Building permits in unincorporated Iron County are issued by Building and Zoning at 82 North 100 East, Suite 102, Cedar City (435-865-5350, Monday to Friday 7:30am to 4:30pm), which issues permits for construction across the county and inspects all phases of the work. Cedar City, Enoch, Parowan and Brian Head run their own building departments; in Paragonah and Kanarraville the town approves the application first and the county then issues the permit. Fees come from the valuation table in the county fee schedule adopted on September 28, 2026, with plan review of up to 85% of the building fee added.
Unincorporated Iron County, plus Paragonah and Kanarraville once the town has signed off. Cedar City, Enoch, Parowan and Brian Head issue their own building permits.
What requires a permit in Iron County?
Iron County Building and Zoning issues building permits for construction projects within the county — new residential and commercial work, additions, remodels, accessory structures and utility upgrades among them — and inspects all phases of construction, covering building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical and fuel gas.
Four of the county’s six incorporated places run their own building departments; Paragonah and Kanarraville send town-approved applications to the county for the permit.
| Town (2025 pop.) | Who issues building permits | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar City (41,871) | Cedar City Building and Zoning | Online permit account for uploads, inspection requests and status; inspections need at least one business day’s notice, and the water meter must be signed off before the final building inspection. |
| Enoch (8,847) | Enoch City Building Department, 900 East Midvalley Road | Appointments and inspections are booked on 435-586-1119. |
| Parowan (3,282) | Parowan City Building Department | The city stopped using Iron County for permits and inspections and now runs the whole process online through CityInspect; office 435-263-0349. |
| Brian Head (162) | Brian Head Planning and Building Department | Permits for new building, additions, remodels, roof changes, exterior painting, grading and tree removal go through brianhead.cityinspect.com; inspections need 24 hours’ notice, run Monday to Thursday, and plumbing, electrical, mechanical and final inspections are on Thursdays only (435-677-2029 ext. 106). |
| Paragonah (578) | Iron County Building and Zoning, after town approval | File the town’s Application for Authorization to Obtain a Building Permit first (Town Hall 435-477-8979). The 2026 form refuses partial submittals, says applications are approved 30 days from submittal, and lists water and power connection fees of $1,200 each and impact fees totaling $8,560. |
| Kanarraville (491) | Iron County Building and Zoning, after town approval | The town Planning and Zoning Commission (first Thursday of the month, 7 pm, 40 South Main Street) checks setbacks and the septic location, and the Town Board must also approve before the county issues the permit. Town Clerk 435-867-1852; septic permits come from Southwest Utah Public Health Department. |
Permit required
- Any structural, electrical, plumbing or mechanical work, which is the county’s own test
- New homes and commercial buildings, additions, remodels and basement finishes
- Accessory buildings over 200 square feet, and any accessory building with electrical, plumbing or mechanical work
- Fences over 6 feet tall and retaining walls over 4 feet tall, both with engineering
- Reroofing, furnace changeouts, water heaters, gas meter service and electrical service upgrades
- Solar arrays and batteries, generators, residential pools, cargo containers and travel trailers placed on a lot
No building permit
- Accessory structures totaling 200 square feet or less with no electrical, plumbing or mechanical work
- Fences up to 6 feet tall, which may stand on the property line
- Retaining walls up to 4 feet tall
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
Iron County building department: who handles permitting
The county’s building page lists two jobs: issuing building permits for construction projects within the county, and inspecting all phases of construction, which it does itself for building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical and fuel gas work.
Septic systems are the exception. Southwest Utah Public Health Department issues onsite wastewater permits from its Iron County office at 260 East DL Sargent Drive, Cedar City (435-865-5155 or 435-865-5154). Soil and percolation tests must be done by a Utah-certified onsite professional before the system is designed, and the county wants the septic permit, or a paid sewer hook-up receipt with a sewer connection letter, before it accepts a building application.
