Newly eligible lots
City staff and council noted that quite a number of lots could qualify under the current standards.
Saratoga Springs, Utah
Saratoga Springs has opened the door to backyard ADUs.
The Saratoga Springs City Council adopted its detached ADU rules on September 15, 2026, to comply with SB 284. Owners of qualifying lots can now plan a separate small home in the backyard, with local standards the city says it will keep refining.
Ordinance 26-42 adopted, September 15, 2026
What we confirmed for Saratoga Springs
Source: Saratoga Springs City Council minutes, September 15, 2026; Utah Code 10-21-304.
- Adopted
- September 15, 2026, Ordinance 26-42, 4 to 0
- Lot
- Permitted on qualifying single-family lots of 11,000 sq ft or larger
- City may regulate
- Overall size, parking, design standards, rental restrictions and utility capacity
- Code layout
- One chapter with general standards, plus separate rules for internal and detached ADUs
- Impact fees
- The city may charge impact fees on detached ADUs, but not on internal ADUs
- Next steps
- The mayor said more refinement is coming over the next few months
Not confirmed: The adopted size, height, setback and parking figures. Council members raised height, emergency access and utility capacity as open questions.
What it means for you
What changes for Saratoga Springs homeowners.
Impact fees apply
Unlike internal ADUs, a detached ADU can be charged impact fees, so budget for them early.
HOAs are separate
The city said it does not enforce HOA covenants. Check yours before you design.
Plans that fit
Compact floor plans for a Saratoga Springs 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 Saratoga Springs 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
Saratoga Springs ADU questions.
Will Saratoga Springs charge impact fees on a detached ADU?
The city said it may impose impact fees on detached ADUs, though not on internal ones. Ask the city for the current fee schedule early, because it affects your budget.
Does SB 284 apply to Saratoga Springs?
Yes. Saratoga Springs 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 Saratoga Springs 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 Saratoga Springs Planning what applies to your parcel.
Does Stoneward work in Saratoga Springs?
Yes. Stoneward is based in American Fork and serves Utah 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 Saratoga Springs before you design or buy.
Own a lot in Saratoga Springs?
Send us your address. We will check the lot against Saratoga Springs's rules and tell you honestly whether a detached ADU fits.