diff --git a/designate/tests/test_utils.py b/designate/tests/test_utils.py
deleted file mode 100644
index 7ffacee57..000000000
--- a/designate/tests/test_utils.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,194 +0,0 @@
-# Copyright 2012 Managed I.T.
-#
-# Author: Kiall Mac Innes <kiall@managedit.ie>
-#
-# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may
-# not use this file except in compliance with the License. You may obtain
-# a copy of the License at
-#
-#      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
-#
-# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
-# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT
-# WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See the
-# License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
-# under the License.
-import os
-import functools
-import tempfile
-
-import six
-import testtools
-from mock import Mock
-from jinja2 import Template
-
-from designate.tests import TestCase
-from designate import exceptions
-from designate import utils
-
-
-class TestUtils(TestCase):
-    def test_resource_string(self):
-        name = ['templates', 'bind9-zone.jinja2']
-
-        resource_string = utils.resource_string(*name)
-
-        self.assertIsNotNone(resource_string)
-
-    def test_resource_string_missing(self):
-        name = 'invalid.jinja2'
-
-        with testtools.ExpectedException(exceptions.ResourceNotFound):
-            utils.resource_string(name)
-
-    def test_resource_string_empty_args(self):
-        with testtools.ExpectedException(ValueError):
-            utils.resource_string()
-
-    def test_load_schema_missing(self):
-        with testtools.ExpectedException(exceptions.ResourceNotFound):
-            utils.load_schema('v1', 'missing')
-
-    def test_load_template(self):
-        name = 'bind9-zone.jinja2'
-
-        template = utils.load_template(name)
-
-        self.assertIsInstance(template, Template)
-
-    def test_load_template_keep_trailing_newline(self):
-        name = 'bind9-zone.jinja2'
-        template = utils.load_template(name)
-        self.assertTrue(template.environment.keep_trailing_newline)
-
-    def test_load_template_missing(self):
-        name = 'invalid.jinja2'
-
-        with testtools.ExpectedException(exceptions.ResourceNotFound):
-            utils.load_template(name)
-
-    def test_render_template(self):
-        template = Template("Hello {{name}}")
-
-        result = utils.render_template(template, name="World")
-
-        self.assertEqual('Hello World', result)
-
-    def test_render_template_to_file(self):
-        output_path = tempfile.mktemp()
-
-        template = Template("Hello {{name}}")
-
-        utils.render_template_to_file(template, output_path=output_path,
-                                      name="World")
-
-        self.assertTrue(os.path.exists(output_path))
-
-        try:
-            with open(output_path, 'r') as fh:
-                self.assertEqual('Hello World', fh.read())
-        finally:
-            os.unlink(output_path)
-
-    def test_increment_serial(self):
-        ret_serial = utils.increment_serial(serial=20)
-        self.assertGreater(ret_serial, 20)
-
-    def test_is_uuid_like(self):
-        uuid_str = 'aaaaaaaa-aaaa-aaaa-aaaa-aaaaaaaaaaaa'
-        self.assertTrue(utils.is_uuid_like(uuid_str))
-        uuid_str = '678'
-        self.assertFalse(utils.is_uuid_like(uuid_str))
-
-    def test_split_host_port(self):
-        host_port = "abc:abc"
-        host, port = utils.split_host_port(host_port)
-        self.assertEqual((host, port), ("abc:abc", 53))
-
