Bolthole Index

Cache County, Utah

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in Wellsville, Utah

Wellsville, Utah (Cache County) requires a permit before any construction, alteration or occupancy of a structure inside city limits1. The city adopts its own building codes and sets its own residential zoning, including a 12,000-square-foot single-family district23. Septic permits come from the Bear River Health Department, not the city4.

At a glance

Building permit
Required inside Wellsville city limits before work starts1
Building codes
State-established codes adopted by the city, subject to its local chapter2
Zoning
City residential districts RCA, RAC-5, ROS 1, ROS 1/2 and RSF5
RSF minimum lot
12,000 sq ft for a single-family dwelling3
RSF setbacks
Front 30 ft, side 10 ft, rear 30 ft6
Septic
Bear River Health Department permit where sewer is not available4
Subdivision
City Council-approved plat required7

Who to call

Building permits

Wellsville City Offices

City hall for Wellsville: the place to ask about building permits, zoning and planning inside city limits

435-245-3686

75 East Main P.O. Box 6 Wellsville, Utah 84339

Septic permits

Bear River Health Department, Environmental Health (Logan)

Septic (onsite wastewater) permits for Cache County

(435) 792-6570

85 East 1800 North, Logan, UT 84341

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 24, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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Do you need a building permit in Wellsville, Utah?

Yes. Wellsville's city code says construction, alteration, repair, removal, use or occupancy of any structure inside the city cannot start until the appropriate permit is issued1. The city adopts the state-established building, plumbing, electrical, mechanical and energy codes, subject to its own local chapter2.

Complete applications go to city staff before they reach a public meeting agenda, and some site plans also need City Manager review8. Accessory dwelling unit work must be inspected before approval9. The city's published ADU fee schedule lists a $75 landlord-license application fee, plus building permit fees and impact fees where established10.

We did not confirm whether Wellsville has a general owner-builder rule or a certificate-of-occupancy rule, so ask the city office before you pull plans together11.

Who issues building permits in Wellsville, and how do you reach them?

Inside Wellsville, the city issues building permits under its own code1. The Cache County Building Department serves unincorporated Cache County, so a lot inside Wellsville city limits does not start at the county counter; the county's rules cover land outside city limits12.

Wellsville City Offices are at 75 East Main, with phone 435-245-368611. Call the city office to find out who takes applications and which forms apply to your project.

Does Wellsville have zoning, and what does it mean for lot size and setbacks?

Yes. Wellsville publishes residential standards for five districts: RCA, RAC-5, ROS 1, ROS 1/2 and RSF5. Rules differ by district, so look up your parcel's zone before you plan anything.

In the RSF (12,000-square-foot) district, a single-family dwelling needs at least 12,000 square feet after open space and critical land are set aside3. Setbacks for primary uses in RSF are 30 feet in front, 10 feet on the side and 30 feet in the rear, with porches, decks and overhangs at 5 feet on the side6. Property along Highway 89/91 carries a 150-foot setback6.

RSF buildings may cover at most 35 percent of the lot13. Principal structures top out at 35 feet, and RSF accessory structures at 25 feet14.

How do septic permits work in Wellsville?

Septic permits in Cache County come from the Bear River Health Department, not from the city. The department requires a septic permit before constructing, altering or repairing a septic system on a property where sewer lines are not available4. The system must meet design and location standards based on soil conditions, the site plan and percolation tests15.

Listed fees include $200 per lot for a site evaluation, $840 for a conventional septic system permit and $350 for an alteration permit15. Soils matter: only about 0.6 percent of Cache County soils rate "not limited" for a conventional drain field, so expect a site evaluation and possibly an engineered system16.

We could not confirm Wellsville's own rules on private wastewater systems or sewer connection. Ask the city office whether your lot can connect to city sewer, and the Bear River Health Department about everything else1117.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Wellsville?

We could not confirm Wellsville's rules on living in an RV or tiny home on private land, and the city's published residential standards do not settle it. Utah's statewide RV-park rule covers RV parks, not a single lot, so it does not answer the question for your parcel18.

