Bolthole Index

Tooele County, Utah

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Tooele County, Utah

33Index Score / 100
#29 of 29 in Utah

Tooele County, Utah requires a building permit for construction, alteration, repair, movement, demolition or change of use of a building or structure, including electrical, plumbing, gas and mechanical work1. Tooele County administers zoning in the unincorporated area, while incorporated cities have separate zoning layers23. Septic permits for every address in the county, city or not, come from the Tooele County Health Department, and the county won't issue a building permit until the health department has approved your water and septic45.

At a glance

Building permit
Required for construction, alteration, repair, demolition or change of use1
Zoning
Yes, in the unincorporated county; incorporated cities keep separate zoning23
Septic authority
Tooele County Health Department; required before the county issues a building permit4
Owner-builder exemption
Yes, capped at 1 home per year, or 3 in any five years6
Well permit
Required before drilling; septic permit withheld until the well passes water testing7
Wildland driveway standard
12 ft wide, 13 ft 6 in clearance if over 150 ft from a fire-apparatus road8
Agricultural exemption
Farm structures not for human occupancy are exempt from the State Construction Code9
RV living
Prohibited as a residence without an approved conditional use permit for temporary RV use10

Who to call

Building permits

Tooele County Community Development Department (Building Services & Zoning)

Land-use planning, zoning, subdivision and conditional-use applications, plus building permits and construction oversight under the State Construction Code, for unincorporated Tooele County

(435) 843-3160

building@tooeleco.org

47 S. Main St., Tooele, UT 84074

Online permits →

Septic permits

Tooele County Health Department, Environmental Health

Septic (onsite wastewater) system permitting under Regulation #12, and individual well permitting under Regulation #5, for Tooele County

435-277-2440

eh@tooeleco.gov

151 N. Main Street, Tooele, UT 84074

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 9, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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Do you need a building permit in Tooele County, Utah?

Yes. State and county law requires a permit before anyone constructs, enlarges, alters, repairs, moves, demolishes or changes the use of a building or structure in Tooele County, including electrical, plumbing, gas or mechanical work11. There are some exceptions, and the county advises calling its inspectors to confirm whether a particular project needs a permit11. An agricultural structure used only for agriculture and not for people to occupy is conditionally exempt from the State Construction Code, but plumbing, electrical or mechanical work can still need permits9. That exemption generally does not cover a structure on less than five contiguous acres inside a city or town or less than two contiguous acres in a county-approved subdivision, unless the land is in an agricultural protection area129. Tooele County also assesses impact fees on unincorporated-area building permits13.

Who is the Tooele County Building and Zoning office, and how do you reach them?

Tooele County's Community Development Department administers both building permits and zoning for the unincorporated county14. Its Development side handles land-use planning, zoning, subdivision and conditional-use applications, while its Building Services side oversees construction under the State Construction Code14. Reach the department at the county government building, 47 S. Main St., Tooele, UT 84074, call (435) 843-3160, or email building@tooeleco.org14. Utah law lets a compliance agency use a licensed third-party inspection firm from an approved list; once that firm submits its inspection report, the local regulator must promptly issue the certificate of occupancy or letter of completion15.

Does Tooele County have zoning?

Yes, in the unincorporated area. Tooele County's Planning Commission recommends land-use ordinances and zoning maps there, and each development must meet its zoning district, approvals and site requirements2. The county's map service keeps a separate Tooele County layer alongside municipal layers for Erda, Grantsville and Lake Point, so an incorporated parcel may be governed by its city instead3. County districts include A-10, A-20, A-40, R-1-8 and RR-1, among others16. Zoning officers check site plans for required setbacks from property lines, wells and septic systems; the applicable district and site conditions set the distances, and the available rule does not supply one countywide numeric setback1718. Land division is also regulated, although qualifying agricultural parcels have limited plat exemptions rather than a blanket exemption from zoning or other requirements1912.

How do septic and well permits work in Tooele County?

Septic systems in Tooele County are permitted and inspected by the Tooele County Health Department, not by the Community Development Department, and the county won't issue a building permit until the health department has signed off on water and septic4. Reach the Health Department's Environmental Health office at 151 N. Main Street, Tooele, UT 84074, call 435-277-2440, or email eh@tooeleco.gov20. If your property will use a private culinary well, you need a permit before drilling begins, along with water rights and well-driller start cards, a completed Well-Spring application, a site map showing the well's distance from your property, home and septic system, and a required 100-foot protection radius around the well7. After drilling, the Health Department collects a water sample for lab analysis, and your septic permit won't be issued until that well sample comes back satisfactory7. If you're buying a home with an existing well, a real-estate recertification water test takes at least 36 lab hours with no rush option, so build that into your closing timeline7. A new system needs approved percolation test results, a plot map and a design by a certified septic designer, and the permit is valid for 24 months2122. Wastewater must connect to public sewer instead when sewer is within 300 feet of the property line and has capacity, and new conventional-septic subdivisions in the unincorporated Tooele Valley need lots of at least 5 acres21. USDA soil-survey data rates only about 7.6% of Tooele County's soils as free of severe limits for a conventional septic drain field, so budget for a site evaluation before you count on a standard system23.

Can you live in an RV, tiny home or manufactured home on your land in Tooele County?

