Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Saratoga Springs, Utah

Saratoga Springs’s own rules

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Building construction inside Saratoga Springs city

  • Utah state amendments apply to these codes

  building code edition: 2021 IBC/IRC/IPC/IMC/IFGC/IECC/IFC; 2023 NEC

  “adopted building codes of record 2023 national electrical code 2021 international building code 2021 international residential code 2021 international plumbing code 2021 international mechanical code 2021 international fuel gas code 2021 international energy conservation code 2021 international fire code”

• InspectionsRequired

  Commercial, residential, addition, remodel and basement finish projects inside Saratoga Springs city

  • Inspections are done by the city building department

  “the building department is responsible for plan reviews, issuing building permits, and completing all required building inspections on commercial buildings, residential projects, additions, remodels and basement finishes.”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Saratoga Springs city, Utah County

  • Title 19 is the city's Land Development Code

  “all of the land within the corporate limits of the city of saratoga springs, utah is hereby divided into land use zones.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Land use zones inside Saratoga Springs city

  • Boundaries are shown on the official zoning map
  • Uses not listed as permitted in a zone are prohibited

  “the boundaries of the land use zones are shown on the official zoning map of the city of saratoga springs. the classification of land use zones is as follows: 1. agricultural (a) 2. rural residential (rr)”

• Minimum dwelling sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Dwellings in Saratoga Springs agricultural and residential zones (A through MF-10 appear to be 1,000 sq. ft.; MF-14, MF-18 and MR appear to be 800 sq. ft.)

  • Zone-by-zone mapping is inferred from the table's column order; the page capture is flattened

  minimum dwelling size, A/RA-5/RR/R1 zones: >= 1000 sq ft

  “minimum dwelling size 1,000 sq.ft. 1,000 sq.ft. 1,000 sq.ft. 1,000 sq.ft. 1,000 sq.ft. 1,000 sq.ft. 1,000 sq.ft. 1,000 sq.ft. 1,000 sq.ft. 1,000 sq.ft. 800 sq.ft. 800 sq.ft. 800 sq.ft.”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Residential lots in Saratoga Springs: A and RA-5 5 acres, RR 1 acre, R1-40 40,000 sq ft, R1-20 20,000 sq ft, R1-10 10,000 sq ft

  • Corner lots in R1-10, R1-9, R2-8, R3-6, MR, MF-14 and MF-18 must be ten percent larger
  • City council may grant lot size reductions of up to ten percent for no more than 25 percent of lots in R1-20, R1-10, R1-9, R2-8 and MR zones
  • Zone mapping follows the table's column order

  R1-10 minimum lot size: >= 10000 sq ft · Rural residential (RR) minimum lot size: >= 1 acre · Agricultural (A) minimum lot size: >= 5 acres

  “minimum lot sizes, residential6 5 acres 5 acres 1 acre 40,000 20,000 10,000 sq. ft. sq.ft. sq.ft. 9,000 sq.ft.”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Agricultural and residential zones in Saratoga Springs

  • Table shows 50% across the listed zones

  maximum lot coverage: <= 50 percent

  “maximum lot coverage 50% 50% 50% 50% 50% 50% 50% 50% 50% 50% 50% 50%”

• Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Primary structures in agricultural and residential zones in Saratoga Springs, including single-family R1 zones

  • 35 feet in most zones; 40 feet appears for the highest-density zones; 35' for single family, 40' for townhomes, 45' for stacked multifamily
  • Accessory structures 200 sq ft and over: 25' or the primary structure height, whichever is more restrictive; under 200 sq ft: 15'

  primary structure height, single-family: <= 35 feet

  “primary structure 35' 35' 35' 35' 35' 35' 35' 35' 35' 35' 40' 40' city of saratoga springs municipal code land development code - title 19.04 page 6 35' for sf 40' for th maximum height 45' for stacked * maximum accessory structure height: 200 sq. ft. and over = 25' or the height of the primary structure, whichever is more restrictive. under 200 sq. ft. = 15'.”

• Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

  Septic systems for new subdivisions inside Saratoga Springs city

  • City code bans septic systems except in listed cases
  • Utah County Health Department approval is required for each lot where septic is allowed

  “approval from utah county health department is obtained for each lot and all conditions of approval must be verified prior to plat recordation;”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Privies, septic and private wastewater systems inside Saratoga Springs city

  • Septic allowed only for new subdivisions meeting listed criteria (sewer line over 300 feet away, zone A/RA-5/RR/R-1, one-acre lots, individual systems, percolation test, county health approval)

  “except as provided in this article, it is unlawful to construct or maintain any privy, privy vault, septic tank or system, cesspool, private sewage treatment facility, or other structure, tank, system, or facility, which is intended or used for the disposal of wastewater.”

• Permit feesPublished

  Building permit applications inside Saratoga Springs city

  • The deposit is non-refundable and applied toward the permit cost
  • The building page links a building permit fee schedule, which was not opened

  single family deposit: 200 USD · commercial/multi-family deposit: 500 USD

  “the city of saratoga springs building department requires a non-refundable deposit for all building permit applications being submitted for review. the deposit will be applied toward the cost of the building permit. the costs include: single family- $200 commercial/ multi-family- $500”

• Permit processPublished

  Building permit applications inside Saratoga Springs city

  • Applications are submitted through the city's online Cityworks portal
  • Planning and zoning, public works and fire approvals are required before most permits are issued

  single family review time: 10 working days (approximate; commercial plans may take longer)

  “at the present time, single family dwellings can be processed in approximately 10 working days. commercial plans or more complex plans may take longer.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Building permit requirement inside Saratoga Springs city
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permits inside Saratoga Springs city
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy inside Saratoga Springs city
• Setbacks — Setbacks in Saratoga Springs residential zones
• Living in an RV — RV occupancy inside Saratoga Springs city

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.