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Committee adopts substitute and recommends favorably for minor‑subdivision bill aimed at rural family farms

2249613 · February 7, 2025
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Summary

The committee adopted a first substitute to House Bill 255 to change the minor‑subdivision rules used in rural Utah: the bill lowers the acreage threshold from 100 to 50 acres and reduces the 1,000‑foot exclusion zone to 500 feet. The committee adopted the substitute, recommended the bill favorably and placed it on the consent calendar.

Representative Chu presented first substitute House Bill 255, which would amend Utah’s minor‑subdivision statute to reduce the acreage threshold from 100 acres to 50 acres and shorten the restriction that prevents creating another minor subdivision within 1,000 feet to 500 feet. The sponsor said the change reflects current farm sizes in Utah and would make it easier for farm families to transfer parcels to children while reducing surveying expense.

Chu told the committee the average Utah farm size is between 52 and 83 acres, so the 100‑acre threshold excludes many current family farms. The substitute also replaces the term “lot” with “parcel” for consistency with existing statute and is expressly targeted at rural circumstances rather than urban subdivisions.

Representative Miller moved to adopt the first substitute; the committee adopted it and then voted to recommend HB 255 (substitute 1) favorably. The sponsor subsequently asked to place the bill on the consent calendar; the committee approved that request and recommended the bill for consent.

Sponsor and supporters framed the measure as a minor, technical correction to keep family farms intact and reduce administrative cost; no public opposition was recorded during the hearing.