Utah Agricultural Zoning and Land Use Protections

Utah's Farmland Assessment Act provides reduced property tax assessment for qualifying agricultural land, encouraging continued farm use. Combined with Right to Farm protections under Section 78B-6-1101, agricultural zoning districts safeguard farming, ranching, and customary practices from incompatible uses. Counties retain land use authority under Title 17 Chapter 27a but must accommodate agricultural protection areas and disclosure requirements. Local zoning may not unduly restrict bona fide agricultural operations consistent with state law. Conditional uses such as farm stands, agritourism, and on-farm processing are increasingly recognized as customary agricultural activities under state guidance.

Local zoning rules unduly restricting protected agricultural operations may face legal challenges under Right to Farm and state land use statutes.