Brigham City (20/50)(1 is most free, 50 is least free)
To learn what the below scores mean and how they were calculated, read our ranking methodology.
Individual Liberty (8/50)
This category compiles scores on 17 different data points to determine how well Brigham City respects and protects the liberty of its citizens.
| Metric | Rank | Category Weight | Description | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Code Accessiblity | 35 | 10% | This city's laws are available online and in a searchable PDF document. | PDF document format |
| Dog Licensing | 5 | 10% | Depending on whether the dog is fixed or not and the length of the license you purchase, licensing fees for each dog ranges from $10. to $17. | Link |
| Free Speech | 30 | 15% | This city requires a permit to stage a protest on public property, but does not require a fee. | See Application |
| Daytime Curfew | 1 | 10% | This city does not impose a daytime curfew on minors. | |
| Vice Regulation | 9 | 10% | This city exceeds the regulations of state law on public consumption of alcohol by prohibiting beer in a list of public places. However, there are no regulations on smoking in outdoor areas. | 16-03-070 |
| Campaign Contribution Limits | 1 | 10% | This city does not regulate free speech by imposing a limit on campaign contributions for city elections | |
| Loitering | 1 | 10% | The city does not include any specific loitering laws in its code. | |
| Violation of Ordinances | 11 | 10% | While some ordinances may impose a specific penalty, in Brigham City the default penalty for a violation of any city ordinance, if not specified, is a class B misdemeanor which carries a fine of up to $1,000. | 1-02-090 |
| Gun Regulation | 8 | 15% | Under authority granted from state law, Brigham City has chosen to regulate the discharge of firearms in city limits; however, the city's law does make an exception for self-defense. | 16-03-010, 16-03-010(2) |
Private Property (38/50)
63 different data points are included in this category to discern the degree to which Brigham City respects and protects private property rights.
| Metric | Rank | Category Weight | Description | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conditional Use Permit Fees | 28 | 10% | The cost of a conditional use permit is $250 (plus $50 per additional acre) with a $500 deposit for the engineering fee (if time spent by enginneer is not valued at $500, the city will reimburse the applicant on a monthly basis). Additionally, the city may charge a fee of . | CUP Application |
| Home Building Fees | 25 | 10% | The total cost of permit fees for building a typical single family home is $8,052. This includes $1,834 in permit fees, $6,218 in impact fees, no site plan approval fees, and no plan check fees. | Per city staff |
| Animal Restrictions | 31 | 15% | Chickens are permitted in at least one residential zone with a $10 permit. Beehives are permitted in residential zones without a permit. Assuming a lot size of 0.15 acres, this city only allows you to have 2 dogs, allows 0 chickens, and 5 beehives. | Website, 29-05-250, 4-03-080 |
| Short-term Rentals | 11 | 15% | This city allows short-term rentals of one's residential property, but imposes various conditions that must be met in order to operate them. | 29.05.260 |
| Taxes & Cost of Government | 41 | 30% | The cost of government in Brigham City as a share of the total taxable economic base is $102 per $10,000. As a share of total personal income, the cost is $411 per $10,000. On a per capita basis, the cost is $577. The city gets 28% of its tax revenue from property taxes, 25% of its tax revenue from sales tax, and 47% from other sources including fees and fines. | City Financial Statements |
| Bonded Debt | 46 | 15% | The city is currently utilizing 1.35% of thier debt limit for general obligation bonds; however, if calculated for all bonds (including revenue bonds), the utilization would be 22.60%. | City Financial Statements |
| Lobbying | 1 | 5% | This city does not employ lobbyists to represent the city. | Per Records Request |
This city also has restrictive land use ordinances that violate property rights.
Free Enterprise (20/50)
The final category includes 35 different data points in an effort to review Brigham City's protection—or violation—of the free market.
| Metric | Rank | Category Weight | Description | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City-owned Enterprises | 41 | 15% | This city owns 6 enterprises that could instead be offered by the private market: a redevelopment agency; an electric power company; a garbage collection service; a recycling service; a golf course; a non-historical museum; | City Financial Statements |
| Beer Sale Restrictions | 8 | 10% | This city regulates the retail sale of beer by requiring sales to be under surveillance from 11 pm to 5 am. | 14-04-230 |
| Alcohol Licensing | 11 | 10% | The city requires $200 for a retail beer license, $250 for a restaurant license, and $250 for a tavern license. | City Fee Schedule |
| Sales Tax | 3 | 20% | This city imposes a combined sales tax rate of 6.5% on its citizens. The city also has a municipal energy tax rate of 6.0%, a transient room tax at 5.25%, and a leasing tax at 0.0%. | State Tax Commission |
| Business Licensing | 37 | 35% | This city charges the following licensing fees: $140 for a home occupation license; $115 for a small commercial license; $115 for a large commercial license; $250 for a temporary firework stand; $250 for a temporary christmas tree lot; and $130 for two solicitor licenses. | City Fee Schedule |
| Commerce Regulations | 11 | 10% | Brigham City requires dance halls to close from 1am to 8am. | 14-07-120 |