Bolthole Index

Utah County, Utah

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in Lehi, Utah

Building inside Lehi, Utah requires a building permit from the city's Building and Inspections department1. Lehi sets its own zoning under the Lehi City Development Code2. Septic permits are not a city matter: the Utah County Health Department runs onsite wastewater permitting in Utah County3.

At a glance

Building permit
Required inside Lehi city limits; issued by Lehi Building and Inspections1
Zoning
Lehi adopts and administers its own zoning districts24
Inspections
Scheduled by phone with 24 hours' notice5
Septic
Utah County Health Department, Environmental Health3
Accessory dwellings
Allowed with limits: owner occupancy, lot size and parking rules6
Building code
City-adopted building codes apply7
Owner-builder
Utah allows a sole owner-builder exemption on state terms; Lehi's own rule is unconfirmed8

Who to call

Building permits

Lehi City Building and Inspections

Building permits, plan review and inspections inside Lehi city limits

(385) 201.1035

153 N 100 E, Lehi, Utah 84043

Septic permits

Utah County Health Department - Environmental Health

Onsite wastewater (septic) review and permits in Utah County

(801) 851-7525

Health and Justice Building, 151 S University Ave, Suite 2600, Provo, Utah 84601

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 14, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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Do you need a building permit in Lehi, Utah?

Yes. Lehi's Building and Inspections department issues all building permits for construction inside Lehi city limits1. The city has adopted building codes, and its development code requires accessory buildings to comply with the international building code and international fire code7. Lehi's page does not list exemption thresholds for small structures, so call the department before assuming a shed or small addition is exempt1.

Plans go in electronically through the city's building permit submittal portal9. Connection and impact fees are published on the same page; building permit fee amounts are not stated there, so ask the department for a current figure10.

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

Lehi City Building and Inspections issues building permits for Lehi, not Utah County11. The office is at 153 N 100 E in Lehi and its phone is (385) 201.103511.

Inspections are scheduled by calling 385-201-1035, with 24 hours' notice; the department does not schedule them by voicemail, email or online5. Re-inspection fees apply when a project is clearly not ready5.

For land outside Lehi city limits, the answer is different: Utah County's page covers unincorporated Utah County, where the county's own building department issues permits.

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

Lehi sets its own zoning through the Lehi City Development Code2. The code's accessory-building chapter names agricultural districts TH-5, A-5, A-1 and RA-1, a series of R-1 and R-2 and R-3 residential districts, and commercial and industrial districts, so the rules for a given parcel depend on its district4. We could not confirm the district-by-district lot-size tables; Lehi Planning and Zoning can give the answer for a specific parcel.

For accessory buildings, the side and rear setback is 2 ft, 5 ft or 8 ft depending on height, and those reduced setbacks apply only if the building sits within 10 ft to the side or 6 ft to the rear of the primary dwelling12. Accessory buildings may cover up to 30 percent of the rear yard13. Accessory buildings are one story unless the property exceeds 22,000 sq ft or an accessory dwelling is approved14.

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

Accessory dwelling units are allowed with conditions. An internal unit needs an owner-occupied single-family detached home on a lot of at least 6,000 sq ft, and a detached unit needs a lot of at least 11,000 sq ft and a dwelling of at least 300 sq ft6. Both need a planning division permit and a building permit, and an active ADU license is required while the unit is rented6.

We could not confirm Lehi's rules on living in an RV or a tiny home on a lot, or on temporary camping. Ask Lehi Planning and Zoning before parking an RV for occupancy or buying land for a tiny home.

How do septic permits work in Lehi, Utah?

Lehi does not issue septic permits; the Utah County Health Department administers onsite wastewater permitting and review in Utah County3. A system permit and plan review is required, and the 2026 county fee is $1,800, which includes the state fee15. Whether a city sewer connection is available to a given lot is not something we could confirm; ask Lehi Public Works before planning a septic system.

Wells are regulated by the state; Utah requires a permit to construct a shallow water well16.

