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If you own land in Eden or Liberty, 2026 has probably been a confusing year. A brand-new city, a building moratorium, new zoning, and a lot of mixed messages at the post office and the coffee shop.

Here's the good news first: the moratorium is over. Ogden Valley City fully repealed it on June 27, 2026. You can apply for building permits again, including for new homes, additions, and ADUs.

This guide explains what happened, who handles permits now, and how to put together an application that moves. We'll stick to what the public record says. Where something depends on your specific parcel, we'll tell you to check, because guessing on permits is how projects lose a season.

[PHOTO PLACEHOLDER: approved photo of an OVB project under construction in the valley. No client names or addresses.]

The short version

• January 2, 2026: Ogden Valley City officially incorporates.
• January 3, 2026: the council adopts a temporary land-use moratorium (Ordinance 2026-02) while it writes a land-use code.
• May 19, 2026: Ordinance 2026-42 reopens single-family home building permits in specified zones.
• June 27, 2026: Ordinance 2026-48 repeals the moratorium entirely.
• Today: applications are open, but they still have to meet zoning, setbacks, building codes, utilities, and fire requirements.

What happened in 2026, in plain English

For decades, most of the Ogden Valley outside Huntsville was unincorporated Weber County, and the county handled planning and permits. Voters approved incorporation, and Ogden Valley City became official on January 2, 2026.

A new city starts without its own zoning laws. Utah law lets a new city adopt a temporary moratorium so it isn't forced to process big applications before it has rules to judge them by. Ogden Valley City did exactly that the day after it incorporated, under Utah Code § 10-20-504.

While it was in place, the moratorium paused new subdivisions, most permits for new homes and buildings, permits that enlarged a building's footprint (which included most additions and new outbuildings), conditional use permits, and annexation petitions. Renovations that didn't change a footprint could go ahead, and so could some projects already vested with the county.

The city's Planning Commission and Council then worked through a full set of land-use ordinances. In May, the council reopened single-family building permits in the AV3, FV3, RE-15, RE-20, F-5/F-40, Hillside Residential, and Shoreline zones. In June, with the code largely adopted, it lifted the moratorium completely. That reopened subdivisions, commercial and residential development, building permits, conditional use permits, short-term rental and ADU applications, annexation petitions, and agri-tourism applications.

Who issues your permit now?

This depends on exactly where your parcel sits, and mailing addresses won't tell you. Eden, Liberty, and Huntsville addresses didn't change with incorporation.

• Ogden Valley City covers most of the formerly unincorporated valley, including Eden, Liberty, and Nordic Valley.
• Huntsville Town has been its own municipality since 1924. It wasn't part of the incorporation and has its own rules.
• Weber County still governs areas left outside the new city, which include the Snowbasin and Powder Mountain resort areas and some edge areas like Evergreen, North Fork Park, and Ogden Canyon.

Inside Ogden Valley City, the city makes land-use and engineering decisions. Weber County signed an interlocal agreement to help with permitting and inspection services after incorporation, and the city's planning page now lists its own city planner, building official, permit technician, and inspection scheduling contacts. Because staffing is still evolving, check the city's Planning and Building page for current contacts before you submit.

Our rule: we confirm jurisdiction and zoning for every lot during scoping, before anyone pays for drawings.

[PHOTO PLACEHOLDER: approved photo of a lot walk or site visit.]

How to apply for a building permit in Ogden Valley City

The city takes building and excavation permit applications online through its City Inspect portal, and it publishes a building permit submission requirements document. Read the current version before you start, because requirements for a new city can change. In our experience, a strong application for a new home generally includes:

1. Confirmed zoning and setbacks for your parcel under the city's new code.
2. A complete drawing set: site plan, floor plans, elevations, and structural drawings. Engineered foundations on sloped lots need a stamped design.
3. Site-specific structural criteria, including the ground snow load for your location and elevation, which Utah requires to be set from the state's snow-load data.
4. A soils or geotechnical report where the site calls for one. On hillside lots, plan on it.
5. Water and wastewater approval. On parcels without sewer, septic permits go through the Weber-Morgan Health Department, which is a separate process that should start alongside your drawings.
6. Utility and access information: power, water source, and driveway or access road details.
7. HOA or design review approval, if your subdivision requires it. That often has to come before the city permit.

