Payson’s Development Services Department issues building permits inside the city through its iWorQ online portal, where you apply, pay and book inspections. A house pays a $481 residential plan review fee plus a valuation-based permit fee, and a complete residential application is reviewed within 14 business days.
What requires a building permit in Payson?
Payson’s Building Division says most construction projects need a permit, and its handout adds sheds and fences to the list. If you are not sure whether your project needs one, the city asks you to apply anyway and it will tell you. Starting work without a permit brings a stop work order and an $800 red-tag fee.
Permit needed
- New homes and additions
- Remodels and basement finishes
- Decks, patios and accessory buildings
- Sheds of any size (no fee up to 200 sq ft)
- Fences
- Electrical, plumbing, mechanical and gas work
- Roof replacements and structural repairs
- Accessory apartments, building relocation, demolition, signs and solar
Permit, but no fee
- Sheds of 200 sq ft or less (a permit and site plan are still required)
- Decks less than 30 inches above grade and not over a basement or story below (no fee and no inspections, but the application is still required)
Who issues building permits in Payson?
The Building Division of Payson’s Development Services Department reviews plans, issues permits and inspects construction inside city limits; only the Building Official can issue a certificate of occupancy. Public Works inspects water and sewer laterals and the power trench, Payson Power inspects permanent power, and Payson Fire & Rescue reviews fire alarm, sprinkler and fire and life safety plans. Land outside the city is permitted by Utah County.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Department | Payson Development Services (Building Division) |
| Address | 439 West Utah Avenue, Payson, UT 84651 |
| Phone | 801-465-5204 |
| Hours | Monday to Thursday, 7:30 a.m.–6:00 p.m. |
| Apply and pay | iWorQ permit portal |
| Public Works (subdivision status) | 801-465-5217 |
| Payson Power | 801-465-5270 |
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →Applications, forms and handouts
Apply, upload plans and pay fees through the city’s iWorQ portal (Apply for a Building Permit); scheduling inspections and checking permit or inspection status use the same iWorQ system. Development Services posts these forms and handouts with the permit pages:
- Power to Panel Permit, signed by the general contractor and the owner, which allows full power to the building for testing systems before occupancy; misuse brings disconnection and a $500 penalty.
- Owner/Builder Certification Agreement, needed only when the owner acts as the contractor.
- Commercial Building Permit Submittal Requirements (revised September 2025).
- Fire Plan Submittal Form for fire and life safety, fire alarm, sprinkler and cooking hood plans.
- Handouts for basement finishes, decks, sheds, temporary structures, building relocation, demolition (addendum and utility notification form), signs (sign permit addendum) and solar (distributed generation program form).
- Fence Permit Application, with a drawing showing fence location, height, materials, meters and easements.
Permit costs and fees in Payson
Fees come from the Payson City Fee Schedule adopted August 5, 2026 (updated September 16, 2026). The building permit fee is based on valuation, worked out from current ICC building valuation data with a regional multiplier of 0.75; basement square footage is included. A 1% state surcharge is added.
| Valuation | Permit fee |
|---|---|
| $1–$500 | $24 |
| $501–$2,000 | $24, plus $3 for each additional $100 or fraction |
| $2,001–$40,000 | $69 for the first $2,000, plus $11 for each additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $40,001–$100,000 | $487 for the first $40,000, plus $9 for each additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $100,001–$500,000 | $1,027 for the first $100,000, plus $7 for each additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $500,001–$1,000,000 | $3,827 for the first $500,000, plus $5 for each additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $1,000,001–$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 |
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Residential plan review | $481; repeat review $225 |
| Commercial plan review | $1,000 for up to 3 hours; $225 for each extra hour |
| Residential deposit (with the application) | $300 |
| Commercial deposit | $500 (valuation under $1,000,000); $1,000 ($1,000,000 or more) |
| Additional plan review for changes | $120 per hour (half-hour minimum) |
| Re-inspection | $100 per inspection |
| Inspection outside business hours | $120 per hour (2-hour minimum) |
| Working without a permit (red tag) | $800; red-tag re-inspection $300 |
| Accessory apartment permit | $100 |
| Land disturbance permit | $500 base up to 1 acre, plus $300 per additional acre; $500 for pools, remodels, additions, accessory buildings and demolition up to 1 acre |
| Excavation permit | $200, including 10 sq ft, plus $0.25 per extra sq ft |
For a project valued at $300,000, the permit fee is $1,027 plus $7 for each of the 200 additional thousands, or $2,427, and the 1% state surcharge adds $24.27. For a house, the $481 residential plan review fee is charged as well.
Impact fees for a new house
The adopted schedule charges impact fees at building permit. For a single-family home with a 3/4-inch or 1-inch meter:
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Drinking water, indoor | $2,640.11 |
| Drinking water, outdoor (by lot size) | $337.98 (2,000 sq ft or less) to $19,011.27 (over 20,000 sq ft); $5,801.96 for 9,001–10,000 sq ft |
| Pressurized irrigation (by lot size) | $123.80 to $6,963.49; $2,125.15 for 9,001–10,000 sq ft |
| Wastewater (sewer) | $7,351.80 |
| Parks | $4,540 |
| Public safety | $492 |
| Power (200 A, 120/140 V column of the schedule) | $4,596 |
Where a development’s sewer goes to the Salem City wastewater plant, Salem’s adopted sewer impact fee is charged instead of Payson’s.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →Electrical, plumbing, mechanical and fire permits
The Building Division permits electrical, plumbing, mechanical and gas work, either with the building permit or on its own. On a new house the 4-way inspection covers rough plumbing, electrical, framing and mechanical, and the gas line and under-slab plumbing are inspected separately. Payson Power, the city’s electric utility, inspects permanent power and has 48 hours to complete that inspection; a Power to Panel Permit allows early power for testing.
