In Connecticut, Registrars of Voters:

• Register all voters
• Maintain the lists of active and inactive voters
• Appoint, train, & supervise all poll workers
• Conduct elections/recounts
• Conduct an annual canvass of voters to ensure accuracy of the voter registry

The Farmington Town Clerk’s office issues certified copies of birth certificates if the birth occurred in Farmington or when the mother was a resident of Farmington at the time of the birth. For additional information on how to obtain a copy of a birth certificate, please call the Town Clerk at (860) 675-2380.

The Farmington Town Clerk’s office issues certified copies of death certificates if the death occurred in Farmington or when the individual was a resident of Farmington at the time of the death. For additional information on how to obtain a copy of a death certificate, please call the Town Clerk at (860)675-2380.

The Farmington Town Clerk’s office issues certified copies of marriage certificates if the marriage occurred in Farmington or when the bride and groom were residents of Farmington at the time of the marriage. For additional information on how to obtain a copy of a marriage certificate, please call the Town Clerk at (860) 675-2380.

1. Fences, prominent or streetside steps, horse hitches
2. Light fixtures
3. Sheds, gazebos and detached garages
4. Driveways and walkways - new or newly paved; parking lots
5. Gutters and downspouts
6. Skylights and solar panels
7. Cosmetic building modifications. Includes altered roofing or siding materials; replacement windows and storm windows; doorway and entry modifications; new, rebuilt or relocated chimneys and stovepipes
8. Additions, including attached garages
9. Commercial signs
10. Demolition of buildings or other structures
11. Flagpoles
12. Satellite dishes wider than 1 meter
13. Heating and condenser units; generators; above-ground tanks
14. Modifications to commercial buildings including the above items

1. House color
2. Shrubbery and trees
3. Items not attached to the ground.  Examples: portable recreation equipment, swing sets, kiddie pools, basketball hoops
4. Mailboxes [if of standard size and design]
5. Construction or other items not visible from a public right of way
6. Satellite dishes 1 meter or less in diameter

1. Replacement of existing features with identical items
2. Dog houses, tree houses, bird houses, play houses - if of small dimensions
3. House numbers and owners' names [depending on size]
4. Small roof vents
5. Lawn objects such as small sculptures, flower tubs, planters, small fountains, bird baths

For waste collection - you must contact Highway and Grounds at 860-675-2550 to have the carts picked up.  Once that is done, we will receive notification and pro-rate (and refund, if applicable) any charges accordingly. 

For sewer usage - once the demolition permit is pulled and the Building Official verifies in writing to our office that the structure was successfully taken down, we will pro-rate (and refund, if applicable) any charges accordingly. 

Yes.  Please contact our Assessor's office at 860-675-2370 or visit their web page for further information.

For clarification purposes, mailing address changes must be made in writing.  Please send your request to tax@farmington-ct.org Please include your name, property location and new mailing address.  This information will be forwarded to our Assessor for the permanent record.

The Farmington Section VIII Program is currently closed and not accepting applications at this time.

Three verbal quotes are required for the procurement of goods or services that have a dollar value between $5,000 and $9,999. Goods or services that are estimated to cost between $10,000 and $24,999 require three written quotes. Departments send out for quotes. All quotations are evaluated based on price and specifications. A purchase order, signed by the Director of Finance, is issued to the lowest responsible bidder.

Any single expenditure for goods or services that costs $25,000 or more requires the selection of the vendor through a competitive bid process. A bid specification package is developed and a legal notice soliciting bids is placed in a local paper with a large regional circulation. The legal notice will describe the goods to be acquired or the services rendered, where bid forms and specifications can be obtained, and the time and place for submission of bids.

The Director of Finance is in charge of all formal bids and holds public bid openings on the date and at the time specified in the bid notice. Bids are opened, read and recorded. Bidders and other interested parties are welcome to attend the bid opening. Results can be obtained at the opening or by calling the Finance Department at (860) 675-2335. All bids submitted are evaluated for compliance with the bid specifications, experience and financial stability of the vendor to perform the contract, performance on previous contracts with the Town and price. Unless circumstances warrant otherwise, award is made to the lowest responsible bidder.