Inspections are scheduled with the city's inspection contacts. Their page asks for the permit number, address, inspection type, and a phone number, and it schedules in morning and afternoon windows.

How long will it take?

We'd rather be honest than precise: there isn't enough post-moratorium history yet to quote a reliable review time for Ogden Valley City. Some things are predictable, though:

• The backlog is real. Months of paused applications reopened at once in May and June.
• Corrections add time. Incomplete or unclear drawings get sent back. A clean first submittal is the single best way to save weeks.
• Parallel paths matter. Septic, HOA review, and engineering can each hold up a permit if they start late.
• Seasons don't wait. On many valley and mountain lots, we plan exterior work for roughly May through October. If you want to break ground in spring 2027, plan to submit this winter.

What this means for your project

If you're building a new home: you can apply now. Confirm your zone, get your site evaluated, and line up design and engineering so you can submit early. Our custom home cost guide covers budgeting, and Building Near Snowbasin or Powder Mountain covers mountain lots, which may fall under Weber County.

If you're planning an addition: footprint expansions were paused under the moratorium and are allowed again, subject to the new setbacks. Check that your planned addition still fits the setback rules under the new code. See our home addition cost guide and our home additions page.

If you were vested with Weber County before January 2: keep your approvals and paperwork handy, and confirm with the city how your project is being handled.

If you're buying land: verify jurisdiction, zoning, water, septic feasibility, and access before you close.

How we help

Permitting is part of every project we build. Our builds are owner-run, so the person who walks your lot also tracks your application. We pull the permits, coordinate engineers, the health department, and HOA reviews, and build the permit window into your schedule from day one. If you don't have an architect yet, we can run the project design-build with our partner designers, with design and engineering included in your price. Costs are open-book and cost-plus (actual cost, including site supervision at cost with no markup, plus one guaranteed maximum fee for the agreed scope), permit fees are billed at cost, and every home we build carries our 36-month warranty. See how Cost Plus pricing works or explore our custom homes and the communities we serve, starting with Liberty and Eden.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Ogden Valley building moratorium still in effect?

No. Ogden Valley City partially lifted it for single-family building permits on May 19, 2026, and fully repealed it on June 27, 2026, with Ordinance 2026-48.

Is Huntsville part of Ogden Valley City?

No. Huntsville Town has been incorporated since 1924 and remains a separate municipality with its own rules.

Are Snowbasin and Powder Mountain in Ogden Valley City?

No. The resort areas weren't included in the incorporation boundary, so parcels there fall outside the city. Confirm with Weber County for your specific lot.

Where do I apply for a building permit in Ogden Valley City?

Through the city's online City Inspect portal, linked from the city's Planning and Building page, along with the current submission requirements.

Can I build an ADU or short-term rental now?

ADU and short-term rental applications reopened when the moratorium was fully lifted on June 27, 2026. They're subject to the city's new code and zoning, so check what's allowed in your zone.

Ready to get your project moving?

Tell us where your lot is and what you want to build. We'll confirm the jurisdiction, walk the site, and lay out a realistic permit and construction timeline. Start Your Project.

Sources

• The Ogden Valley News, "Moratorium" (January 26, 2026): http://www.ogdenvalleynews.com/moratorium.html
• Ogden Valley City, Amended Development Moratorium (document 2026-05, dated January 20, 2026): https://ogdenvalley.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/2026-05-Amended-Development-Moratorium-2026-01-20-FINAL.pdf
• The Ogden Valley News, "Moratorium Partially Lifted" (May 23, 2026): https://www.ogdenvalleynews.com/moratorium-partially-lifted.html
• The Ogden Valley News, "Land Use Moratorium Lifted" (June 27, 2026): https://www.ogdenvalleynews.com/land-use-moratorium-lifted.html
• Ogden Valley City, Planning and Building: https://ogdenvalley.gov/planning/
• Ogden Valley City, Name Advisory Committee (boundaries): https://ogdenvalley.gov/name-advisory-committee/
• Weber County, Interlocal Agreement for Building Permitting and Inspection Services: https://www.webercountyutah.gov/commission/documents/uploads/G5%20%20Building%20Permits%20and%20Inspections%20-%2012-30-25.pdf