Uintah County · about 10,700

Vernal

Detached permitted in residential zones

Vernal adopted Ordinance 2026-03 on February 18, 2026. Internal, attached, and detached additional dwelling units are a permitted use in the residential zones, reviewed by staff. A new detached building is what Kohottaa designs.

Internal ADU: Permitted in the RA-1, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, and MH zones on a lot of at least 6,000 sf, wholly inside the existing house, garage, or basement. Not allowed inside a mobile-home park.
Detached ADU: Permitted in those same zones as a staff review, not a conditional use. The unit must be on the same lot as one single-family house and cannot be sold separately. Flag lots are not eligible unless the subdivision already provides compliant access and utilities.
Lot: Local code: 10,000 square feet minimum for a detached or attached unit; 6,000 square feet for an internal unit. The state rule, in effect since October 1, 2026, requires a permitted detached path on a lot of 11,000 square feet or larger with a house. Vernal’s 10,000 square foot minimum is lower, which the statute allows.
Size: §16.20.100 does not set a floor-area cap. Height may not exceed 25 feet or the height of the main house, whichever is less. The city may also require that the unit not exceed the primary dwelling.
Parking: Local rule for a detached unit: one off-street stall per bedroom, and no more than two. The state cap is tighter on a small unit — one stall under 650 square feet, two at 650 and above. Surfaces may be asphalt, concrete, pavers, or gravel, and parking stays out of the front-yard setback unless planning approves otherwise.
Owner occupancy: The owner must live in the house or the additional unit. Planning records a Notice of Compliance with the Uintah County recorder. A new owner has 60 days after a sale to confirm occupancy, or the approval lapses.
Rental: This section does not set a short-term rental rule. Owner occupancy is required. Confirm any stay under 30 days with planning before assuming a rental use.
Design: Materials, colors, and roof form should match or complement the main house, including window and door proportions and roof pitch. Setbacks follow the accessory-building rules or the base zone, whichever is stricter. Water, sewer, electric, and gas stay on the house’s meters — a separate service is not allowed.

Notes

Start with Vernal Municipal Code §16.20.100. The application is administrative: site plan, floor plans, and proof of owner occupancy.

One additional unit per lot, accessory to a single house. Not on a lot that already has more than one principal dwelling, and not inside a mobile-home park.

Statewide floor

Senate Bill 284, Utah Code §10-21-304, has been in effect since October 1, 2026. Every city on this list must allow a detached ADU as a permitted use — not a conditional use — on a lot of 11,000 square feet or larger that already has a permitted single-family house. A city may also allow one on a smaller lot. It may still set size, height, coverage, setbacks, and owner occupancy, and it may require that the unit not be larger than the house, not sit in the front yard, and not be rented for fewer than 90 days. Parking may not exceed one stall under 650 square feet, or two stalls at 650 square feet and above. A printed ban, or a conditional-use requirement, on a qualifying lot conflicts with the statute even if the code book is late. Confirm the city’s ordinance before anyone draws.

Inquire about a lot in Vernal

We verify the ordinance that applies to your parcel as part of feasibility. Vernal Planning & Development