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Advisory Opinion #79 | Property Rights Ombudsman
Parties: Frederico & Loretta Buj and Iron County
Issued: November 30, 2009
Subdividing property alone does not create the type of impact that requires installation of a fire suppression system. While there is a legitimate interest in fire safety, a local government may not require installation of a fire suppression system until development creates a need. Fire suppression may be required when a parcel is developed, but the County has not shown that it is necessary when property is being divided.
Advisory Opinion Requested by: Frederico & Loretta Buj
Local Government Entity: Iron County
Applicant for the Land Use Approval: Frederico & Loretta Buj
Project: Subdivision of Land
Date of this Advisory Opinion: November 30, 2009
May a local government require installation of a fire suppression system as a condition of subdivision approval?
Subdividing property does not create the type of impact that requires installation of a fire suppression system. Dividing property does not automatically mean that it will be developed. While there is a legitimate interest in fire safety, a local government may not require installation of a fire suppression system until development creates a need. Fire suppression may be required when a parcel is developed, but the County has not shown that it is necessary when property is being divided.
A request for an Advisory Opinion was received from Frederico and Loretta Buj on September 22, 2009. A copy of that request was sent via certified mail to David I. Yardley, Iron County Clerk. The return certificate, indicating that the County received the copy of the Request, was received by the Office of the Property Rights Ombudsman on September 28. On November 16, 2009, a Response from IronCounty was received.
Request for an Advisory Opinion, including attachments, filed September 22, 2009 with the Office of the Property Rights Ombudsman by Frederico and Loretta Buj, including attachments.
Response from Iron County, prepared by G. Michael Edwards, Deputy County Attorney, received by the Office of the Property Rights Ombudsman on November 16, 2009.
Federico and Loretta Buj, along with some family members, purchased approximately 137 acres of property located near Beryl, Utah in July of 2005. The Bujs applied to subdivide the property, creating 6 lots, which would then be transferred to a family member. Among other conditions, Iron County required the property owners to install a fire suppression system in order to obtain subdivision approval.[1] The County required that the fire suppression system comply with the International Fire Code, which has been adopted by the State of Utah and Iron County.[2] The County states that the system only needs to serve the subdivision, and is not expected to provide service to other properties.
The Bujs state that they have no current plans to develop the property, but only want to divide the parcel amongst the family members. They do not necessarily question that fire suppression is a valid requirement, only that it is not necessary to install such a system until the property is actually developed. The County states that installing a fire suppression system promotes a legitimate government objective, by providing the means to respond to fires on the property. The County maintains that requiring the Bujs to install the suppression system is a permissible exaction, because the cost to the property owners is roughly equivalent to the costs that would be incurred by the County to fight fires. The County did not provide any analysis comparing the cost to the property owners against the expense incurred by the County.
I. The Fire Suppression Requirements of the International Fire Code may be Imposed by State Law and County Ordinance.
Local governments may impose requirements and conditions on development if the requirements are enacted by statute or are clearly expressed as part of the approval process:
Utah Code Ann. § 17-27a-508(h).[3] A “land use permit” is any permit required by a local government as part of its land use regulations. See id. § 17-27a-103(25).[4] Subdivision approval is required by a local government as part of its land use regulations, and is thus a “land use permit.” The County may impose reasonable conditions and requirements that are found in its ordinances or in State law.
The International Fire Code has been adopted as part of state law and the County’s ordinances, and so the County may properly impose those requirements upon new development. The State and the County have both adopted uniform building codes by reference, including the International Fire Code, to protect life and property. All buildings must comply with those codes. The County’s Ordinances specifically require new subdivisions to meet fire codes:
Fire Control. A letter, official comments from the Iron County fire chief, or other agency responsible for providing fire protection to the proposed minor subdivision, identifying any items related to provide adequate fire protection and suppression services. The proposed minor subdivision shall meet the requirements for fire protection and suppression as adopted by the agency responsible for fire protection, including the provision of fire hydrants, adequate water supply, water storage and other facilities necessary for fire protection and suppression.
Iron County Code, § 16.20.070(C).[5] Local governments may enact ordinances to promote the public’s “health, safety, and welfare.” Utah Code Ann. § 17-27a-103(1). Building and fire codes promote the public’s health and safety by requiring compliance with accepted safe building methods. Since the International Fire Code is required by County ordinance and state law, compliance with it is a valid requirement for new development.
II. The Fire Suppression Condition is an Exaction Which Must Comply with Section 17-27a-507 of the Utah Code.
The County’s requirement that the Bujs install a water system to provide a 1,500 gpm fire flow constitutes an “exaction” under Utah law. “Exactions are conditions imposed by governmental entities on developers for the issuance of a building permit or subdivision plat approval.” B.A.M. Development, LLC v. Salt Lake County, 2006 UT 2, ¶ 34, 128 P.3d 1161, 1169 (“B.A.M. I”).[6] The term “exaction” includes any condition on development, including not only dedication of property, but also payment of money, installation of specific improvements, or other requirements imposed by a public entity. Furthermore, the term “exaction” includes conditions imposed by a general legislative enactment as well as those imposed by decisions or negotiations on specific proposals. Id., 2006 UT 2, ¶ 46, 128 P.3d at 1170.