When professional services are required, town departments prepare a formal Request for Proposals (RFP) and submit it to the Director of Finance for approval and advertisement. According to Section 55-8 of the Town Code, RFP’s are to be used for contracts for professional services with attorneys, physicians, architects, appraisers or other professionals whose services will be advisory or consulting in nature.

Unlike formal bids, the town does not hold public openings for responses to RFPs. Although RFPs are opened and recorded on the date and time specified in the RFP, information in proposals is not public until after a successful respondent is selected. Contracts are awarded based on qualifications, experience in providing the required service and the proposals responsiveness to the RFP requirements. A selection committee may be used to assist in choosing a successful respondent. Selection committees are composed of persons knowledgeable about the service requested and familiar with the Town. If a selection committee is established, respondents submitting a RFP may be invited to an interview with the Committee prior to final recommendation for contract award. The role of the selection committee is to recommend to the Director of Finance an individual or firm who the Committee collectively agrees can best provide the services requested.

For all bids and quotes submitted for purchases, not excluded by Section 55-8 of the Town Code, exceeding $2,500 but less than $500,000, any qualified and registered local vendor who has submitted a bid or quote not more than 5% higher than the lowest qualified bid or quote will be awarded the contract or purchase order, subject to Town Code section 55-6, so long as such local vendor agrees to provide the goods or services which are the subject of such contract or purchase order at the same price as the lowest qualified bid or quote received. In the event that more than one local vendor submits a bid or quote not more than 5% higher than the lowest qualified bid or quote, the award shall be to that local vendor originally submitting the lowest qualified bid or quote.

For purposes of this section, a qualified and registered local vendor is defined as one who maintains a principal place of business within the Town limits of Farmington by occupying real property in which to conduct such business or by paying ad valorem taxes on business property to the Town. Evidence of the maintenance of such principal place of business may include the ownership or long-term lease of real estate from which the principal place of the business is operated or the payment of property taxes on the personal property of the business to be used in the performance of the bid. This section shall not apply in any situation where the preference created by this section would violate Federal or state law or any existing contracts. Local Vendor Preference registration forms are available by contacting the Finance Department.

 Citations are paid in the Finance Department at Town Hall.

If you disposed of this vehicle and did NOT transfer the license plates to another vehicle, please refer to the required documentation for motor vehicle assessment changes.

 
If you disposed of the vehicle after October 1st and transferred license plates to another vehicle, you should pay the tax bill due in July on the former vehicle and you will receive a pro-rated bill the following January that will have an assessment credit automatically applied.

If the vehicle was sold, stolen, totaled, junked, donated, repossessed or registered in another state, you may be entitled to an assessment adjustment on the vehicle in question. Please see the required documentation for motor vehicle assessment changes for further information. It is important to remember that the CT DMV does not notify towns when a registration is cancelled.

Taxes on a motor vehicle are due and payable until the vehicle is disposed of or registered in another state.

If you took the vehicle with you and registered it in your new state, our Assessor requires the following to adjust or delete the bill (whichever may apply):
(1) a copy of the original registration from the new state
(2) the cancelled plate receipt from the CT DMV

If you disposed of the vehicle before you moved, please see the required documentation for motor vehicle assessment changes.

*** IMPORTANT: No adjustment will be made to a tax bill until the vehicle is either registered in a new state or disposed of. Also, the State of Connecticut has a 3-year vehicle registration. You must cancel the registration by either mailing back the license plates to the Wethersfield DMV branch or filing for a lost or stolen plate (if applicable) online in order to stop the taxation of the vehicle.

PLEASE NOTE - taxes are collectible for 15 years from the due date of the tax and adjustments to the tax can only be made to a tax bill if the proper paperwork is received by the Assessor within 27 months from the assessment date.

Link to CT DMV.

If you moved to another town AFTER October 1st, you owe the tax bill due the following July to the Town of Farmington. We do not pro-rate between towns when you move within the state.

If you moved to another town BEFORE October 1st, our Assessor will require proof of residency to delete the bill and send it to your new town. Please contact our Assessor’s office for acceptable forms of proof.

*** IMPORTANT: You must change the tax town code on your registration(s) with the CT DMV for future tax billings.

To see if you are registered to vote in Farmington, use the State of Connecticut's Voter Registration Lookup.