Residential occupancy of an RV, camper or tent is prohibited in every Tooele County zoning district unless a conditional use permit for temporary RV use has been applied for and approved10. Allowed use stays temporary and recreational, in recreational coach parks (which need a conditional use permit and a parcel of at least 5 acres) or campgrounds, and an individual space may not be used by one person for more than 30 consecutive days10. Temporary housing during emergency construction or major repair needs Zoning Administrator approval, a temporary use permit, a health-department sanitation permit and a building permit10. A manufactured home is different: it may be placed in any zone where single-family homes are permitted, on a permanent foundation with a building permit24. We could not confirm a Tooele County rule for tiny-home occupancy. What Utah's rules do cover is narrower: a recreational vehicle or a tiny house, up to 400 square feet under the state's definition, may be sited in a licensed recreational vehicle park with two or more RVs if it carries the required data plate and certification and the park meets applicable building, zoning, electrical, health and fire codes25. Outside an RV park, the state rule itself says whether a tiny home is allowed depends on local land-use regulations and whether it's treated as a primary dwelling, accessory dwelling, modular unit or manufactured home26. Tooele County does regulate camping in its own county-owned campgrounds, capping stays at 7 consecutive days in the same campground in Middle, Settlement or Ophir Canyons, at the Grantsville Reservoir, or at Deseret Peak Complex, but that rule is about county campgrounds, not private land27.

Building a home in Tooele County: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm your parcel's zoning district using the county's zoning map, and check with Community Development on setbacks from property lines, wells and septic systems before you design a build17.
  2. Apply for your well permit with the Health Department before drilling starts if you're on a private well, including water rights and driller start cards, a Well-Spring application, and a site map showing the well's distance from your home and septic system207.
  3. Apply for your septic permit with the same office at 151 N. Main Street, Tooele, UT 84074 or 435-277-2440; it won't be issued until your well water sample comes back satisfactory207.
  4. If you're building your own home without a licensed contractor, Utah's owner-builder licensure exemption is limited to one residential structure per year and three per five years on your property for your noncommercial, nonpublic use; it does not waive permits or inspections6.
  5. Submit your building permit application to Community Development, 47 S. Main St., Tooele, UT 84074 or (435) 843-3160, with the property owner's name, address and phone number, the site address and parcel number, a site plan, and construction documents1428.
  6. If your lot is in a wildland/urban interface area and any part of the first-story exterior wall will sit more than 150 feet from a fire-apparatus access road, build your driveway to the county's fire-access standard: at least 12 feet wide with 13 feet 6 inches of clearance, with turnarounds required past 150 feet and turnouts past 200 feet8.
  7. Budget for the county's impact fees, in effect since December 2, 2024 under Ordinance 2024-07, in addition to your permit fee13.

What to check before you buy land in Tooele County

Ask Community Development which zoning layer and setback rules apply to your parcel: Tooele County keeps a separate zoning layer from the municipal layers for Erda, Grantsville and Lake Point317. If the seller divided agricultural land without a standard plat, verify that the parcel remains in agricultural use and that the required notice was recorded; later nonagricultural use triggers the applicable plat and land-use requirements12. Check the soil before assuming a standard septic system will work: only about 7.6% of Tooele County's soils are rated free of severe limits for a conventional drain field23. A driveway connecting to a state highway requires a conditional access permit, including when changed land use or traffic intensity changes an existing access29. Tooele County's typical home value is about $481,741, with a typical property tax bill of roughly $2,303 a year3031.

Watch-outs

  • We could not confirm numeric minimum lot size, minimum dwelling size, lot coverage, building height, floodplain-development or short-term-rental rules; ask Community Development before relying on an assumption14.
  • Tooele County won't issue a septic permit until your well's water sample passes, so a slow or failed well test can delay your entire building timeline7.

Sources

  1. Building Permits (2026 county census)
  2. Tooele County Code, quoted and re-checked
  3. Tooele County Zoning MapServer, quoted and re-checked
  4. Septic Systems: permitting, re-certifications and how to care for your system (2026 county census)
  5. Septic Systems: permitting, re-certifications and how to care for your system, quoted and re-checked
  6. Utah Code, Section 58-55-305, Exemptions from licensure, quoted and re-checked
  7. Wells- Individual Water Systems: permitting, testing and re-certifications, quoted and re-checked
  8. Tooele County Code, quoted and re-checked
  9. Utah Code Section 15A-1-204, quoted and re-checked
  10. Tooele County Land Use Ordinance Chapter 11: Recreational Uses and Recreational Coach Parks, quoted and re-checked
  11. Building Permits, quoted and re-checked
  12. Tooele County Code, quoted and re-checked
  13. Tooele County Building Permits, quoted and re-checked
  14. Tooele County Community Development Department (Building Services & Zoning) (tooeleco.gov)
  15. Utah Code Title 15A, State Construction and Fire Codes Act, quoted and re-checked
  16. Tooele County Zoning MapServer, quoted and re-checked
  17. Building Permits, quoted and re-checked
  18. Planning and Zoning, quoted and re-checked
  19. Utah Code Title 17, Chapter 79, Section 708 — Exemptions from plat requirement, quoted and re-checked
  20. Tooele County Health Department, Environmental Health (tooelehealth.org)
  21. Septic Systems: permitting, re-certifications and how to care for your system, quoted and re-checked
  22. Health Regulation #12: Wastewater Disposal, quoted and re-checked
  23. 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
  24. Tooele County Land Use Ordinance Chapter 10: Mobile and Manufactured Homes, quoted and re-checked
  25. Utah Administrative Code Rule R392-301, Recreational Vehicle Parks (Utah statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  26. OPRO Accessory Dwellings (ADU's) and other dwelling types (Utah statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  27. tooeleco.gov, quoted and re-checked
  28. Tooele County Building Permits, quoted and re-checked
  29. Conditional Access Permit (Utah statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  30. Typical home value (Zillow): Bolthole Index county data
  31. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 9, 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.

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Compared with neighboring counties

Like all 6 of its neighbors, Tooele County has countywide zoning.

