ADU Rulebook

City · Utah

ADU rules in Ogden

2 sources

These are the primary sources for accessory dwelling unit regulations in Ogden: the city's own zoning code, planning department pages, and permit guides. Start here before talking to anyone: the rules below are what your permit reviewer will apply.

Rules at a glance

Detached (backyard) ADU
Allowed

Detached ADUs are expressly regulated (300 to 800 sq ft, max 25% of rear yard) and ADUs are a permitted use in residential zones, but only on a lot containing a single-family dwelling, one ADU per lot, and never in a PRUD, apartment building, group dwelling, or condominium project.

§15-13-39.B, .D; §15-15-2
Attached or internal ADU
Allowed

The code defines an ADU as living space on the same lot or in the same building as the single-family dwelling, and §15-13-39 regulates units inside the dwelling (appearance must remain single-family; any new separate entrance must be on the side or rear). Same parcel limits apply: single-family lot only, one ADU, no PRUD, apartment, group dwelling, or condo lots.

§15-13-39.B, .E, .F; §15-2-2
Maximum size
800 sq ft (detached; 300 sq ft minimum); no explicit cap for attached or internal units

A detached ADU shall not be less than 300 or more than 800 square feet and may not occupy more than 25% of the rear yard area. The section sets no square-footage limit for ADUs within or attached to the main dwelling.

§15-13-39.D
Owner occupancy
Required

The property owner (titleholder) must occupy either the primary dwelling or the ADU as their permanent and principal residence. The owner may keep a seasonal residence up to 4 months a year but may not rent out the vacant permanent unit while away, and the permit is voided by a change of ownership.

§15-13-39.C, .I.4
Extra parking
No additional spaces for the ADU; the dwelling's required 2 off-street spaces must already exist

The lot must have in existence the two off-street spaces required for a single-family dwelling. No new front or side yard parking (parking slab, widened driveway) may be added for the ADU; tandem parking in the existing driveway is the designated means of parking, provided it does not extend over the property line or public sidewalk.

§15-13-39.G
Approval process
Permitted use

ADUs are a listed permitted use in the R-1 and R-2 zone chapters, and approval is staff level: after review by the Building Services and Fire Divisions, the Planning Division approves or denies and issues a land use permit. An accessory dwelling permit is required in addition to any building permits, and the city records a certificate with the Weber County Recorder.

§15-13-39.I; §15-15-2; §15-16-2
Rental restrictions
Long-term rental of the non-owner unit allowed; that unit capped at 2 adults; short-term rental in the ADU only if the primary dwelling is owner occupied

While the owner occupies the main dwelling or the ADU, the other unit may be rented. The non-owner-occupied unit is limited to no more than two related or unrelated adults, with or without their minor children. A short-term rental may not be housed in the ADU unless the associated primary single-family dwelling is owner occupied (echoed in §15-13-38.C.3, which also requires a city short-term rental license).

§15-13-39.C
The fine print: 7 caveats that can change the picture
  • One ADU per lot, and only on a parcel containing a single-family dwelling; ADUs are prohibited on lots or units that are part of a PRUD, apartment building, group dwelling, or condominium project (§15-13-39.B)
  • In the R-1 zones, ADUs are not allowed in a mapped part of the Mount Ogden planning community: between Harrison Boulevard and Polk Avenue from 26th Street to the north side of 35th Street, and between Polk Avenue and the eastern city limits from 26th Street to the north boundary of lots on 36th Street (§15-15-2)
  • A detached ADU may not occupy more than 25% of the rear yard area, and any new detached ADU building must match the architectural design, style, exterior materials, and color of the main building (§15-13-39.D, .E)
  • Entrances must use existing doors where possible; a new separate entrance must be located on the side or rear of the building (§15-13-39.F)
  • The ADU permit runs with the owner, not the land: a change of property ownership voids the permit and the new owner must reapply (§15-13-39.I.4)
  • The non-owner-occupied unit is limited to two adults (related or unrelated), with or without their minor children, and occupants must conform to the chapter 2 definition of family (§15-13-39.C.3, .C.4)
  • Noncompliance can lead to revocation after an administrative hearing, with removal of the ADU required within 30 days of a final revocation (§15-13-39.I.3)

Summarized from Ogden's ordinance text, read July 2026; every row links the code section it came from. Rules often vary by zone and lot, so treat this as orientation, not a permit determination, and confirm with the planning department before you commit to a design.

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ADU regulations

Utah statewide law also applies

Utah sets baseline ADU rights at the state level. Where local rules are stricter than state law allows, state law usually wins, so both are worth reading.

See Utah statewide rules

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