Wasatch County is moving forward with plans for a new administration building to consolidate various county departments and address accessibility and infrastructure limitations at its current facility. The project follows a facility needs assessment that determined the existing 1968 building is no longer meeting operational or accessibility standards.
The current administration building, located at 25 N. Main Street in Heber City, serves as the home for the Department of Motor Vehicles, Council Chambers, and several other offices. However, an assessment conducted by VCBO in 2022 found that the building's mechanical infrastructure is beyond its service life and the structure's design presents accessibility challenges due to narrow hallways and a lack of accessible entry from the parking lot.
To address the needs of a growing population, the Wasatch County Council directed staff in 2023 to pursue a new administration building. Projections from the University of Utah’s Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute anticipate the county's population could more than double from 2020 levels to 81,022 by 2060.
The proposed two-story, 63,266 square foot structure will be located on county-owned parcels at the corner of Southfield Road and SR-113. These properties were annexed into Heber City under Public Facilities Zoning in 2025. The development plan includes constructing the building on the southern half of the property while leaving the northern portion for continued farming and connecting adjacent park facilities.
The new facility is designed to house the county's first purpose-built legislative chambers. It will accommodate administrative departments including development services, tax system administration, public records, the Department of Motor Vehicle, the Driver’s License Division, and administrative space for Heber Valley Tourism & Economic Development. Law, justice, health, and public works services will remain at their current locations.
Construction on the mass timber and steel structure was scheduled to begin in September 2026, with an estimated completion at the end of 2027. The project is being funded through capital improvement project savings and anticipated revenue from sales, use, tourism, and development fees, rather than property tax increases.
Wasatch County obtained a $45 million lease revenue bond, with up to $25 million designated for the new building. The remaining bond funds will be used to refinance a 2024 bond for the courthouse expansion project, which was completed in August 2026. The council approved the bond on February 18, 2026.