You must be (1) a U.S. citizen, (2) a resident of Farmington, (3) at least 17 years old (turning 18 on or before this year's general election in November), and (4) if previously convicted of a felony, have completed your sentence and have had your voting rights restored by the Registrar of Voters.

• On-line Voter Registration
• In person: at Town Hall, Mon-Fri., 8:30am - 4:30pm, either in the Registrar's office or the Town Clerk's office.
• By mail: cards are available at both libraries and at social service agencies; also on the information table in the front of Town Hall.
• By a mail-in card furnished when renewing driver's license with DMV, or electronically when at the DMV. (Please note that notifying the DMV of a change of address does not automatically change your voter registration.)
• In person: at any other City Hall or Town Hall in the state.
• Click to print a Voter Registration Form. Once completed, either bring to the Registrar of Voters at Town Hall or mail to:

REGISTRAR OF VOTERS
FARMINGTON TOWN HALL
1 MONTEITH DRIVE
FARMINGTON, CT 06032-1053

Connecticut has strict laws regarding who can vote absentee.

If you answer yes to any of the following questions, you are eligible to vote absentee:

• Are you an active member of the armed forces of the United States?
• Will you be out of town on Election Day?
• Does sickness prevent you from voting in person on Election Day?
• Do your religious beliefs prevent you from performing secular activities like voting on Election Day?
• Will you be performing duties as an election official at a polling place other than your own on Election Day?
• Does a physical disability prevent you from voting in person on election day?

The Town Clerk is responsible for supervising, distributing, and counting of absentee ballots.  You may come to the Town Clerk's office for an application for an absentee ballot, or click here to print an absentee ballot application or click here for the online absentee ballot request portal. You may return the absentee ballot application by mail to: Town Clerk, 1 Monteith Drive, Farmington, CT 06032, bring it to the Town Clerk’s office (Monday – Friday 8:30am-4:30pm), drop it in the secure ballot drop box in front of Town Hall, or you may fax it to (860) 675-2389.  

To find your voting location, use the State of Connecticut's Voter Registration Lookup. (Users must be aware that occasional special conditions can force changes in polling places. For the most up to date location, voters should check with the Registrar of Voters.)

• District 1, Precinct 1 & 2 - Irving Robbins Middle School, 20 Wolf Pit Rd., Farmington
• District 1, Precinct 3 & 4 - West Woods Upper Elementary School, 50 Judson Lane, Farmington
• District 2, Precinct 5 - Farmington Police Department, 319 New Britain Ave., Unionville
• District 2, Precinct 6 - Community/Senior Center, 321 New Britain Ave., Unionville
• District 2, Precinct 7 - Municipal Campus (Library or High School), Monteith Drive, Farmington

• If you disposed of this vehicle and did NOT transfer the license plates to another vehicle, please refer to the required documentation for motor vehicle assessment changes.
• If you disposed of the vehicle after October 1^st and transferred license plates to another vehicle, you should pay the tax bill due in July on the former vehicle and you will receive a pro-rated bill the following January that will have an assessment credit automatically applied (see Supplemental Motor Vehicle Tax Bills below).

The assessor is required by Connecticut Law to list and value all real and personal property. Valuation is subject to ad valorem taxation on an assessment grand list each year. The "ad valorem" basis for taxation means that all property should be taxed "according to value," which is the definition of ad valorem. Motor vehicles are assessed each year, utilizing the October issue of a national pricing manual, at 70 percent of the average retail value.

Assessed real estate values in Connecticut are 70 percent of the estimated fair market value as of the last town-wide revaluation.  The 2022 revaluation is being completed now.   The previous revaluation was as of October 1, 2017.   The next revaluation is expected to be for October 1, 2026.  In the years between revaluation the assessor must maintain the values and the administrative records. This office is responsible for approximately; 11,000 real estate parcels; 30,000 motor vehicle accounts and 1,500 business personal property accounts. The assessor is required to sign and file the grand list by January 31st of each year.

What the Assessor does not do:

The assessor does not raise or lower taxes. The assessor does not make the laws that affect property owners.

