Bolthole Index

Salt Lake County, Utah

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in Millcreek, Utah

Millcreek, Utah requires a building permit for all construction except a short list of small projects, and the city issues those permits itself1. Millcreek also sets its own zoning under Title 18 of its municipal code2. Septic permits do not come from the city: the Salt Lake County Health Department reviews and permits new septic systems inside Millcreek, and only where sewer is not available3.

At a glance

Building permit
Required for all construction except listed small projects; issued by Millcreek1
Zoning
Millcreek's own zoning, Title 18 of the city code2
Building codes
State-adopted 2024 IBC and 2021 IRC, with state amendments4
Septic
Salt Lake County Health Department, only where sewer is not available35
Owner-builder
City owner/builder form when the owner pulls the permit; state licensing exemption for sole owners67
Plan review time
Up to 14 business days after the application is accepted8
RV living and tiny homes
Not confirmed; ask Millcreek Building Services9
Flood hazard areas
City flood damage prevention ordinance applies on mapped parcels10

Who to call

Building permits

Millcreek City Building Department (Building Services)

Building permit applications, plan review and inspections inside Millcreek city limits

801-214-2749

buildingservices@millcreekut.gov

Septic permits

Salt Lake County Health Department, Water Quality Bureau

Review and permitting of new septic (onsite wastewater) systems, including inside Millcreek

385-468-3862

788 East Woodoak Lane (5380 South) Murray, Utah 84107

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 24, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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Do you need a building permit in Millcreek, Utah?

Yes, for almost everything. Millcreek's Building Department states that a building permit is required for all construction in the city, with a short list of exceptions1. The exceptions include one-story detached accessory structures up to 200 square feet for residential use, fences not over 7 feet high, and retaining walls under 4 feet of unbalanced fill1. Even exempt accessory structures still need planning and zoning approval, and decks more than 30 inches above grade need it too1.

Millcreek builds to the state construction code, which includes the 2024 International Building Code and the 2021 International Residential Code, plus state amendments4.

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

The Millcreek City Building Department issues building permits and runs inspections inside city limits4. Reach Building Services at 801-214-2749 or buildingservices@millcreekut.gov9.

Apply online with PDF plans and either the owner/builder form or a contractor form8. Plan review may take up to 14 business days after the application is accepted, and the stamped plans are emailed within 24 hours of online payment8. A permit becomes invalid if work does not start within 180 days of issuance8. Fees follow a published fiscal-year fee schedule and an ICC valuation table on the city's page11.

Does Millcreek have zoning, and what does it allow?

Millcreek has its own zoning. The city's municipal code states that Title 18 is the zoning title and outlines permitted uses of land and buildings2. Salt Lake County's Title 19 zoning applies only to unincorporated land, and properties inside a municipality follow that municipality's code instead12.

We could not confirm Millcreek's lot-size, setback, minimum-home-size or accessory-dwelling rules by district, so do not assume the county's figures apply here. Ask Millcreek Building Services at 801-214-2749 for the zoning district and standards on a specific parcel before you buy9.

How do septic permits work inside Millcreek?

Septic permits inside Millcreek come from the Salt Lake County Health Department, not the city3. Sewer connection is required if sewer is available within 300 feet of the property, so many Millcreek lots will not qualify for septic at all5. We could not confirm which district provides sewer in Millcreek, so ask the Water Quality Bureau at 385-468-386213.

Where sewer is not available, a septic permit requires a sewer-district letter, a water availability letter, and soil and percolation test results, and permits expire one year after issuance14. The county inspects new systems before backfilling15. Typical soils matter too: about 3.8% of soils in Salt Lake County rate as not limited for a conventional drain field, so expect a site evaluation or an engineered system16.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Millcreek?

We could not confirm whether Millcreek allows living in an RV, camping on private land, or occupying a tiny home. The city's code is the place to check, so call before you buy. Ask Millcreek Building Services at 801-214-2749 before you place or occupy anything on a lot9.

The county's floodplain rules for RVs apply only to unincorporated Salt Lake County, so do not use them for an address inside Millcreek17.

Building a home in Millcreek: the steps, in order

  1. Ask Millcreek Building Services which zoning district the parcel is in and what Title 18 allows there2.
  2. Confirm sewer availability with the sewer district; if sewer is not available, apply to the Salt Lake County Health Department for a septic permit5.
  3. Apply online for the building permit with PDF plans and the owner/builder or contractor form8.
  4. Wait for plan review, which may take up to 14 business days after acceptance8.
  5. Request inspections online by 4:00 pm on the business day before, and keep the Millcreek-stamped plans on site or the inspection is canceled18.

