Salt Lake County, UT Right to Farm: Agricultural Zoning Protection (2026)
Key Facts
- Zone family
- A-1, A-2, A-5, A-10, A-20
- Purpose
- Low-density housing + limited ag
- By-right uses
- Agriculture, apiary, aviary, family food production animals
Summary
The county's A-1 agricultural zone protects low-density residential lots for limited farming, permitting agriculture, animals for family food production, apiaries and aviaries by right.
The purpose of the A-1 zone is to provide areas in the county for low-density residential development, together with limited agricultural uses.
(Prior code § 22-23-1)
19.48.020 - Permitted uses. Permitted uses in the A-1 zone include:
— Accessory uses and buildings customarily incidental to permitted uses;
— Agriculture;
— Animals and fowl for family food production;
— Apiary;
— Aviary;
— Farm devoted to the raising and marketing, on a commercial scale, of chickens, turkeys or other fowl or poultry, rabbits, chinchilla, beaver, nutria, fish or frogs;
— Home business, subject to Chapter 19.85;
— Home day care/preschool, subject to Section 19.04.293;
— Household pets;
— Raising and grazing of horses, cattle, sheep or goats, provided that such raising or grazing is not a part of, nor conducted in conjunction with, any livestock feedyard, livestock sales yard, animal byproduct business, or commercial riding academy;
— Residential facility for elderly persons;
— Residential facility for persons with a disability;
— Single-family dwelling;
— Worm farming (minimum lot area one acre).
(Ord. No. 1753, § III, 8-6-2013; Ord. 1535, § 4 (part), 2004; Ord. 1452, § 10, 1999; Ord. 1200, § 5 (part), 1992; Ord. 1179, § 5 (part), 1992; 1986 Recodification; § 1 (part) of Ord. passed 2-1-1984; prior code § 22-23-2)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 49).
Full Breakdown
Unincorporated Salt Lake County's A-1 zone (with companion A-2, A-5, A-10 and A-20 agricultural zones) exists to provide low-density residential development together with limited agricultural uses. Permitted uses include agriculture, animals and fowl for family food production, apiaries and aviaries alongside accessory buildings, meaning a lot zoned agricultural can run farm and livestock uses as a right, not a discretionary approval. This is a zoning classification for unincorporated land only; incorporated cities zone and protect farmland under their own codes.
Violations & Fines
Uses outside the permitted or conditional list require a zoning amendment or conditional use approval from the planning commission.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Salt Lake County's A-1 zone protect?
Does county agricultural zoning apply inside Salt Lake City?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Salt Lake County
Compare Salt Lake County to another location·View the Utah right to farm overview
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