RuleTooele CountyJuab CountyDavis CountySalt Lake CountyBox Elder CountyUtah CountyWeber County
Building permitRequiredLimitedRequiredRequiredRequiredRequiredRequired
County zoningYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Septic permitsCounty Health Dept.Central Utah Public Health Dept.County Health Dept.County Health Dept.Bear River Health Dept.UT County Health Dept.Weber-Morgan Health Dept.

County locator

Tooele County in Utah

33
County map
Tooele County highlighted among the Utah counties · colored by Index score

How Tooele County scores

Seclusion60100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency12100% ev.
Admin Boringness40100% ev.
Durability37100% ev.
Property Autonomy60100% ev.
Carry Cost76100% ev.

Evidence strength: 100%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$482kTypical home
0.6%Property tax
$3,447Land / acre
10.5"Annual rain
40.8% of yrsSevere drought
19.6 / yr (+15.9)Mid-century 100°F days
33.9 daysMid-century dry spell
0.7" (+7.1%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.12×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,092Home insurance / yr
4.9% / yrInsurance growth
0.96%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
987Radius comparison (15 mi)
11.8People / sq mi
79%Federal land
83.4%Land at 15% slope or less
7.6%Soils rated "not limited" for septic (strict USDA rating)
263,029 acWorkable land screen
5.2%Wooded land
11.3 tonsBiomass / forest ac
51.2°FAvg temp

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Cities and towns in Tooele County

Inside a city or town, that city usually issues building permits and sets zoning; the county’s rules above cover unincorporated land. Septic, wells and floodplain rules usually stay with the county or state everywhere.

Not yet researched: Grantsville · Town of Rush Valley · Tooele · Town of Vernon · Wendover

Answers from the rulebook for Tooele County

What the ordinances and state agencies actually say — one answer per question, each quoted from the official source and independently re-checked.

Tooele County rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, movement, demolition, or change of use of a building or structure in Tooele County areas served by the county building authority.

    • State and County laws require a permit before the listed work begins.
    • The county page states that some exceptions do not require a permit.
    • The requirement includes electrical, plumbing, gas, and mechanical-system work.
    • The county page advises contacting inspectors to confirm whether a particular project needs a permit.
    • The county page also states that zoning officers review the site plan for applicable zoning ordinances, including setbacks from property lines, wells, and septic systems.
    “State and County laws require that anyone who wants to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the use of any building or structure must first get a permit. This includes work on electrical, plumbing, gas or mechanical systems as well. There are some exceptions to this law, some things that don’t require a permit.”
  • County-wide zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Zoning and land-use regulation administered by Tooele County in the unincorporated area.

    • The county Planning Commission makes recommendations concerning land-use ordinances and zoning maps for the unincorporated area.
    • Specific development remains subject to the applicable zoning district, land-use ordinance, approvals, and site requirements.
    “The Planning Commission shall, with respect to the unincorporated area of the County, make recommendations to the council for: [...] zoning maps”
  • Local zoningVaries (with conditions)

    Aggregate local zoning across Tooele County, including the county's unincorporated zoning and separately represented municipal zoning layers; the result varies by municipality or unincorporated area.

    • This is an aggregate countywide conclusion and does not mean Tooele County administers each municipal ordinance.
    • Municipal Focus Layers are separately identified for Erda, Grantsville, LakePoint, and municipal zoning, while a separate Tooele County zoning layer is provided.
    • Applicable district standards and local approvals must be checked for the specific parcel.
    “Layers: [...] Municipal Focus Layers [...] Zoning_Erda [...] Zoning_Grantsville [...] Zoning_LakePoint [...] Zoning_Municipal [...] Zoning_TooeleCounty”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    County zoning districts displayed in the Tooele County GIS zoning service for county and municipal areas.

    • The GIS service separately identifies municipal focus layers for Erda, Grantsville, Lake Point, and other municipal zoning layers; this claim should not be read as stating that Tooele County administers each municipal ordinance.
    • The county layer identifies zones including A-10, A-20, A-40, C-T, CDO, CG, CH, CN, CS, MD, MG, MG-EX, MG-H, MU-40, P-2, P-C, R-1-10, R-1-12, R-1-8, R-M-15, R-M-7, RR-1, RR-1-ZC, RR-10, RR-5, RRS, and T-I.
    “Service Description: Tooele County Zoning Map Name: ZoningWebMap Layers: Municipal Focus Layers (0) [...] Zoning_TooeleCounty (4)”
  • Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Lots in unincorporated Tooele County.

    • Planned unit developments and conservation subdivisions may be excepted.
    • Every lot must satisfy the area, width, and depth required by its zoning district.
    • Residential and rural-residential lots may not be more than three times as deep as wide, subject to the stated rural-residential exception.
    • Lots or portions exceeding 30% slope are not buildable.
    • An agricultural-partition lot is not a buildable residential lot unless subsequently divided as a subdivision under Title 13.

    maximum lot depth-to-width ratio: <= 3 ratio (In rural residential districts, an appeal authority may allow a deeper configuration for no more than five lots in a subdivision and never more than five times as deep as wide.) · minimum distance from qualifying hillside slope: >= 20 feet (For dwellings, the setback envelope applies when greater; the County may require greater setbacks based on a geotechnical report.)

    “Except for planned unit developments and conservation subdivisions or as otherwise provided in this Tooele County Land Use Ordinance, every lot shall have such area, width and depth as is required by for the zoning district in which such lot is located. (2) No building permit may be issued for a lot that does not have frontage upon a dedicated or publicly approved street, except: (a) residential lots may front upon a private road approved by the planning commission; or (b) lots used solely for the provision of essential services may be accessed via a recorded perpetual easement. (3) In the residential and rural residential zoning districts, no lot shall be created which is more than three times as deep as it is wide.”
  • SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Structures and driveways in unincorporated Tooele County zoning districts.

