Administrative overview · FIPS 49035
Salt Lake County permit authority
The first compliance decision is jurisdictional: identify the office with statutory authority over your parcel, then use its filing and inspection sequence to keep the project moving.
Jurisdictional status
County
This county profile is the primary starting point for unincorporated-area permitting.
Responsible agency
Greater Salt Lake Municipal Services District Planning & Development, Building Services
For a project in or near Salt Lake County, this office is the identified point of contact for permit intake, statutory code enforcement, plan review coordination, and inspection release conditions. Confirm the parcel’s boundary and project type before relying on the county lane.
Direct contact
Building Permits and Inspections: 385-910-7138; inspection hotline: 385-910-5830; Planning/Zoning: 385-468-6700; MSD main: 385-910-5600
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
860 W Levoy Drive, Suite 300, Taylorsville, UT 84123; mailing address: Greater Salt Lake Municipal Services District, PO Box 147700, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-7700
Operating hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Review expectation
For a complex plan check such as a new home or second-story addition, the MSD states that review can take from a couple of days to a couple of weeks depending on backlog. Unimproved-land development approval can take approximately two months to one year before a building permit can be issued.
Compliance workbench
Choose the next project decision.
Apply online
Open the verified digital gateway, application form, and review timeline.
Open guide →Fees & penalties
Understand fee schedules, enforcement exposure, and stop-work liabilities.
Open guide →Codes & exemptions
Read the code framework, minor-work exemptions, and inspection lane.
Open guide →Agency website
Visit the primary public source for current notices and contact changes.
Open guide →Source trail
Official sources for this profile
Use these direct agency or licensing links to confirm current instructions before you file, pay, or schedule work. External pages control if their information differs from this directory.
Project questions
Frequently asked questions for Salt Lake County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
Greater Salt Lake Municipal Services District Planning & Development, Building Services is the identified county-level authority for this profile. Confirm that the property is in its service area before filing.
How should I begin an application?
Begin with the online permit gateway listed in the application guide. If the portal does not recognize the address or project type, contact Building Permits and Inspections: 385-910-7138; inspection hotline: 385-910-5830; Planning/Zoning: 385-468-6700; MSD main: 385-910-5600.
How long might review take?
For a complex plan check such as a new home or second-story addition, the MSD states that review can take from a couple of days to a couple of weeks depending on backlog. Unimproved-land development approval can take approximately two months to one year before a building permit can be issued.
How are inspections scheduled?
Call 385-910-5830 or email inspections@msd.utah.gov before 3:00 p.m. for the following business day, or request through the Cityworks portal. Provide the permit or business-license number, property address, inspection type, requested date, contact name, and daytime phone. For footing, foundation, or other concrete inspections, provide an approximate time between 8:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. To coordinate the inspector's arrival, call 801-927-0914 between 7:30 and 8:00 a.m. that morning. Full-size printed MSD-stamped plans must be onsite; covered or plan-deviating work may fail, and failed visits can incur a reinspection fee.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
The MSD administers building permits for unincorporated Salt Lake County on the county's behalf and applies the current Utah State Construction Code and statewide amendments. Effective July 1, 2026, this includes the 2024 International Building Code, 2021 International Residential Code and Appendix AQ, 2024 International Plumbing Code, 2024 International Mechanical Code, 2024 International Fuel Gas Code, 2023 National Electrical Code, 2024 International Energy Conservation Code, 2024 International Existing Building Code, residential provisions of the 2024 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, and applicable Utah amendments; the 2024 International Fire Code is the State Fire Code. The MSD also publishes local design criteria including 30-inch frost depth, site-specific snow loads, and Seismic Design Category D2 for residential and D for commercial work. No building permit is required to replace defective plumbing fixtures with equivalent fixtures; replace lights or receptacles with equivalent devices; build an unattached deck/platform under 200 square feet and under 18 inches above grade; build a one-story detached accessory structure under 200 square feet residential or 120 square feet commercial with no plumbing, mechanical, or electrical work; erect a fence no more than seven feet high; or install an uncovered driveway or patio. Planning/zoning approval is still required for exempt decks and accessory structures, and Public Works approval is required when altering sidewalk, curb, gutter, or a driveway approach.