The assessor's Office has nothing to do with the total amount of taxes collected. The assessor's primary responsibility is to estimate the fair market value of your property, so that you may pay only your fair share of the taxes. The tax rate is determined by all the taxing agencies within the Town, and is the basis for the budget needed or demanded by the voters to provide for services, such as schools, roads, law enforcement, etc. Tax rates are simply those rates that will provide funds to pay for those services.

Each year the CT DMV sends us a list of registered motor vehicles. These vehicles are assessed at 70% of the estimated retail value, as published in the October issue of a nationally recognized appraisal guide. The appraisal guide is used statewide and is recommended by the State Office of Policy and Management. All vehicles are assumed to have average condition, based on its year, make and model.

If you feel a vehicle does not reflect average condition, you may appeal the assessment to the Board of Assessment Appeals, which meets in September of each year.  Please call the Assessor’s Office for the date(s) of their hearings.

The most important thing to do is cancel the registration plates with the Connecticut DMV, so that the vehicle will not appear on upcoming tax rolls. For vehicles that are sold, destroyed, stolen, or registered out of state please submit documentation to our office. You may download a copy of the Motor Vehicle Proof List.

To arrive at the estimated "fair market value" for your property, the assessor must know what "willing sellers" and "willing buyers" are doing in the marketplace. The Assessor must collect, record and analyze a great deal of information about property and market characteristics, in order to estimate the fair market value, including cost of construction in the area and changes in zoning, financing and economic conditions that may affect property values. The Assessor uses the three nationally recognized appraisal approaches to value: cost, income and market. This data is then correlated into a final value.

The object of the valuation program is to estimate "the fair market value" as of a particular date, October 1, 2022, (known as the "revaluation assessment date")

Taxes can increase because of an increase in the property tax rate (mill rate) or in the assessment of the property or both.  The mill rate is set annually when the town budget is approved.  In addition to the annual cost of town services, such things as large building projects contribute to a higher mill rate.

The assessment of real estate changes in between revaluation years to account for additions and remodeling for example.

Personal property, including motor vehicles are revalued annually. 

Motor vehicle assessments are based on their retail value as of the previous October 1.  Motor vehicle values have been increasing sharply since 2020.  The assessments reflect that.

If your opinion of the value of your property differs from the assessment value, by all means go to the office and discuss the matter. A "street card" is available for every property in Town. Ask to see your card. The staff will be glad to answer your questions about the assessment value. Ask yourself three questions:

1. Is my data correct?
2. Is my value in line with others on the street?
3. Is my value in line with sale prices in my neighborhood as of the last town-wide revaluation, October 1, 2022?

Keep in mind what is important: Sale prices between 2017 and 2022, condition, neighborhood, building size and lot area are the most critical factors in the valuation process. There is a variety of information available to help you determine whether your assessment is fair and equitable. The staff will be happy to assist you, and no appointment is necessary.

If, after discussing the matter with the staff and researching the assessments of comparable properties within your area, a difference of opinion still exists, you may appeal your assessment to the Board of Assessment Appeals by filing an appeal application.

Taxpayers may appeal their assessment to the Farmington Board of Assessment Appeals (BAA) pursuant to Connecticut General Statute (C.G.S.) §12-11. Appeals to the BAA must be in writing and received in the Assessor’ Office no later than February 20. (Postmark not accepted.) Applications to the BAA are available on the Town’s website or by calling (860) 675-2370.The BAA meets in March and will mail a notice of the date, time, and place of the hearing.

 BAA Appeal Form.

You are appealing your assessment value, not your taxes.

Wish to appeal? The application is easy, but…Make a case…Give reasons. The Board will respond to your specific concerns and comparisons.

Did you refinance or purchase the property between 2021 and 2022? It may help the appeal process to submit a copy of an appraisal report based on October 1, 2022, market values.

Hearings are held in March and you will be notified in writing, by March 1, as to the date and time of your hearing.

Hearings are also held in September for motor vehicles only.  Motor Vehicle BAA Appeal Form

Appeal Denied:

• You will receive a notice indicating your application was denied.  
• Any person claiming to be aggrieved by the action of the board may, within two months from the date of the mailing of the decision appeal to the superior court.

