Cedar Hills (13/50)(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 (11/50)
This category compiles scores on 17 different data points to determine how well Cedar Hills respects and protects the liberty of its citizens.
| Metric | Rank | Category Weight | Description | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Code Accessiblity | 1 | 10% | This city uses an online, easily navigable and searchable database for its city laws. | Sterling Codifiers database |
| Dog Licensing | 33 | 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 $11.66 to $35. | City website |
| Free Speech | 1 | 15% | This city does not require a permit to stage a protest on public property. | 6-7-10 |
| Daytime Curfew | 1 | 10% | This city does not impose a daytime curfew on minors. | |
| Vice Regulation | 13 | 10% | This city exceeds the regulations of state law on public consumption of alcohol by prohibiting beer in a list of public places. Smoking is also prohibited in certain outdoor areas. | 6-8-8, Utah 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 Cedar Hills 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. | 1-4-1(a), 1-4-1(D), 1-4-1(d) |
| Gun Regulation | 25 | 15% | Under authority granted from state law, Cedar Hills has chosen to regulate the discharge of firearms in city limits; however, the city's law does make an exception for self-defense. The code also has additional provisions regulating firearms. This includes: • Minors prohibited from possessing/discharging firearms without the permission of a legal guardian. | 5-2-3(a), 5-2-3(b), 5-2-3(c) |
Private Property (20/50)
63 different data points are included in this category to discern the degree to which Cedar Hills respects and protects private property rights.
| Metric | Rank | Category Weight | Description | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conditional Use Permit Fees | 12 | 10% | The cost of a conditional use permit is $150. | Fee Schedule |
| Home Building Fees | 36 | 10% | The total cost of permit fees for building a typical single family home is $9,942. This includes $1,983 in permit fees, $7,859 in impact fees, $100 in site plan approval fees, and no plan check fees. | Per city staff |
| Animal Restrictions | 9 | 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 only allows you to have 3 dogs, allows 6 chickens, and 2 beehives. | Per city staff, 5-11-83A, 10-5-35 |
| 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. | 10-5-25 |
| Taxes & Cost of Government | 18 | 30% | The cost of government in Cedar Hills as a share of the total taxable economic base is $68 per $10,000. As a share of total personal income, the cost is $226 per $10,000. On a per capita basis, the cost is $422. The city gets 23% of its tax revenue from property taxes, 27% of its tax revenue from sales tax, and 50% from other sources including fees and fines. | City Financial Statements |
| Bonded Debt | 47 | 15% | The city is currently utilizing 8.19% of thier debt limit for general obligation bonds; however, if calculated for all bonds (including revenue bonds), the utilization would be 20.59%. | 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 (15/50)
The final category includes 35 different data points in an effort to review Cedar Hills's protection—or violation—of the free market.
| Metric | Rank | Category Weight | Description | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City-owned Enterprises | 13 | 15% | This city owns 2 enterprises that could instead be offered by the private market: a redevelopment agency; a golf course; | City Financial Statements |
| Beer Sale Restrictions | 1 | 10% | This city does not impose any day or time restrictions on the retail sale of beer. | License application |
| Alcohol Licensing | 5 | 10% | The city requires $190 for a retail beer license, $213 for a restaurant license, and $150 for a tavern license. | City Fee Schedule |
| Sales Tax | 29 | 20% | This city imposes a combined sales tax rate of 6.85% 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 4.25%, and a leasing tax at 7.5%. | State Tax Commission |
| Business Licensing | 38 | 35% | This city charges the following licensing fees: $90 for a home occupation license; $175 for a small commercial license; $5935 for a large commercial license; $40 for a temporary firework stand; $40 for a temporary christmas tree lot; and $40 for two solicitor licenses. | City Fee Schedule |
| Commerce Regulations | 11 | 10% | Cedar Hills prohibits peddlers and vendors from operating between 9pm and 9am. Home occupations may not generate traffic between 9pm and 7am. Businesses operating with a temporary business license may only be open between 9am and 10pm. And catteries are prohibited from exercising cats in outdoor exercise areas between 8pm and 9am. | 3-1C-1 3-1B-1 3-1G-1 5-1C-5 |