Building a home in Lehi: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the parcel is inside Lehi city limits and find its zoning district with Lehi Planning and Zoning2.
  2. Check whether sewer is available; if not, apply to the Utah County Health Department for onsite wastewater review3.
  3. Submit plans electronically through the building permit submittal portal to Lehi Building and Inspections9.
  4. Pay building permit fees and the published connection and impact fees10.
  5. Call 385-201-1035 to schedule each inspection with 24 hours' notice5.

What stays with Utah County, and what to check before you buy in Lehi

Septic permits and the county health office stay with Utah County3. Utah's statewide owner-builder exemption has its own conditions, and we could not confirm how Lehi applies it; ask Building and Inspections before planning to build your own home8.

Property tax runs at about 0.5% in Utah County, with a median bill of $2,234 a year1718. Typical home value in the county is about $549,49419. Outside the city, unincorporated Utah County rules apply; see the Utah County page.

Watch-outs

  • Lehi's own page says current codes and design criteria are being updated and will be posted soon; ask Building and Inspections which code edition applies to your permit11.
  • We could not confirm whether Lehi requires a certificate of occupancy, how it handles flood zones or driveway access, or what its owner-builder rules are; Building and Inspections and Planning and Zoning can answer these1.
  • County rules for unincorporated Utah County do not apply inside Lehi; the city's offices handle building permits and zoning, while Utah County handles septic23.

Sources

  1. Building and Inspections - Lehi City (Lehi), quoted and re-checked
  2. Lehi City Development Code Chapter 26 Accessory Uses, Buildings and Structures (Lehi), quoted and re-checked
  3. Annual Permits & Certifications, quoted and re-checked
  4. Lehi City Development Code Chapter 26 Accessory Uses, Buildings and Structures (Lehi), quoted and re-checked
  5. Building and Inspections - Lehi City (Lehi), quoted and re-checked
  6. Lehi City Development Code Chapter 26 Accessory Uses, Buildings and Structures (Lehi), quoted and re-checked
  7. Lehi City Development Code Chapter 26 Accessory Uses, Buildings and Structures (Lehi), quoted and re-checked
  8. Utah Code Title 58, Chapter 55, Construction Trades Licensing Act exemptions (Utah statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  9. Building and Inspections - Lehi City (Lehi), quoted and re-checked
  10. Building and Inspections - Lehi City (Lehi), quoted and re-checked
  11. Lehi City Building and Inspections (lehi-ut.gov)
  12. Lehi City Development Code Chapter 26 Accessory Uses, Buildings and Structures (Lehi), quoted and re-checked
  13. Lehi City Development Code Chapter 26 Accessory Uses, Buildings and Structures (Lehi), quoted and re-checked
  14. Lehi City Development Code Chapter 26 Accessory Uses, Buildings and Structures (Lehi), quoted and re-checked
  15. Fee Schedule 2026, quoted and re-checked
  16. Water Well Drilling Information (Utah statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  18. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  19. Typical home value (Zillow): Bolthole Index county data

Written October 14, 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 Lehi

Lehi’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Building construction inside Lehi city limits, issued by the Lehi Building and Inspections department

    • Applications must be submitted through the building permit submittal portal.
    • Exemption thresholds were not located.
    “the building and inspection department handles and issues all building permits for lehi city.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Construction inside Lehi city limits

    • Specific code editions not confirmed from the sources opened.
    • Chapter 26 also requires accessory buildings to comply with the international building code and international fire code.
    “shall conform to all applicable standards in the city’s adopted building codes”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Building construction inside Lehi city limits

    • Inspections need 24 hours' notice and are scheduled by phone at 385-201-1035.
    • Re-inspection fees are assessed when a project is clearly not ready.
    “note for inspections: please allow 24 hours' notice for any type of inspection.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Lehi city limits; Lehi City Development Code zoning districts

    • Evidence is Chapter 26 of the Lehi City Development Code (adopted 9/24/96); district tables (Chapter 5) were not opened.
    “this chapter identifies the requirements and general provisions, applicable in all zoning districts, for accessory uses, buildings and structures”
  • Zoning districtsPartial

