Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of Clarkston, Utah

Town of Clarkston’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction or alterations inside Clarkston town limits.

  • Written application and duplicate plans/specifications are required.
  • Plans must state the specific nature of the construction or alteration.
  • For uninhabited properties, professional surveys are required before permit approval.
  • The building inspector reviews conformity with town building codes and ordinances.

  “A building permit shall be secured from the Town Clerk on written application accompanied by plans and specifications, in duplicate, which must state the specific nature of the construction or alterations to be made.”

• Certificate of occupancyLimited

  A change of use of an agricultural building inside Clarkston town limits.

  • Applies when an agricultural building changes to human occupancy or another use.
  • The agricultural building may not be used for human occupancy before such change of use.

  “requires the issuance of a certificate of occupancy”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Clarkston town limits.

  • Zoning districts are shown on a map attached to the zoning ordinance codified in the town code.

  “DISTRICT: A portion of the area of Clarkston, Utah, shown on a map attached to the zoning ordinance codified herein and given a district name.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts inside Clarkston town limits.

  • The district map is attached to the zoning ordinance codified in the town code.

  “DISTRICT: A portion of the area of Clarkston, Utah, shown on a map attached to the zoning ordinance codified herein and given a district name.”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  A structure meeting the town code definition of dwelling inside Clarkston town limits.

  • The stated minimum excludes garage or carport.
  • A dwelling must have a permanent foundation meeting the current building code.
  • The definition excludes trailers, mobile homes, and dormitories.

  minimum dwelling width: >= 24 ft · minimum dwelling length: >= 35 ft · minimum dwelling area: >= 1250 sq ft (excluding garage or carport)

  “shall not be less than one thousand two hundred fifty (1,250) square feet”

• Agricultural exemptionConditional

  An applicant for a building permit for an agricultural building inside Clarkston town limits.

  • The building must be used solely for agricultural purposes and not for human occupancy.
  • The applicant must submit a written request and acknowledge responsibilities under § 9-1-3(D)(3).
  • The building inspector may waive only the construction-document requirement from a design professional, in accordance with Utah State Code.

  “may waive the requirement for construction documents”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building-permit applications inside Clarkston town limits.

  • Application is submitted to the Town Clerk with duplicate plans and specifications.
  • The building inspector returns plans within ten days as approved or disapproved.
  • If disapproved, reasons must be attached to the plans.
  • A permit issues upon receipt of an approved plan.

  building inspector plan-review return period: <= 10 days

  “The building inspector shall return the plans to the Town Clerk within ten (10) days with the statement "approved" if the plans do conform or "disapproved" if the plans do not conform.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of Clarkston or Cache County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residences inside Clarkston town limits.
• Building code adopted — Construction inside Clarkston town limits.
• Inspections — Construction inside Clarkston town limits.
• Minimum lot size — Lots inside Clarkston town limits.
• Setbacks — Structures inside Clarkston town limits.

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.

Off-grid gear

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

• Water Crystal Quest Filter any source — well, rain, or creek — to drinking-clean.
• Power Bluetti Solar generators and home battery backup for living off the grid.
• Septic Soil percolation test kit Run your own perc test before paying an engineer — the first thing a septic office asks about.
• Water Well water test kit Bacteria, nitrates, hardness — know what the well on a parcel is really pumping.

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