Can You - or Your Neighbor - Build a Tiny House in the Backyard?

Hey Provo! 👋Can You - or Your Neighbor - Build a Tiny House in the Backyard?

The answer might surprise you.

Welcome to WHAT’S THE DEAL? a new series where I answer your questions about how Provo works (while the City Council and Planning Commission are on a short break).

WHAT’S THE DEAL with ADUs rules in Provo? Accessory Dwelling Units, or “ADUs” (backyard cottages, garage apartments, basement rentals) might be the thorniest topic the City Council tackles. They’ve got some pretty strong, differing opinions and it comes down to a three-way balancing act of:

• Preserving the character of Provo’s neighborhoods;

• Respecting individual property rights; and

• Providing more affordable housing.

So, can you build a tiny house in your backyard?

If you live in a BLUE area on this map, you are already in a neighborhood where the City Council has said ADUs are allowed (including basement apartments and backyard cottages).

Now look at this map. ⬇️

Everything in YELLOW will allow a backyard cottage or garage apartment starting in October 2026.

Why such a big change? Because the Utah Legislature is desperate to see more housing built in Utah and lawmakers think many cities are being too restrictive. The latest in that tug-of-war is SB 284 which requires cities with a population over 5,000 to allow detached ADUs on any residential lot over 11,000 sq ft.

But cities can still regulate a lot of details about how those backyard tiny houses and garage apartments get built. And the Provo City Council is planning some rules that will mean lots of people in the YELLOW zone, won’t actually be able to build a detached ADU.

Here’s a checklist to see you qualify: (Must answer “YES” to all.)

• Your lot is at least 11,000 sq ft (.2525 acres) Look your address up on this interactive map the city made. ⤵️

• You live on the property. ⤵️

• The detached ADU is shorter and smaller than the main house - but not smaller than 200 sq ft. ⤵️

• All structures - house, garage, sheds and ADU - total 40% of your property, or less. (So big houses with tiny yards are unlikely to qualify.) ⤵️

• The detached ADU sits at least 10 feet from any property line OR matches the setback of the main house - whichever is less. ⤵️

• For every foot of height over 16 ft, the ADU must be an additional foot from neighboring property lines. (This is to address the concern some councilmembers have about someone putting in a huge ADU that affects the sunlight and views of neighbors.) ⤵️

• Provide 1 or 2 off-street parking spaces (depends on the size of the ADU)⤵️

• The detached ADU is “architecturally compatible” with the main house and not visible from the street.

So, can you legally build a backyard cottage on your Provo property?

Let me know in the comments.

🚨Tell the Provo City Council what you think! They’re still formalizing the detached ADU rules. Email council@provo.gov.