Bolthole Index

Davis County, Utah

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in West Bountiful, Utah

West Bountiful, Utah requires a building permit for new homes, additions and remodels inside city limits, and the city issues it1. The city adopts and administers its own zoning2. Septic permits for Davis County come from the Davis County Health Department, not the city3.

At a glance

Building permit
Required inside West Bountiful, issued by the city; homeowners doing their own work still need one14
Zoning
The city adopts and administers its own zoning (Title 17 of the municipal code)2
Plan-review deposit
$1000 for a new home; the full fee is calculated after review5
Inspections
Required; a contractor for the city, Sunrise Engineering, inspects6
Septic
Davis County Health Department permits septic systems countywide3
Wells
Water wells are regulated by the Utah State Engineer7
Minimum lot size and setbacks
We could not confirm; the R-1-10 single-family district exists8

Who to call

Building permits

West Bountiful City — Building Permits

Building permit applications, zoning review of permits and inspection scheduling inside West Bountiful city limits

801-292-4486

550 North 800 West, West Bountiful, Utah 84087

Septic permits

Davis County Health Department — Environmental Health Division

Onsite wastewater (septic) permits, plan review and inspections in Davis County

(801) 525-5000

Clearfield Main Campus, 22 South State Street, Clearfield, Utah 84015

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 25, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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Does West Bountiful have zoning, and what does it mean for RVs, tiny homes, lot size and setbacks?

West Bountiful, Utah adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance inside city limits, published as Title 17 of the West Bountiful Municipal Code2. The R-1-10 single-family district is the one district we confirmed, and it includes the city's historic district8.

We could not confirm the minimum lot size, setbacks, building height or minimum dwelling size for R-1-10 or any other district, and whether an RV, tiny home or accessory dwelling can be lived in on a lot8. Read the city's zoning code or call the city office9 before you buy.

The city's building-permit page says even a small shed that needs no permit must still follow zoning regulations1. Davis County's zoning map covers only unincorporated land, so the county's districts and setbacks do not apply inside West Bountiful10.

Do you need a building permit in West Bountiful, and who issues it?

West Bountiful City requires a building permit for new construction, additions and remodels, basement finishes, decks, porches, covered patios, demolition, pools, roof replacement, solar and accessory structures and sheds of 200 sq. ft. or larger1. Single-level sheds under 200 sq. ft. do not need one, though electrical or plumbing added to them does1.

The city, not Davis County, handles building permits here, and the work must follow the International Building Code and the West Bountiful Municipal Code11. The city contracts with Sunrise Engineering for plan review and inspections6.

Homeowners building their own house still need the permit, plus an owner/builder certification form if they are not using a general contractor4. Utah law lets a sole owner build one residential structure per year and no more than three per five years without a contractor license12.

What do West Bountiful building permits cost, and how long do they last?

A new home needs a $1000 plan-review deposit before review begins; accessory structures, solar and pools need $1005. The deposit is not the full fee, which is calculated after zoning, engineering and building review5.

New structures that need heavy equipment over curb, gutter or sidewalk carry a $2400 refundable construction bond13. A permit expires if work does not begin within 180 days of issue, or if work stops for 180 days13.

How do septic permits work inside West Bountiful?

Davis County Health Department permits onsite wastewater systems in Davis County, and the permit covers location approval plus intermediate and final inspections3. The city does not issue septic permits14.

We could not confirm whether a given West Bountiful lot is served by public sewer or must use septic; sewer service appears to come from a separate district, so ask the city office9. Davis County states that a property within 300 feet of a public sewer may be required to connect any occupied building14. For a lot with no dwelling, the county requires a Statement of Feasibility with soil and groundwater evaluation first15.

How do you build a home in West Bountiful? The steps, in order

  1. Confirm the lot's zoning district and setbacks in the city's zoning code or with the city office9.
  2. Ask whether public sewer is available; if not, start the septic feasibility process with Davis County Health Department15.
  3. Submit the building permit application and pay the plan-review deposit5.
  4. Zoning, engineering and building officials review the plans; corrections may require resubmittal13.
  5. Pay the balance owing, then begin work; inspections are scheduled by phone at least 24 hours ahead6.
  6. Pass the final inspection before anyone occupies the new structure16.

What stays with Davis County, and what to check before you buy in West Bountiful?

Davis County Health Department keeps septic permits, and water wells fall under the Utah State Engineer, which requires a water right before a shallow well is built37. Floodplain approvals involve city and Davis County Flood Control offices17.

For land outside city limits, the answers differ; see the Davis County page. Davis County's effective property tax rate is 0.5%18.

Watch-outs

  • Building permit fees beyond the deposit come from the city's fee schedule, which we could not review; ask the city office for a full estimate before you commit5.
  • Vacant property can have public improvements added as a condition of permit approval, so ask what the city will require on your lot13.
  • The Davis County rules for unincorporated land, such as its permit fees and agricultural parcel rules, do not apply inside West Bountiful19.
  • We could not confirm the rules on RVs, tiny homes, accessory dwellings, setbacks or lot size; the West Bountiful city office is the one to ask9.

