Salt Lake City ties the size of a detached garage or shop to the size of your house. Here is how the rules work and what a steel building costs in Salt Lake County.
| Salt Lake City at a glance | What it means for your building |
|---|---|
| Permit needed | Sheds and similar buildings under 200 sq ft are exempt for residential use. A garage always needs a permit. |
| Size | The largest accessory building can be up to 50% of the house footprint, and at least 480 sq ft is always allowed. Accessory buildings can cover up to 50% of the area between the back of the house and the rear lot line. |
| Height | 17 ft for a pitched roof, 12 ft flat. Up to 75% of the house height (pitched at most 4 ft more) if setbacks grow 1 ft for each extra foot. SR-1A: 14 ft pitched, 9 ft flat. |
| Setbacks | At least 1 ft from side and rear lot lines, 4 ft from the house, 10 ft from a house on the next lot. Not in the required front or corner side yard; in a side yard it must sit behind the back wall of the house. |
| Historic districts | A Certificate of Appropriateness is always required. |
| Elevation | About 4,260 ft downtown, Salt Lake County. |
From Salt Lake City's published code and permit pages, checked October 2026. Rules change, so confirm with the city before you build. Snow, wind and seismic values: see the Salt Lake County guide.
Building package estimates for Salt Lake County from our live estimator (October 2026, 3:12 roof, 10×10-class roll-up doors). Foundation, site prep and erection are separate.
| Building | Salt Lake County estimate |
|---|---|
| 24×30×12 garage or small shop | $16,600 – $20,700 |
| 30×40×14 shop, 2 roll-up doors | $28,800 – $35,900 |
| 40×60×16 shop, 2 roll-up doors | $57,800 – $72,000 |
Your written quote is the firm number. More on steel shop pricing in Utah →
In the FR, R-1, R-2 and SR districts a building placed in the buildable area between the back of the house and the rear setback line can go over 720 sq ft as long as the lot stays within its zone's overall coverage limit. So a bigger steel shop is possible on the right lot.
Rocky Mountain Power has to sign off if the building is within 10 ft of a power source. Check for overhead lines before you pick a spot.
City Hall, 451 S State St, Room 215, Salt Lake City, UT 84111 · 801-535-6000 · Planning and zoning 801-535-7700. City permit page →
Yes. Salt Lake City requires a permit to build a garage. Sheds and similar residential buildings under 200 square feet are exempt from the building permit, but zoning rules still apply.
In the FR, R-1, R-2 and SR districts the largest accessory building can be up to half the house footprint, with at least 480 square feet always allowed. A building in the buildable area behind the house can exceed 720 square feet if the lot stays within its coverage limit.
17 feet with a pitched roof or 12 feet with a flat roof, and up to 75 percent of the house height if the building steps back from the lot lines 1 foot for each extra foot.
A 30x40 shop with 14-foot walls and two roll-up doors estimates at about $28,800 to $35,900 for the building package in Salt Lake County on our live estimator (October 2026). Foundation and erection are separate.
Get a live estimate now, then a firm quote with drawings engineered for your address.