-        host_port = "abc:25"
-        host, port = utils.split_host_port(host_port)
-        self.assertEqual((host, port), ("abc", 25))
-
-    def test_get_paging_params_invalid_limit(self):
-        context = Mock()
-        for value in [9223372036854775809, -1]:
-            with testtools.ExpectedException(exceptions.InvalidLimit):
-                utils.get_paging_params(context, {'limit': value}, [])
-
-    def test_get_paging_params_max_limit(self):
-        context = Mock()
-        self.config(max_limit_v2=1000, group='service:api')
-        result = utils.get_paging_params(context, {'limit': "max"}, [])
-        self.assertEqual(result[1], 1000)
-
-    def test_get_paging_params_invalid_sort_dir(self):
-        context = Mock()
-        with testtools.ExpectedException(exceptions.InvalidSortDir):
-            utils.get_paging_params(context, {'sort_dir': "dsc"}, [])
-
-    def test_get_paging_params_invalid_sort_key(self):
-        context = Mock()
-        with testtools.ExpectedException(exceptions.InvalidSortKey):
-            utils.get_paging_params(context, {'sort_key': "dsc"},
-                                    ['asc', 'desc'])
-
-
-def def_method(f, *args, **kwargs):
-    @functools.wraps(f)
-    def new_method(self):
-        return f(self, *args, **kwargs)
-    return new_method
-
-
-def parameterized_class(cls):
-    """A class decorator for running parameterized test cases.
-    Mark your class with @parameterized_class.
-    Mark your test cases with @parameterized.
-    """
-    test_functions = {
-        k: v for k, v in vars(cls).items() if k.startswith('test')
-    }
-    for name, f in test_functions.items():
-        if not hasattr(f, '_test_data'):
-            continue
-
-        # remove the original test function from the class
-        delattr(cls, name)
-
-        # add a new test function to the class for each entry in f._test_data
-        for tag, args in f._test_data.items():
-            new_name = "{0}_{1}".format(f.__name__, tag)
-            if hasattr(cls, new_name):
-                raise Exception(
-                    "Parameterized test case '{0}.{1}' created from '{0}.{2}' "
-                    "already exists".format(cls.__name__, new_name, name))
-
-            # Using `def new_method(self): f(self, **args)` is not sufficient
-            # (all new_methods use the same args value due to late binding).
-            # Instead, use this factory function.
-            new_method = def_method(f, **args)
-
-            # To add a method to a class, available for all instances:
-            #   MyClass.method = types.MethodType(f, None, MyClass)
-            setattr(cls, new_name, six.create_unbound_method(new_method, cls))
-    return cls
-
-
-def parameterized(data):
-    """A function decorator for parameterized test cases.
-    Example:
-        @parameterized({
-            'zero': dict(val=0),
-            'one': dict(val=1),
-        })
-        def test_val(self, val):
-            self.assertEqual(self.get_val(), val)
-    The above will generate two test cases:
-        `test_val_zero` which runs with val=0
-        `test_val_one` which runs with val=1
-    :param data: A dictionary that looks like {tag: {arg1: val1, ...}}
-    """
-    def wrapped(f):
-        f._test_data = data
-        return f
-    return wrapped
diff --git a/designate/tests/unit/test_utils.py b/designate/tests/unit/test_utils.py
index 14d69695a..0285e18eb 100644
--- a/designate/tests/unit/test_utils.py
+++ b/designate/tests/unit/test_utils.py
@@ -11,19 +11,407 @@
 # under the License.
 import random
 
