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Utah · Wasatch Front North · Salt Lake Metro · #238 Most Populous County in the US
Davis County Government Offices
Salt Lake's northern suburban corridor - Layton, Bountiful, Clearfield, and Kaysville between the Wasatch Mountains and the Great Salt Lake. One of Utah's most populous and fastest-growing counties, anchored by Hill Air Force Base and the extraordinary quality of life the Wasatch Front offers. Property tax, courts, public records, probate, and senior services for Davis County residents.
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Davis County's assessment ratio means effective tax rates are low — but incorrect appraisals still cost money. Ownwell manages the appeal with no upfront cost.
Office: Davis County Emergency Management – (801) 451-3141 | daviscountyutah.gov
Alert System: CodeRED
FEMA Region: Region 8
Notes: One of the most densely populated and fastest-growing suburban counties accessible anywhere in Utah, situated between Salt Lake City and Ogden; winter storm and earthquake risk given the county’s position along the Wasatch Fault; Farmington is the county seat
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
Roads: I-15, one of the most heavily trafficked interstate corridors accessible anywhere in Utah given the county’s position within the Wasatch Front; Hill Air Force Base, one of the largest Air Force installations by geographic area accessible anywhere in the country, is located in the county
Transit: UTA (Utah Transit Authority) FrontRunner commuter rail and bus service, one of the more significant regional rail systems accessible anywhere in the Mountain West
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Davis County Community and Economic Development – (801) 451-3300
Services: Building permits for unincorporated areas; floodplain permits
Notes: Farmington, Layton, Bountiful, and other incorporated cities each handle the large majority of their own permitting; unincorporated county land is a shrinking share given the county’s near-complete suburban development
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Davis County Veterans Service Office (shared/regional arrangement)
State VSO: Utah Office of Veterans and Military Affairs – veterans.utah.gov
VA Medical: George E. Wahlen VA Medical Center, Salt Lake City (accessible south)
Notes: Hill Air Force Base, one of the largest Air Force installations accessible anywhere in the country by land area, gives the county a substantial active-duty and veteran population
Libraries
LIBRARIES
System: Davis County Library System, multiple branches
Services: Books; e-books; public computers; Wi-Fi; extensive genealogy resources
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Antelope Island State Park, the largest island accessible anywhere within the Great Salt Lake, home to a significant free-roaming bison herd and one of the most significant birding destinations accessible anywhere in Utah; Lagoon Amusement Park, Farmington, one of the oldest continuously operating amusement parks accessible anywhere in the western United States, dating to 1886
Notes: Antelope Island’s substantial bison herd and Lagoon Amusement Park’s status as one of the oldest continuously operating amusement parks accessible anywhere in the western US give Davis County two of the most significant tourism attractions accessible anywhere along the Wasatch Front
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
GIS Portal: Davis County GIS – daviscountyutah.gov/gis
Parcel Search: Davis County Assessor site
Addressing/911: Davis County 911 Addressing – via County Commission
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Shelter: Davis County Animal Care & Control – (801) 444-2200
Notes: Great Salt Lake water level and wetland conservation, a significant statewide environmental concern given the lake’s declining levels in recent years, and Wasatch Front air quality are among the county’s most significant environmental priorities
NOTES
Davis County is one of the most densely populated and rapidly developed suburban counties accessible anywhere in Utah, anchored by Hill Air Force Base, one of the largest Air Force installations accessible anywhere in the country by land area, and Antelope Island State Park, home to a significant free-roaming bison herd on the largest island within the Great Salt Lake. The declining water levels of the Great Salt Lake have become one of the most significant and closely watched environmental concerns accessible anywhere in Utah, with substantial implications for Davis County’s western shoreline communities.
About Davis County
Davis County is the densely populated northern tier of the Salt Lake metropolitan area – sandwiched between the Wasatch Mountains to the east and the Great Salt Lake to the west in one of Utah’s smallest counties by area but among its most populous.
Layton (the county’s largest city, population ~82,000) is the center of gravity for Davis County’s commercial and residential life, positioned immediately adjacent to Hill Air Force Base (which straddles the Weber-Davis county line). Clearfield is a defense and logistics corridor city with significant military contractor employment. Bountiful – the county’s oldest city, named for its fertile agricultural character – is one of the Salt Lake Valley’s most established and pleasant suburban communities, with exceptional school districts and proximity to Salt Lake City.
