Right to Farm in Lehi, UT: What Residents Actually Need to Know

If you live in Lehi or are thinking about moving there, right to farm are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Lehi has 2 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of right to farm, and some of them might surprise you.

Farm Nuisance Protection

Lehi's Development Code shields existing farms from nuisance friction with new subdivisions. Any development built next to agricultural land must fence the boundary, and the final plat must carry a permanent notice warning future residents that farm sounds, odors, and livestock risks are normal and expected.

Key details: Governing chapter: Development Code Ch. 18, amended 2003, 2018. Required fence height: 6 feet, non-climb agricultural mesh. Plat disclosure: Mandatory note on final plat. Review bodies: Zoning Administrator, Planning Commission, City Council. Triggers review: Development next to farmland, ditches, or ag zones.

There is no fine schedule in Chapter 18 because it operates through the development approval process rather than after-the-fact citation. A project that skips the required agricultural buffer analysis or the plat disclosure note does not get a building permit or final plat recorded until the Zoning Administrator and Planning Commission sign off on compliance, and City Council review can add further site-plan conditions to resolve any conflict with the adjoining farm.

Agricultural Zoning Protection

Lehi sets aside three zones, Agriculture-5, Agriculture-1, and R-1-22, specifically to keep large-lot land available for farming and ranching. Development in or next to those zones then triggers the Chapter 18 right-to-farm review before the City will approve it.

Key details: Agricultural zones: A-5, A-1, R-1-22 (very low density). Hobby-farm zone: RA-1, lots up to two acres. Purpose section: Development Code § 05.020.B, C. Cross-referenced trigger: § 18.020.D right-to-farm analysis. Governing map: Lehi City Zoning Map, amended through 2025.

Building in an A-5, A-1, or RA-1 district without meeting the applicable use and bulk standards, or developing adjacent land without completing the required agricultural-conflict analysis, holds up site plan and plat approval. The Zoning Administrator and Planning Commission review compliance as part of the development approval process rather than through after-the-fact fines.

Lehi is more permissive than most cities when it comes to agricultural zoning protection. That said, there are still limits.

The Bottom Line

Lehi's right to farm rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Lehi is broadly strict or permissive.

All of the above reflects Lehi's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.