Appeal Approved:

• You will receive a notice indicating the amount of the assessment reduction.
• Your assessment reduction, if for real estate, is permanent, until the next revaluation, unless the property is improved. No need to reapply each year. If your motor vehicle assessment was reduced, you must notify the Assessor's Office of the current condition of the vehicle each year on or about October 1st.

Based on the 2021 Grand List Year, with a mill rate of 29.32 mills or $29.32 per $1000 of assessment value. Example: Assessment value: 100,000 X .02932 = $2,932.00

A variety of exemptions are available to reduce property tax obligations for certain qualifying taxpayers: elderly persons, blind persons, veterans, disabled veterans, surviving spouse or widow of qualified veterans and social security totally disabled persons. The qualifying date is October 1st of each year. You may download a copy of the war dates.

If you have the slightest suspicion you may be eligible or have any questions, call the Assessor's Office to discuss details.

Note that certain exemption applications will require copy of the IRS tax forms filed in the last calendar year. An additional qualification for most exemptions is, being a legal resident of CT, having ownership and residing at the property as of the assessment date, October 1st.

The Town Council established the FHS Community Survey Ad Hoc Committee on May 15, 2018. The Committee was charged with soliciting proposals to hire a consultant to facilitate a citizen survey poll focused on the Farmington High School facility, selecting a consultant, working with the consultant to prepare the survey, and reporting the results of the survey to the Town Council and Board of Education.

 The input collected from the survey will assist town leaders in developing future upgrades and updates to the Farmington High School Facility.

While online surveys work well, a mixed access (cell and landline) survey was selected for many important reasons including:  completing 400 randomly selected resident interviews, ensuring only Farmington residents are included, ensuring only adults (18+) are included, ensuring the sample is proportional to population contribution geographically.  The randomness of the sample draw also helps ensure representativeness.    

 In an online survey, the researcher, the Center for Research and Public Policy (CRPP) would not be able to guarantee any of these important reasons for a phone survey.  Further, while CRPP can block multiple responses from the same IP address, individuals can mount campaigns among friends/others directing them to an online link to complete the survey – introducing bias into the survey. 

Traditionally surveys in this country range from about 400 to 1000.  Municipalities typically will conduct 400 samples while samples of 500 or 600 are common on a state level and 1000 size samples are used for national polls / surveys.  Sample size is selected based on budget constraints as well as desired margins for error.  For example, a 400 sample survey has an associated margin for error of +/-5.0% at a 95% confidence level while a national poll of 1000 has an associated margin for error of +/-3.0% at the same confidence level. 

 Sample for a 400 survey is carefully pulled by U.S. Census data on the Tract, Group Block and Block levels to ensure geographical representativeness.

Yes, the Town sent out a Request for Proposals for Landscape Architect Services. They received seven (7) responses. At the December 4, 2018 FVCC Meeting, the committee members reviewed all of the submissions and selected the top three (3) candidates to interview. On January 10, 2019, the Committee held interviews and selected BSC Group.

Yes, Realty Concepts performed an extensive market analysis. You can view the market study through the Town's website. 

Link: Market Analysis

Yes, the Town conducted public workshops and meetings over the past 3 years. Over 500 residents have participated in one way or another. All workshops and meetings included extensive public notice and participation. The design workshops were on: March 26th, 2015- over 200 participants, March 27th 2015 ' over 60 participants, March 28th 2015 - over 100 participants, September 11, 2015 - over 100 participants. The public participation process won a state-wide award from the Connecticut Chapter of the American Planning Association.

Link: Main Report

Link: Executive Summary

The FC zone determines the uses allowed and the size of buildings and setbacks from property lines. 

• Maximum height of buildings: 40 feet, except 50 feet where all or a part of the required parking for such units is in an underground garage beneath the building.
• Minimum height of buildings: Two floors of finished space with a minimum ceiling height of eight (8) feet.
• Yards: Front Yard: 0 feet unless otherwise specified by the Commission.
• Rear Yard: 10 feet unless abutting residential zone where the Commission may require a B bufferyard.
• Side Yard: 0 feet unless abutting a residential zone where the Commission may require a B bufferyard.

The above regulations afford the Commission significant discretion when reviewing a specific site plans.

