Low height limit
An 18 foot cap favors single-level and low-profile plans.
Sandy, Utah
Sandy now allows detached ADUs.
Sandy City adopted a detached ADU ordinance this fall to meet SB 284, after a lively council debate over size, height and parking. The details matter in Sandy, so a lot review before you design is worth it.
Ordinance 26-55 adopted, fall 2026
What we confirmed for Sandy
Source: Deseret News, October 14, 2026; local council coverage of Sandy City meetings; Utah Code 10-21-304.
- Adopted
- Ordinance 26-55, passed 4 to 2 as reported
- Height
- Reportedly capped at about 1.5 stories, around 18 ft
- Size
- Reportedly a 2,000 sq ft cap on gross ADU area
- Occupancy
- Owner occupancy and subordinate-unit rules are included
- State floor
- Lots of 11,000 sq ft or more with a single-family home must qualify
- Parking
- State law caps it at 1 space under 650 sq ft and 2 at 650 sq ft or more
Not confirmed: Sandy's final minimum lot size (the commission discussed 10,000 versus the state's 11,000 sq ft), and exact setbacks. Confirm with Sandy Planning.
What it means for you
What changes for Sandy homeowners.
Debated rules
Sandy argued size and parking at length, so ask the city for its current text.
Salt Lake County market
Sandy is one of the larger Salt Lake County cities covered by SB 284.
Plans that fit
Compact floor plans for a Sandy backyard.
Small plans are easier to fit inside setbacks and cap parking at one space under 650 square feet. Open any plan for photos and the floor plan.
Final fit depends on your lot, utilities, the delivery route and the city's current standards. We confirm all of it in a lot review.
Budget the site work before you fall for a plan.
The home is only part of what a detached ADU costs. Sewer, water and power connections, trenching, the foundation and the finish work that joins the modules add up, and they depend on how far your lot is from the utilities. Taylorsville city staff told their council that utility connections alone could run 50 to 70 percent of the cost of a detached unit. We price the site and the utilities line by line in a lot review, before you commit to a plan.
How to plan the full budgetHow it works here
From your lot to move-in.
- Lot review. We check lot size, setbacks, utilities and the delivery route to your backyard.
- Choose a plan and finishes. Pick a floor plan and one of four finish series.
- City review. We help you prepare the plans and site information Sandy will want for approval and the building permit.
- Foundation and utilities. Site work happens on your lot while the home is built in the factory.
- Delivery and set. The home arrives by truck and is set by crane, then finished, connected and walked through with you.
Questions
Sandy ADU questions.
Does SB 284 apply to Sandy?
Yes. Sandy is covered by the state mandate, which requires a covered city to allow a detached ADU on a lot of 11,000 square feet or more that has a single-family home, as a permitted use. Cities can still set size, height, setback, owner-occupancy and rental rules within the limits of the law. Read the SB 284 guide.
How much parking does a detached ADU need?
A city cannot require more than one on-site space for a detached ADU under 650 square feet, or more than two for a unit of 650 square feet or larger.
Can I rent it out?
The state allows a city to require rentals of at least 90 consecutive days and to require the owner to live on the property. Check how Sandy applies those rules to your lot.
What if my lot is smaller than 11,000 square feet?
The state mandate does not reach it, but a city may choose to allow smaller lots. Ask Sandy Planning what applies to your parcel.
Does Stoneward work in Sandy?
Yes. Stoneward is based in American Fork and serves Salt Lake County and the rest of the Wasatch Front. We run a lot review first and tell you plainly if a detached ADU does not fit.
General information, not legal advice. Cities can amend their ordinances, so confirm current rules with Sandy before you design or buy.
Own a lot in Sandy?
Send us your address. We will check the lot against Sandy's rules and tell you honestly whether a detached ADU fits.