    • General setbacks remain tied to the applicable zoning district.
    • For lots affected by qualifying hillside slopes, the greater of the 20-foot slope separation or the dwelling setback envelope applies.
    • The County may require greater setbacks when a geotechnical report recommends them for protection of life, safety, or property.
    • Driveways must directly access a public or private street; the jurisdiction's fire authority may approve steeper driveway grades under the International Fire Code.

    minimum separation from hillside slope exceeding 30 percent: >= 20 feet (For dwellings, the setback envelope applies when greater.) · maximum driveway slope: <= 10 percent (The jurisdiction's fire authority may approve steeper grades for private driveways under the International Fire Code.)

    “Any lot or portion thereof that exceeds 30% slope is not buildable. No structure or driveway shall be located within 20 feet of any portion of a hillside slope, either up or down, exceeding 30 percent, or for dwellings, within the setback envelope, whichever is greater. (a) The County may require greater setbacks when a geotechnical report recommends that greater setbacks are necessary for the protection of life, safety, or property.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — Structures requiring site-plan review in unincorporated Tooele County areas subject to applicable zoning ordinances.
      “The zoning officers will use this information to verify compliance with all the appropriate zoning ordinances in your area including required setbacks from property lines, wells and septic systems.”
  • Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Lot coverage requirements for buildings and lots in unincorporated Tooele County zoning districts.

    • Coverage requirements are part of the applicable Tooele County Land Use Ordinance standards for the lot or building.
    • The reviewed official materials did not expose the district-by-district percentage schedule.
    “No space needed to meet the width, yard, area, coverage, parking or other requirements of the Tooele County Land Use Ordinance for a lot or building may be sold or leased away from such lot or building.”
  • Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Buildings and structures in unincorporated Tooele County zoning districts.

    • Buildings and structures must conform to the height limit of the applicable zoning district.
    • Exceptions require a conditional use permit and are limited to the listed structures, including specified roof equipment, fire or parapet walls, towers, steeples, flagpoles, chimneys, smokestacks, water tanks, wireless or television masts, theater lofts, silos, similar structures, qualifying public or quasi-public utility buildings, qualifying transmission lines, and substations.
    “All buildings and structures must conform to the height limit of the zoning district in which they are located. No space above the height limit shall be allowed for purposes of providing additional floor space. The following are the only exceptions which shall be allowed by conditional use permit to the height limits in any zoning district:”
  • Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

    Residential occupancy of recreational coaches, boats, tents, lean-tos, campers, and recreational vehicles in Tooele County zoning districts.

    • Residential occupancy is prohibited unless a conditional use permit has been applied for and approved for temporary RV use under Chapter 4-4.
    • Use must remain temporary recreational occupancy within recreational coach parks, campgrounds, or other uses authorized by Chapter 11.
    • A recreational coach park requires a conditional use permit approved by the Planning Commission, a parcel of at least five acres, at least ten completed spaces before first occupancy, compliance with Tooele County Health Department requirements, and no more than 20 units per acre.
    • An individual coach or space in a recreational coach park may not be used by one individual for more than 30 consecutive days, and the same coach may not use another space in that park for five consecutive days.
    • In Multiple-Use and Agricultural Districts, seasonal recreational-coach occupancy requires authorization from the appropriate public agency or landowner and is limited to 30 days in any month or 60 days in any calendar year, solely for recognized hunting, fishing, or other outdoor recreational activity.
    • Temporary housing for emergency construction or major repair requires Zoning Administrator approval, a temporary use permit, a health-department sanitation permit, and a building permit before placement; the temporary approval generally may not exceed six months, subject to stated extensions.

    recreational coach park minimum parcel: >= 5 acres · recreational coach park maximum density: <= 20 units per acre · individual park-space occupancy: <= 30 consecutive days · seasonal occupancy in Multiple-Use and Agricultural Districts: <= 30 days in any one month (Also limited to 60 days in any calendar year and recognized outdoor recreational activity.) · seasonal occupancy in Multiple-Use and Agricultural Districts: <= 60 days in any calendar year (Only during recognized hunting, fishing, or other sports activity seasons.)

    “No recreational coach, boat, tent, lean to, or camper shall be located, placed, used, or occupied for residential purposes in any zoning district unless a conditional use permit has been applied for and approved for temporary RV use as per Tooele County Land Use Ordinance Chapter 4-4. Their use shall be kept to a temporary recreational occupancy within recreational coach parks, campgrounds and as otherwise provided in this chapter.”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Camping in the specifically named county-owned campgrounds and recreation facilities.

    • The seven-day limit applies to the same county-owned campground.
    • The rule names Middle, Settlement, and Ophir Canyons, Grantsville Reservoir, and Deseret Peak Complex.
    • The cited provision does not establish a general countywide private-land camping limit.

    maximum stay: <= 7 consecutive days (in the same county-owned campground)

    “No person may camp in the same county-owned campground in Middle, Settlement, or Ophir Canyons, or at the Grantsville Reservoir or Deseret Peak Complex, for more than seven consecutive days.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Limited — Camping in county-owned campgrounds in Middle, Settlement, or Ophir Canyons, Grantsville Reservoir, and Deseret Peak Complex.
      “No person may camp in the same county-owned campground [...] for more than seven consecutive days.”
  • Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

    Permanent residential placement and occupancy of mobile or manufactured homes in unincorporated Tooele County.