The FVD overlay zone establishes additional review criteria in the FC zone. These criteria are in the form of very powerful design controls, including the design, height and placement of proposed new buildings

A question has arisen as to “How many stories are allowed in the zone?”

So how tall is each story going to likely be? Different uses and styles will have stories of different heights. New residential construction often has 9 foot ceilings, though some may still have 8 foot ceilings. Offices typically have ceiling heights of 9 feet to 10 feet. Retail and restaurant uses frequently have ceilings a few feet taller.

Each story will also have some height dedicated to actual floor and ceiling itself as well as space for HVAC and other infrastructure. In residential construction a floor structure can often be about 1 foot deep, which in a building with 9 foot ceilings would make a full story of about 10 feet. Because office buildings usually have more stringent requirements for air conditioning ducts, plumbing and wiring systems above the ceiling, in addition to concrete floor slabs, they usually require 18 to 24 inches between the ceiling and next floor level.

Roughly half of the roof is also included in the 40 foot measurement, depending on roof style.

While the “floor to floor” distance may vary, the overall height of the building will be limited to a maximum of 40 feet, if approved after careful architectural and design review.

Bottom line – with a 40 foot height limitation it would be very difficult to get more than 3 stories, unless the building had a flat roof, which is not likely to be approved.

This survey will sample 400 Farmington residents over the age of 18. These 400 surveys need to be representative of the Farmington population. Therefore the survey research consultant uses U.S. Census demographic data to determine the proportion and types  of respondents needed to satisfy the various demographic data points. As the survey is conducted the researcher watches over the completed surveys to ensure that they are getting the right number of surveys in the various categories.  Towards the end of the survey, when most of the data has been collected, a survey may be excluded if a demographic data point has already been met. For example, if the survey has met or come close to the percentage of residents over 65 years of age, the researcher will stop including those respondents in that age cohort. In this case the researcher would tell the respondent that they were not eligible to be included in the survey.

The survey research consultant takes all responses from the 400 sample and analyzes the results with statistical modeling. This modeling takes the results and allows them to be applicable on a town wide basis within a margin of error of +/- 5.0%.

On December 19, 2018 the Town was notified by the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) that we did not receive the Brownfield’s Assessment Grant for the former Parson’s parcel.  DECD received 39 applications requesting approximately $20.5 million of grant funding.  Of the 39 applications only 11 projects were funded. We are meeting with our consultant, Amy Vaillancourt to discuss if she can review the phase 1 investigations in further detail, and give us a plan to move forward. We met with our legislators to determine if future Brownfield’s funding will become available in the near future.  We are meeting on January 17, 2019 with the Deputy Commissioner of DECD and will discuss the Parson’s parcel. More information will be provided as it becomes available.

The FC zone determines the uses allowed and the size of buildings and setbacks from property lines. 

• Maximum height of buildings: 40 feet, except 50 feet where all or a part of the required parking for such units is in an underground garage beneath the building.
• Minimum height of buildings: Two floors of finished space with a minimum ceiling height of eight (8) feet.
• Yards: Front Yard: 0 feet unless otherwise specified by the Commission.
• Rear Yard: 10 feet unless abutting residential zone where the Commission may require a B bufferyard.
• Side Yard: 0 feet unless abutting a residential zone where the Commission may require a B bufferyard.

The above regulations afford the Commission significant discretion when reviewing a specific site plans.

The FVD overlay zone establishes additional review criteria in the FC zone. These criteria are in the form of very powerful design controls, including the design and placement of proposed new buildings.

The Town Council will either proceed with the acquisition or forward to the electorate depending on the purchase price and/or funding source.

While the language is vague, Town staff does not believe that this resolution will have any impact on the Town’s purchase of Parsons property.  Based on the legislative history, we believe this amendment is designed to scrutinize the potential sale of state land that was set aside for open space, conservation or other public uses. While we can only speculate how this amendment will be interpreted and implemented, we do not believe the amendment includes State Department of Transportation (DOT) surplus property. Parsons was never set aside or intended to be set aside for open space, conservation, or other public uses. The Parsons property was taken by eminent domain by the DOT for road construction purposes and the project is now complete. Additionally, the transfer to Farmington was included in a conveyance bill which was approved by both houses of the legislature and signed by the Governor in 2015.