What the city's code does say: accessory dwelling units may not be mobile homes, and short-term use of ADUs is prohibited9. For anything else, call the city office before you buy or park anything11.

Building a home in Wellsville: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm your parcel's zoning district with the city and check lot size, setbacks and height for that district5.
  2. If you are dividing land, expect a concept plan, preliminary plat and final plat approved by the City Council before recording with the county7.
  3. Get a Bear River Health Department septic evaluation if no sewer line reaches the lot4.
  4. Submit a complete building permit application to city staff8.
  5. Pass inspections and confirm the occupancy rules with the city before moving in11.

A driveway onto a state highway needs a UDOT conditional access permit19.

What stays with Cache County, and what to check before you buy in Wellsville

Cache County's building, zoning and ADU rules apply to unincorporated land; for land outside city limits, see the Cache County page. Septic permits stay with the Bear River Health Department for the whole county20. A private well needs a water right and a Start Card from the Utah Division of Water Rights before drilling21.

County-level figures: Cache County's effective property tax rate is 0.5 percent22, and the median bill is $1,929 a year23. Cache County has about 28.6 inches of precipitation a year24.

Watch-outs

  • We could not confirm whether Wellsville has an owner-builder exemption, a certificate-of-occupancy rule, well rules or floodplain rules; ask the city office before you buy11.
  • Utah's owner-builder exemption covers contractor licensing only and does not remove building permit, inspection or zoning requirements25.
  • Highway 89/91 frontage in RSF carries a 150-foot setback6.

Sources

  1. 10-46-3: Permit Required Before Proceeding (Wellsville), quoted and re-checked
  2. 9-1-2: Codes Adopted (Wellsville), quoted and re-checked
  3. Chapter 15 Site Development Standards: Residential Districts (Wellsville), quoted and re-checked
  4. Environmental - Bear River Health Department, quoted and re-checked
  5. Chapter 15 Site Development Standards: Residential Districts (Wellsville), quoted and re-checked
  6. Chapter 15 Site Development Standards: Residential Districts (Wellsville), quoted and re-checked
  7. codelibrary.amlegal.com (Wellsville), quoted and re-checked
  8. 10-46-3: Permit Required Before Proceeding (Wellsville), quoted and re-checked
  9. 10-41-6: Accessory Dwelling Units (Wellsville), quoted and re-checked
  10. codelibrary.amlegal.com (Wellsville), quoted and re-checked
  11. Wellsville City Offices (wellsvillecity.com)
  12. cachecounty.gov, quoted and re-checked
  13. Chapter 15 Site Development Standards: Residential Districts (Wellsville), quoted and re-checked
  14. Chapter 15 Site Development Standards: Residential Districts (Wellsville), quoted and re-checked
  15. Environmental Health - Bear River Health Department, quoted and re-checked
  16. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  17. Bear River Health Department, Environmental Health (Logan) (brhdut.gov)
  18. Utah Administrative Code Rule R392-301, Recreational Vehicle Parks (Utah statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  19. Conditional Access Permit (Utah statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  20. Environmental - Bear River Health Department, quoted and re-checked
  21. Water Well Drilling Information (Utah statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  22. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  23. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  24. Annual precipitation: Bolthole Index county data
  25. Utah Code Title 58, Chapter 55, Construction Trades Licensing Act exemptions (Utah statewide rule), quoted and re-checked

Written October 24, 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 Wellsville

Wellsville’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction, alteration, repair, removal, use, or occupancy of site improvements, site development, or structures inside Wellsville city limits.

    • A complete application is submitted for City staff review.
    • The project complies with City requirements, the Uniform Building Code, and applicable standards, specifications, and code requirements.
    • Required discretionary conditions must be confirmed before permits issue.
    “The construction, alteration, repair, removal, use or occupancy of any site improvements, site development, structure, or any part thereof shall not commence or proceed until the issuance of an appropriate permit(s).”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Construction inside Wellsville city limits.