An owner who pulls their own permit submits the city's owner/builder form6. Utah law also lets a sole owner build on their own property without a contractor license, within limits on how many residential structures they build7.

What stays with Salt Lake County, and what to check before you buy

Septic permits and sewer-connection rules come from the Salt Lake County Health Department, even for addresses inside Millcreek3. Land outside Millcreek city limits follows the county's rules; see the Salt Lake County page for those.

If the parcel is in a mapped flood hazard area, such as the Neff's Creek floodplain, the city's flood damage prevention ordinance applies and a separate floodplain application is needed10. Salt Lake County's effective property tax rate is 0.6%, with a median bill of $2,726 a year1920.

Watch-outs

  • Utah's State Construction Code editions change on a schedule, and the city notes that commercial projects submitted on or after July 1, 2026 must follow the newer 2024 I-codes, so confirm the edition for your permit date4.
  • We could not confirm whether a certificate of occupancy is required before moving into a new home in Millcreek; ask Millcreek Building Services at 801-214-27499.
  • We could not confirm a private well rule inside Millcreek; ask the Salt Lake County Health Department Water Quality Bureau at 385-468-386213.

Sources

  1. Millcreek City Building Department (permits, inspections, adopted codes) (Millcreek), quoted and re-checked
  2. Millcreek Municipal Code (municipalcodeonline, maintained by Millcreek) (Millcreek), quoted and re-checked
  3. Salt Lake County Health Department - Septic & Onsite Wastewater Systems (Millcreek), quoted and re-checked
  4. Millcreek City Building Department (permits, inspections, adopted codes) (Millcreek), quoted and re-checked
  5. Salt Lake County Health Department - Septic & Onsite Wastewater Systems (Millcreek), quoted and re-checked
  6. Millcreek City Building Department (permits, inspections, adopted codes) (Millcreek), quoted and re-checked
  7. Utah Code § 58-55-305, Exemptions from licensure, quoted and re-checked
  8. Millcreek City Building Department (permits, inspections, adopted codes) (Millcreek), quoted and re-checked
  9. Millcreek City Building Department (Building Services) (millcreekut.gov)
  10. Millcreek City Building Department (permits, inspections, adopted codes) (Millcreek), quoted and re-checked
  11. Millcreek City Building Department (permits, inspections, adopted codes) (Millcreek), quoted and re-checked
  12. Title 19 Comprehensive Zoning Update, quoted and re-checked
  13. Salt Lake County Health Department, Water Quality Bureau (saltlakecounty.gov)
  14. Salt Lake County Health Department - Septic & Onsite Wastewater Systems (Millcreek), quoted and re-checked
  15. Salt Lake County Health Department - Septic & Onsite Wastewater Systems (Millcreek), quoted and re-checked
  16. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  17. Salt Lake County Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  18. Millcreek City Building Department (permits, inspections, adopted codes) (Millcreek), quoted and re-checked
  19. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  20. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 24, 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 Millcreek

Millcreek’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction inside Millcreek city limits

    • Exempt: other than storm shelters, one-story detached accessory structures up to 200 sq ft residential or 120 sq ft commercial (accessory structures still need planning & zoning approval); fences not over 7 feet high (fences must still meet MKZ 18.66); retaining walls under 4 feet of unbalanced fill (grade changes over 12 inches need public works approval); water tanks on grade up to 5,000 gallons; sidewalks and driveways; finish work; prefabricated pools under 24 inches deep; playground equipment; awnings and decks as listed; grade-level non-connected conex boxes under 350 sq ft for storage.
    • Decks over 30 inches above grade still need planning & zoning approval.
    “a building permit is required for all construction in millcreek with exception of the following”
  • Owner-builder exemptionConditional

    Owner of a property in Millcreek city pulling a building permit for their own project

    • The city provides an owner/builder form that the owner of the property submits when the owner pulls the permit; the page does not state the form's full conditions or any eligibility limits, and the state-law owner-builder rules were not separately checked.
    “owner/builder form (pdf) required if the owner of the property is pulling the permit”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    New construction and alterations inside Millcreek city limits