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Get a free quote →| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Authority | Iron County Building and Zoning |
| Building Official | Terry Palmer, who is also the Zoning Administrator |
| Office | 82 North 100 East, Suite 102, Cedar City, UT 84720; 435-865-5350; Monday to Friday 7:30am to 4:30pm; building.group@ironcountyut.gov |
| Portal | Iron County CityInspect: apply, upload plans, pay and schedule inspections |
| Scope | Building permits and inspections for construction within the county |
| Inspections | All phases: building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, fuel gas |
| Governing code | Utah Title 15A statewide adopted editions |
| Wastewater | Southwest Utah Public Health Department, 260 East DL Sargent Drive, Cedar City; 435-865-5155 |
| Third-party route | Available where the county cannot inspect within three business days |
| Fees | Iron County fee schedule adopted September 28, 2026 |
Iron County is not Cedar City. The county’s building office happens to sit in Cedar City, at 82 North 100 East, but a Cedar City address goes to the city’s own Building and Zoning office. The county issues permits in the unincorporated area and, after town approval, in Paragonah and Kanarraville.
In 2025, building permits issued in unincorporated Iron County authorized 162 new privately owned housing units, all of them single-family homes, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Building Permits Survey.
Iron County permits: record types and what each covers
Residential permit types
| Permit type | What triggers it | Review path | Fee basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| New construction | New dwellings, additions, and accessory structures above the local size threshold | Plan review against the state-adopted 2021 International Residential Code with Utah amendments, plus zoning and setbacks | Valuation table; a house is valued at $123.68 per sq ft |
| Addition | Added conditioned or unconditioned space attached to an existing dwelling | Structural and energy review; since 1 July 2026 houses follow Utah's own energy chapter in the residential code, with one set of insulation values statewide | Valuation-based |
| Renovation / alteration | Structural changes, layout changes, or added plumbing, mechanical, or electrical | Plan review scaled to scope; a change that alters egress, structure, or a system is reviewed even where the footprint does not move | Valuation-based |
| Reroof | Roof covering replacement, recover, and structural deck repair | Deck and dry-in inspection; plan review rarely required, but a change of assembly type can trigger a structural check | $195.26 permit, $78.01 plan check, plus state fee |
| Solar photovoltaic | Rooftop or ground-mount arrays, with or without battery storage | Single local review covering both the structural attachment and the electrical scope; there is no separate state electrical record in Utah | $391.25 permit, $97.80 plan check; with battery $492.75 and $123.20; plus state fee |
| Battery energy storage | Wall or floor-mounted storage added to a dwelling | Electrical review plus fire separation, ventilation, and location check | Battery only: $181.25 permit, $97.80 plan check, plus state fee |
| Electrical | Service changes, panel upgrades, new circuits, EV chargers, meter sets, and rewiring | Local trade review and local inspection against the 2023 National Electrical Code, which applies statewide | $102 for a service upgrade or new meter base, plus state fee |
| Plumbing | New piping, repipes, fixtures, gas piping, and water heater replacement | Local trade review; performed by a contractor holding the matching state licence classification and qualifier | $102 for a water heater, plus state fee |
| Mechanical / HVAC | Changeouts, new ductwork, and refrigeration | Local trade review and county inspection | $102 for a furnace changeout, plus state fee |
| Patio cover and shade structure | Attached and detached covers, ramadas, and carports | Structural review for wind uplift and attachment, plus zoning for setbacks and lot coverage | Valuation or flat |
| Swimming pool | In-ground and above-ground pools and spas | Barrier, bonding, and electrical review; the state code adopts the residential provisions of the 2024 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code | $568.30 permit, $75 plan check, plus state fee |
| Manufactured home set-up | Placing or re-siting a manufactured or modular home | Federal HUD label for manufactured homes or a state decal for modular units, with local zoning, floodplain, foundation, and utility connection review | Flat or per-unit |
| Demolition | Full or partial demolition of a dwelling or accessory structure | Utility disconnect confirmation, dust control where earthmoving is involved, and site restoration check | Flat |
| Accessory structure | Over 200 sq ft in total, or any size with electrical, plumbing or mechanical work | County plan review and inspections; setbacks from the zoning table | Valuation-based, with a $75 plan check and the state fee |
| On-site wastewater | Parcels without a sewer connection | Southwest Utah Public Health Department | Set by the health department |
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →Building or remodeling a home here? Alliance handles residential permit filing, so the crew isn't waiting on the counter.
