Bolthole Index

Box Elder County, Utah

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in Honeyville, Utah

Honeyville, Utah requires a building permit for construction or alterations unless an applicable code exemption applies.1 Honeyville sets city zoning, while the city’s application instructions direct building-permit applicants to Box Elder County Buildings/Inspections.23 Septic permits inside Honeyville come from Bear River Health Department where sewer lines are unavailable.4

At a glance

Building permit
Required for construction or alterations, subject to code exemptions; city FAQ directs applications to Box Elder County Buildings/Inspections13
Zoning
City agricultural and residential districts have their own use and development standards2
Septic permit
Bear River Health Department approval required where sewer is unavailable; conventional-system permit fee is $8404
Residential lot size
RR: 1 acre; R1 and R2: 0.5 acre5
Accessory dwelling
Conditional; owner must live on the property and Bear River Health Department must approve septic feasibility6
Floodplain development
City floodplain development permit required in covered flood-risk areas7
Well drilling
Utah Division of Water Rights issues well-drilling permits8

Who to call

Planning & zoning

Honeyville City Hall — planning and zoning inquiries

City zoning inquiries and clarification of the building-permit application route

(435) 279-8425

2635 West 6980 North, Honeyville, Utah 84314

Building permits

Box Elder County Building Permits / Inspections

Building-permit application counter identified by Honeyville’s city FAQ; confirm the Honeyville review workflow

435-734-2634

1 S Main Street Room 19, Brigham City UT 84302

Septic permits

Bear River Health Department — Brigham Office

Contact for septic permitting and environmental health

(435) 792-6500

817 West 950 South, Brigham City, Utah 84302

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 11, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Honeyville means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

These are affiliate links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Bolthole Index earns from qualifying purchases.

Do you need a building permit in Honeyville, UT?

Honeyville requires a building permit secured from the city by written application, with duplicate plans and specifications describing the proposed construction or alterations.1 Honeyville forwards the plans to the building inspector for review, and the requirement allows exceptions under the city title or adopted construction codes.1 Honeyville has adopted building codes with Utah amendments, so a project must address construction-code requirements as well as the permit application.9 Ask the building-permit counter to identify the exemption, if any, that applies to the proposed work.10

Who handles Honeyville building-permit applications and zoning questions?

Honeyville’s official FAQ answers “Where do I apply for a Building Permit” with “Box Elder County - Buildings/Inspections.”3 The county building counter is at 1 S Main Street Room 19, Brigham City UT 84302, and lists 435-734-2634.10 For Honeyville zoning questions and clarification of the city review route, contact City Hall at (435) 279-8425.3 Ask both offices how the county application counter coordinates with Honeyville’s required city building permit before submitting plans.13 Septic-system permitting remains a separate Bear River Health Department approval.4

Does Honeyville have zoning, and what lot standards apply?

Honeyville publishes agricultural districts A-20, A-5 and A-5A and residential districts RR, R1 and R2, with permitted, conditional and prohibited uses.2 Honeyville’s RR district requires a 1-acre lot and 200-foot width; R1 and R2 each require 0.5 acre and 100-foot width.5 Agricultural lot standards differ: A-5 requires 5 acres, while A-5A requires at least 2.5 acres and less than 10 acres.11 A-20’s table specifies a minimum 1-acre lot with at least one lot of 20 acres or more, subject to the agricultural chapter’s additional conditions.11 Honeyville caps combined building and accessory-building coverage at 50% of lot area.12 Ask City Hall for the parcel’s district and applicable setbacks before designing the site.3

How do septic permits work inside Honeyville?

Bear River Health Department requires a septic permit before constructing, altering or repairing a system on Honeyville property where sewer lines are unavailable.4 The conventional-system permit fee is $840; the alteration permit is $350 and the repair permit fee is $0.4 Where sewer is unavailable or impractical, bathroom, kitchen and laundry wastewater must connect to a septic system.13 Bear River Health Department must complete the final onsite inspection before the installed system is backfilled.14 Arrange any required soil-pit evaluation with the health inspector early, rather than treating septic approval as a final construction task.14

Can you live in an RV, tiny home or accessory dwelling in Honeyville?

We could not confirm Honeyville’s complete RV-occupancy or tiny-home rules; ask City Hall about the proposed dwelling type, duration of occupancy and zoning district before buying land for that use.3 Honeyville does allow qualifying detached and internal accessory dwelling units subject to district regulations, building-code compliance and Bear River Health Department approval of septic feasibility.6 The property owner must occupy the principal dwelling or an accessory unit as a permanent residence, and an accessory unit cannot be sold separately.6 Honeyville accessory dwelling units may not be rented for periods under 30 days.6

Building a home in Honeyville: what should you do first?

