Site Plans for Utah Building Permits
Engineer-stamped Utah site plans for residential, commercial, ADU, and subdivision building permits — drafted to clear plan-check on first review by Utah-licensed civil engineers.
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Updated May 2026 · By the Ludlow Engineering team
Almost every Utah building permit application requires a site plan — a scaled drawing showing the property, the proposed work, and how it relates to existing site conditions, setbacks, drainage, and utilities. Some Utah cities accept simple homeowner-drawn sketches for minor projects. Most require engineer-stamped Utah site plans for anything more substantial. As a Utah-licensed civil engineering firm, we draft permit-ready civil site plans across the state — for new homes, additions, ADUs, commercial buildings, and subdivisions. Most residential site plans deliver in 2–3 weeks; commercial plans in 4–8 weeks. Call (435) 623-0897 or request a quote.
This page focuses on Utah site plans drafted to satisfy specific building permit submittal requirements — the action-oriented intent of "I need a site plan to get a permit." For our broader site planning and design services as a service category, or our complete civil engineering practice, see the dedicated pages.
What a Utah Building Permit Site Plan Actually Includes
The phrase "site plan" gets used loosely. For Utah building permit purposes, a civil site plan is a specific deliverable that includes:
- Scaled drawing of the property with accurate property lines, dimensions, and bearings (based on a current boundary survey or recorded plat)
- Existing structures and improvements — buildings, sheds, driveways, fences, walls, and other permanent features
- Proposed work shown at scale — new buildings, additions, ADUs, garages, decks, pools
- Setback dimensions from all property lines, demonstrating compliance with the city's zoning code
- Drainage and grading concept — how stormwater will move across the site without affecting neighbors
- Utility locations — water, sewer, gas, electric, and storm drain connections (existing and proposed)
- Access and parking — driveways, parking stalls, sidewalks, and accessibility features as required
- Easements — utility easements, access easements, and any restrictions of record
- North arrow, scale, legend, and title block with the engineer's stamp, signature, and Utah license number
- City-specific items — landscape buffers, screening, lighting, signage, fire turnaround, or other items the specific Utah city requires
Plan-check reviewers across Utah are looking for the same things. A site plan that's complete on all of the above clears plan-check on first review. A site plan missing any item gets returned for resubmittal, which adds 2–6 weeks to the permit timeline.
When You Need a Utah Site Plan
Most Utah cities and counties require a civil site plan for these project types:
New Home Construction
Every Utah city requires a site plan for a new home permit. Plan content varies — Wasatch Front cities tend to require more detail than rural Utah counties — but every jurisdiction wants the basics.
Additions & Major Remodels
Additions over a certain square footage (typically 200+ sf in most Utah cities) require a site plan showing the new footprint, setbacks, and impact on existing site conditions.
ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units)
Utah's accessory dwelling unit framework requires a site plan showing the ADU location, setbacks, parking, and access. Different Utah cities have different ADU-specific requirements layered on top.
Sheds & Detached Structures
Detached structures over the city's threshold (typically 120–200 sf) usually require a permit and a site plan showing setbacks. Smaller structures sometimes don't.
Commercial Buildings
Commercial site plans are more comprehensive — parking calculations, ADA compliance, landscape buffers, lighting plans, drainage analysis, and traffic flow are typically required.
Subdivision & Lot-Specific Plans
Subdivision approvals require site plans at the preliminary plat phase and lot-specific plans during home construction. We draft both for Utah developers.
Types of Utah Site Plans We Draft
Residential Site Plans
Single-family homes, additions, ADUs, sheds, and detached structures. The most common request we get. Pricing typically $1,500–$3,500 depending on lot complexity and the specific city's requirements.
Commercial Site Plans
Retail, office, industrial, and mixed-use buildings. Substantially more involved — landscape buffers, ADA accessibility, lighting design, signage placement, parking calculations, traffic analysis (where required), stormwater management, and fire access. Pricing typically $3,500–$15,000+ depending on parcel size and complexity.
ADU Site Plans
Utah's ADU framework requires specific documentation. We draft to each city's ADU ordinance — Salt Lake City, Provo, Lehi, and Park City have particularly specific requirements. Pricing typically $1,800–$3,500.
Subdivision Site Plans
Preliminary and final subdivision plans showing road layout, lot configuration, utility easements, and stormwater management. Pricing varies substantially by parcel size — typically $5,000–$50,000+ for subdivision-scale work.
As-Built Site Plans
Documentation of what was actually constructed after completion. Required by some Utah lenders for construction loan draws, by some cities for certificate of occupancy, and frequently for warranty deed transactions. Pricing typically $1,500–$4,500.
Revised Site Plans
When plan-check comes back with corrections needed, we handle the revision and resubmittal. Sometimes the issue is a true compliance item; sometimes it's a reviewer preference. Either way, we can typically turn revisions in 5–10 business days.
Our Utah Site Plan Process
From initial call to delivered site plan, the typical residential project follows this sequence:
Quote & Scope Confirmation
Send us the property address, a description of the proposed project, and the city the property is in. We pull the deed and zoning information, review the city's specific site plan requirements, and send a fixed-fee quote within 1–2 business days.
Site Visit & Existing Conditions
If we don't have a current boundary survey or topographic data on the property, we visit to document existing conditions. Often this can be a short visit; sometimes a full topographic survey is needed.
Site Plan Drafting
Our engineers and CAD drafters produce the site plan to the city's specific submittal standards. For most Utah residential projects, the drafting takes 1–2 weeks. Commercial projects with detailed parking, landscape, and lighting requirements take longer.
