The American Fork City Building Department issues building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits inside the city, and every application is filed online in CityInspect; many projects first need a free Zoning Clearance Letter. The permit fee comes from a valuation table, plan review adds 65% of that fee, and new-home plans carry a $1,000 plan review deposit when they are submitted.
What requires a building permit in American Fork?
The Building Department applies the state code’s rule: building, enlarging, altering, repairing, moving or demolishing a structure, changing its occupancy, or installing or changing electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing systems needs a permit first. Its FAQ names the outdoor projects people most often ask about.
Permit needed
- New homes, additions, remodels and basement finishes
- Detached garages and sheds over 200 sq ft
- Pools and spas
- Roofing and exterior siding
- Decks, patio covers and awnings
- Retaining walls and fences
- Generators, solar and electrical meter upgrades
- Gas lines for fire pits and barbecues
No building permit
- Buildings under 200 sq ft, which must still meet the setbacks and code rules of the zone
- Under the fence ordinance the department posts (2011-10-26), fences and walls up to 48 inches high
A shed over 400 sq ft needs a footing and foundation detail with its plans. No structure of any size, including a pool, detached garage or patio cover, may sit in a public utility easement.
Who handles American Fork building permits?
The City’s Building Department reviews plans, issues permits and inspects construction inside American Fork, including the electrical, plumbing, mechanical and gas work. Dan Loveland is the Chief Building Official. The Planning and Zoning Division issues Zoning Clearance Letters, and the Fire Department reviews fire sprinkler and alarm plans.
Unincorporated land outside the city limits is handled by Utah County Community Development, which serves only areas that are not inside a city.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Office | Building Department, 275 East 200 North, American Fork, UT 84003 |
| Phone | 801-763-3060 |
| Hours | Monday to Thursday, 7:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m.; closed Fridays |
| Chief Building Official | Dan Loveland |
| Apply and book inspections | CityInspect portal (afcity.cityinspect.com) |
American Fork permit types and the CityInspect portal
American Fork takes building applications only through CityInspect, which also handles fee payment and inspection requests. Projects follow two steps:
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →- Step 1, Zoning Clearance Letter. Filed in the Planning and Zoning module of CityInspect, at no charge. Anyone who registered in CityInspect before November 2025 has to register again to reach that module, keeping the same login and password.
- Step 2, building permit. Filed in the building module once the letter (if needed) has been issued.
| Project | Before the building permit |
|---|---|
| Accessory apartment (ADU), residential accessory structure, residential addition, residential retaining wall | Zoning Clearance Letter |
| Signs of all types, commercial tenant improvement | Zoning Clearance Letter |
| New commercial building, commercial addition or accessory structure, apartments and mixed-use, cell tower, commercial fence, pool or retaining wall | Zoning Clearance Letter and a Notice of Action letter from development review |
| New house or manufactured home, basement finish or walkout, deck or patio, residential fence or pool, remodel, roof, solar, demolition, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, meter upgrade, utility connection, storage racking | Neither |
A Notice of Action letter comes out of the City’s development review process, after a decision by the Development Review Committee, Planning Commission or City Council, and is uploaded with the building application.
Forms the department posts: a Subcontractor List, a Property Owner Builder Affidavit, an Electrical information form and Meter Upgrade Information Form, and a link to the state’s owner-builder certification for homeowners doing their own work. Permits for multifamily housing, non-owner-occupied housing and commercial or industrial buildings are issued only to a licensed and bonded contractor.
Building permit fees in American Fork
American Fork’s FY 2026-2027 General Fee Schedule, adopted and effective July 1, 2026, sets the plan review and inspection charges. The permit fee itself is read from the department’s valuation table: the plans examiner values the project by square foot, and the total valuation sets the fee.
