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State facts

Utah: homes, climate zones and who licenses the work

Utah has 1.2 million housing units. 35.5% were built before 1980, and the median year built is 1992. 70.2% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners.

How old the homes are

Utah housing units, by year built

Layers drawn to scale

Utah housing units by year built 35.5% of Utah housing units were built before 1980 and 64.5% in 1980 or later. 2020 or later: 4.2%; 2010–2019: 16.4%; 2000–2009: 18.1%; 1990–1999: 14.9%; 1980–1989: 10.9%; 1970–1979: 14.1%; 1960–1969: 6.3%; 1950–1959: 6.0%; 1940–1949: 3.0%; 1939 or earlier: 6.1%. Before 1980 35.5% 1980 or later 64.5% 2020 or later 4.2% 2010–2019 16.4% 2000–2009 18.1% 1990–1999 14.9% 1980–1989 10.9% 1970–1979 14.1% 1960–1969 6.3% 1950–1959 6.0% 1940–1949 3.0% 1939 or earlier 6.1%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, tables B25034, B25035 and B25003; heating fuel below from B25040.

Age changes what applies to a house. In general, anyone paid to do work that disturbs painted surfaces in a home built before 1978 must be certified in lead-safe work practices under the EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule, which Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Air Quality (Lead-Based Paint Program) administers in Utah.

How homes are heated

How homes in Utah are heated

Main heating fuel, share of 1.1 million occupied homes

  • Utility gas 78.7%
  • Electricity 16.8%
  • Propane or other tank gas 2.6%
  • Wood 0.8%
  • No fuel used 0.3%
  • Solar energy 0.3%
  • Other fuel 0.3%
  • Fuel oil or kerosene 0.1%
  • Coal or coke <0.1%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, table B25040 (occupied housing units).

Climate and building zones

The 2021 International Energy Conservation Code assigns every county a climate zone from 1 to 8 and a moisture regime: A for moist, B for dry, C for marine. Zones 7 and 8 have no letter. Here is how Utah's residents divide among them, by the county they live in.

IECC 2021 zoneShare of residentsCounties
5B89.8%21
3B5.7%1
6B4.5%7

ENERGY STAR rates windows, doors and skylights for four climate zones of its own. Utah spans 2: Northern (94.3% of residents), South-Central (5.7% of residents).

By NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals, counties here average 120 days a year with a low of 32°F or colder, weighted by where people live. The range runs from 81 days in the mildest county to 247 in the coldest.

Flood risk and flood insurance

0.3% of residential structures in Utah carry a National Flood Insurance Program policy: 3,169 policies, in FEMA's count as of August 3, 2026.

In FEMA's National Risk Index, 1 of 29 counties rates high or very high for riverine flooding.

Fire ants and termites

No county in Utah is inside the federal imported fire ant quarantine.

Who licenses the work in Utah

Before anyone starts work, check the license with the agency below. Where the state does not license a trade, cities and counties may; ask the one where the house is.

Checked 2026-09-29. Licensing rules change; the agency's own page is the authority.

Sources

  1. U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, tables B25034, B25035, B25040 and B25003 data.census.gov
  2. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Guide to Determining Climate Zone by County: Building America and IECC 2021 Updates basc.pnnl.gov
  3. U.S. Department of Energy Prototype Building Models (climate zones 1–8 and moisture regimes A, B, C) energycodes.gov
  4. ENERGY STAR Climate zones by county for windows, doors and skylights energystar.gov
  5. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual and seasonal ncei.noaa.gov
  6. Federal Emergency Management Agency OpenFEMA NFIP Residential Penetration Rates (as of 2026-08-03) fema.gov
  7. Federal Emergency Management Agency National Risk Index, county ratings fema.gov
  8. USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Imported fire ant quarantine map aphis.usda.gov
  9. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations 7 CFR part 301, subpart P, Imported Fire Ant ecfr.gov
  10. Utah Department of Agriculture and Food ag.utah.gov ag.utah.gov
  11. Utah Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL), Department of Commerce commerce.utah.gov commerce.utah.gov
  12. Utah Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL), Department of Commerce commerce.utah.gov commerce.utah.gov
  13. Utah Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL), Department of Commerce dopl.utah.gov dopl.utah.gov
  14. Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Air Quality (Lead-Based Paint Program) epa.gov epa.gov
  15. Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Air Quality (Lead-Based Paint Program) deq.utah.gov deq.utah.gov