Utah Code Ann. § 17-27a-507(1).[7] The Utah Supreme Court observed that the language of this statute was borrowed directly from the U.S. Supreme Court analyses in Nollan v. California Coastal Comm’n, 483 U.S. 825, 107 S.Ct. 3141 (1987) and Dolan v. City of Tigard, 512 U.S 374, 114 S.Ct. 2309 (1994). (See B.A.M. I, 2006 UT 2, ¶ 41, 128 P.3d at 1170) In those two landmark cases, the U.S. Supreme Court promulgated rules for determining when an exaction may be validly imposed under the federal constitution’s Takings Clause.[8] This has come to be known as the Nollan/Dolan “rough proportionality” test, and that two-part analysis has been codified in § 17-27a-507.
Id., 2008 UT 45, ¶ 11. The court continued by holding that “roughly proportional” means “roughly equivalent.” Thus, in order to be valid, the cost of an exaction must be roughly equivalent to the cost that a local government would incur to address (or “assuage”) the impact attributable to a land use.
In order to be a valid exaction, the County’s requirement must satisfy all aspects expressed in § 17-27a-507(1). First, there must be an essential link between a legitimate interest and the requirement. The County has a legitimate governmental interest in preventing fires and safeguarding life and property.[9] Requiring installation of a water system for fire suppression is a reasonable means of accomplishing the County’s objectives.[10] Since the County’s legitimate interests are promoted by the requirement, the first prong of § 17-27a-507 is satisfied.
C. The Requirement Does not Satisfy the Nature Aspect of the Analysis
The County’s requirement, however, fails to meet the “nature” aspect of the analysis. The nature aspect of the rough proportionality analysis requires only a relationship between a need or “problem,” and how the exaction “solves” the problem. In this situation, there has been no showing that the subdivision of the land creates a “problem” that justifies installation of a suppression system. Subdivision generally affects only the legal status of the lots,[11] but not necessarily the physical characteristics. After subdivision, the fire danger will likely be the same as before subdivision. Installation of a suppression system is a disproportionately excessive “solution” to a “problem” that has not arisen.[12] While fire suppression is certainly a legitimate governmental interest, and installing a suppression system is a reasonable means to promote that interest, creating a subdivision plat simply does not create a need for a suppression system.
Subdivision does not necessarily grant a property owner any special entitlement to develop property. Development would be required to follow statutory standards, including building and fire codes. According to the Bujs, the property will remain unchanged after subdivision, because there are no current plans to develop any of the lots. Therefore, the fire suppression needs will also remain unchanged. In most circumstances, a property owner divides property intending to develop it. However, property may be divided without development. Therefore, a subdivision application does not necessarily create an impact requiring installation of a fire suppression system.[13] Since the requirement does not satisfy the nature aspect of § 17-27a-507(1)(b), the County may not validly impose the requirement at the subdivision stage.
The County has a legitimate interest in promoting fire and building safety, and may require installation of fire suppression systems when a parcel is developed. However, a subdivision application does not automatically mean that a parcel will be developed. Subdivision approval alone simply does not create the type of impact that requires installation of a fire suppression system. If any of the parcels in the new subdivision are developed, the County may validly require installation of an acceptable fire suppression system.
[1] There were other conditions required for subdivision approval, but they are not an issue for this Opinion.
[2] Specifically, the suppression system must be able to provide at least 1500 gallons per minute for a two-hour duration. The County Fire Warden also imposed other conditions which are not at issue for this Opinion.
[3] See also Utah Code Ann. § 10-9a-509(h) (Applicable to municipalities).
[4] “’Land use permit’ means a permit issued by a land use authority.” Utah Code Ann. § 17-27a-103(25); “’Land use application’ means an application required by a county’s land use ordinance.” Id.§ 17-27a-103(22). A building permit is required to construct a new dwelling. A building permit must be approved by the County Fire Department.
[5] The Bujs’ proposed subdivision qualifies as a minor subdivision.
[7] There is a corresponding statute applicable to cities found at § 10-9a-508 of the Utah Code.
[9] See Utah Code Ann. § 53-7-106; see also § 17-50-302: (Counties may provide services reasonably related to the health, safety, and welfare of residents). Furthermore, building and fire codes promote safety and fire prevention.
[10] Note that the first step of the evaluation under § 17-27a-507(1)(a) requires an essential link between the requirement and a legitimate governmental interest. This first prong of the test does not require a connection between the exaction and a need attributable to new development. As has been discussed, the “nature aspect” expressed in § 10-9a-508(1)(b) concerns the relationship between the exaction and the need created by new development. B.A.M. II, 2008 UT 45, ¶ 10.
[11] “’Subdivision’ means any land that is divided, resubdivided or proposed to be divided into two or more lots, parcels, sites, units, plots, or other division of land for the purpose, whether immediate or future, for offer, sale, lease, or development either the installment plan or upon any and all other plans, terms, and conditions.” Utah Code Ann. § 17-27a-103(44).
[12] Many subdivision applications clearly evidence the intent to immediately develop the property, for example by showing new roads, utility easements, etc., on the face of the application. Where the subdivider clearly expresses the intent to proceed to development of property, the “nature” aspect is satisfied because the “problem” has arisen – the lots will soon be improved and occupied. This Advisory Opinion contemplates only whether the subdivision on land, without more, justifies installation of a fire suppression system.
[13] An earlier Advisory Opinion issued by the Office of the Property Rights Ombudsman concluded that a local government could require installation of a fire suppression system as a condition of approval for a building permit. See Opinions of the Office of the Property Rights Ombudsman, # 55, Jim Shea, Jr. (November 12 2008). In contrast, the Bujs are not applying for a building permit, but a simply dividing their property. If any of the lots were developed, the County could likely require installation of a fire suppression system. The impact arises due to building or development, not division of the parcel.