  1. Ask Honeyville City Hall to confirm the parcel’s zoning district and the proposed residential use against the city’s development tables.32
  2. Resolve wastewater feasibility with Bear River Health Department if sewer is unavailable; obtain the required septic permit before system construction.4
  3. Contact Box Elder County Buildings/Inspections through Honeyville’s published application route, then prepare the written building-permit application and duplicate plans required by city code.31
  4. Ask Honeyville about floodplain development approval if the parcel lies in a covered flood-risk area, including the city’s mapped flood-prone areas.7
  5. Arrange Bear River Health Department’s final septic inspection before backfilling.14

For land outside Honeyville city limits, use the Box Elder County guide: the county administers land-use development in unincorporated areas and directs municipal land-use questions to the municipality.15

Watch-outs

  • We could not confirm Honeyville’s building-inspection schedule, owner-builder conditions or occupancy signoff requirements; ask the building counter and City Hall before starting work.103
  • We could not confirm Honeyville’s public-water or sewer connection thresholds; ask City Hall about utility availability for the specific parcel.3
  • Honeyville’s floodplain ordinance covers development, RVs and manufactured homes in applicable flood-risk areas, so a proposed dwelling type does not remove floodplain review.7

Sources

  1. Honeyville Code § 9-1-3, Building permit required (Honeyville), quoted and re-checked
  2. Honeyville Code § 10-10-8, Agricultural-zone tables (Honeyville), quoted and re-checked
  3. Honeyville City Hall — planning and zoning inquiries (honeyvillecity.gov)
  4. Bear River Health Department Environmental Health (Honeyville), quoted and re-checked
  5. Honeyville Code § 10-11-8, Residential-zone tables (Honeyville), quoted and re-checked
  6. Honeyville Code § 10-35-1, Accessory Dwelling Unit Regulations (Honeyville), quoted and re-checked
  7. Honeyville Code § 12-1-3, General floodplain provisions (Honeyville), quoted and re-checked
  8. Utah DEQ Drinking Water Frequently Asked Questions (Honeyville), quoted and re-checked
  9. Honeyville Code § 9-1-1, Building code adopted (Honeyville), quoted and re-checked
  10. Box Elder County Building Permits / Inspections (boxeldercountyut.gov)
  11. Honeyville Code § 10-10-8, Agricultural-zone tables (Honeyville), quoted and re-checked
  12. Honeyville Code § 10-22-14, Lots and yards (Honeyville), quoted and re-checked
  13. Bear River Health Department Septic System Permit Application Instructions (Honeyville), quoted and re-checked
  14. Bear River Health Department Septic System Permit Application Instructions (Honeyville), quoted and re-checked
  15. Community Development FAQ, quoted and re-checked

Written October 11, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Honeyville

Honeyville’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction or alteration of buildings and structures inside Honeyville city limits.

    • A written application and duplicate plans/specifications are required.
    • The city forwards plans to the building inspector for review.
    • The supplied text states an exception where no permit is required by the title or adopted construction codes.
    “A building permit shall be secured from the city on written application accompanied by plans and specifications in duplicate, which must state the specific nature of the construction or alterations to be made.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Building construction and alterations inside Honeyville city limits.

    • The adopted codes include the Uniform Building Code and International Residential Code, with Utah amendments.
    • The ordinance was amended by Ordinance 2024-04 on March 27, 2024.
    “The Uniform Building Code and the International Residential Code, and all amendments, as adopted by the State of Utah, published by the International Conference of Building Officials, hereby is approved and adopted as the building code of the city.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Honeyville city zoning districts and their use/development schedules.

    • The reviewed official code publishes agricultural districts A-20, A-5, and A-5A and residential districts RR, R1, and R2.
    • The agricultural and residential tables contain permitted, conditional, and prohibited use designations and development standards.
    “TABLE 10-11-1 PERMITTED AND CONDITIONAL USES ALLOWED IN RESIDENTIAL ZONES Use Zones RR R1 R2”
  • Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Single-family residential districts inside Honeyville city limits: RR, R1, and R2.

    • RR requires a minimum lot area of 1 acre and a minimum lot width of 200 feet.
    • R1 and R2 each require a minimum lot area of 0.5 acre and a minimum lot width of 100 feet.
    • The residential table states maximum dwelling units per lot of 1 in RR, 1 in R1, and 4 in R2.

    RR minimum lot area: 1 acre · RR minimum lot width: 200 feet · R1 minimum lot area: 0.5 acre · R1 minimum lot width: 100 feet · R2 minimum lot area: 0.5 acre · R2 minimum lot width: 100 feet

    “Minimum lot area 1 acre 0.5 acre 0.5 acre Minimum lot width 200 feet 100 feet 100 feet”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • District specific (with conditions) — Agricultural districts inside Honeyville city limits: A-20, A-5, and A-5A.
      “Lot area Minimum 1 acre with at least one (1) lot being 20 acres or larger (see subsection 10-10-7A of this chapter) Minimum: 5 acres Minimum: 2.5 acres Maximum: less than 10 acres”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    All zoning districts inside Honeyville city limits.

    • The limit applies to a building or group of buildings together with accessory buildings.
    • The maximum coverage is 50 percent of lot area.

    maximum lot coverage: <= 50 percent

    “In no zone shall a building or group of buildings with their accessory buildings cover more than fifty percent (50%) of the area of the lot.”
  • Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Residential districts RR, R1, and R2 inside Honeyville city limits.

