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Codes, exemptions & field inspections

Build to the adopted code. Verify every exception.

This guide translates the available agency record into a preconstruction checklist for structural scope, minor work, and inspection release. The adopted code and the issuing official control when a field condition is disputed.

Regulatory framework

The code baseline for Salt Lake County.

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.

Inspection lane

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.

Minor-work playbook

Understand what may be exempt—and what is not.

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.

Field rule

A permit exemption generally addresses one narrow construction trigger. It does not automatically waive zoning, land-use, floodplain, shoreline, fire, energy, electrical, utility, septic, or right-of-way requirements. Obtain written confirmation when the project involves a new structure, structural alteration, change in occupancy, or concealed work.

Inspection pipeline

Keep the work visible at every release point.

  1. 1

    Request with lead time

    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.

  2. 2

    Preserve access

    Do not cover framing, reinforcement, wiring, piping, damp-proofing, or life-safety work until the required inspection has been completed and documented.

  3. 3

    Close the record

    Retain the approved plans, inspection approvals, correction responses, and final certificate or occupancy release with the property file.

Contractor verification

Verify the builder before the contract is signed.

Use the state licensing system to verify active registration, trade credentials, bond status, and liability coverage where available. Match the legal business name to the proposal and permit application.

Verify contractor ↗

Planning reference

Keep the parcel rules beside the building plans.

A building permit is only one part of statutory compliance. Check the local zoning, ordinance, map, or land-use reference before finalizing setbacks, height, lot coverage, access, drainage, or accessory structure placement.

Open planning reference ↗

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.

Agency websiteOpen official source ↗Permit portalOpen official source ↗Fee scheduleOpen official source ↗Planning or zoning referenceOpen official source ↗Contractor license lookupOpen official source ↗

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.

Field sequencing matters

The inspector needs to see the work at the right moment.

Code compliance is not only a plan-review exercise. Footings, reinforcement, framing, fireblocking, wiring, piping, insulation, weather protection, and life-safety systems each have points where the work must remain accessible. Build the inspection calendar into the trade schedule instead of treating it as a final administrative step.

When a project qualifies for a narrow minor-work exemption, keep a written explanation of why it qualifies and confirm that related zoning, utility, fire, energy, or environmental rules do not create a separate approval requirement.

Closeout file

Keep the approved plan set, inspection approvals, correction responses, contractor license verification, final certificate, and any occupancy release together. A clean record protects the owner, builder, lender, insurer, and future buyer.