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1. How do I apply for a business permit?

MSD Planning & Development services has an online portal for Business Permits & Inspections called Cityworks. You can submit a new Business Permit application online.

2. When do I not require a building permit?

• Replacing defective plumbing fixtures with equivalent fixtures.
• Replace electrical lights and receptacles with equivalent devices.
• Building a deck or platform that is less than 18 inches above the adjoining ground, under 200 square feet and is not attached to the dwelling. NOTE: Location of the structure still requires approval from the Planning/ Zoning Division at 385-468-6700.
• Building a detached accessory structure that is less than 200 square feet in floor area (120 sq. foot commercial), only one story in height without any plumbing, mechanical or electrical. NOTE: Location of the structure still requires approval from the Planning/ Zoning Division at 385-468-6700.
• Erecting a fence that is no more than seven feet in height, measured from adjoining grade; includes wood, concrete, masonry, and plastic fences.
• Driveways and patios without roof coverings are exempt from permit requirements. NOTE: Altering the public sidewalk, curb and gutter, or the driveway approach requires a permit from the Public Works Department prior to construction or demolition at 385-468-6623.

3. When do I need building permit?

(A building permit must be purchased from the Greater Salt Lake Municipal Services District for the following construction projects: )

• Expanding a building or a structure including adding habitable space, garages, carports, decks and roof projections.
• Altering a building or structure by remodeling to include adding, altering or deleting interior walls, finishing rooms or areas previously unfinished (including basements), changing the use of a room or area, and altering the slope of the roof through a roof conversion.
• Building any detached structures such as garages, barns, tool and storage sheds, playhouses, pool or hot tub enclosures, and similar uses where the structure exceeds 200 square feet (120 sq. foot commercial). Any structure, regardless of size, if adding or modifying the plumbing, mechanical or electrical requires a permit.
• Constructing retaining walls that are taller than 4 feet measured from the bottom of footing to the top of the wall.
• Changing or lowering kitchen cabinets and countertops (creates plumbing and electrical concerns).
• Adding, deleting, or altering any existing plumbing fixtures to accommodate more (or less) plumbing fixtures.
• Adding, deleting, or altering any electrical circuits.
• Altering the existing electrical service equipment (the meter) or any electrical panels.
• Adding any electrical appliances that are considered a fixed installation, and are not replacing similar appliances.
• Installing or replacing a furnace, water heater, boiler, air conditioner, evaporative cooler, heat pump, or baseboard heating equipment.
• Installing or replacing any fireplace (wood or gas), or woodstove.
• Adding, deleting, or altering any ductwork for heating or cooling system.
• Installing hot tubs, Jacuzzis, saunas, or spas.
• Window Replacement

4. Why haven't I received a confirmation email?

If you register with Cityworks and you have not received a confirmation email within a few minutes after submission, please check your SPAM folder before contacting support.

5. How do I create a building permit application in Cityworks?

Please refer to our Creating an Application tutorial.

6. How do I schedule an inspection in Cityworks?

Please refer to our Scheduling an Inspection tutorial.

7. How do I make a payment in Cityworks?

Please refer to our Making a Payment tutorial.

8. What documentation do I need to apply for residential building permit?

• Site Plan - Orientation of site plan must match orientation of building plans
• Floor Plan
• Footing/Foundation Plan
• Floor Framing
• Roof Framing
• Elevations
• Wall Section
• Electrical Plan
• Mechanical/HVAC design with heat loss calculations according to Manuel's J and D
• Stair Section
• Truss Specifications
• ResCheck - or show prescriptive compliance with the energy code
• Gas Line Schematic
• Engineering Package and Stamped Structural Pages
• Fire Flow (water availability) report may be required prior to issuing permit based on Unified Fire Authority guidelines

(This is a comprehensive list, not everything may apply depending on scope of work)

9. What documentation do I need to apply for a commercial building permit?

• Architectural analysis including occupancy classifica­tion, building type, occupant loads, etc.
• Site Plan - Orientation of site plan must match orien­tation of building plans
• Floor Plan
• Footing/Foundation Plan
• Floor Framing
• Roof Framing
• Elevations
• Wall Section
• Electrical Plan
• Mechanical/HVAC designs with heat loss calculations
• Stair Section
• ComCheck or other approved method of Energy Code compliance
• Gas Line Schematic
• Truss Specifications
• Engineering Package and Stamped Structural Pages
• Fire Flow (water availability) report may be required prior to issuing permit based on Unified Fire Authority guidelines.
• ADA accessible route, parking, restrooms, etc. (if applicable)

(This is a comprehensive list, not everything may apply depending on scope of work)

