Farr West City regulates the division of land under Title 16 (Subdivisions) of the Farr West City Code. The title was substantially reworked by Ordinance 2024-06. This page is a plain-language civic summary; the ordinance text controls.

In 2023 the Utah Legislature passed S.B. 174, Local Land Use and Development Revisions. As enacted, it required cities to name an administrative land use authority, which may not be the city council or a council member, to review subdivision applications for single-family homes, two-family homes and townhomes, and it limited cities to four review cycles. State law has been amended since; the current text is in Utah Code Title 10, Chapter 20, Part 8 (the land use act was renumbered from Chapter 9a in 2025).

Who decides

Chapter 16.14, “Subdivision Applications for 1-2 Family Residential,” answers this question for most residential projects. Section 16.14.040 states that the Land Use Authority for preliminary applications is the Planning Commission, which “may delegate any task to the City Engineer, City staff, or members of the Planning Commission.” The Land Use Authority for final applications is the Administrative Land Use Authority (ALUA).

Because subdivision decisions “are administrative, not legislative,” the land use authorities “are authorized to make any land use decision described by this Chapter without City Council approval” (16.14.040(C)). The City Council “shall not require a Land Use Authority to approve or deny an application” except when sitting as the appeal authority (16.14.040(D)). Section 16.14.050 covers the appeal authority.

Two caveats apply. Section 16.14.020 limits that chapter to one- and two-family residential subdivisions; other uses fall under the general chapters. The older chapters that remain in Title 16 (16.16, 16.20 and 16.24) still describe the Planning Commission and City Council acting together, and 16.14.030 states that where Chapter 16.14 conflicts with other city ordinances, Chapter 16.14 prevails.

The steps

  1. Pre-application. Section 16.16.010 states that anyone proposing to subdivide “shall confer with the planning commission staff before preparing any plats.” Section 16.14.070 covers the pre-application meeting for 1-2 family projects.
  2. Preliminary plan. Chapter 16.16 governs filing (16.16.030), plan contents (16.16.040), approval (16.16.050) and a time limitation (16.16.060). Section 16.12.010 requires the processing fee and engineering-review deposit to be paid before the item is placed on a Planning Commission agenda. For 1-2 family projects, 16.14.080 requires notice to affected entities such as canal owners, and 16.14.090 and 16.14.100 cover review and approval.
  3. Minor subdivision. Chapter 16.20 defines a minor subdivision as a parcel divided into three or fewer building lots, each accessible from an existing public street (16.20.010). A preliminary plat application is still required (16.20.020). Under 16.20.030 the final plat may be waived when the project has no more than three lots, needs no street dedication, has utilities in place and every lot meets zoning frontage, width and area rules; when it is waived, the preliminary plat itself is recorded.
  4. Final plat. Chapter 16.24 requires a tentative final plat check (16.24.010), then submission of the final plat at least ten working days before a regular Planning Commission meeting (16.24.020). Section 16.24.050 covers approval; for 1-2 family projects the final decision belongs to the ALUA under 16.14.040(B).
  5. Recording. Section 16.04.030 states that no city permit may be issued for land in a subdivision that has not been approved and recorded with the county recorder. Section 16.14.110 governs post-approval actions, including recording.

Where to find the agenda and how to comment

The Planning Commission meets on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month at 6:30 p.m., according to the city’s Planning Commission page. Agendas, public-hearing notices and approved minutes are posted on the Utah Public Notice Website page for the Farr West Planning Commission. The commission can be reached at planning@farrwestcity.gov.

Chapter 16.14 refers to public meetings, rather than public hearings, for preliminary plats. Where a separate hearing is noticed (for example, for a rezone), the posted notice gives the date. Written comment can be sent to the planning address above before the meeting.

What preliminary approval does and does not mean

Preliminary plan approval under Chapter 16.16 means the Planning Commission has found the layout generally consistent with city standards. It is not a recorded plat, it does not create legal lots and it does not authorize building permits (16.04.030). Section 16.12.010(E) states that paying fees “shall not constitute or imply in any way that the subject subdivision has been or will be approved.” An agenda item is not a final approval; a project can be continued, conditioned or denied at later stages, and 16.16.060 sets a time limit on preliminary approval.

Timelines and fees

Section 16.12.010 requires a nonrefundable processing fee and 16.12.020 requires an engineering-review deposit, both “as prescribed in the fee schedule” in Title 3, Chapter 3.30 of the city code. The city sets these amounts; see the current fee schedule in the Farr West City Code. Review of 1-2 family applications is covered in Section 16.14.090.

Related data

Frequently asked questions

Who approves a residential subdivision in Farr West?

For one- and two-family residential subdivisions, Section 16.14.040 of the Farr West City Code makes the Planning Commission the land use authority for preliminary applications and the Administrative Land Use Authority the land use authority for final applications. These decisions are administrative and are made without City Council approval; the City Council acts only as the appeal authority.

Does preliminary approval in Farr West allow building permits?

No. Section 16.04.030 states that no city permit may be issued for land in a subdivision that has not been approved and recorded with the county recorder. Preliminary approval does not create legal lots.

Where are Farr West Planning Commission agendas posted?

Agendas, hearing notices and minutes are posted on the Utah Public Notice Website and linked from the city’s Planning Commission page. The commission meets on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month at 6:30 p.m.

Sources

Last reviewed October 2026.