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Farmington City Zoning Code

CHAPTER 10

AGRICULTURAL ZONES

11-10-010: PURPOSE:

   A.   The AA, A and AE Zones are intended to provide areas for the keeping of farm animals and fowl in conjunction with single- family dwelling units to an extent consistent with said development and in proportion to the amount of land area provided for this purpose.
   B.   The AE Zone is expressly established to accommodate residential developments which are oriented to a lifestyle that includes farming which is generally noncommercial. To accomplish this purpose, this chapter includes provisions which encourage the design of residential communities to include noncommercial stables, training areas and equestrian trails as part of the development.
   C.   Property in the AA and A Zones is intended to be used primarily for commercial agriculture, farming and large estate parcels for residential living. Additionally, the AA Zone is created to apply to environmentally sensitive areas, such as floodplains, wetlands, debris flow areas, areas within one hundred feet (100') of a stream channel, all land above an elevation of five thousand two hundred feet (5,200') above sea level, all land below an elevation of four thousand two hundred eighteen feet (4,218') above sea level. (Ord. 1999-17, 4-21-1999)
   D.   All lands within agricultural zones are intended, to some extent, for either private or commercial agricultural production, farming, protection of environmentally sensitive areas and/or open space. Owners, occupants and users of these properties, or neighboring properties, may be subjected to inconvenience, discomfort and the possibility of injury to property and health arising from normal and accepted agricultural practices and operations, including, but not limited to, noise, odors, dust, the operation of machinery, including crop dusting aircraft, the storage and disposal of manure, and the application of fertilizers, soil amendments, herbicides and pesticides. Owners, occupants and users of these properties, or neighboring properties, should be prepared to accept such inconveniences, discomfort and possibility of injury from normal agricultural operations and are hereby put on official notice that Utah Code Annotated section 78B-6-1104, as amended, may bar them from obtaining a legal judgment against such normal agricultural operations. (Ord. 1999-17, 4-21-1999; amd. 2016 Code)

11-10-020: SCHEDULE OF USES:

The following table identifies permitted uses by the letter “P” and conditional uses by the letter “C”. The letter “X” indicates that the use is not allowed. Uses not listed shall not be allowed, except as provided in subsection 11-4-050F of this title:
Use
Agricultural Zones
AA
A
AE
Use
Agricultural Zones
AA
A
AE
Accessory dwelling unit
P
P
P
Accessory living quarters
C
X
X
Agriculture
P
P
P
Boarding kennel
X
C
X
Class A animals (small animals)
P
P
P
Class B animals (large animals)
P
P
P
Class C animals (commercial farming)
P
P
C
Class D animals (dangerous animals)
X
X
X
Daycare, preschool (16 students or less)
X
C
C
Fruit and vegetable stands for sale of produce grown on the premises
P
P
P
Home occupations complying with provisions of the home occupation chapter of this title, except as specified in section 11-35-040 of this title
P
P
P
Home occupations specified in section 11-35-040 of this title
C
C
C
Internal accessory dwelling unit
P
P
P
Public school
X
C
C
Public uses
X
C
C
Public utility installations (not including lines and rights-of-way)
C
C
C
Quasi-public uses
X
C
C
Radio, television and telephone transmission and relay towers and facilities, except as specified in section 11-28-190 of this title
C
C
C
Residential facilities for the elderly
X
C
C
Residential facilities for the disabled
P
P
P
Signs complying with title 15 of this Code
P
P
P
Single-family dwelling
P
P
P
Sportsman’s kennel (3 to 5 dogs for noncommercial use)
C
C
C
Trails and parks
C
C
C
Uses customarily accessory to an established conditional use
C
C
C
Uses customarily accessory to an established permitted use
P
P
P
Veterinary clinic
C
C
C
 
(Ord. 2017-13, 5-16-2017; amd. Ord. 2020–7, 5-5-2020; Ord. 2021-25, 9-21-2021; Ord. 2022-62, 12-6-2022; Ord. 2023-13, 3-14-2023; Ord. 2023-40, 6-20-2023; Ord. 2025-37, 7-15-2025)

11-10-030: CONSERVATION SUBDIVISION OPTIONS:

Residential subdivisions within agricultural zones greater than five (5) acres in size, or located in the Conservation Subdivision Overlay Zone, as described on the Farmington City zoning map, may be developed in accordance with the provisions of chapter 12 of this title providing innovative and flexible subdivision design options. (Ord. 2014-33, 10-7-2014)

11-10-040: LOT AREA, WIDTH, AND SETBACK STANDARDS:

   A.   Conventional Standards: The following shall be the minimum lot areas, widths and main building setbacks in agricultural zones:
 
Zone
Lot Area
Lot Width
Front
Side
Side Corner
Rear
Interior
Corner
AA
10 acre
150'
160'
40'
15' minimum, total 30'
30'
40'
A
2 acre
100'
110'
30'
10' minimum, total 24'
25'
30'
AE
1 acre
100'
110'
30'
10' minimum, total 24'
25'
30'
*   Buildings shall not be built over utility easements that may run along the side and rear property lines, unless an exception is provided from the zoning administrator with the consent of the City's Development Review Committee and other applicable utility providers in writing.
 