Commercial permit types
| Permit type | What triggers it | Review path | Fee basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| New commercial construction | Ground-up commercial, industrial, and institutional buildings | Concurrent review against the state-adopted 2024 International Building Code with Utah amendments, plus fire and zoning | Valuation-based |
| Tenant improvement / upfit | Interior fit-out of an existing tenant space | Building, trade, and life-safety review; accessibility attaches on change of use | Valuation-based |
| Change of occupancy | Converting a building or space to a different use group | Occupancy classification, egress, and accessibility review | Valuation or flat |
| Commercial electrical | Service, distribution, and branch circuit work | Local trade review and local inspection; Utah has no central state electrical permit for either residential or commercial work | Per-permit or valuation |
| Commercial plumbing | Process piping, fixtures, backflow, and grease waste | Local trade review; backflow and grease interceptor sign-off where applicable | Per-fixture or valuation |
| Commercial mechanical | Rooftop units, kitchen exhaust and hood systems, and refrigeration | Local trade review; hood and suppression systems draw fire review alongside mechanical | Per-unit or valuation |
| Commercial reroof | Roof covering replacement on a commercial structure | Deck, dry-in, and attachment inspection | Valuation or squares |
| Signage | Wall, ground, and illuminated signs | Zoning review for size and placement, plus electrical where illuminated | $200 permanent, $90 temporary |
| Grading and drainage | Clearing, grading, and site work that alters drainage | Civil review of grading and drainage, separate from the building permit | Acreage or valuation |
| Dust control permit | Earthmoving, trenching, and construction dust on a qualifying site | Utah Division of Air Quality, not the building department; a fugitive dust control plan is required for qualifying sites larger than a quarter acre | Set by the Utah Division of Air Quality where a dust control plan is required |
| Commercial demolition | Full or partial demolition of a commercial structure | Utility disconnect, asbestos notification, dust control, and site restoration | Flat or valuation |
| Utility upgrade | Service and utility work | Named by the county among its permitted categories | Per the county schedule |
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →For tenant improvements and new commercial builds, Alliance handles commercial permit expediting through issuance. More on this: commercial building permits explained.
Residential
- Building and trade permits are issued and inspected by the same local authority
- There is no separate state electrical permit — electrical is a local record
- A state contractor licence in the correct classification is required, with a named qualifier where the classification demands one
- Properties on septic need on-site wastewater approval before ground is broken
Commercial — multi-discipline
- Concurrent review across building, trades, fire, and zoning
- Signed and sealed plans across every affected discipline
- The licensee's classification must match the actual scope of work
- Accessibility and life-safety review attach to any change of occupancy
Records you will actually see in Iron County
| Record | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Building permit | New residential and commercial construction in the county |
| Addition or remodel | Alterations to existing buildings |
| Accessory structure | Detached buildings over 200 square feet, or smaller ones with utilities |
| Utility upgrade | Named by the county among its permitted categories |
| Trade permit | Electrical, plumbing, mechanical and fuel gas |
| On-site wastewater permit | Southwest Utah Public Health Department |
| Solar photovoltaic permit | Arrays, inverters and battery storage |
| Zoning approval | Same office; an administrative land use permit is $250 residential, $500 nonresidential |
| Third-party inspection | Where the county cannot inspect within three business days |
Solar permits in Iron County
Solar in unincorporated Iron County is permitted and inspected by the county, which inspects all phases including electrical itself. The Utah rule governing every trade here is the edition split: the building, plumbing, mechanical, fuel gas and energy codes moved to their 2024 editions in July 2026, while the residential code stayed on 2021 and the electrical code on 2023.
Installing here? Alliance handles solar permit filing and the utility interconnection paperwork.
Roofing permits in Iron County
A roof covering replacement is permitted work and follows the ordinary sequence. The 2026 schedule charges a flat $195.26 permit fee and a $78.01 plan check for a reroof, plus the state fee.
