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Resident asks Farmington council to consider legalizing UTVs for city use and permits
Summary
A resident asked the council to consider allowing utility-terrain vehicles (UTVs) within Farmington city limits for uses such as snow plowing, citing other cities' permit programs; no formal action was taken.
Lenny Hall of 714 Eighth Street asked the Farmington City Council on Oct. 6 to consider legalizing UTVs and similar off-road vehicles within city limits and suggested a permit program.
Hall said he spoke with a city officer who told him UTVs and some golf-cart-style vehicles "are not legal in city limits." Hall said he uses his UTV to plow snow and suggested the council could require permits and safety conditions. He cited examples: Prior Lake allows authorized use at no fee, while another nearby jurisdiction charges a modest permit fee ("Empire ... it's a $20 fee for a permit," he said).
What was decided: The council did not take action at the meeting. Hall offered to provide additional information or assistance to staff if the city wishes to pursue a permit program.
Details and clarifications: Hall argued UTVs are useful for municipal tasks such as snow removal and said a permit would help regulate their operation. He noted potential safety controls and suggested fees could be modest and partly revenue-generating. No staff recommendation or ordinance language was presented at the meeting.
Next steps: None recorded; Hall invited staff to contact him for further information.
