Washington County · Service area

Can you build a backyard home in St. George?

St. George usually requires a conditional use permit for detached units — and the statute overrides it.

Conditional use today The statute prohibits exactly this.

Takes about 3 minutes. No email required to see your result.

What changed here on October 1

St. George usually requires a conditional use permit for detached units — and the statute overrides it.

St. George permits attached ADUs outright but generally routes detached units through a conditional use permit in the rear yard. Section 10-21-304 bars exactly that for qualifying lots in primarily residential zones. The city has also been openly discussing fewer restrictions to support affordable housing.

“A specified municipality shall adopt a land use regulation that permits a detached accessory dwelling unit on any lot or parcel that is 11,000 square feet or larger…” — S.B. 284, Enrolled Copy, Utah Code § 10-21-304, effective October 1, 2026.

The numbers that decide your project

St. George ADU rules at a glance

Rule	St. George — St. George City Code Title 10
Detached ADUs today	Generally require a conditional use permit, sited in the rear yard with setbacks. confirm with city
Detached ADUs from Oct 1	Conditional use permit prohibited for a qualifying detached unit in a primarily residential zone. state law
Size	Detached ADUs up to 800 sq ft in a side or rear yard under current code. confirm with city
Attached ADUs	Generally permitted outright where zoning standards are met. confirm with city
Owner occupancy	Owner-occupant must live in either the single-family dwelling or the ADU. confirm with city
Number per lot	One — except inside the Downtown Boundary, where two are allowed. confirm with city
Short-term rental	Not permitted. confirm with city

state law Quoted from the enrolled copy of S.B. 284 — primary source, verified.
confirm with city From the city's published ADU material or council reporting — Arena confirms at the planning counter before design.
moving now The city is still bringing this into line with the law that took effect October 1, 2026. Treat as a moving target.
We would rather show you the gap than guess. Arena is a builder, not a law firm — confirm your parcel with St. George before you sign anything.

What that means on your lot

The downtown two-ADU allowance is unusual in Utah and worth checking if your parcel sits inside that boundary.

Is my St. George lot 11,000 sq ft?

That single number decides whether the new state law applies to you. Enter your address above — we'll tell you which rule you fall under and which plans fit, in about three minutes.

Quoted on your St. George lot

Eight plans, from The Lookout at 784 sq ft to The Launchpad at 3,061 sq ft. A plan that is one component stack shows that price. The others say request a quote.

ADU calculator → · How the price works →

Can you build a backyard home in St. George?

St. George usually requires a conditional use permit for detached units — and the statute overrides it.

St. George ADU rules at a glance

The downtown two-ADU allowance is unusual in Utah and worth checking if your parcel sits inside that boundary.

Is my St. George lot 11,000 sq ft?

Quoted on your St. George lot

Three places to start

The Lookout

The Encore

The Loft

There's still $2,200 a month hiding in your house.