Farmington (the county seat, population ~25,000) is home to Lagoon Amusement Park – Utah’s largest amusement park, operating since 1886, and the only major theme park in the Mountain West outside of Denver. Lagoon is a genuine regional institution, drawing visitors from across Utah and neighboring states for its roller coasters, water park, and Pioneer Village.
The Great Salt Lake – which borders Davis County’s western shore – is the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere and one of the most significant migratory bird habitats in North America. The lake’s dramatic decline in recent years (dropping to historic low levels due to water diversions and climate change) has been a major environmental concern with potential impacts on the Wasatch Front’s air quality (as the lakebed dust contains arsenic and other minerals).
Davis County’s Wasatch Mountains provide immediate access to ski resorts – Snowbird and Alta in adjacent Salt Lake County are within 45 minutes of Layton.
County government is three commissioners with separately elected offices for the Assessor, Clerk/Auditor, Recorder, Sheriff, Surveyor, and Treasurer.
Heritage | Farmington anchors Davis County along the Wasatch Front, and the county’s Lagoon Amusement Park, one of the oldest continuously operating amusement parks in the country, remains a beloved Utah institution drawing generations of visitors, while the county’s rapid suburban growth reflects its position within the expanding Salt Lake City-Ogden metro corridor Outdoors | Antelope Island State Park, connected by causeway to the mainland, offers extensive hiking and free-roaming bison viewing within the Great Salt Lake, while the Bonneville Shoreline Trail provides extensive foothill hiking and biking along the county’s eastern mountain edge Notable | Lagoon Amusement Park remains one of the most beloved and longest-running amusement parks in the western United States, and Antelope Island’s bison herd gives Davis County a distinctive wildlife viewing destination within the Great Salt Lake Library | Davis County Library system serves the county’s rapidly growing Wasatch Front suburban communities
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Utah assesses property at 100% of market value annually. The Davis County Assessor (61 S. Main Street, Farmington, 801-451-3249) determines all property values.
The appeal process:
File with the Davis County Board of Equalization by the first Monday in August (confirm current deadline). File in writing with comparable sales evidence.
If unsatisfied, appeal to the Utah State Tax Commission within 30 days, then to Utah District Court.
Circuit Breaker: Age 66+ (or disabled) with income below approximately $38,369 (2025 – confirm). Apply through the Davis County Assessor by September 1.
No Utah estate tax. No Utah inheritance tax.
OWNWELL CTA: Davis County BOE deadline first Monday in August. Strong Wasatch Front appreciation means annual assessments should be verified carefully. Circuit Breaker for qualifying seniors 66+. No UT estate or inheritance tax. Ownwell manages the appeal with no upfront cost.
Recommended
Davis County BOE deadline first Monday in August. Strong Wasatch Front appreciation means annual assessments should be verified carefully. Circuit Breaker for qualifying seniors 66+. No UT estate or inheritance tax. Ownwell manages the appeal with no upfront cost.
Courts & Legal
The Davis County District Court at 800 W. State Street, Farmington (801-447-3800) handles all civil, criminal, family, and probate matters. The Davis County Clerk/Auditor (801-451-3201) and Recorder (801-451-3358) at 61 S. Main Street maintain court and land records – searchable online at daviscountyutah.gov.
Utah probate: District Court handles all estate administration. Utah recognizes Transfer on Death deeds.
Hill AFB community estate planning: Davis County’s large Hill AFB community – the southern half of the base is in Davis County – mirrors Weber County’s military estate planning needs: SGLI designations, SBP elections, and current powers of attorney are priorities. Davis County’s military dependents’ community is particularly dense in Layton and Clearfield.
LDS estate planning: Davis County is among the highest concentrations of LDS members of any county in Utah – Church-centered estate planning, tithing considerations, and charitable giving to LDS institutions are significant components of the local estate planning landscape.
Great Salt Lake environmental estate planning: Properties along the Great Salt Lake’s declining shoreline – including former lakeside developments now sitting far from water – may have affected market values that should be considered in assessments and estate planning.