Engineer Review & Stamp
A Utah-licensed Professional Engineer reviews the plan and signs and stamps the final drawing. You receive a PDF and a signed paper copy if needed for submittal.
Submittal Support
If plan-check comes back with corrections, we handle the revisions and resubmittal. Most of our Utah site plans clear plan-check on first review; corrections, when needed, are typically minor.
Utah Site Plan Pricing
Pricing depends on project type, lot complexity, the specific Utah city's requirements, and whether a topographic survey is needed alongside. Typical Ludlow Engineering 2026 ranges:
| Site Plan Type | Typical Scope | Typical Price |
|---|---|---|
| Residential — new home | Single-family home, standard lot | $1,500 – $3,500 |
| Residential — addition or ADU | Addition or accessory dwelling unit | $1,500 – $3,500 |
| Residential — shed/detached structure | Small detached structure permit | $1,200 – $2,200 |
| Commercial — small | Standalone commercial building, under 1 acre | $3,500 – $8,500 |
| Commercial — medium | Multi-tenant or larger commercial parcel | $8,500 – $15,000 |
| Subdivision — preliminary | Preliminary plat for subdivision approval | $5,000 – $25,000 |
| As-built site plan | Documentation of completed construction | $1,500 – $4,500 |
| Revised site plan | Plan-check corrections, resubmittal | $500 – $1,500 |
Pricing typically includes the site plan drafting, engineer stamp, and one round of plan-check revisions. Topographic surveys, boundary surveys, and additional revisions are separate. Quotes are fixed-fee written.
Site Plan Requirements Vary by Utah City
Site plan content requirements aren't standardized across Utah. Each city's plan-check office has its own preferences and specific items they look for. Some patterns we see:
- Salt Lake City and Provo — among the most demanding for content; expect detailed setback dimensions, drainage analysis, and landscape information
- Park City and Summit County — additional natural-feature preservation, slope analysis, and aesthetic review requirements
- Lehi, American Fork, and Saratoga Springs — fast-growing cities with specific impact fee documentation and utility capacity verification
- St. George and Washington County — desert landscape and water conservation considerations
- Smaller central Utah cities — typically simpler requirements, but specific items vary by jurisdiction
- Park City for ADUs specifically — additional aesthetic, height, and short-term-rental documentation requirements
For any Utah project, we draft to the specific city's current requirements. We know the local plan-check offices in most Utah cities — that familiarity is part of what gets our plans through plan-check on first review.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a site plan for a Utah building permit?
A site plan is a scaled drawing of the property showing the proposed work in context — property lines, setbacks, existing structures, drainage, utilities, and the project's relationship to neighboring properties. It's the foundational document Utah cities and counties use to evaluate building permit applications. See our "What's Included" section above for full detail on what Utah cities expect.
Do I need an engineer-stamped site plan for my Utah permit?
It depends on the project and the Utah city. Small residential projects (small additions, sheds) in some Utah cities accept homeowner-drawn site plans. Most new home construction, all commercial work, all ADUs, and any project with significant grading or drainage impact requires an engineer-stamped site plan. When in doubt, check with the city's building department — they'll tell you specifically what they require.
How much does a Utah site plan cost?
Residential site plans typically run $1,500–$3,500. ADU and shed site plans run $1,200–$3,500. Small commercial site plans run $3,500–$8,500; medium commercial $8,500–$15,000. Subdivision preliminary site plans run $5,000–$25,000+. See our pricing table above for the full breakdown.
How long does it take to get a Utah site plan?
Most Utah residential site plans deliver in 2–3 weeks from contract. Commercial site plans typically take 4–8 weeks. Subdivision site plans take 8–16 weeks. Plan-check revisions add 1–3 weeks if needed. Rush turnaround is available at additional cost.
What's the difference between a site plan and a survey?
A boundary survey establishes the legal property corners and lines (performed by a licensed surveyor). A topographic survey documents existing elevations and features. A site plan uses survey data as its base to show proposed work in context. Most site plans require a current boundary survey, and many require a topographic survey, before drafting can begin.
Do you draft site plans for all Utah cities?
Yes. From our Nephi office we serve every Utah county and city. We're particularly familiar with the plan-check offices in Salt Lake City, Provo, Orem, Lehi, Park City, Sandy, Murray, Layton, St. George, Ogden, Logan, and Cedar City. Smaller Utah cities are equally well-served; we simply confirm specific requirements before drafting.
Can you handle the entire permit submittal, or just the site plan?
We draft the site plan; the actual permit submittal is typically handled by the owner, builder, or architect. For complex projects (commercial, subdivision, mixed-use), we can coordinate directly with the city plan-check office on technical questions and revisions.
What if my plan doesn't get approved?
Plan-check corrections are common — sometimes the issue is true non-compliance (a missing setback dimension, an incorrect parking calculation), sometimes it's reviewer preference. Either way, we handle the revision and resubmittal. Most of our Utah site plans clear plan-check on first review; when revisions are needed, they're typically minor and turnaround is 5–10 business days.
Do I need both a site plan and a separate civil engineering package?
For residential projects, the site plan is typically the complete civil engineering deliverable. For commercial projects and subdivisions, the site plan is one part of a larger civil engineering package that may also include grading plans, drainage plans, utility plans, and erosion control plans. For our broader civil engineering practice, see the dedicated page.
How do I get a Utah site plan quote?
Send us the property address, the city or county, and a description of the proposed project (new home / addition / ADU / commercial / etc.). We pull the deed and zoning info ourselves and send a fixed-fee written quote within 1–2 business days, including the specific items your particular Utah city will require.