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

Town of Elmo’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction, alteration or moving of buildings and changes in land use inside Elmo town

  • Permit issued by the zoning administrator or other authorized officer.
  • Permits for moving structures granted only in compliance with section 02.0525-f.
  • Also required for moving and/or improvement of mobile homes, demountable homes, manufactured homes and similar movable structures.

  “no person, firm, or corporation shall commence to construct, alter or move a building or structure, or to make a change in use of any land within the territory shown on the zone map which has been adopted as a part of this ordinance without first submitting an application and obtaining a permit therefore from the zoning administrator or other authorized officer”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Elmo town (Emery County) limits

  • Posted text is dated 20 January 1975 with amendments noted (e.g. 6-5-2013); whether this is the current consolidated version was not confirmed.

  “zoning ordinances adopted for elmo town 20 january 1975 02.0100 title, intent and purpose 1”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zones in Elmo town: A-1 agriculture, R-1 residential, C-1 commercial, I-1 industrial

  “02.800 regulations wintin zones.0810 a-1 agriculture zone 31.0811 objective and characteristics of zone”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  A-1 agriculture zone (and R-1 by cross-reference, section 02.0827) inside Elmo town

  • Requirement does not apply to mobile homes in an approved park (text truncated in excerpt).

  ground floor area, one-family dwelling: >= 550 sq ft · each additional dwelling unit: >= 600 sq ft

  “the ground floor area of any one-family dwelling shall be not less than 550 square feet and 600 square feet for each additional dwelling unit, provided that this requirement shall not apply to mobile homes situated within an approved mobile home park.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  A-1 agriculture zone inside Elmo town

  • One-family dwelling may be on 8,000 sq ft and two-family on 9,000 sq ft when connected to public sewer.
  • Lots keeping animals or fowl: 20,000 sq ft.
  • Minimum dwelling-site width 115 feet measured 30 feet back from the front lot line.

  minimum lot area: >= 16000 sq ft (8,000 sq ft with public sewer)

  “each dwelling and individual mobile home shall be located on a lot containing at least 16,000 square feet of land, except that when connected to a public sewer a one-family dwelling may be located on a lot containing not less than 8,000 square feet”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — R-1 residential zone inside Elmo town

    “an area of not less than thirteen thousand (13,000) square feet shall be designated and maintained for each one-family dwelling.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  A-1 agriculture zone inside Elmo town; R-1 uses the same location requirements (section 02.0825)

  • Dwellings and mobile homes: side setback at least 8 feet, total of both sides at least 20 feet.
  • Corner-lot and rear setback rules also apply (section 02.0815).

  front setback: >= 30 feet

  “all buildings and structures shall be set back at least thirty (30) feet from the front lot line.”

• Building heightSpecified

  A-1 agriculture zone inside Elmo town; R-1 same by cross-reference (section 02.0826)

  • Minimum dwelling height 8 feet.
  • Chimneys, flag poles, antennas, church towers and similar structures not used for human occupancy are excluded.

  maximum building height: <= 20 feet

  “the maximum height of any building measured from grade to the square of the building shall be twenty (20) feet, and the minimum height of any dwelling shall be eight (8) feet.”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Recreational vehicles inside Elmo town

  • Section 02.0524 heading says recreational vehicles and mobile homes are prohibited with exceptions; the body text for RVs was not read.
  • Recreational vehicle courts have a 30-day rental limit per space.

  “it shall be unlawful to place any recreational vehicle on any lot or parcel of land in the area covered by the zoning map and to use the same for human habitation, except when located in a recreational vehicle court.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Mobile homes inside Elmo town

  • Mobile home must comply with zone requirements, independent water and sewage connection, building code for mobile homes, permanent foundation or skirting, single ownership of lot and home, and entry on county tax rolls as real property.
  • Outside dimensions not less than 24 feet by 24 feet (amended 6-5-2013).
  • Other listed alternatives: temporary placement up to one year while a dwelling is built, or placement in a licensed mobile home park.

  minimum outside dimensions: >= 24 x 24 feet

  “it shall be unlawful to place a mobile home on any lot or parcel of land in an area covered by the zoning map and to use the same for human habitation except in compliance with one or more of the following conditions:”

• Septic permitRequired

  Buildings in Elmo town using domestic sewage disposal not connected to a public sewer

  • Health department approval of the facilities must be obtained before a building permit is issued.

  “where domestic sewage disposal facilities are used which are not connected to a public sewer, approval of such facilities shall be obtained from the health department before a building permit shall be issued thereof.”

• Permit processPartial

  Building permit application inside Elmo town

  • Application to the zoning administrator or other authorized officer; plans required (section 02.1002).

  “without first submitting an application and obtaining a permit therefore from the zoning administrator or other authorized officer”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Elmo town
• Building code adopted — Building code inside Elmo town
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Elmo town
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy inside Elmo town
• Lot coverage — Lot coverage inside Elmo town

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.