| Area | Valuation per sq ft |
|---|---|
| Main level and second level | $169.09 |
| Finished basement | $75 |
| Unfinished basement | $31.50 |
| Garage | $44 |
| Porch or carport | $30 |
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →| Total valuation | Permit fee |
|---|---|
| $1–$500 | $23.50 |
| $501–$2,000 | $23.50 plus $3.05 for each added $100 or fraction |
| $2,001–$25,000 | $69.50 plus $14 for each added $1,000 or fraction |
| $25,001–$50,000 | $391.25 plus $10.10 for each added $1,000 or fraction |
| $50,001–$100,000 | $643.75 plus $7 for each added $1,000 or fraction |
| $100,001–$500,000 | $993.75 plus $5.60 for each added $1,000 or fraction |
| $500,001–$1,000,000 | $3,233.75 plus $4.75 for each added $1,000 or fraction |
| Over $1,000,000 | $5,608.75 plus $3.65 for each added $1,000 or fraction |
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Plan review, residential or commercial | 65% of the permit fee |
| Plan review, identical plans | 30% of the permit fee |
| Plan review deposit, new home | $1,000 when plans are submitted |
| Plan review minimum, other permits | $50 |
| Up-front plan review, new commercial / tenant improvement | $1,000 / $500 |
| Expedited review | $400 on top of the regular plan review fee |
| State surcharge | 1% of the building permit fee |
| Re-inspection | $175 per unit |
| Cancelling an inspection within 3 days | $125 per unit |
| Occupancy fee | $50 residential, $150 commercial |
| Temporary power / construction water (residential) | $100 each |
| Inspection outside working hours | $200 for up to 2 hours, then $100 an hour |
| Work started without a permit (fine on top of the permit fee) | Residential: $1,500 on an existing structure, $3,000 on a new structure (new footings); commercial: $5,000 existing, $10,000 new (new footings) |
Once plan review has started, the plan review fee is not refunded. For identical plans, the adopted fee schedule, which controls, sets 30% of the permit fee; the Building Department page still says 30% of the plan review fee. The department’s older residential checklist still mentions a $500 plan review fee at submittal, but its fee page sets the deposit for a new home at $1,000. Card payments over $300 carry a 3% processing fee.
A new single-family home also pays impact and connection fees from the same schedule:
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Culinary water impact (3/4-inch meter) | $2,502.45 |
| Sewer impact (3/4-inch meter) | $840.08 |
| Timpanogos Sanitary Sewer District sewer impact, plus the City’s $15 processing fee | $5,793 per ERU through December 31, 2026; $6,171 from January 1, 2027 |
| Roads impact (outside transit-oriented areas) | $3,548.30 |
| Parks and recreation impact | $3,855.99 |
| Fire / police impact | $429.30 / $326.45 |
| Pressurized irrigation impact | $0.42 per irrigated sq ft |
| Storm drain impact | $0.15 per gross sq ft |
| Water and pressurized irrigation hook-up (3/4-inch) | $475 each |
| Sewer hook-up | $235 |
The sewer district, renamed the Timpanogos Sanitary Sewer District on June 22, 2026, sets its own impact fee: it is added to the building permit but paid over to the district. Its Resolution 2026-01 lowered the fee from $5,931 to $5,793 per ERU from January 23, 2026, and Resolution 2026-11, adopted September 17, 2026, sets $6,171 for permits issued from January 1, 2027 (district phone 801-756-5231). The Building Permit Fees page still lists the sewer hook-up at $475 and omits the parks and storm drain impact fees; the adopted schedule above is the controlling document.
Electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits in American Fork
Trade permits come from the Building Department, not the State, and are filed in CityInspect like any other permit. Stand-alone electrical, plumbing, mechanical, meter upgrade and solar permits need no Zoning Clearance Letter. A meter upgrade is filed with the department’s Electrical Meter Upgrade submittal and information forms, and the adopted schedule charges $100 for an electrical meter change-out and $50 for a gas line review.
A solar application needs a site plan with fire-code clearances, roof mounting and uplift engineering, a one-line diagram and a photo of the panel being back-fed; code violations in that panel must be fixed as part of the job.
The American Fork Fire Department reviews fire sprinkler and alarm plans and charges its own fees on the City schedule (Fire Marshal review is $125 an hour).
Application documents and plan review
Everything is uploaded in CityInspect, and the department will not accept an incomplete submittal. The site plan must be drawn to scale and show the whole lot, the existing home, the new work, every building and shed, setback dimensions and public utility easements. Owner-drawn plans are accepted for personal projects if drawn at 1/4 inch to 1 foot or larger, though the department may ask for an engineer’s stamp.
Rather not deal with the building department?
Get a free quote →New home
- Project valuation, on an approved lot with subdivision improvements complete
- Plot plan with lot, house and setback dimensions
- Wet-stamped structural calculations
- Floor plans with electrical layout, door and window sizes, joist layout and labeled rooms
- Wall sections from footing to roof, stair and roof details, beam sizes
- Energy code compliance (REScheck) showing lot, subdivision and plan number
- Gas pipe sizing diagram and Manual J, D and S summary
- Electrical load, elevations and a contractor and subcontractor list
Commercial
- Code analysis and site plan approval
- Utility, landscape and drainage plans with calculations
- Floor plans with electrical, mechanical and plumbing
- Electrical load report and one-line diagram; COMcheck or ASHRAE 90.1
- Structural calculations and a geotechnical observation study
- Water use in gallons per day and the TSSD grease trap and pretreatment survey
- Utah County Board of Health compliance for food preparation
- Recorded plat, at least 2 elevations and a traffic impact study
Reverse (mirrored) house plans are not accepted. Commercial plans need every applicable wet stamp, and the City accepts neither deferred submittals nor separate footing and foundation permits. Lots in sensitive lands need a soils report and Engineering Division approval before plans are submitted. The City does not publish a plan review time.