Senior Services: The Davis County Aging and Adult Services (801-451-3330) at 61 S. Main Street, Farmington coordinates senior centers, home-delivered meals, transportation, Utah SHIP Medicare counseling, caregiver support, Adult Protective Services, and connections to Utah Medicaid long-term care programs.
DISTRICT COURT
Address: 800 West State St, Farmington, UT 84025
Phone: (801) 451-3200
Website: utcourts.gov/courts/dist/davis
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
COUNTY CLERK/AUDITOR
61 South Main St, Farmington, UT 84025
(801) 451-3208
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Second District Court / Davis County Clerk, Bountiful/Farmington (probate/estate case files – see Probate section above).
Local societies
No dedicated Davis County genealogical society was confirmed in available directories.
Probate & Estate
Losing someone and having to deal with courts and paperwork at the same time is hard. This section won’t make that easier, but it should tell you what to expect, what it costs, and where to go – so at least you’re not walking in blind.
Where to go
Second District Court, Davis County 805 South Main Street, Bountiful, UT 84010 (801) 397-7008
Davis County is between Salt Lake City and Ogden, seated in Farmington. Utah has NO separate probate court – probate is handled by the District Court. Davis County is part of the Second Judicial District (Weber, Davis, Morgan), seated in Ogden.
Step 1: figure out which path applies
Utah has adopted the Uniform Probate Code (Title 75, Utah Uniform Probate Code) in full – one of about 16 states to do so. This makes Utah’s probate process comparatively streamlined.
Small Estate Affidavit (Utah Code § 75-3-1201) – available when the total estate value (minus liens and encumbrances) is $100,000 or less AND the estate includes NO real property. At least 30 days must have passed since death. This is a true affidavit process – it is NOT filed with the court. The successor fills it out, signs it before a notary, and presents it directly to whoever holds the property (a bank, brokerage, employer, etc.), which is then legally obligated to release the asset. A separate, similar affidavit can transfer title to up to four boats, motor vehicles, trailers, or semi-trailers directly through the Utah Division of Motor Vehicles.
Informal Probate – the most common track in Utah under the UPC. Minimal court involvement; a probate registrar (not a judge) reviews the application and appoints the personal representative administratively when there’s no dispute.
Unsupervised Formal Probate – involves a judge and a court hearing to resolve a specific question (such as confirming a will’s validity) but otherwise proceeds with the same independence as informal probate afterward.
Supervised Formal Administration – full ongoing court supervision, reserved for contested, complex, or high-conflict estates.
Step 2: filing for administration
The personal representative (or an interested party) files an Application for Informal Probate and Appointment of Personal Representative with the Second District Court.
The original will (if one exists) and a certified death certificate are submitted with the application.
The court registrar reviews the application; if in order, Letters Testamentary (with a will) or Letters of Administration (without one) are issued – often without a hearing.
The personal representative provides notice to creditors and known heirs, and inventories the estate’s assets.
The personal representative pays valid debts, expenses, and taxes from the estate.
Remaining assets are distributed to beneficiaries or heirs, and the estate is closed.
What it costs
District court filing fee: $375 statewide (confirm current fee for Davis County directly, as fees can be adjusted).
Utah has NO statutory fee schedule for attorneys or personal representatives – fees must be “reasonable” based on time spent, complexity of the estate, and its value.
Small estate affidavit proceedings cost far less since no court filing is required at all – mainly notary and any professional assistance fees.
Utah does NOT impose a state estate tax or inheritance tax. Only the federal estate tax may apply, and only to very large estates.
Probate filings, estate administration, and guardianship matters are handled by the following office(s):
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search, and law enforcement services are handled by the following office(s):
SHERIFF
800 West State St, Farmington, UT 84025
(801) 451-4150
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
ELECTIONS
61 South Main St, Farmington, UT 84025
(801) 451-3350
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
Health Department
22 South State St, Clearfield, UT 84015
(801) 525-5000
DWS Office
1550 South 850 West, Woods Cross, UT 84087
(801) 397-4700
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Davis County Health Department – (801) 525-5000
Services: Immunizations; WIC; environmental health; vital records
Notes: Rapid population growth has significantly increased demand for county public health services in recent years
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