Sources

  1. Building Permits - West Bountiful City (West Bountiful), quoted and re-checked
  2. 17.24.110 Historical Overlay District - West Bountiful Municipal Code (West Bountiful), quoted and re-checked
  3. Onsite Wastewater Systems, quoted and re-checked
  4. Building Permits - West Bountiful City (West Bountiful), quoted and re-checked
  5. Building Permits - West Bountiful City (West Bountiful), quoted and re-checked
  6. Building Permits - West Bountiful City (West Bountiful), quoted and re-checked
  7. Water Well Drilling Information, quoted and re-checked
  8. 17.24.110 Historical Overlay District - West Bountiful Municipal Code (West Bountiful), quoted and re-checked
  9. West Bountiful City — Building Permits (wbcityut.gov)
  10. Planning, quoted and re-checked
  11. Building Permits - West Bountiful City (West Bountiful), quoted and re-checked
  12. Utah Code Title 58, Chapter 55, Construction Trades Licensing Act exemptions (Utah statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  13. Building Permits - West Bountiful City (West Bountiful), quoted and re-checked
  14. Davis County Health Department — Environmental Health Division (daviscountyutah.gov)
  15. Onsite Wastewater Systems, quoted and re-checked
  16. Building Permits - West Bountiful City (West Bountiful), quoted and re-checked
  17. Davis County Flood Control – Permit Application, quoted and re-checked
  18. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  19. Building Permits, quoted and re-checked

Written October 25, 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 West Bountiful

West Bountiful’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction, additions, remodels and listed work on property inside West Bountiful city limits

    • Permits are listed as required for new construction, additions and remodels, accessory structures and sheds 200 sq. ft. and larger, basement finishes, decks, porches and covered patios, demolition, electrical/mechanical/generators, fencing (front yard and retaining walls over 4 ft.), front-yard landscaping, pools, roof replacement, signs and solar.
    • Permits are not required for accessory structures and single-level sheds under 200 sq. ft., but they must still follow zoning regulations; if electrical and/or plumbing is added, a permit is required for that portion.
    • Permits are also not required for cabinet installation, minor repairs, painting/wallpapering/flooring, roof shingle overlay, and window replacements that do not require structural alterations.
    • Owners or contractors must obtain permits before beginning work; construction may proceed only after plan review and payment of the balance.
    “building permits are required for any construction or modification to existing structures as described below.”
  • Owner-builder exemptionConditional

    Homeowners doing their own work on property inside West Bountiful city limits

    • The homeowner must still obtain a building permit before beginning work.
    • The homeowner must provide the owner/builder certification form when not using a general contractor.
    • This is a documentation requirement, not an exemption from permits or inspections.
    “general contractors, or homeowners doing their own work, must obtain permits before beginning work.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    New construction and modifications inside West Bountiful city limits

    • The permit page requires that work comply with the International Building Code and the West Bountiful Municipal Code; the adopting ordinance and the IBC edition year were not opened in this run.
    “exemption from the permit requirements shall not be deemed to grant authorization for any work to be done in violation of the provisions of the international building code or west bountiful municipal code.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    All permitted work inside West Bountiful city limits; inspections are performed by a contractor for the city

    • The city contracts with a private engineering firm (Sunrise Engineering) for plan review and building inspections.
    • The owner or contractor must schedule each inspection by phone at least 24 hours in advance with the permit number, site address and inspection type; the page lists 800-560-6151.
    “all work is subject to inspection. west bountiful city contracts with sunrise engineering for building code plan review and building inspections.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    New structures inside West Bountiful city limits before occupancy

    • The page does not use the term certificate of occupancy; it states that a final inspection and approval is required before occupancy of a new structure.
    • Whether a separate certificate of occupancy is issued for remodels or existing structures was not stated.
    “a final inspection and approval by building inspector is required prior to occupying a new structure.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside West Bountiful city limits: the city adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance (Title 17 of the West Bountiful Municipal Code, which the city's zoning page links as its zoning regulation code).

    • The city's permit page states that the zoning official reviews permit submissions for conformance with zoning regulations, so the city administers zoning for building permits inside city limits.
    • The R-1-10 district named in the cited code section is a city zoning district; the full Title 17 text was not opened in this research run.
    “these historic areas, included in the r-1-10 district, are designated as the west bountiful historic district.”
  • Zoning districtsPartial

    Zoning districts of West Bountiful city (only the R-1-10 district is confirmed)

    • R-1-10 is confirmed as a district. Other districts (agricultural or non-residential) were not confirmed and the district map was not opened.
    “these historic areas, included in the r-1-10 district, are designated as the west bountiful historic district.”
  • Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

    Building permit fees for work inside West Bountiful city limits

    • Fees are calculated after zoning, engineering and building review, using the city's fee schedule.
    • The listed amounts are plan-review deposits required before review begins, not the full fee.
    • The city's consolidated fee schedule was linked from the site but not opened in this run.

    new home or commercial construction plan-review deposit: 1000 USD (Accessory structures, solar and pools deposit is $100; commercial tenant improvements $300; signs $75; fencing and landscape $25.)

    “deposit: new home or commercial construction = $1000; accessory structures, solar, pools = $100, commercial tenant improvements = $300; signs = $75; fencing, landscape = $25.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Building permit review process for work inside West Bountiful city limits

    • Zoning official, city engineer and building official each review the submission; corrections may require resubmittal.
    • Plans are issued once the balance owing is paid; construction may begin and inspections may be scheduled at that time.
    • A $2400 refundable public improvement/construction bond applies to new structures needing heavy equipment over curb, gutter or sidewalk.
    • Permits expire if work does not begin within 180 days of issue or if work is suspended for 180 days, or if 180 days pass since the last inspection; extensions may be considered in writing before expiry.
    “the building official reviews submission for building code conformance.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask West Bountiful or Davis County directly.

  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in the R-1-10 single-family residential district of West Bountiful city
  • Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size in the R-1-10 single-family residential district of West Bountiful city (main single-family district)
  • Setbacks — Front, side and rear setbacks in the R-1-10 single-family residential district of West Bountiful city
  • Lot coverage — Lot coverage in the R-1-10 single-family residential district of West Bountiful city
  • Building height — Building height in the R-1-10 single-family residential district of West Bountiful city
16 more unanswered
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land
  • 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 West Bountiful publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Davis County’s page lists the county offices to call.

← All of Davis County: county rules, score and offices