Solar and roofing work follow the statewide code, and utilities run interconnection on their own timeline. Utah rules
Roofing crews can hand this off: Alliance takes care of roofing permit expediting through to the issued permit.
Iron County permit cost
Iron County’s building fees are in the county fee schedule adopted on September 28, 2026. The building permit fee is read from the valuation table below, and the schedule also sets the per-square-foot rates used to value the work: $123.68 for a house, $49.09 for a semi-finished basement, $38.20 for an unfinished basement, and $20.25 for an agricultural building. Plan review of up to 85% of the building permit fee and a Utah state fee of 1% are added. Flat fees cover the common small jobs listed in the trade and permit-type tables.
| Total valuation | Building permit fee |
|---|---|
| $1 to $500 | $24 |
| $501 to $2,000 | $24 for the first $500, plus $3 for each additional $100 or fraction |
| $2,001 to $40,000 | $69 for the first $2,000, plus $11 for each additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $40,001 to $100,000 | $487 for the first $40,000, plus $9 for each additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $100,001 to $500,000 | $1,027 for the first $100,000, plus $7 for each additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $500,001 to $1,000,000 | $3,827 for the first $500,000, plus $5 for each additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $1,000,001 to $5,000,000 | $6,327 for the first $1,000,000, plus $3 for each additional $1,000 or fraction |
| Over $5,000,000 | $18,327 for the first $5,000,000, plus $1 for each additional $1,000 or fraction |
Rather not deal with the Iron County building department?
Get a free quote →Worked example. A 2,000-square-foot house with no basement is valued at $247,360. The table gives $1,027 for the first $100,000 plus $7 for each of the remaining 148 thousands (a part-thousand counts as a whole one), so the building permit fee is $2,063. The state fee adds $20.63 and plan review can add up to $1,753.55; the $250 submittal fee paid at application is credited toward the total.
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Application and plan review submittal fee | $250 dwelling, $500 commercial, $50 other; non-refundable and credited to the permit |
| Plan review | Up to 85% of the building permit fee |
| Utah state fee | 1% of the building permit fee |
| Finish basement | $321.25 permit, $75 plan check, plus state fee |
| Generator | $251.21 permit, $100.50 plan check, plus state fee |
| Remodel | Valued on the contractor’s estimate, plan check of 40% to 65%, plus state fee |
| Cargo containers | $83.25 for one to three, $153.25 for four or more, plus state fee |
| Re-inspection | $47 an hour (or the county’s full hourly cost if higher), two-hour minimum; the same schedule also lists a $188 re-inspect fee |
| Inspection outside business hours, or additional plan review | $47 an hour, two-hour minimum |
| Permit renewal | Up to $750 |
| Geologic condition review | $100 |
| Garbage can fee | $100 |
| Card payments | Up to 3% of the permit fees |
The county refunds no building permit fee after 180 days, and plan review fees are never refunded. If no required inspection is completed within a year, the permit must be renewed under the fee schedule. Sewer connections billed through the county range from $750 to $1,135 depending on the subdivision; the permit packet sends applicants to Cedar City Public Works for the sewer connection letter and to the County Clerk in Parowan to pay.
Iron County trade permits
The trades are permitted and inspected by the county under Utah's statewide adopted editions, and the county states that it inspects all phases including fuel gas.
A stand-alone trade job carries a flat $102 fee plus the state fee in the 2026 schedule: an electrical service upgrade or new meter base, a furnace changeout, gas meter service or a water heater. On a building permit, the schedule allows a plan check, electrical, plumbing and mechanical fee of up to 85% of the building fee. The county’s gas sizing installation plan form is checked at the four-way inspection.
Electrical permits
Required for service changes, panel work, new circuits, solar and EV charging. The electrical code in force is the 2023 National Electrical Code, which stayed in place in the July 2026 update.
Alliance handles electrical permit applications for contractors here. More on this: who pulls the electrical permit.
Plumbing permits
Required for new piping, repipes, fixtures and water heaters. On a parcel without sewer, the plumbing connects to a septic system permitted by Southwest Utah Public Health Department.
