Tooele, Utah Building Permit Guide

Inside Tooele City, the Building Safety Division of Community Development reviews plans, issues building permits and inspects the work, and permits are applied for and paid online in the City’s Building Permit Portal. City Code sets the permit fee from building valuation data and the 1997 UBC fee table, and a new house also pays City impact fees led by $7,805 for culinary water and $4,731 for sewer.

What requires a permit in Tooele?

Tooele City Code 4-1-2 says no construction, alteration, repair, removal or occupancy of a structure may begin without a written permit from the Building Official, except work the code or the Building Official treats as minor. Temporary uses connected with construction also need a permit, for up to one year. The City’s permit form covers new buildings, additions, remodels and signs, and its fee schedule adds:

Work started without a permit is charged double permit fees, and a stop work order costs $200 when a permit exists or $300 when it does not.

Who issues building permits in Tooele?

Tooele City’s Building Safety Division, under the Community Development Director, issues building permits and inspects buildings and public infrastructure inside the city limits. Brad Alder is the Chief Building Official. The City Engineer approves public improvements, pools and floodplain work. Land outside the city in unincorporated Tooele County is permitted by Tooele County’s Community Development (Building Services) office, and Grantsville runs its own building department.

Tooele permit applications and portals

Building permits are applied for and paid in the Building Permit Portal, which also searches existing permits and shows parcel information. Land use, subdivision and other planning applications use the separate Planning and Zoning Portal. A permit becomes valid only after the approval signatures and payment of fees.

The application (January 2025 form) asks for the contractors’ state licence numbers (general, electrical, mechanical and plumbing), the architect or engineer of record and any special inspection agency, finished and rough bathrooms, and the water meter and service size. An owner acting as builder must sign the state owner-builder certification. The form also records the transfer and verification of water rights and any latecomer reimbursement fee owed on the lot.

The City’s pre-development meeting, which its information sheet describes as mandatory, brings together the Community Development and Public Works Director, City Planner, City Engineer, Building Official, plans examiner and Fire Chief before formal application; applications are taken in Suite 108 of City Hall or by email.

Tooele building permit costs

City Code 4-3-1.2 bases a project’s value on the most current building valuation data, and 4-3-1.1 adopts Table 1-A of the 1997 Uniform Building Code as the permit fee table. The City’s Fee Schedule charges plan review at the “IBC rate”; its 2015 fee information sheet explains that this is generally 65% of the permit fee, and a 1% state surcharge is added.

The City Council raised the water meter charges with Resolution 2026-66 on September 2, 2026, effective on passage; the Finance fee page still shows the earlier $424 and $484. The water impact fee does not include water rights, which are handled separately on the permit form. Sewer and water connection fees apply only where the lot does not already have a lateral stubbed in by the subdivision.

Electrical, plumbing, mechanical and gas work

Tooele City enforces the electrical, plumbing and mechanical codes through its own Building Safety Division (City Code Title 4, Chapters 4, 5 and 7), so trade work is permitted and inspected by the City as part of the building permit, with each licensed trade contractor named on the application. Its September 2026 code list names the 2024 IPC, IMC and IFGC and the 2023 NEC; houses follow the 2021 IRC. The fee schedule lists a $50 power-to-panel agreement, and the Building Official can order utility services disconnected or approve their reconnection.

Fire review is part of the City’s process: the Fire Chief and fire staff sit in pre-development meetings, and the Fire Department charges its own inspection and fire permit fees on the City schedule.

Application documents and plan review

Every application needs a scaled plan showing the lot’s actual dimensions and the size and location of existing and proposed buildings (City Code 4-1-2), and a permit can be refused until the applicant shows the site will have adequate culinary water and sewer service. Design to the City’s criteria (September 8, 2026):

• Ground snow load from the Utah State University snow load tool; roof loads per ASCE 7-16 Chapter 7.
• Wind 105 mph, exposure C, for houses; commercial wind speed by risk category.
• Seismic design category D1 for houses and D for commercial buildings.
• Frost depth 30 inches; assumed soil bearing 1,500 psf for houses and a site-specific geotechnical report for commercial buildings.
• Climate zone 5B, severe weathering.

The permit form also asks for the architect or engineer of record and any special inspection agency on commercial work. Tooele City does not publish a plan review time.

How to apply in Tooele: 6 steps

Tooele building inspections

Inspections are scheduled by email to cd@tooelecity.gov. Requests must be in by 4:30 p.m. the business day before, and cancellations by 3:00 p.m. that day; each request is for a morning or an afternoon slot. Finish the work before asking, because re-inspection fees apply if it is not ready, and every inspection after the second costs $50.

No work may be covered before it is inspected. A permit lapses if work does not start within 180 days of approval or stops for 180 days. A temporary certificate of occupancy carries a $250 bond administration fee.

Local details for Tooele projects

Water rights: the building permit form includes the transfer and verification of water rights for the new connection, and an appeal on a water rights conveyance costs $150.

Latecomer fees: some lots owe a reimbursement fee to the developer who built nearby infrastructure; the permit form records whether one is known.

Pools: permanent pools, spas and hot tubs must be at least 5 feet from property lines and 30 feet from any dwelling on an adjoining lot, and at least 10 feet from power lines.

Floodplains: new construction in a special flood hazard area must meet the City’s Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance, administered by the City Engineer.

Street cuts: excavation in a paved street costs $300 plus an age factor ($1.50 per sq ft for roads under 5 years old), with a $1,000 single permit bond.

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 Tooele permitting resources

City and state sources:

• Tooele City Building Safety Division (contacts and the Building Codes and Design Criteria, September 2026)
• Tooele City Building Permit Portal (iWorQ)
• Tooele City Planning and Zoning Portal
• Community Development applications and forms
• Tooele City building permit form (January 2025)
• Tooele City Fee Schedule
• Tooele City Council packet, September 2, 2026, with Resolution 2026-66 (water meter costs)
• Tooele City Code, including Title 4 Building Regulations
• Utah Code 15A-2-103, adopted code editions
• Utah Division of Professional Licensing

Tooele building permit FAQs

How much is a building permit in Tooele City?

The permit fee comes from the 1997 UBC Table 1-A applied to the project’s valuation, plus plan review (generally 65% of the permit fee) and a 1% state surcharge. A new house also pays City impact fees, including $7,805 for culinary water, $4,731 for sewer and $3,194 for parks.

Who issues permits for property just outside Tooele City?

Tooele County’s Community Development (Building Services) office, for unincorporated land. Grantsville issues its own permits.

How do I schedule an inspection?

Email cd@tooelecity.gov by 4:30 p.m. the business day before; requests are for a morning or afternoon slot.

Can I apply online?

Yes. Building permits are applied for and paid in the City’s Building Permit Portal.

What happens if I build without a permit?

The City charges double permit fees, and a stop work order on unpermitted work costs $300.

Can a homeowner pull the permit?

Yes, as an owner-builder who signs the state owner-builder certification included with the application.

Simplify Tooele permitting with Alliance Permitting

Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company in Utah. We prepare your paperwork, file it correctly and coordinate with the permitting authority through issuance. We are not a contractor and we do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your licensed team and the jurisdiction.

This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Tooele permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.