    Zoning districts inside Lehi city

    • Chapter 26 refers to agricultural districts TH-5, A-5, A-1, RA-1; residential R-1-22, R-1-15, R-1-12, R-1-10, R-1-8, R-2, R-3; and commercial, T-M, BP, LI, HI and I districts; the full district chapter was not retrieved.
    “agricultural buildings used for agricultural purposes only, such as barns, silos, bins, and farm machinery sheds in the th-5, a-5, a-1 and ra-1 agricultural zoning districts”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    Dwelling portion of a detached accessory dwelling unit inside Lehi city; principal-dwelling minimums not found

    • Applies to new-build or post-2020 conversions of accessory buildings into ADUs; single-family district minimums not located.

    minimum ADU dwelling area: >= 300 sq ft

    “the dwelling portion of the accessory building must be at least 300 square feet in area.”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Accessory buildings and structures in agriculture, residential, mixed use and planned community districts inside Lehi city; principal-building setbacks are in Table 05-040-a (not retrieved)

    • Accessory side/rear setbacks of 2, 5 or 8 ft apply only if the building is 10 ft to the side or 6 ft to the rear of the primary dwelling; otherwise zone setbacks apply.
    • Corner-lot street-side accessory buildings keep the principal corner side yard setback.
    • No setback may fall in a required utility easement.

    accessory side/rear yard, height under 16 ft: >= 2 ft (requires 10 ft side or 6 ft rear spacing from primary dwelling) · accessory side/rear yard, height 16-24 ft: >= 5 ft · accessory side/rear yard, height over 24 ft: >= 8 ft

    “(a) accessory buildings must be 10 feet to the side or 6 feet to the rear of the primary dwelling for the setbacks of this table to apply. if the 10-foot side or 6-foot rear setbacks are not met then the standard setbacks of the zone apply for the accessory building.”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    Accessory buildings and structures on lots inside Lehi city

    • Limit is a share of the rear yard; coverage for principal buildings is in Tables 05-040-a/b/c (not retrieved).

    accessory building coverage of rear yard: <= 30 percent

    “no accessory building(s) or structure(s) shall cover more than 30% of the rear yard of any lot or parcel”
  • Building heightSpecified

    Accessory buildings and structures inside Lehi city; principal-building height limits by district not retrieved

    • Accessory buildings are one story unless the property exceeds 22,000 sq ft or an ADU is approved.
    • Height caps vary by district (e.g. 35 ft in TH-5, A-5, A-1, RA-1 over 22,000 sq ft, R-1-22; 24 ft in other residential zones) and are never taller than the principal structure.

    detached ADU accessory building max height: <= 35 ft (no taller than the primary structure)

    “accessory buildings and structures shall be limited to one story except where the property is greater than 22,000 square feet or an accessory dwelling unit has been approved.”
  • Accessory dwellingsLimited

    Internal accessory dwelling units in owner-occupied single-family detached homes inside Lehi city (Dev. Code 26.030); detached ADUs under 26.040

    • Owner occupancy required with recorded affidavit.
    • Not allowed in areas on the ADU restricted area map.
    • Planning division permit and building permit required.
    • Internal ADU: one off-street stall, lot at least 6,000 sq ft.
    • Detached ADU: lot at least 11,000 sq ft, at least 300 sq ft dwelling, one ADU per lot, 1-2 parking stalls depending on size.
    • Active ADU license required while rented.

    internal ADU minimum lot size: >= 6000 sq ft · detached ADU minimum lot size: >= 11000 sq ft

    “one accessory dwelling unit (adu) may be allowed in an owner-occupied single-family detached home after obtaining all required permits and approvals.”
  • Permit feesPublished

    Building permits and connection/impact fees inside Lehi city

    • Fee amounts were not retrieved; page lists connection and impact fees as updated 8/26/2026.
    “submit a permit forms and information connection & impact fees updated 8/26/2026 building checklists”
  • Permit processPublished

    Building permit applications inside Lehi city

    • Plans are submitted electronically; inspections require 24 hours' notice by phone.
    “all permit applications must be submitted through the building permit submittal portal.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Lehi city
  • Certificate of occupancy — Lehi city
  • Minimum lot size — Main single-family residential and agricultural districts in Lehi city
  • Living in an RV — Lehi city
  • Camping on your land — Lehi city
12 more unanswered
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • 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

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

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