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HB 240

Urban Farming Assessment Amendments

2025 General Session Introduced by Rex Shipp and 1 co-sponsor

HB 240 modifies Utah's property tax assessment standards for urban farming operations, potentially reducing tax burdens on city farms and community gardens to encourage local food production.

Governor Signed
#agriculture&food #assessmentandequalization #counties #countyofficers #farmlandassessment #localtaxationandfees #propertytax #propertytaxcollection
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Bill Summary · HB 240

Legislative bill overview

HB 240 amends Utah's urban farming assessment regulations, modifying how properties engaged in urban farming activities are evaluated for property tax purposes. The bill has completed the legislative process and was signed by the Governor on March 24, 2025, making it law.

Why is this important

Urban farming assessments directly affect the tax burden on city farms and community gardens, influencing whether small-scale agricultural operations remain economically viable in urban areas. Changes to assessment methodology can either incentivize or discourage local food production initiatives, affecting food security, green space, and neighborhood development patterns.

Potential points of contention

  • Assessment methodology disputes – Disagreement over how to fairly value urban farmland versus traditional residential or commercial property, potentially affecting tax equity across different property types
  • Implementation complexity – Local assessors may face challenges consistently applying new assessment standards across diverse urban farming operations with varying scales and structures
  • Agricultural definition boundaries – Questions about what qualifies as "urban farming" for preferential assessment treatment, potentially creating disputes over borderline cases or small hobby gardens

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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