    • The home may be placed only in a zone where single-family residential units are permitted.
    • A mobile home must be inspected before being brought onto the lot and approved by the building official or designee.
    • The unit must have its wheels and running gear removed and be placed on a permanent foundation designed for applicable structural loads and frost protection under the applicable building code.
    • A building permit must be issued.
    • The unit must be placed on a buildable lot under Chapter 4-4 and comply with local land-use requirements and applicable building codes for single-family residential uses in that zone.
    • In commercial and manufacturing districts, manufactured homes may be stored, displayed, and sold when permitted or conditionally permitted, but may not be occupied except under a temporary residential-structure permit.
    “Mobile and manufactured homes may be placed in any zone where single-family residential units are permitted, provided:”
  • Who permits septicCounty

    Individual onsite wastewater and septic systems in Tooele County, including its municipalities.

    • The Tooele County Health Department administers permitting and inspection under Regulation #12 Wastewater Disposal.
    • Utah DEQ identifies the local health department as the primary contact for septic systems.
    “Septic systems- also known as individual onsite waste water disposal systems are permitted and inspected by TCHD”
  • Septic permitRequired

    New individual onsite wastewater systems in Tooele County.

    • A new-system permit is issued only after receipt and approval of soil percolation test results, a property plot map showing property lines, home and septic-tank locations, and a well location if applicable with 100-foot-radius protection, a septic-system design by a certified septic-system designer, a completed application, and the applicable fee.
    • All persons desiring to construct or install an individual wastewater disposal system within Tooele County or its municipalities must submit a preliminary plan to the Tooele County Health Department.
    • Final design and construction may proceed only with Tooele County Health Department approval.
    • All wastewater must connect to public sewer when public sewer is within proximity and has available capacity.
    • Public sewer proximity is 300 feet from the property line, may be considered beyond 300 feet, and for subdivisions is 150 feet multiplied by the number of proposed lots in all phases; providers determine available capacity in writing.
    • For new subdivisions in unincorporated Tooele Valley proposing conventional septic systems, every lot must be at least 5 acres.
    • New onsite systems must be designed by a Utah State-Level II Certified onsite wastewater designer as of March 8, 2010.
    • For basements deeper than four feet, there must be no basement plumbing or an ejector pump lifting wastewater to the septic tank.

    public sewer proximity for ordinary property: 300 feet from property line (May be considered within proximity when farther than 300 feet.) · public sewer proximity for subdivisions: 150 feet multiplied by the number of proposed lots in all phases (Subdivision developments are expected to extend major sewer trunk lines if necessary.) · minimum lot size for new conventional-septic subdivisions in unincorporated Tooele Valley: >= 5 acres · well/septic protection radius: 100 feet (Applicable when a well location is shown.) · septic tank maximum depth requirement: <= 4 feet to top of tank (For deeper basements, no basement plumbing or an ejector pump is required.)

    “all new on-site wastewater systems (septic systems) in Tooele County must be designed by a Utah State-Level II Certified on-site wastewater designer.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    All septic systems in Tooele County, with separate recertification timing and fees for existing systems.

    • The installer must request inspection at least 24 hours in advance.
    • Inspection occurs after trench excavation and again before backfill.
    • Individual septic-system permit applicants pay a Board-of-Health-established fee; the permit is valid for 24 months.
    • Recertification inspection requests must be made at least 72 hours in advance and require a Board-of-Health-established fee; an additional fee applies if a water test is required.
    • Work begun without a required permit triggers a special investigation and an investigation fee equal to the permit fee.

    advance notice for construction inspection: >= 24 hours · permit validity: 24 months · advance notice for recertification inspection: >= 72 hours

    “An on-site inspection of all septic systems shall be requested”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Individual onsite wastewater disposal systems, including septic systems, in Tooele County and its municipalities.

    • Onsite systems are used by homes unable to connect to municipal wastewater treatment systems.
    • Construction and installation require submission of a preliminary plan and Tooele County Health Department approval of final design and construction.
    • A public-sewer connection is required when public sewer is within proximity and has available capacity.
    • New conventional-septic subdivisions in unincorporated Tooele Valley require minimum 5-acre lots.
    • Alternative onsite systems require a construction permit before construction or installation and an operating permit before operation or use; alternative-system operators/installers must be state-certified Level 3.
    • Alternative onsite systems require an annual operating permit.

    minimum lot size for new conventional-septic subdivisions in unincorporated Tooele Valley: >= 5 acres · alternative onsite operating permit renewal: per annual

    “3.2 For new subdivisions in the unincorporated areas of the Tooele Valley proposing to use conventional septic systems for wastewater disposal, all lots within the proposed subdivision must be a minimum of 5 acres in size. 3.3 Upon review of the subdivision plat and the information required in Section 3.1, the health department will issue a letter of findings to the applicant and to the county, city, or town planning commission.”
  • Well permitRequired

    Individual water systems and culinary water wells for drinking purposes in Tooele County.

    • A permit must be obtained before drilling begins.
    • For a culinary water well for drinking purposes, the application must include water rights and well driller start cards from the Utah Division of Water Rights, a completed Well-Spring permit application, a property map showing the well's proximity to the property, home, and septic system, and the applicable fee.
    • A 100-foot-radius protection zone around the well is required to protect against contaminants or pollution.
    • After drilling, the Tooele County Health Department obtains a water sample for laboratory analysis under R309-200; additional sampling and fees may be required if the initial sample fails.
    • A septic permit will not be issued until satisfactory well results have been received.
    • Recertification sampling during real-estate transactions requires an application and fee; the page states testing takes at least 36 lab hours and has no rush option.

    well protection radius: 100 feet (Around the well) · recertification testing time: >= 36 lab hours (No rush option available)

    “A permit must be obtained before any drilling may begin.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    Wastewater utility connections for properties and subdivisions governed by Tooele County Health Department Regulation #12.

