Local service guide
Salt Lake City masonry: hiring and repair planning
For Salt Lake City masonry work, ask contractors to assess the repair scope before you compare prices. Get a written proposal that identifies the affected brickwork, materials, access arrangements and permit responsibility. Check the contractor’s license scope and insurance, and resolve historic-property approval before committing to exterior changes. Salt Lake City directs owners of historic properties to Planning before they apply for a building permit. [1] [2]
Define the repair before requesting bids
Photograph the whole wall and the individual areas you want repaired. Include corners, openings and any chimney involved. Tell the contractor when you noticed the problem, whether you have seen changes, and whether anyone has repaired the area before. Ask the contractor to explain the proposed work in terms you can compare across bids.
For joint repairs, request the proposed mortar, joint finish and removal method in writing. For replacement brick, ask how the contractor will select the size, color and texture. Request a sample area before approving a visible repair, and agree on who will accept it. Avoid choosing materials from a photograph alone.
If you see leaning masonry, loose overhead pieces or changes around an opening, keep people away from the affected area and request an assessment before agreeing to surface repairs. Ask whether the contractor recommends a structural engineer and whether that assessment belongs in the quoted scope.
Check credentials and assign permit responsibility
Salt Lake City tells homeowners to check with Utah’s Division of Professional Licensing, known as DOPL, to establish whether a contractor holds a license and can perform the proposed work. Ask for the business name and license number, then check the scope rather than relying on a description such as licensed mason. The city also advises checking insurance and bonding. [1]
DOPL’s specialty-contractor application requires general liability coverage of $1 million per incident and $2 million in total. It also requires workers’ compensation documentation for applicants with employees, or a coverage waiver for those without employees. Ask your bidder for current documentation; application requirements alone do not establish that a particular contractor’s coverage remains active. [4]
When you hire a contractor, Salt Lake City assigns that contractor responsibility for obtaining the permit and arranging inspections. Put those tasks in the agreement and ask for the permit number before work that requires approval begins. For uncertainty about a repair exemption, contact Building Services at 801-535-6000 with photos and a written scope. [1]
Separate older-brick repairs from seismic work
Salt Lake City’s Fix the Bricks program focuses on seismic retrofits for low-income households in unreinforced masonry homes built before 1975. Its priorities include roof-to-wall connections and chimney roof bracing. The city states that this is not a masonry repair program, so ask separate questions about visible repairs and seismic reinforcement when planning work on an older brick home. [3]
The city listed Fix the Bricks as closed on the page retrieved October 10, 2026. It listed applications for Minor Repairs and Home Repairs as available, with eligibility conditions. If funding affects your project, contact Housing Stability at 801-535-7233 before signing a contract and ask which program, if any, fits your household and proposed work. [3]
Compare complete quotes and weather plans
Ask each contractor to separate repair labor and materials from access equipment, disposal, permits and any assessment work. Record the repair area or brick quantity, exclusions and the procedure for approving additional work. If the contractor cannot determine hidden damage before opening an area, ask for a written allowance or pricing method and an approval step.
Ask how the contractor will protect the work during unfavorable weather, what conditions would postpone it, and which product instructions they will follow. Agree on access, storage, cleanup and the expected interruption to entrances or parking. Request a schedule that identifies preparation, repair and the point when you can use the area again.
The National Weather Service reported four days with minimum temperatures at or below 32°F in Salt Lake City during March 2026, compared with a March normal of 12 days for 1991–2020. Use that comparison as a reason to discuss overnight conditions with your contractor. It does not establish suitable working conditions for your address or a future repair date. [5]
Salt Lake City March days with freezing minimum temperatures
Local details that affect your job
Retaining-wall height includes the buried footing
Salt Lake City lists a permit exemption for retaining walls no higher than four feet, measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, unless they support a surcharge or impound flammable liquids. Do not judge eligibility from the visible face alone. Give Building Services the full height and explain what sits above or behind the wall before accepting a quote that excludes permits. [1]
Historic approval can change your project sequence
The city requires planning approval for exterior changes on properties in local historic districts or locally designated landmark sites, with exceptions for paint color and minor maintenance. Ask Planning whether your masonry scope requires a Certificate of Appropriateness before work begins. The city reviews applications case by case and completes building-permit review after historic approval. Historic Preservation lists 801-535-7700 for questions. [2]
Choose the next step for your masonry project
| Project situation | Next step | Include in the agreement |
|---|---|---|
| Localized joint or brick repair | Request an assessment and a defined repair scope. | Repair area, materials, sample approval and exclusions. |
| Retaining wall near the exemption threshold | Ask Building Services about total footing-to-top height and surcharge conditions. | Permit determination and responsibility for required approvals. |
| Exterior work on a locally designated historic property | Ask Planning whether a Certificate of Appropriateness is required. | Approved scope and approval sequence before work. |
| Older brick home with seismic concerns | Discuss roof-to-wall connections and chimney bracing as a separate scope. | Assessment responsibility and any proposed retrofit work. |
| Contractor performing permitted work | Have the contractor obtain the permit and arrange inspections. | Permit number and inspection responsibilities. |
Your hiring checklist
- Photograph the entire repair area and close-up details before requesting bids.
- Describe previous repairs, observed changes and access restrictions.
- Ask each bidder to identify the repair method, materials and sample approval process.
- Request the contractor’s license number and current insurance documentation.
- Confirm permit and historic-approval requirements for your written scope.
- Compare access, disposal, exclusions and additional-work pricing.
- Agree on weather protection, cleanup, payment stages and completion documents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for repointing?
Ask Building Services to review your exact scope. The city’s FAQ describes broad permit requirements and exemptions, but does not give a blanket repointing exemption. Send photos and explain whether the proposal includes rebuilding, structural alterations or other work. Historic approval may also apply to exterior work on locally designated properties. [1] [2]
Can I obtain the permit myself?
Salt Lake City allows owners to obtain appropriate permits for their owner-occupied primary residence with an Owner/Builder Certification. If you hire a contractor, the city assigns permit and inspection responsibility to the contractor. Ask the permit office which route applies before submitting an application. [1]
Does Fix the Bricks pay for ordinary brick repairs?
The city describes Fix the Bricks as a seismic retrofit program, not a masonry repair program. It listed applications as closed when checked October 10, 2026. Ask Housing Stability about current availability and whether another repair program fits your household and scope. [3]
How should I compare masonry prices?
Give bidders the same photos and requested scope. Compare quantities, materials, access equipment, cleanup, approvals and exclusions alongside the total. Ask how they will price hidden damage and obtain your approval for changes. Request clarification before treating two different repair proposals as equivalent.
Sources and scope
This guide combines the sources below with practical planning guidance. Figures apply to the stated geography and period; request a written quote for your property.