SLC has three residential zoning areas, ranging from very low-density single-family areas to high density areas for multi-family dwellings. There are actually 12 residential zones as part of the City’s total of 30 zoning classifications that also include commercial, industrial and special purpose areas. Each zone allows for different activities and supposedly helps prevent conflicts between different uses. You don’t want a noisy, stinky factory next door to your home or as was seen in the ‘80’s and 90’s in Draper, a pig farm next door to your new housing subdivision.

The capitol city has been looking at updating zoning rules as of late and especially those that pertain to single family living regulations. Right now, there are three main zones for homes, with rules that state a new home must be built on 5,000-12,000 square foot lots. Unless you’re a major gardener, have need for a massive garage or workshop, many people don’t use much of their rear yards and the trend now is to build accessory dwelling units on that unused land.  Up until a few years ago there were very few laws that would allow for such density but facing a massive housing crunch now and in our future, citizens and city leaders are now putting together proposed new rules that would make adding housing inventory easier than ever before with loosening and regulating adding mini-homes/ADUs in the city.

St. George/Washington County where I often work has had a long-standing OK for ADU’s (aka ‘casitas’) as long as the structure abides by rules covering the size, height, parking, lot requirements and rental use for such in-law/guest house units. Since the area is known for retirees, it makes sense to have extra living space for family members and caretakers for seniors to live, and live affordably. Most of the homes with casitas that I’ve shown and sold have these mini homes in the rear yard and they often look (architecturally) like them main home. They often have around 800-1000 sq. ft, 1-2 bedrooms, 1-2 bathrooms and an open kitchen and great room, but no basement. Parking is sometimes in a third space to the primary home or on the street. Unless you walked into the rear yard you might not even know the second dwelling is there!

If you want to add such a dwelling, call SLC Planning and Zoning at 801-535-7700 or go online at zoning@slc.gov to read the current rules and regulations. Although the city doesn’t know how many ADU’s there currently are, they do put out an annual report about applications and the process updates. If you’re really really interested, you can attend Planning and Zoning public meetings held monthly at the city or watch them on slc.gov television with their live streams on slctv on their YouTube channel.  You can also subscribe to the live meetings of the City Council, CRA Board and Historic Landmarks Commission meetings as well.