ADU builder in Salt Lake City, Utah
Cocoon Homes is a Lehi, Utah ADU builder that designs, permits and builds backyard ADUs in Salt Lake City — typically $85,000–$200,000 all-in.
Salt Lake City allows detached ADUs by right citywide (it dropped the conditional-use requirement in 2023), with a 17 ft height limit and 3 ft side and rear setbacks.
Ready to talk? Book a 30-minute call.
Salt Lake City ADU rules at a glance
| Rule | Salt Lake City |
|---|---|
| Detached ADU | Allowed citywide, by right (conditional use dropped 2023) |
| Lot minimum | No minimum listed |
| Max height | 17 ft (up to 24 ft pitched with added setback) |
| Setbacks | Side & rear minimum 3 ft (detached) |
| Owner-occupancy | Required — live in either unit |
| SB284 | Already more permissive than the state floor; no change needed |
Last reviewed October 6, 2026 · Official source: Salt Lake City Building Services · Salt Lake City on our Utah ADU rules tracker
Salt Lake City was ahead of the state: its rules were already looser than the floor SB284 set on October 1, 2026, so nothing here changed. Our tracker lists no lot minimum and there's no conditional-use hearing, which makes the 17 ft height limit the number that shapes most designs.
Which Cocoon floor plans fit Salt Lake City's rules
| Plan | Size | Fits Salt Lake City's size rules? | Added parking |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 Series studio (home ~$63K) | 170 sq ft | No size cap on our tracker; confirm with Salt Lake City | Confirm with Salt Lake City |
| 200 Series one-bed retreat (home ~$73K) | 240 sq ft | No size cap on our tracker; confirm with Salt Lake City | Confirm with Salt Lake City |
| 300 Series one-bedroom, most popular (home ~$84K) | 300 sq ft | No size cap on our tracker; confirm with Salt Lake City | Confirm with Salt Lake City |
| 400 Series flex (home ~$94K) | 400 sq ft | No size cap on our tracker; confirm with Salt Lake City | Confirm with Salt Lake City |
| 500 Series two-bedroom (home ~$109K) | 500 sq ft | No size cap on our tracker; confirm with Salt Lake City | Confirm with Salt Lake City |
| Salt Lake City caps a detached ADU at 17 ft, or up to 24 ft with a pitched roof and an added setback; we confirm the plan's roof height against that before design. | |||
Most owners go wider or add square footage. Our tracker doesn't list a size cap for Salt Lake City, so custom footprints are available and we size them to the city's standards before design. If you want a second-story loft, we check it against the 17 ft limit and the pitched-roof allowance up to 24 ft, which comes with an added setback.
What an ADU costs in Salt Lake City
In Salt Lake City, a Cocoon ADU typically totals $85,000–$200,000 all-in. Site work, utilities and city costs add 35–50% to the home price, and city fees typically account for $3,500–$9,000. The 300 Series one-bedroom runs about $113,000–$126,000 all-in. The 3 ft side and rear setbacks let you tuck an ADU into the back corner of the lot; the farther it sits from the house, the longer the sewer, water and power runs that drive site cost. A traditional custom-built ADU is $200,000–$400,000+. More: Utah ADU costs.
What an ADU rents for in Salt Lake City
A one-bedroom in Salt Lake City rents for about $1,300–$1,430 a month. At that rent, a 300 Series ADU at $113,000–$126,000 all-in pays back in roughly 6.6–8.1 years of gross rent, before taxes, insurance and upkeep. Salt Lake City requires the owner to live on the property, in either the house or the ADU, so you can rent out whichever one you don't live in. The math: ADU rental income in Utah.
How we build your ADU in Salt Lake City
- Lot check. Salt Lake City allows detached ADUs by right, so the lot check is about placement: the 3 ft side and rear setbacks, the height limit and your utility runs.
- Plan and finishes. Choose a floor plan or a custom footprint, then your finishes.
- Engineer-stamped plans submitted to Salt Lake City. We prepare the permit set and submit it to the city's building services.
- On-site build. Our Utah crew builds your ADU on a permanent foundation on your lot.
- Final inspection, utilities, keys. We finish the city's inspections and utility hookups, then hand over the keys.
Salt Lake City ADU questions
Can I build an ADU in Salt Lake City?
Who builds ADUs in Salt Lake City?
Do I have to live on the property?
How much parking does an ADU need in Salt Lake City?
Did SB284 change ADU rules in Salt Lake City?
Building in Salt Lake City? We'll check your lot first.
Free, and you'll hear from us the same business day.
Ready to talk? Book a 30-minute call.
Nearby: ADU builder in Salt Lake County · Lehi · Sandy · Draper
More on Utah ADUs: Utah ADU homes · ADU rules in 34 Utah cities · ADU vs. tiny home