    • The IBC and IFC are adopted subject to section 9-1-3; other state-established building, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, energy, and natural-gas codes and amendments are also adopted subject to that section.
    “Building Code: The international building code (IBC), as adopted by the state, is hereby adopted as the official building code for the city, subject to section 9-1-3 of this chapter.”
  • InspectionsLimited

    Accessory-dwelling-unit work inside Wellsville city limits.

    • Applies to ADU new, remodel, and finish work.
    • The project must be inspected before ADU approval; further requirements may be imposed by the building inspector.
    “The project shall be inspected prior to approval of an ADU.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Residential zoning districts inside Wellsville city limits.

    • The published residential standards table identifies RCA, RAC-5, ROS 1, ROS 1/2, and RSF districts.
    “Residential Site Development Standards | RCA | RAC- 5 (5 ac.) | ROS 1 (1 ac) | ROS 1/2 (1/2 ac) | RSF (12k sf)”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision of land inside Wellsville city corporate limits.

    • A City Council-approved plat is required.
    • A conforming concept plan, required preliminary plat, and final plat with required signatures are required before City filing with the county recorder.
    “These regulations apply to all "subdivision of land", as defined in section 11-2-1 of this title, located within the corporate limits of the city.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    ADU landlord-license applications inside Wellsville city limits.

    • Building-permit fees and impact fees apply if established.

    ADU landlord license application fee: 75 USD (Building permit fees and impact fees, if established)

    “Fees - ADU Landlord License Application Fee ($75), Building Permit Fees, and impact fees, if established.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Permits for development inside Wellsville city limits.

    • A complete application is submitted to City staff before public-meeting agenda entry.
    • Projects must comply with applicable City standards, specifications, and code requirements.
    • Some site plans require City Manager review and may need additional department signatures or studies.
    “Complete permit applications must be submitted to review by City staff prior to entering an application on a public meeting agenda.”

Rules another office applies inside Wellsville

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

  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    RSF residential single-family 12,000-square-foot district inside Wellsville city limits.

    • Minimum applies after open-space and critical-land set-aside.
    • The table also lists 6,000 square feet per dwelling unit for approved multifamily in RSF.

    minimum lot area for single-family dwelling: >= 12000 sq ft (after open space and critical land set-aside)

    “Minimum lot area for single family dwelling after open space and critical land set-aside | 20,000 sf | 20,000 sf | 12,000 sf | 12,000 sf | 12,000 sf”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Primary uses in the RSF residential single-family 12,000-square-foot district inside Wellsville city limits.

    • Distances are from the property line unless noted.
    • Highway 89/91 setback is 150 feet.

    front yard setback: >= 30 ft · side yard setback: >= 10 ft (Porches, decks, and overhang setbacks are 5 feet) · rear yard setback: >= 30 ft

    “Front yard, feet from property line | 20 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 [...] Side yard (porches, decks, overhangs – setbacks are 5’) | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 [...] Rear yard | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    RSF residential single-family 12,000-square-foot district inside Wellsville city limits.

    • Coverage is the total footprints of buildings.

    maximum lot coverage: <= 35 percent

    “Coverage (max.), total footprints of buildings | 25% | 25% | 25% | 35% | 35%”
  • Building heightSpecified

    Principal structures in the RSF residential single-family 12,000-square-foot district inside Wellsville city limits.

    • The table sets a separate 25-foot maximum for RSF accessory structures.

    maximum principal-structure height: <= 35 ft

    “Principal structures, feet not to exceed | 35 | 35 | 35 | 35 | 35”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Wellsville city limits.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of buildings inside Wellsville city limits.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Primary single-family dwellings inside Wellsville city limits.
  • Living in an RV — Residential RV occupancy on private land inside Wellsville city limits.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Wellsville city limits.
11 more unanswered
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals

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 Wellsville publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Cache County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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