    • All wastewater must connect to public sewer when it is within proximity and has available capacity.
    • Ordinary proximity is a connection within 300 feet of the property line, though a greater distance may qualify.
    • For subdivisions, proximity is 150 feet multiplied by the number of proposed lots in all development phases.
    • Subdivision developments are expected to extend major sewer trunk lines if necessary.
    • The public sewer provider determines available capacity and must submit that determination to the Health Department in writing.

    ordinary public-sewer proximity: 300 feet from property line (A greater distance may also be considered within proximity.) · subdivision public-sewer proximity: 150 feet multiplied by proposed lots in all phases (Major sewer trunk-line extension may be necessary.)

    “All wastewater shall be connected to public sewer”
  • Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

    Agricultural practices in an agricultural protection zone under Tooele County's Fire Break Code.

    • The exemption applies to agricultural practices in an agricultural protection zone.
    • The activity or operation must use sound agricultural practices.
    • The exemption does not apply when the activity or operation bears a direct relationship to public health or safety.
    • This is an exemption from the Fire Break Code and is not a general exemption from zoning, subdivision, septic, building, or other requirements.
    “The following are exempt from this Fire Break Code: (a) Agricultural practices in an agricultural protection zone”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision design, improvement, approval, platting, and transfer of land in unincorporated Tooele County.

    • The County regulates and controls the design and improvement of all subdivisions.
    • A proposed subdivision must be consistent with the general plan and applicable specific plans.
    • Selling or transferring land in a subdivision before the plat is approved and recorded violates the chapter.
    • The County may seek injunction, abatement, merger of title, or other appropriate remedies and may assess civil penalties.
    • Subdivision and condominium projects must follow the applicable County approval process.
    “The purpose of this title is to provide policies, standards, requirements, and procedures to regulate and control the design and improvement of all subdivisions;”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Individual structures constructed or relocated into Tooele County wildland/urban interface areas when any portion of the first-story exterior wall is more than 150 feet from a fire-apparatus access road.

    • The driveway must have a minimum unobstructed width of 12 feet and height of 13 feet 6 inches.
    • Driveways longer than 150 feet require turnarounds.
    • Driveways longer than 200 feet and less than 20 feet wide require turnouts in addition to turnarounds.
    • Turnarounds require a minimum 30-foot inside radius and 45-foot outside radius.
    • Turnouts must be all-weather surfaces at least 10 feet wide and 30 feet long, located as required by the Fire Warden.

    distance from fire apparatus access road: > 150 feet · minimum unobstructed driveway width: >= 12 feet · minimum unobstructed driveway height: >= 13.5 feet (13 feet 6 inches)

    “Individual structures constructed or relocated into wildland/urban interface areas shall be provided with a driveway [...] more than 150 feet from a fire apparatus access road.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Impact fees associated with Tooele County building permits in unincorporated areas.

    • Ordinance 2024-07 was adopted on 2024-09-03.
    • The new impact fees are effective 2024-12-02.
    • The page identifies impact fees but does not publish the fee amounts in the page text.

    effective date: 2024-12-02

    “Ordinance 2024-07, adopted 9/3/2024, creates new impact fees effective December 2, 2024.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Building-permit applications for construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, movement, demolition, or change of use of buildings or structures in unincorporated Tooele County.

    • There are exceptions to the permit requirement; the page directs applicants to call inspectors to confirm whether a permit is needed.
    • Applications should include the property owner’s name, address and phone number, construction-site address and parcel number.
    • Contractors must be properly licensed.
    • The application must be signed by the owner or authorized agent.
    • Required submittals include a completed permit application, site plan, proof of ownership or permission to build, and construction documents.
    • The site plan must show property size, existing buildings, wells, septic systems, and the proposed structure; zoning officers use it to verify zoning compliance and setbacks.
    “Documents you will need to have with your permit application are:”

Utah rules that apply here

  • Owner-builder exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

    A sole owner acting as an owner-builder for residential construction on the owner's property, concerning exemption from contractor licensure under the Utah Construction Trades Licensing Act; this does not by itself eliminate applicable building-permit, inspection, or code requirements.

    • The sole owner may build no more than one residential structure per year on the owner's property and no more than three residential structures per five years.
    • The use must be the sole owner's noncommercial, nonpublic use.
    • A person other than the property owner or the specified volunteer exemption persons who engages in building the residential structure must be licensed if otherwise required by the chapter.
    • Incidental structures such as a shed, carport, or detached garage are covered when for the sole owner's noncommercial, nonpublic use.
    • For persons working under the owner, work must be without compensation other than qualifying token compensation and under the direction of the property owner.
    • Token compensation must be minimal compared with fair market value, unrelated to fair market value, and incidental, including meals, refreshments, or reasonable transportation costs.

    residential structures per year: <= 1 structure (For the sole owner's property and sole owner's noncommercial, nonpublic use.) · residential structures per five years: <= 3 structures (For the sole owner's property and sole owner's noncommercial, nonpublic use.)

    “a sole owner of property engaged in building: (i) no more than one residential structure per year on the sole owner's property and no more than three residential structures per five years on the sole owner's property for the sole owner's noncommercial, nonpublic use”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Conditional — A sole owner of property performing construction work on the owner's property, including a residential structure or structures incidental to a residential structure, subject to Utah's stated licensure-exemption limits.
      “(d) a sole owner of property engaged in building: (i) no more than one residential structure per year on the sole owner's property and no more than three residential structures per five years on the sole owner's property for the sole owner's noncommercial, nonpublic use, except that a person other than the property owner or a person described in Subsection (1)(e), who engages in building a residential structure must be licensed under this chapter if the person is otherwise required to be licensed under this chapter; or (ii) structures on the sole owner's property for the sole owner's noncommercial, nonpublic use that are incidental to a residential structure on the property, including a shed, carport, or detached garage;”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Building construction, alteration, remodeling, and repair, and regulation of those activities throughout Utah, subject to the State Construction Code's statewide and local amendments and statutory exceptions.