Payson Fire & Rescue charges its own review and inspection fees: $25 each for residential sprinkler underground, rough-in and final inspections ($50 commercial), $100 to $250 for sprinkler plan review depending on the number of heads, and $50 per hour for commercial fire and life safety plan review. A fire re-inspection is $47.
Application documents and plan review times
For a new house, the subdivision plat must be recorded and all lot and subdivision improvements completed, inspected and approved before you apply. Incomplete submittals are not accepted.
Residential
- Building permit application, signed by the contractor with a copy of the licence (or the owner/builder form)
- Power to Panel application
- Stucco ICC report, certificate and contractor licence if stucco is used
- $300 deposit
- Site plan with setbacks and a landscape plan
- Footing, foundation and floor plans, elevations
- Electrical, plumbing and mechanical plans and a gas pipe sizing diagram
- Structural plan with shear walls, beams, joists and trusses (most must be engineer stamped)
Commercial
- Online application signed by a licensed contractor
- Plans designed and stamped by a registered design professional; reverse plans are not accepted
- Title sheet with occupancy, construction type and allowable area and height
- Soils report and energy calculations (ASHRAE 90.1 or IECC)
- Fire separations, fire protection and fire-rated assemblies
- Special inspection program
Residential plan review takes no more than 14 business days once a complete application is accepted. Commercial applications get a completeness check within 3 business days; the deposit invoice ($500, $1,000, or $100 minimum for remodels and additions) is sent only after acceptance, and the full review takes up to 21 business days. Zoning rules, development agreements and recorded CC&Rs all apply to the plans.
Rather not deal with the building department?
Get a free quote →How to apply: 6-step Payson process
Confirm the parcel is in Payson, the plat is recorded and subdivision improvements are approved (Public Works, 801-465-5217).
Follow the residential or commercial submittal requirements and get HOA approval where CC&Rs apply.
Upload the application, plans, Power to Panel form and owner/builder form if needed, and pay the deposit.
Residential review takes up to 14 business days; commercial up to 21 after the completeness check.
The permit is issued after approval and payment of the permit, plan review and impact fees.
Book each inspection at least 24 hours ahead; nobody may move in before the Building Official issues the certificate of occupancy.
Payson building inspections
Schedule inspections in the city’s online portal or by calling Development Services at 801-465-5204, at least 24 hours ahead; that does not guarantee a next-day visit. Have the permit number, address, inspection type and a contact name and number ready, and have the site ready by 8:30 a.m. A temporary address must be posted before any inspection, and all lot corners must be staked by a surveyor. A repeat inspection costs $100.
| Inspection | Inspected by |
|---|---|
| Footing, foundation, under-slab plumbing | Building Division |
| Water lateral, sewer lateral, power trench | Public Works |
| Permanent power | Payson Power |
| Shear wall, 4-way, gas line, suspended slab | Building Division |
| Insulation, flashing and lath, weather barrier | Building Division |
| Drywall (fire separation only), shower pan | Building Division |
| Building final | Building Division |
| Public Works final | Public Works |
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Front-yard landscaping (and the street-side yard on corner lots) must be installed before final; if weather prevents it, the cost must be escrowed or bonded until no later than June 1. Commercial landscaping must all be in before final. Finishing the final inspection does not allow occupancy on its own: only the Building Official issues the certificate of occupancy. The residential inspection handout says the city does not issue temporary certificates for homes, although the fee schedule lists a $500 temporary occupancy fee.
Local Payson details that matter
Sheds: every shed needs a permit and a site plan. In the R-1 and R-2 zones covered by the city’s shed handout, a shed must sit at least 5 feet from side and rear lines (20 feet on the street side of a corner lot), 3 feet from the house and no taller than 18 feet, and never on a public utility easement. Sheds over 200 sq ft need plans and pay a fee based on the inspections required.
Fences: a fence permit application is reviewed against sections 13.20.050 and 13.20.130 of the city code. The owner must make sure the fence is on their own land and get HOA approval where CC&Rs apply.
Decks: a deck that supports a roof tied into the house needs footings at least 30 inches below grade.
Land disturbance: the fee schedule prices land disturbance permits for new development, pools, remodels, additions, accessory buildings and demolition, and charges $300 for each time mud is tracked onto a road.
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 Payson permitting resources
Payson City pages and documents for building permits:
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →- Payson building permits and inspections
- Payson building permit documents and handouts
- Payson City Fee Schedule, adopted August 5, 2026
- Payson residential building permit submittal requirements
- Payson residential inspection requirements
- Payson commercial building permit submittal requirements
- Payson iWorQ permit application portal
- Payson shed requirements
- Payson fence permit application
Payson permit FAQs
Who issues building permits in Payson?
The Building Division of Payson’s Development Services Department, at 439 West Utah Avenue (801-465-5204), for property inside city limits.
How much is a building permit for a house in Payson?
The permit fee follows the valuation table: $2,427 for a $300,000 valuation, plus the 1% state surcharge and a $481 residential plan review fee. Impact fees for water, sewer, parks, public safety and power are added at permit issuance.
How long does plan review take?
Up to 14 business days for a complete residential application. Commercial projects get a 3-day completeness check and then up to 21 business days of review.
Do I need a permit for a shed or a deck?
Yes for every shed, but sheds up to 200 sq ft pay no fee. A deck under 30 inches high that is not over a basement or story below needs an application but no fee or inspections.
How do I schedule an inspection?
Online through the city portal or by calling 801-465-5204, at least 24 hours ahead, with the site ready by 8:30 a.m.
Can I move in after the final inspection?
Not until the Building Official issues the certificate of occupancy, and the Public Works and power inspections must also be complete.
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More Utah permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Payson permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.