Mechanical and fuel gas permits
Required for furnaces, boilers, air conditioning, ductwork and fuel gas systems — the county names fuel gas among the phases it inspects.
Contractors are licensed by the state Division of Professional Licensing, and a business licence must name a qualifier. Utah rules
Iron County building permit checklist
The county’s building permit packet splits its checklist into items due when you apply and items due at inspections.
With the application
- Building permit information sheet, listing every contractor with licence number, the soil engineer, the water source and the setbacks
- Complete, legible digital plan set at 1/4-inch scale, engineered where required
- Plot plan with north arrow, lot shape and dimensions, setbacks to each line, address and streets, outbuildings, all utilities, easements, rights-of-way, ditches and drainages, foundation elevation above drainage, driveways, and wells or springs
- Septic permit, or a paid sewer hook-up receipt and sewer connection letter
- Proof of water, or a paid water hook-up receipt
- Utah prairie dog clearance letter and the geologic condition reporting form (additions are exempt from the geologic form)
- Notarized owner/builder certificate when the owner is the builder, and town sign-off for a lot inside a town the county serves
At inspections
- Geotechnical data and compliance report for the footings and foundation pad
- Gas sizing installation plan form, at the four-way
- Geotechnical data and compliance report for backfill and final grade
- Certificate of insulation installed and certificate of stucco installation
- Approved septic system permit, where there is one
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Commercial plans must include architectural, structural, plumbing, mechanical and electrical sheets. The packet also asks for the lot to be posted with the owner’s name and address, a portable toilet and a covered trash receptacle on site, and a physical address from the County Engineer (435-865-5370) before you apply. The prairie dog form shows whether the lot is in the clearance area, where a Utah prairie dog survey with the Division of Wildlife Resources is required (435-865-6100).
Iron County permit application: how to apply step by step
Cedar City, Enoch, Parowan and Brian Head issue their own permits. In Paragonah or Kanarraville, get the town’s approval first; the county then issues the permit.
Look up the zone on the county zoning map with the parcel number, see whether the use needs an administrative land use permit, and complete the Utah prairie dog clearance form before the design is fixed.
Southwest Utah Public Health Department issues the septic permit after soil and percolation tests by a Utah-certified onsite professional, and the county needs that permit, or a sewer connection letter and receipt, plus proof of water before it accepts the application. Hauling water is allowed only in some circumstances, under the county’s haul water form.
Every dwelling needs engineer-stamped structural plans and every new dwelling a soils report.
Title 15A sets the editions, and they are the same ones in force in Salt Lake City. Keep the residential and electrical split straight.
Register on the county’s CityInspect portal, upload the plans and checklist items, and pay there; the county then inspects building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical and fuel gas itself.
Inspections in Iron County
Book inspections on the CityInspect portal or with the office, giving the name on the permit, the permit number and the address. The county inspects building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical and fuel gas work itself, and its checklist ties paperwork to the visits: the footing and foundation geotechnical report, the gas sizing form at the four-way, the backfill and final grade report, and the insulation and stucco certificates. Re-inspections and inspections outside business hours are billed at $47 an hour with a two-hour minimum (the schedule also lists a flat $188 re-inspect fee), and a permit with no completed inspection for a year has to be renewed.
Close-out follows the ordinary sequence to occupancy once every required inspection has passed. On a rural parcel expect the health department wastewater approval to be part of getting there.
Utah law lets you use a third-party inspection firm when the building department cannot inspect within three business days. Utah rules
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Iron County permit search and official resources
- Iron County Building and Zoning
- Utah Code Title 15A, State Construction and Fire Codes Act
- Utah Code Section 15A-2-103, adopted code editions
- Utah DOPL contracting
- Utah DOPL licence lookup
- Utah Division of Water Rights
- Utah State Construction Registry
- Iron County building and zoning FAQ
- Iron County building and zoning forms
- Iron County building permit packet and checklist
- Iron County fee schedule, adopted September 28, 2026
- Iron County CityInspect permit portal
- Southwest Utah Public Health Department septic systems
- Cedar City Building and Zoning
- Parowan City Building Department
- Enoch City Building Department
- Brian Head building permits and inspections
- Paragonah application for authorization to obtain a building permit (2026)
- Kanarraville building and zoning: permits through Iron County after town approval
- Kanarraville Planning and Zoning agendas and minutes
Frequently asked questions
What does Iron County Building and Zoning do?