    • The city's list adopts the 2024 International Building Code with appendices c & j, the 2021 IRC with appendix aq, the 2024 IPC, IMC, IFGC, IECC and IEBC, the 2023 NEC, and the 2006 IWUIC, plus statewide amendments.
    • The page also states: on july 1, 2026, the state of utah will adopt all 2024 i-codes with state amendments; commercial projects submitted on or after July 1 must be designed to those standards.
    • Adoption cited to Utah Code 15A-2-1-103 and Millcreek Municipal Code Title 15.
    “the 2024 edition of the international building code, including appendices c & j, issued by the international code council”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Permitted construction inside Millcreek city limits

    • Inspections must be requested online by 4:00 pm on the business day before; none on same day, Fridays, weekends or holidays.
    • A set of Millcreek stamped plans must be on site for every inspection or the inspection is canceled.
    • The city's required-inspections list (PDF) was linked but not opened.
    “a set of millcreek stamped plans shall be onsite for all inspections.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    All land inside Millcreek city limits

    • Millcreek's own code states Title 18 is its zoning title; the code is hosted on the city's municipalcodeonline site and the city says the official hard copy governs if it differs.
    “title 18 zoning outlines permitted uses of land, and of the buildings thereon.”
  • Building in a floodplainLimited

    Construction on land inside Millcreek city that is in a mapped flood hazard area (Neff's Creek floodplain or other FEMA zone)

    • The city has adopted a flood damage prevention ordinance and uses an interactive map to show flood hazard locations; parcels outside mapped hazard areas are not covered by this claim.
    • The building page says the Neff's Creek floodplain application link is for properties within that floodplain.
    “flood damage prevention ordinance - adopted july 10, 2017 amended november 8, 2021”
  • Permit feesPublished

    Building permit fees inside Millcreek city limits

    • The page links an 'icc valuation table' and 'fy26 consolidated fee schedule'; the fee schedule itself was not opened, so dollar amounts are not recorded here.
    “icc valuation table fy26 consolidated fee schedule elevation certificate template”
  • Permit processPublished

    Building permit applications inside Millcreek city limits

    • Apply online with PDF plans and the owner/builder or contractor form; applications are accepted or denied by email, and acceptance does not mean approval.
    • Plan review may take up to 14 business days after acceptance; permit issued after online payment, with stamped plans emailed within 24 hours.
    • A permit becomes invalid if work does not start within 180 days of issuance, and a pending application is abandoned 180 days after filing.

    plan review time: <= 14 business days (initial review after application acceptance) · permit validity without work commenced: 180 days

    “once your application has been accepted: it may take up to 14 business days before an initial plan review of your application can be completed.”

Rules another office applies inside Millcreek

Millcreek does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

  • Who permits septicCounty

    Onsite wastewater (septic) systems on land inside Millcreek city where sewer is not available

    • Salt Lake County Health Department reviews and permits new onsite systems; the city does not administer septic.
    “salt lake county health department is responsible for reviewing and permitting new onsite wastewater system construction in salt lake county.”
  • Septic permitLimited

    New septic systems on land inside Millcreek city where sewer is not available

    • Requires a county onsite wastewater permit, a sewer-district letter, a water availability letter, and soil/percolation test results; permits expire one year after issuance.
    • Only needed where sewer is not available (see sewer connection claim).
    “permits expire one year from the date of issuance, but extensions may be granted upon request.”
  • Septic inspectionLimited

    New septic systems on land inside Millcreek city where sewer is not available

    • The county inspects new systems to confirm installation to standards; inspection scope beyond that statement was not confirmed.
    “systems must be inspected by the department prior to backfilling.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    A new home on land inside Millcreek city limits: Salt Lake County Health Department sewer-connection rule as applied there

    • Applies only when the sewer is available within 300 feet of the property; the county's letter process requires a sewer district letter confirming whether the project must connect.
    • Sewer provider serving Millcreek was not identified from an official source; the city's utility list names Salt Lake City Public Utilities, Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District and Mt. Olympus Improvement District but does not say which provides sewer.

    sewer availability distance for mandatory connection: <= 300 feet (if sewer is not available within 300 feet, septic may be permitted)

    “sewer connection is required if sewer is available within 300 feet of the property.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Millcreek or Salt Lake County directly.

  • Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of a new home inside Millcreek city limits after construction
  • Zoning districts — Zoning district list for land inside Millcreek city
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Millcreek city
  • Minimum lot size — Main single-family district R-1-8 inside Millcreek city
  • Setbacks — Main single-family district R-1-8 inside Millcreek city
12 more unanswered
  • Lot coverage
  • Building height
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land
  • Driveway access
  • 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 Millcreek publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Salt Lake County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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