (801) 535-7155; inspection questions are (801) 535-7224. The city’s official portal is the correct place to apply, research permit records, and request inspections.