    • The code version cited is effective July 1, 2026 and is superseded January 1, 2027.
    • The adopted codes operate together with Chapter 3 statewide amendments and Chapter 4 local amendments incorporated into the State Construction Code.
    • Compliance is required when new construction is involved.
    • For an existing building, compliance is required when the owner or agent voluntarily undertakes repair, renovation, remodeling, alteration, enlargement, rehabilitation, conservation, or reconstruction, or changes the character or use in a way that increases occupancy loads, other demands, or safety risks.
    • The 2006 Utah Wildland Urban Interface Code may be adopted by a local compliance agency by local ordinance or similar action as a local amendment.
    • Historic-property plaster standards apply only when the owner receives a government tax subsidy based on historic status, the property is wholly or partially funded by public money, or the property is owned by a government entity.

    International Building Code edition: 2024, including Appendices C and J · International Residential Code edition: 2021, including Appendix AQ · International Plumbing Code edition: 2024 · International Mechanical Code edition: 2024 · International Fuel Gas Code edition: 2024 · National Electrical Code edition: 2023 · International Energy Conservation Code edition: 2024 · International Existing Building Code edition: 2024 · effective date: 2026-07-01 · superseded date: 2027-01-01

    “the following construction codes are incorporated by reference [...] (a) the 2024 edition of the International Building Code, including Appendices C and J”
  • Certificate of occupancyLimited

    Projects in Utah, including Tooele County, when a third-party inspection firm is used under Utah Code Section 15A-1-105.

    • The building permit applicant must first submit a request for inspection.
    • The applicant may engage a third-party inspection firm from the local regulator's approved list.
    • The applicant must first notify the local regulator of the selected firm.
    • The firm must complete the inspection and submit its inspection report to the local regulator.
    • The local regulator must then promptly issue the certificate of occupancy or letter of completion.
    • The statute does not establish from this passage that a certificate of occupancy is required for every project.
    “The local regulator shall issue a certificate of occupancy to the building permit applicant if the third-party inspection firm: (i) completes the inspection; and (ii) submits the inspection report to the local regulator. The local regulator shall promptly issue the certificate of occupancy or letter of completion after the third-party inspection firm submits the final inspection report to the local regulator as described in Subsection (3)(a)(ii).”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Limited — Structures for which a certificate of occupancy is required by Utah Code § 15A-1-204.
      “"Completed noncompliant structure" means a structure that was constructed and completed without: (i) obtaining a building permit; (ii) passing inspections; or (iii) obtaining a certificate of occupancy as required by Section 15A-1-204.”
  • Accessory dwellingsLimited

    One internal accessory dwelling unit within a primary dwelling in county areas of Utah zoned primarily for residential use.

    • The unit must be an internal accessory dwelling unit within a primary dwelling and the area must be zoned primarily for residential use.
    • The unit must comply with all applicable building, health, and fire codes.
    • A county may prohibit a separate utility meter; require the unit not to change the appearance of the primary dwelling as a single-family dwelling; and require one additional on-site parking space, except when the county land use ordinance requires four off-street parking spaces. Garage or carport parking spaces converted to habitable space must be replaced.
    • A county may prohibit an internal accessory dwelling unit within a mobile home; require a permit or license for renting it; prohibit units in a zoning district covering an area equivalent to 25% or less of the total unincorporated area zoned primarily for residential use, except that newly constructed units with final plat approval dated on or after October 1, 2021, and complying with applicable land use regulations may not be prohibited; prohibit units served by a failing septic tank; prohibit units on lots of 6,000 square feet or less; prohibit rental for fewer than 30 consecutive days; and prohibit rental when the dwelling is not occupied as the owner's primary residence.
    • A county may hold a lien and record an accessory-dwelling-unit notice under the procedures in § 17-80-303(4)-(5).
    • This claim does not determine additional municipality-specific ordinances under Utah's municipal land-use statute.

    minimum rental period: >= 30 consecutive days · small-lot threshold: <= 6000 square feet (A county may prohibit creation at or below this lot size) · restricted county residential zoning area: <= 25 percent of total unincorporated residentially zoned area (Newly constructed units with final plat approval dated on or after October 1, 2021 and compliance with applicable land use regulations may not be prohibited) · additional parking: 1 on-site space (Not permitted if the county land use ordinance requires four off-street parking spaces)

    “In any area zoned primarily for residential use: (a) the use of an internal accessory dwelling unit is a permitted use;”
  • Short-term rentalsLimited

    Short-term rentals operated within Utah municipalities.

    • A municipality may require the owner or lessee to obtain a business license or other permit before operation.
    • A municipality may regulate short-term rentals through municipal ordinances and zoning requirements.
    • A municipality may not enact or enforce an ordinance prohibiting an individual from listing or offering a short-term rental on a short-term-rental website.
    • A municipality may not use an ordinance prohibiting the act of renting a short-term rental to punish an individual solely for listing or offering it on a short-term-rental website.
    • The statute does not establish that short-term rentals are allowed in every zone or municipality.
    “A municipality may adopt an ordinance requiring the owner or lessee of a short-term rental to obtain a business license or other permit from the municipality before operating a short-term rental within the municipality.”
  • Campground & park staysLimited

    Tiny houses in Utah RV parks; the state source also states that tiny-home permission in a particular area depends on local land-use regulations.

