Farmington (2/50)(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 (27/50)
This category compiles scores on 17 different data points to determine how well Farmington respects and protects the liberty of its citizens.
| Metric | Rank | Category Weight | Description | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Code Accessiblity | 48 | 10% | Some of this city's laws are available online, but not the entire city code. The city is currently in the process of switching to an online database format. | Some titles online in document format |
| Dog Licensing | 23 | 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 $8.33 to $40. | 6-32-010 (Davis County) |
| Free Speech | 1 | 15% | This city does not require a permit to stage a protest on public property. | |
| Daytime Curfew | 1 | 10% | This city does not impose a daytime curfew on minors. | |
| Vice Regulation | 1 | 10% | This city does not impose additional regulations on public alcohol consumption beyond state law. However, smoking is prohibited in certain outdoor areas. | 13-3-010, Davis County regulation |
| 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 Farmington 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. | 13-1-120 |
| Gun Regulation | 40 | 15% | Under authority granted from state law, Farmington has chosen to regulate the discharge of firearms in city limits with no exceptions for self-defense or other lawful uses made explicit in code. | 13-6-020, 13-6 |
Private Property (1/50)
63 different data points are included in this category to discern the degree to which Farmington respects and protects private property rights.
| Metric | Rank | Category Weight | Description | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conditional Use Permit Fees | 18 | 10% | The cost of a conditional use permit is $200 (plus $25 per additional acre). | Fee Schedule |
| Home Building Fees | 34 | 10% | The total cost of permit fees for building a typical single family home is $9,654. This includes $1,834 in permit fees, $7,087 in impact fees, no site plan approval fees, and $734 in plan check fees. | Fee schedule |
| Animal Restrictions | 1 | 15% | Chickens are permitted in at least one residential zone. Beehives are permitted in residential zones without a permit. Assuming a lot size of 0.15 acres, this city allows dogs with no specific arbitrary limit, does not limit the number of chickens, and does not limit the number of beehives. | 11-29-103, 11-29-103(4) |
| Short-term Rentals | 1 | 15% | While some cities in Utah prohibit using services like Airbnb and VRBO to rent property, this city has no ordinance regulating or explicitly prohibiting property owners from doing so. | |
| Taxes & Cost of Government | 16 | 30% | The cost of government in Farmington as a share of the total taxable economic base is $65 per $10,000. As a share of total personal income, the cost is $234 per $10,000. On a per capita basis, the cost is $491. The city gets 35% of its tax revenue from property taxes, 27% of its tax revenue from sales tax, and 38% from other sources including fees and fines. | City Financial Statements |
| Bonded Debt | 11 | 15% | The city is currently utilizing 1.58% of thier debt limit for general obligation bonds; however, if calculated for all bonds (including revenue bonds), the utilization would be 2.36%. | 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 (7/50)
The final category includes 35 different data points in an effort to review Farmington's protection—or violation—of the free market.
| Metric | Rank | Category Weight | Description | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City-owned Enterprises | 4 | 15% | This city owns one enterprise that could instead be offered by the private market: a redevelopment agency; | City Financial Statements |
| Beer Sale Restrictions | 21 | 10% | This city regulates the retail sale of beer by prohibiting sales from 1 am-7 am. | 6-05-080(J) |
| Alcohol Licensing | 18 | 10% | The city requires $300 for a retail beer license, $300 for a restaurant license, and $300 for a tavern license. | City Fee Schedule |
| Sales Tax | 24 | 20% | This city imposes a combined sales tax rate of 6.6% on its citizens. Additionally, residents are required to pay a RAP tax at the rate of 0.1%. The city also has a municipal energy tax rate of 6.0%, a transient room tax at 5.25%, and a leasing tax at 7.5%. | State Tax Commission |
| Business Licensing | 7 | 35% | This city charges the following licensing fees: $40 for a home occupation license; $75 for a small commercial license; $75 for a large commercial license; $300 for a temporary firework stand; $50 for a temporary christmas tree lot; and $115 for two solicitor licenses. | City Fee Schedule |
| Commerce Regulations | 2 | 10% | No excavation projects may operate before 6am or after 6pm, or anytime on Sunday or legal holidays. | 11-33-108(5) |