How to apply for an American Fork permit: 6 steps
Find the parcel number on the Utah County parcel map and the zone on the City zoning map; both go on the clearance application.
Use the Building Department’s Zoning Clearance Letter checklist to see whether your project needs a letter, a Notice of Action letter or neither.
Apply in the Planning and Zoning module of CityInspect; there is no fee. Name files as FileName_ProjectName_YYYYMMDD_Version.
Upload the application, plans and checklist items in the CityInspect building module and pay the plan review deposit or fee.
Revise plans when the plans examiner asks; revisions are billed at $50 an hour for homes and $100 an hour for commercial work.
Pay the permit, impact and connection fees, then request each inspection in CityInspect at least one working day ahead.
American Fork building inspections
Inspections are requested online in CityInspect only, at least one working day ahead; there are no same-day inspections and none can be arranged with an inspector in the field. Select every inspection the job needs, then watch for the confirmation email, which gives the date and whether it is a morning or afternoon visit.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →- Morning visits run 7:30–11:30 a.m. and afternoon visits 1:00–4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, with none over the noon hour.
- Solar, mechanical final and sign inspections happen 10:00–11:30 a.m. or 3:00–4:30 p.m.
- Concrete inspections get a one-hour window; name it when you book.
If the work is not ready when the inspector arrives, a $175 re-inspection fee can be charged, and cancelling within 3 days of the visit costs $125. No further inspections can be booked until those fees are paid in CityInspect. A permit expires after 180 days without an inspection, and restarting the work then takes a new permit with new fees and any newer code rules. The adopted schedule fines an occupancy violation $100 plus $30 a day.
Local American Fork details that matter
Sewer district: wastewater goes to the Timpanogos Sanitary Sewer District, whose impact fee and grease trap rules apply on top of the City’s.
Accessory apartments: basement and accessory apartments fall under Development Code 17.5.134, and an ADU needs a Zoning Clearance Letter before the building permit.
Fences: the posted ordinance allows fences up to 6 feet only inside the “Tall Fence Enclosure Area” of a residential lot; taller fences need a specific reason, such as a pool enclosure. A commercial fence needs zoning clearance and a Notice of Action letter.
Utah building code
Utah adopts one construction code for the whole state; cities and counties enforce it, and any local amendments are set by the Legislature. Utah rules
Official American Fork permitting resources
City and state sources:
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →- American Fork Building Department
- CityInspect portal, American Fork
- Zoning Clearance Letter checklist by permit type
- Zoning Clearance Letter application checklist
- American Fork Building Permit Fees
- Permit fee valuation table (PDF)
- American Fork FY 2026-2027 General Fee Schedule (effective July 1, 2026)
- Building Department checklists, ordinances and forms
- Building Inspection Policies and Procedures (July 2024)
- Building Department FAQs
- Timpanogos Sanitary Sewer District notices and impact fee resolutions
- Utah Code 15A-2-103, adopted code editions
- Utah Division of Professional Licensing
American Fork permit FAQs
How much is a building permit in American Fork?
It depends on valuation. A project valued at $100,000 has a $993.75 permit fee, plus 65% of that fee for plan review and a 1% state surcharge; a new home also pays impact and hook-up fees, the largest being the sewer district’s impact fee of $5,793 per ERU (rising to $6,171 on January 1, 2027).
Do I need a Zoning Clearance Letter?
For ADUs, residential additions, accessory structures and retaining walls, signs, tenant improvements and most new commercial work, yes. A new house, basement finish, deck, roof, solar or trade permit does not need one.
Do I need a permit for a shed or fence in American Fork?
A shed or other building under 200 sq ft does not, but it must meet setbacks. The posted fence ordinance requires a permit for fences and walls over 48 inches.
Can a homeowner pull their own permit?
Yes, for work on the home you live in, with the owner-builder paperwork; you are then responsible for the work meeting code. Multifamily, non-owner-occupied, commercial and industrial permits go only to licensed and bonded contractors.
How do I schedule an inspection?
Request it in CityInspect at least one working day ahead. There are no same-day inspections, and the confirmation email gives the date and a morning or afternoon slot.
How long is a permit good for?
It expires after 180 days with no inspection, so book an inspection before that period runs out.
What is the Building Department phone number?
801-763-3060, Monday to Thursday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
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More Utah permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about American Fork permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.