It issues building permits for construction projects within the county — new residential and commercial work, additions, remodels, accessory structures and utility upgrades — and inspects all phases of construction, covering building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical and fuel gas.
Does the county permit Cedar City?
No. Cedar City, Enoch, Parowan and Brian Head run their own building departments. The county issues permits in the unincorporated area and, once the town has approved the application, in Paragonah and Kanarraville.
Which codes apply?
Utah's statewide adopted editions under Title 15A — the same editions in force in Salt Lake City. The building, plumbing, mechanical, fuel gas, energy, existing building and pool codes moved to 2024 editions in July 2026; the residential code remains 2021 and the electrical code 2023.
Who permits my septic system?
Southwest Utah Public Health Department, from its Cedar City office (435-865-5155). Soil and percolation testing by a Utah-certified onsite professional comes first, and the county wants the septic permit, or a sewer connection letter and receipt, with the building application.
How much is a building permit in Iron County?
It depends on the valuation. Under the schedule adopted on September 28, 2026, a project valued at $100,000 pays $1,027, each further $1,000 up to $500,000 adds $7, and plan review of up to 85% of that fee plus a 1% state fee are added. Small jobs have flat fees, such as $195.26 plus a $78.01 plan check for a reroof.
Do I need a permit for a shed or fence in Iron County?
Not for accessory structures totaling 200 square feet or less with no electrical, plumbing or mechanical work; anything larger needs a permit. Fences may stand on the property line and need a permit and engineering only above 6 feet, and retaining walls need both above 4 feet.
Can a homeowner pull a permit in Iron County?
Yes, as an owner-builder, by filing the notarized owner/builder certificate with the application. For a new house the owner certifies that it is the only house they are building that year and that they have built no more than three in the past five years.
What if the county cannot inspect in time?
Utah law lets you use a third-party inspection firm when the city or county cannot inspect within three business days of your request. Pick a firm from the building department's approved list and tell the building department which firm you will use before you hire it.
Do I need fire sprinklers in a new house?
Not by force of the state residential code, which Utah amended to remove the model requirement for automatic sprinklers in new one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses. Local fire and wildland interface requirements can still apply.
Does my permit affect lien rights?
Yes. A city, town or county that issues a building permit for a private project must send the permit information to the State Construction Registry within 15 days, and the contractor must post a copy of the permit at the site.
Does one office handle both building and zoning?
Yes. Iron County Building and Zoning handles both, and the Building Official is also the Zoning Administrator; an administrative land use permit costs $250 for residential use and $500 for nonresidential use.
Do I need a licensed contractor?
In almost all cases. Utah licenses contractors through the Division of Professional Licensing, and a business licence must name a qualifier. The licence is valid statewide.
Simplify Iron County permitting with Alliance Permitting
Iron County is a rural southern jurisdiction where the code question is already answered by the state and the real variables are elevation, wastewater, water and zoning. One good conversation up front settles most of it. Alliance Permitting prepares, files and tracks Iron County permits through issuance.
Trusted by leading builders, developers, and national contractors — 21+ years of filing in the jurisdictions we write about.
Contractors and builders choose Alliance for Iron County because the work is done by people who have stood at the counter:
- We confirm submittal requirements, fees and inspection logistics directly rather than assuming.
- We check that your design team’s plans use the design values for the site’s elevation before we file, rather than a design drawn for St. George.
- We settle wastewater and water supply before a design budget is committed.
- We separate the county from Cedar City and from federal land at the outset.
Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and expediting service in Utah. We are not a law firm and do not provide legal advice, and we are not the permitting authority.
Ready to break ground in Iron County sooner?
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Read guide →This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Iron County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.