10. What documentation do I need to apply for a demolition permit?

• Water "disconnection letter"
  •  Local Water District
• Sewer "disconnection letter"
  • Local Sewer District
• Electrical "disconnection letter" (RMP)
  • 1-888-221-7070
• Gas "disconnection letter" (if applicable)
  • 800-695-7375
• Utah Division of Air Quality "Letter of Approval"
  • 1-801-536-4000
• Salt Lake Valley Health Dept "Letter of Approval"
  • 1-385-468-4100

11. When do I require a residential building inspection?

• Footing
• Foundation
• Foundation Insulation
• Sub-Rough Plumbing
• Sub-Rough Mechanical
• Sub-Rough Electrical
• Shear-Nail
• Rough Building, Rough Plumbing, Rough Mechanical and Rough Electrical (Rough 4-Way)
• Insulation
• Weather Barrier
• Sheetrock
• Shower Pan
• Power to Panel (Meter Set)
• Final 4-Way
• Final Building, Final Plumbing, Final Mechanical and Final Electrical (Final 4-Way)
• Temporary Power (Requires a separate permit)

Schedule Inspections: 385-468-6690 or online

(This is a comprehensive list, not everything may apply depending on scope of work)

12. What are some common terms I should know when applying for permits?

• Approval: Before a building permit can be issued it must be approved by zoning staff and the plans examiner.
• Approved Lot: A building site that has already gone through the development process, including the dedication of roads, installation of improvements such as curb, gutter, and sidewalk and utilities, payment of impact fees, recording of plats, etc. Such a lot can usually obtain zoning approval over the counter.
• Building Codes: A voluminous code regulating the construction of buildings to assure their safety for the intended purpose. These codes include the International Building Code (IBC), the International Mechanical Code, the International Plumbing Code with amendments, the National Electrical Code (NEC), and the Model Energy Code. These codes are adopted by the state and apply in all jurisdictions.
• Building Permit: A document that gives you permission to construct whatever is shown on your approved plans. A permit expires if you don't start work within 6 months of issuance, or if you don't call for inspections for a period of over 6 months to verify that you are working on it.
• Clearview: Refers to prohibiting visual barriers on corner lots that would restrict the vision for motorists on the intersecting streets.
• Code Conformance: The plans examiner reviews plans for conformance to the building code. This will include smoke detectors, egress windows, location on the property, stairs structural adequacy both for vertical loads (such as wind or earthquake), and much more. If code deficiencies are found on the plan, our plans examiner will be happy to help you understand the requirement and how it can be met.
• Inspections: Once you begin work, you are required to call for inspections so that the inspector can verify that the work you are doing complies with the approved plans and code requirements. Rule 1: Don't cover any work before you have the approval of the inspector; Rule 2: Don't deviate from the approved plan. Usually, you will call for inspections of the following: Footings, before you pour concrete; foundations, before you pour concrete; underground plumbing; rough plumbing, electrical, and mechanical; rough framing; insulation; and a final inspection. Not all apply to every permit, and some construction may require other inspections; ask to be sure.
• Permit Fees: There are several fees related to building permits that are intended generally to cover the cost of plan review and inspection services. They are; Plan review fee, which is 40% for residential and 65% for commercial of the building permit fee; permit fee, which is usually about one-half of one % (1/2 of 1%) of the total value of the work being done; and a state surcharge, 1% of the permit fee.
• Plan Check: The process of reviewing plans for compliance with all codes. For complicated plans, such as a new home, or adding a second story, etc, the process can take anywhere from a couple of days to a couple of weeks, depending on the backlog.
• Plans: Each building permit requires the submittal of two identical sets of plans-one to be kept at the job site for use by the builder and the field inspector, the other to be kept in the MSD office. While these plans don't always need to be professionally prepared, they should be "drawn to scale, on substantial paper and shall be of sufficient clarity to indicate the location, nature, and extent of the proposed work." The plans should be clear enough that any builder could build what you desire without further information from you.
• Plans Examiner: A MSD employee trained to review plans for, and answer questions regarding, compliance with the building codes.
• Sideyards and Setbacks: The land use ordinance requires that buildings be placed a certain minimum distance from the street, or from the side or rear property lines. These vary from zone to zone, and it even depends on the building. You will need to inquire about your particular case. In some rare instances, the building code may have a more restrictive requirement than the zoning ordinance. The plans examiners can make that determination.
• Site Plan: A drawing that depicts an aerial view of a piece of property, showing property lines, existing buildings, topography, and proposed buildings. On steep lots, a certified topography prepared by a licensed land surveyor may be required. A site plan is required anytime you are constructing something that will change the amount of land that is covered by structures.
• Unimproved Land: This is land that has never gone through the development process, and requires planning commission approval, payment of impact and other fees, installation of required improvements, engineering and recording of plats, etc. This process involves anywhere from 2 months to a year in order to obtain approval to issue a building permit.
• Zoning Ordinance: The county ordinances regulating land use, including the location on the property, height, use of building, etc.