   B.   Additional Lot Alternatives And Standards:
      1.   Alternatives:
         a.   Open Space: As an incentive for a subdivider to provide open space, the City, at its discretion, may approve a transfer of development right (TDR) or conservation subdivision as follows:
            (1)   Additional lots are those the City approves in exchange for a TDR as set forth in section 11-28-240 of this title; or in exchange for which the City obtains improved or unimproved land in fee title, or easement, for public purposes, such as parks, trails, detention basins, etc. The value of which, and the total number of lots related thereto, shall be determined by the City at its sole discretion as part of the subdivision process. Any applicant seeking additional lots under this section must provide a subdivision yield plan as defined in Chapter 2 of this title consistent with the underlying zone and the conventional subdivision standards within that zone to establish the base number of lots allowed prior to a request for additional lots, and the yield plan must also conform to subsections 11-12-070A and B of this title.
            (2)   Additional lots under this section may also be available for subdivisions consisting of five (5) acres or more, or for subdivisions located in the Conservation Subdivision Overlay Zone as set forth in Chapter 12 of the title “Conservation Subdivision (CS) Overlay Zone And Development Standards”; or
         b.   Moderate Income Housing: The City may approve a smaller lot size as set forth in the following table which will result in additional lots than what is conventionally allowed in the underlying zone as an incentive to a subdivider to provide moderate income housing.
 
Zone
Lot Area
AA
5 acres
A
1 acre
AE
½ acre
 
            (1)   Minimum Requirement: Subdividers must provide or set aside lots (or dwelling units at the option of the City) equal in number to at least ten percent (10%) of the total number of lots approved for the subdivision for moderate income housing subject to recording a deed restriction(s) to ensure the required number of lots or units are available for a qualifying moderate income household; unless, at the sole discretion of, and by agreement with the City, the subdivider provides:
            (a)   A fee in lieu thereof determined in consideration of factors set forth in Section 11-28-270 of this Title;
            (b)   Preserve an existing on-site historic resource (standards for historic resources are set forth in Chapter 11-39 of this Title); or
            (c)   Some other public benefit; or
            (d)   A combination of (a), (b), and/or (c) above.
      2.   Alternate Standards:
         a.   Following the subdivision yield plan defined in Chapter 11-2 and using the minimum standards of subsection A to establish a maximum number of lots, a subdivider may alter the lot area, width, setback, and other dimensional requirements of lots within a subdivision using standards set forth in subsection 11-12-070C.
         b.   Lot area, width, setback, and other dimensional requirements for additional lots may meet such standards set forth in Chapter 12 of this title, but the number of lots in the subdivision cannot exceed the total number of lots resulting from the respective yield plan identified in section 11-12-070.
   C.   Lot Coverage. The gross area of a lot covered by the main building, accessory buildings and other structures shall meet the following standards:
      1.   Lots Less than 0.5 Acres in Area. The coverage and size requirements set forth in Chapter 11 of this title shall apply.
      2.   Lots Equal to or Greater than 0.5 acres in Area. A coverage base of 6,000 square feet plus one square foot of additional coverage for every eight (8) square feet of gross lot area more than 0.5 acres (or 21,780 square feet), but the base plus additional coverage shall not exceed 20,000 square feet. For illustrative purposes, the table below shows a few of the many possible coverage outcomes on the continuum between 6,000 and 20,000 square feet.
 
Gross Lot Area Acres
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
Coverage Area (S.F.)
 
Base
6,000
6,000
6,000
6,000
6,000
6,000
 
Additional *
0
2,750
5,500
8,250
11,000
13,750
 
Total
6,000
8,750
11,500
14,250
17,000
19,750
*   Additional Coverage = One S.F. coverage for every 8 S.F. of gross lot area over 21,780 S.F. or 0.5 acres
 
