When Was the Building Constructed?

The most reliable source for dating construction is the original building permit. Salt Lake City permits are available online. For other communities, contact city or town offices to determine whether historical permits or permit registers have been retained.

​

• Salt Lake City Building Permit Registers (1889–1954), hosted by the Utah State Archives

• Salt Lake City Building Permit Cards (generally early 1900s; includes original permits and later modifications).Access note: Click “Sign Out,” then “Sign In” on the following page to access the site.

The Utah State Historic Preservation Office surveys buildings across the state to evaluate their historical and architectural significance. Even if a building is not designated historic, it may appear in this database with an estimated year of construction and survey documentation. If a property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the record typically includes a link to a folder with additional materials.

• Search by address, or enter a city name and zoom in on the property

• Surveyed buildings appear as red or green dots

• Clicking a dot reveals estimated construction dates and other survey information

• These estimates are often more reliable than county assessor data

Access the Viewer

• In the search window, enter the address.

OR​

• For a more general search, enter a city name and use the Viewer to zoom in on the property.

Many county assessor websites offer property searches that include estimated construction years. For counties without online tools, contact the assessor directly. Having detailed property information, such as a parcel number, will facilitate the search.

Counties with online searches include: Cache, Carbon, Davis, Kane, Morgan, Salt Lake, Summit, Tooele, Uintah, Utah, Washington, and Weber.

Produced from the 1880s through 1969, Sanborn maps show building footprints, materials, and property changes over time. Comparing editions can help identify approximate construction dates and later modifications.

Historic newspapers often contain information about when a given building was constructed. You can search by address, the name of the builder, or the name of the original owner (if you know it), but as with any search, entering the most productive search term can be a little tricky, so make sure to try different terms (e.g., “E” or “East”). Some newspapers often listed new buildings in a regular “Building Permits” listing.

Local and family histories sometimes include construction dates or references to individual buildings. Many are accessible through library websites or archival collections.