    • Maximum accessory-building height is 30 feet in RR and 20 feet in R1 and R2.
    • Maximum main-building height is 35 feet.
    • The residential table includes a cross-reference to § 10-11-7C.

    RR maximum accessory-building height: <= 30 feet · R1 maximum accessory-building height: <= 20 feet · R2 maximum accessory-building height: <= 20 feet · maximum main-building height: <= 35 feet

    “Maximum height, accessory building 30 feet 20 feet 20 feet Maximum height, main building 1 35 feet”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • District specific (with conditions) — Agricultural districts A-20, A-5, and A-5A inside Honeyville city limits.
      “Maximum height, accessory building 45 feet 45 feet 45 feet Maximum height, main building 1 45 feet 45 feet 45 feet”
  • Accessory dwellingsAllowed (with conditions)

    Detached and internal accessory dwelling units on qualifying lots inside Honeyville city limits.

    • The unit must conform to the regulations for the use district.
    • The unit must comply with the current International Residential Code and other Honeyville codes and ordinances.
    • Bear River Health Department must approve septic feasibility.
    • The owner must occupy either the principal unit, detached ADU, or internal ADU as a permanent residence.
    • The unit may not be sold separately, and only one D-ADU or I-ADU may be created per lot or property in zones allowing single-family dwellings.
    • The unit may not be rented transiently for periods under 30 days.

    minimum non-transient rental period: >= 30 days

    “F. The property owner, which shall include titleholders and contract purchasers, must occupy either the principal unit, the D-ADU, or I-ADU as their permanent residence. [...] I. D-ADUs or I-ADUs shall not be rented on a transient basis (periods less than thirty (30) days). [...] J. Only one D-ADU or I-ADU may be created per lot or property in zones that allow single-family dwellings.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Development in areas of special flood hazard, Honeyville City's mapped flood-prone areas, and documented flood-risk areas inside Honeyville city limits.

    • The ordinance applies to FEMA special-flood-hazard areas, Honeyville City's Flood Prone Areas Map, and documented flood-risk areas supported by Best Available Data.
    • The effective FEMA FIRMs for Honeyville City dated September 29, 2010, and revisions are adopted by reference.
    • No structure, development, recreational vehicle, manufactured home, or land may be located, altered, or have its use changed without compliance with the ordinance and other applicable regulations.

    effective FEMA FIRM date: 2010-09-29 (and revisions thereto)

    “A Floodplain Development Permit shall be required to ensure conformance with the provisions of this ordinance.”

Rules another office applies inside Honeyville

Honeyville does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

  • Septic permitRequired

    Constructing, altering, or repairing an onsite septic system inside Honeyville city limits where sewer is unavailable or impractical.

    • The BRHD webpage states the permit requirement applies where sewer lines are not available.
    • The BRHD instructions state that where sewer is not available or practical, wastewater must connect to a septic system.
    • A separate state permitting rule applies when proposed septic flow exceeds 5,000 gallons per day.

    conventional septic system permit fee: 840 USD (includes $800 conventional septic system permit plus $40 Utah Department of Environmental Quality fee) · alteration septic system permit fee: 350 USD · repair septic system permit fee: 0 USD

    “A septic permit is a legal document required by Bear River Health Department before constructing, altering, or repairing a septic system on a property where sewer lines are not available.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Installation of septic systems inside Honeyville city limits.

    • Final onsite inspection must occur before backfilling.
    • The BRHD instructions also require coordination with a health inspector for soil-pit evaluation when that step applies.
    “Final onsite inspection(s) will need to be completed by this office prior to backfilling of the installed septic system before approval can be granted”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Onsite septic sanitation inside Honeyville city limits where sewer is not available or practical.

    • Wastewater must connect to a septic system where sewer is unavailable or impractical.
    • A BRHD permit is required and BRHD final inspection must occur before backfilling.
    • The Utah Department of Environmental Quality permits proposed septic flow exceeding 5,000 gallons per day.

    wastewater flow threshold: > 5000 gallons per day (state permitting applies)

    “Where sewer is not available or practical, the drainage system of each dwelling, building, or premise, shall receive all wastewater, including bathroom, kitchen, and laundry wastes, and shall have a connection to a septic system.”
  • Well permitRequired

    Well drilling in Utah, including any applicable well serving property inside Honeyville city limits.

    • The Utah Division of Water Rights issues well-drilling permits.
    • Private wells may also be subject to local health-department rules.
    “It also issues well-drilling permits, licenses well drillers (as does the Division of Drinking Water), and runs the state’s dam safety program.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Honeyville or Box Elder County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders constructing or altering buildings inside Honeyville city limits.
  • Inspections — Building inspection requirements for construction inside Honeyville city limits.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for buildings or land uses inside Honeyville city limits.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Honeyville city limits.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping inside Honeyville city limits.
7 more unanswered
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit fees

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Honeyville publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Box Elder County’s page lists the county offices to call.

← All of Box Elder County: county rules, score and offices