   D.   Area Required For Class B Animals: Not more than two (2) horses or cows, or four (4) sheep, goats, pigs or similar size animals shall be kept on a one- half (1/2) acre lot. For lots larger than one-half (1/2) acre, one additional horse or cow, or two (2) additional sheep, goats, pigs or similar size animals may be kept for each five thousand (5,000) square feet over one-half (1/2) acre. Animals younger than six (6) months in age shall not be counted in determining the total number of animals on the lot.
   E.   Area Required For Class C Animals: The minimum lot size for Class C animals (commercial farming) shall be five (5) acres. Class C animal operations shall not include hog, mink, turkey and chicken farms.
   F.   Area Required For Sportsman Kennel: The minimum lot size for a sportsman kennel shall be one acre.
   G.   Conservation Subdivisions: Land within greenbelt corridors, waterways and trail dedications shall not be used in calculating final lot area in conservation subdivisions.
   H.   Accessory Buildings And Structures:
      1.      a.   Accessory buildings, except those listed in subsection H.2. of this section, shall be separated from the main building by a distance in compliance with applicable Building Codes, shall be at least five feet (5') from all property lines, shall not encroach on any recorded easement.
         b.   Notwithstanding the foregoing, the City may approve accessory buildings with standards for the same as set forth in Chapter 11 of this Title (and exceptions allowed in that Chapter), and comply with lot coverage standards herein.
      2.   Accessory buildings shall not be located in the required front yard. Accessory building located to the rear or side of the main building shall not occupy more than twenty five percent (25%) of the required rear yard or thirty three percent (33%) of a required side yard; when located in the front yard, but not the required front yard, accessory buildings shall not occupy more than twenty-five percent (25%) of that area.
      3.   No farm animal structure, hay barn, stable, silo, coop, corral or other similar building or structure which is accessory to the agricultural use of land may be located closer than ten feet (10') to any side or rear boundary line or fifty feet (50') to any public street or to any dwelling on adjacent properties. This provision shall not apply to pastures.
      4.   Equipment or materials stored or located in accessory buildings, yards or structures in AE Zones shall be permitted only for the personal use of the occupants of the property. No such storage or use related to a nonagricultural commercial business shall be allowed.
      5.   Accessory buildings which contain or constitute an accessory dwelling unit shall, without exception, be subordinate in height and area footprint to the main building.
   I.   Transmission Towers: Transmission towers, except as specified in section 11-28-190 of this title, shall be set back from all property lines a distance equal to the height of the tower plus thirty feet (30'). (Ord. 2014-33, 10-7-2014; amd. Ord. 2015-16, 5-26-2015; Ord. 2018-18, 5-15-2018; Ord. 2019-23, 7-16-2019; Ord. 2020-08, 5–5-2020; Ord. 2021-20, 8-9-2021; Ord. 2022-62, 12-6-2022; Ord. 2023-13, 3-14-2023; Ord. 2023-42, 7-18-2023; Ord. 2024-06, 1-16-2024; Ord. 2024-41, 7-16-2024; Ord. 2025-32, 6-17-2025)

11-10-050: MAXIMUM BUILDING HEIGHT:

   A.   Main Buildings: Main buildings shall not exceed twenty seven feet (27') in height unless the Planning Commission approves an increased height after review of a special exception application filed by the property owner per section 11-3-045.
   B.   Accessory Buildings: The height of accessory buildings and structures shall not exceed twenty- five feet (25') unless the Planning Commission approves an increased height after review of a special exception application filed by the property owner per section 11-3-045.
   C.   Transmission Towers: Transmission towers have no restriction on height, provided they meet the setbacks established in section 11-10-040 of this chapter and section 11-28-190 of this title. (Ord. 1999-17, 4-21-1999; amd. Ord. 2000-15, 4-19-2000; Ord. 2021-01, 1-19-2021; Ord. 2022-7, 1-18-2022; Ord. 2022-8, 1-18-2022)

11-10-060: SITE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS:

   A.   Site Development Standards: Site development on agricultural lots shall conform to applicable requirements of chapter 7 of this title.
   B.   Parking Restrictions: In an AE Zone, minimum parking required by this title shall not be located within the minimum required front or side yard setback adjacent to a public or private street. Surfacing of access drives to such parking shall be either gravel, asphalt or concrete in order to minimize tracking of dirt onto public roads.
   C.   Temporary Buildings: Temporary buildings, or the temporary use of a building or yard, shall only be allowed in conjunction with a construction project. Temporary buildings may be used only as an office or for storage of equipment or materials. The temporary building or use shall be removed and/or terminated not less than thirty (30) days after final inspection of the construction project or one year after issuance of the building permit, whichever comes first.
   D.   Trail Dedications: Developers of major subdivisions in agricultural zones may be required by the City to dedicate equestrian and/or pedestrian trails, waterways or other open space corridors in order to allow internal circulation, separated from vehicular traffic, and connections to a regional trail system. At the discretion of the City, such dedications may be made in lieu of the park acquisition and development fee required by, and according to the standards established in, the subdivision ordinance.
   E.   Major Street Plan: All developments shall comply with recommendations of the City's major street plan. (Ord. 1999-17, 4-21-1999)