    • The tiny house may be allowed in an RV park only with the required data plate or permanent label and either Recreational Vehicle Industry Association certification or qualified third-party inspection certification.
    • The RV park must comply with applicable building, zoning, electrical, health, fire codes and local ordinances.
    • Outside RV parks, whether a tiny home is permitted depends on local land-use regulations and whether the structure is treated as a primary dwelling, accessory dwelling, modular unit, or manufactured home.

    maximum floor area for tiny house under Rule R392-301: <= 400 square feet (The rule defines tiny house for purposes of the rule; this does not establish statewide land-use permission outside RV parks.)

    “A recreational vehicle or a tiny house may be allowed in a recreational vehicle park only if:”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • county zoning authorityGeneral

    Utah counties may enact land-use controls, including zoning ordinances, for land in unincorporated areas statewide.

    • The authority is subject to Utah Code Section 17-79-101(4) and Section 11-41-103.
    • The statutory grant expressly covers the unincorporated area of a county and a designated mountainous planning district.
    • The quoted provision lists uses, density, open spaces, structures, and buildings among the subjects of permissible land-use controls.
    “Subject to Subsection (4) and Section 11-41-103, to accomplish the purposes of this chapter, a county may enact all ordinances, resolutions, and rules and may enter into other forms of land use controls and development agreements that the county considers necessary or appropriate for the use and development of land within the unincorporated area of the county or a designated mountainous planning district”
  • county building authorityGeneral

    Utah counties may adopt and enforce building regulations and require building permits for construction in unincorporated areas statewide.

    • The general county building-regulation authority applies outside the limits of cities and towns.
    • Local regulations may not conflict with general laws.
    • Under Utah Code Section 17-79-901, erecting, constructing, reconstructing, altering, or changing the use of a building or other structure within a county requires approval of a building permit.
    • A county may not issue a building permit unless the plans fully conform to regulations then in effect.
    • The county permit authority is subject to the State Construction and Fire Codes Act and other statutory limitations.
    “A county may make and enforce within the limits of the county, outside the limits of cities and towns, all local, police, building, and sanitary regulations that are not in conflict with general laws.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission — ask the county directly.

  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in unincorporated Tooele County.
  • Tiny homes — Residential occupancy of tiny homes in Tooele County.
  • Building in a floodplain — Development in floodplains in Tooele County.

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.

Water rights & wells in Tooele County

Whether a new home can legally get its own water here — the sub-state groundwater regime, from Utah’s water agency.

Closed to new supply

New water supply here generally requires a permit, an offset, or buying an existing right — a household well is not automatic.

Household wellPermit required — restricted

Utah has NO exempt domestic well — you must own a water right to drill any well, including a household well. In an open area you file a new appropriation, but because much of Utah is closed to new appropriation a newcomer typically must PURCHASE an existing water right and file a change application to move it to the new well.

Limit: ~0.45 acre-ft/yr indoor domestic (typical allocation); no statutory exempt-well quantity

Utah Division of Water Rights — FAQ ↗
  • Groundwater Management Plan valleys (Cache, Tooele, Salt Lake, Utah, Juab, Pahvant, Snyderville, Sand Hollow, Weber Delta)majority of county

    Populated valleys managed under groundwater management plans that protect existing rights and cap withdrawals; new groundwater use requires acquiring and changing existing water rights rather than new appropriation.

    Utah Division of Water Rights — Groundwater Management Plans ↗

Prior-appropriation state (first in time, first in right). Groundwater rules change and basin boundaries follow the aquifer, not the county line — confirm current well and appropriation rules with the Utah state water agency before you buy or drill.Groundwater governance as of Jul 2026, cited to each administering agency.

Living off-grid in Tooele County, Utah

Is Tooele County a good place to live off-grid or homestead?

Tooele County scores 33/100 on the Bolthole Index, a marginal county profile. Its strengths: manageable long-term carry cost and sparse surroundings — about 987 people within 15 miles. Watch-outs: weak self-sufficiency basics: only 10.5″ of rain a year, in severe drought 40.8% of years and elevated mid-century heat, water, rain, or wildfire exposure.

Do you need a building permit in Tooele County, Utah?

Tooele County generally requires a residential building permit, and it enforces county zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Tooele County Health Department (Regulation #12 Wastewater Disposal, under Utah DEQ). Owner-builders may act as their own contractor to build their home. These answers are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked. Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Tooele County?

Living in an RV on your own land in Tooele County is allowed on a temporary basis only: Residential occupancy of recreational coaches, boats, tents, lean-tos, campers, and recreational vehicles in Tooele County zoning districts. Residential occupancy is prohibited unless a conditional use permit has been applied for and approved for temporary RV use under Chapter 4-4. Use must remain temporary recreational occupancy within recreational coach parks, campgrounds, or other uses authorized by Chapter 11. Confirm with the county before relying on it.

How much does land cost in Tooele County, Utah?

Land in Tooele County runs about $3,447 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Tooele County?

Tooele County gets about 10.5" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 40.8% of years. On water rights, Tooele County lies in the Groundwater Management Plan valleys (Cache, Tooele, Salt Lake, Utah, Juab, Pahvant, Snyderville, Sand Hollow, Weber Delta) — Populated valleys managed under groundwater management plans that protect existing rights and cap withdrawals; new groundwater use requires acquiring and changing existing water rights rather than new appropriation..

How remote is Tooele County?

A typical private-land location has about 987 people within 15 miles and 2,944,231 within 100 miles. These radius catchments are the published fallback where road routing is unavailable.

How Tooele compares in Utah

Compare side-by-side →See all 29 Utah counties ranked →