+import jinja2
 import mock
 import oslotest.base
+from oslo_concurrency import processutils
+from oslo_config import cfg
+from oslo_config import fixture as cfg_fixture
+from oslo_utils import timeutils
 
+from designate import exceptions
 from designate import utils
 from designate.tests import fixtures
 
+CONF = cfg.CONF
 
-class TestSocket(oslotest.base.BaseTestCase):
+
+class TestUtils(oslotest.base.BaseTestCase):
     def setUp(self):
-        super(TestSocket, self).setUp()
+        super(TestUtils, self).setUp()
         self.stdlog = fixtures.StandardLogging()
+        self.useFixture(cfg_fixture.Config(CONF))
         self.useFixture(self.stdlog)
 
+    @mock.patch('os.path.exists')
+    @mock.patch('os.path.abspath')
+    def test_find_config(self, mock_abspath, mock_path_exists):
+        CONF.set_override('pybasedir', '/tmp/workspace/designate')
+
+        mock_path_exists.side_effect = [True, False, False, False, False]
+        mock_abspath.return_value = '/tmp/designate/designate.conf'
+
+        config_files = utils.find_config('designate.conf')
+
+        self.assertEqual(['/tmp/designate/designate.conf'], config_files)
+        mock_abspath.assert_called_once()
+
+    @mock.patch.object(processutils, 'execute')
+    def test_execute(self, mock_execute):
+        mock_execute.return_value = ('designate.conf\npools.yaml\n', '')
+
+        out, err = utils.execute(
+            '/bin/ls', '/etc/designate/',
+            run_as_root=False
+        )
+
+        mock_execute.assert_called_once_with(
+            '/bin/ls', '/etc/designate/',
+            root_helper='sudo designate-rootwrap /etc/designate/rootwrap.conf',
+            run_as_root=False
+        )
+
+        self.assertEqual('designate.conf\npools.yaml\n', out)
+        self.assertFalse(err)
+
+    @mock.patch.object(processutils, 'execute')
+    def test_execute_with_rootwrap(self, mock_execute):
+        CONF.set_override('root_helper', 'sudo designate-test')
+
+        mock_execute.return_value = ('designate.conf\npools.yaml\n', '')
+
+        out, err = utils.execute(
+            '/bin/ls', '/etc/designate/',
+            run_as_root=True
+        )
+
+        mock_execute.assert_called_once_with(
+            '/bin/ls', '/etc/designate/',
+            root_helper='sudo designate-test',
+            run_as_root=True
+        )
+
+        self.assertEqual('designate.conf\npools.yaml\n', out)
+        self.assertFalse(err)
+
+    def test_deep_dict_merge(self):
+        a = {
+            'a': {'dns': 'record'},
+            'b': 'b',
+            'c': 'c',
+        }
+
+        b = {
+            'a': {'domain': 'zone'},
+            'c': 1,
+            'd': 'd',
+        }
+
+        self.assertEqual(
+            {
+                'a': {
+                    'dns': 'record', 'domain': 'zone'
+                },
+                'b': 'b', 'c': 1, 'd': 'd'
+            },
+            utils.deep_dict_merge(a, b)
+        )
+
+    def test_deep_dict_merge_not_dict(self):
+        result = utils.deep_dict_merge(dict(), list())
+
+        self.assertIsInstance(result, list)
+
+    def test_get_proxies(self):
+        CONF.set_override('no_proxy', 'example.com', 'proxy')
+        CONF.set_override('http_proxy', 'example.org', 'proxy')
+        CONF.set_override('https_proxy', 'example.net', 'proxy')
+
+        result = utils.get_proxies()
+
+        self.assertEqual(['example.com'], result.get('no_proxy'))
+        self.assertEqual('example.org', result.get('http'))
+        self.assertEqual('example.net', result.get('https'))
+
+    def test_get_proxies_default_values(self):
+        result = utils.get_proxies()
+
+        self.assertIsNone(result.get('no_proxy'))
+        self.assertIsNone(result.get('http'))
+        self.assertIsNone(result.get('https'))
+
+    def test_get_proxies_with_no_proxy(self):
+        CONF.set_override('no_proxy', 'example.org', 'proxy')
+
+        result = utils.get_proxies()
+
+        self.assertEqual(['example.org'], result.get('no_proxy'))
+        self.assertIsNone(result.get('http'))
+        self.assertIsNone(result.get('https'))
+
+    def test_get_proxies_with_http_proxy(self):
+        CONF.set_override('http_proxy', 'example.org', 'proxy')
+
+        result = utils.get_proxies()
+
+        self.assertIsNone(result.get('no_proxy'))
+        self.assertEqual('example.org', result.get('http'))
+        self.assertEqual('example.org', result.get('https'))
+
+    def test_get_proxies_with_https_proxy(self):
+        CONF.set_override('https_proxy', 'example.org', 'proxy')
+
+        result = utils.get_proxies()
+
+        self.assertIsNone(result.get('no_proxy'))
+        self.assertIsNone(result.get('http'))
+        self.assertEqual('example.org', result.get('https'))
+
+    def test_resource_string(self):
+        resource_string = utils.resource_string(
+            'templates', 'bind9-zone.jinja2'
+        )
+
+        self.assertIsNotNone(resource_string)
+
+    def test_resource_string_missing(self):
+        self.assertRaisesRegex(
+            exceptions.ResourceNotFound,
+            'Could not find the requested resource',
+            utils.resource_string, 'invalid.jinja2'
+        )
+
+    def test_resource_string_empty_args(self):
+        self.assertRaises(
+            ValueError,
+            utils.resource_string
+        )
+
+    def test_load_schema_missing(self):
+        self.assertRaisesRegex(
+            exceptions.ResourceNotFound,
+            'Could not find the requested resource',
+            utils.load_schema, 'v1', 'missing'
+        )
+
+    @mock.patch.object(utils, 'resource_string')
+    def test_load_template(self, mock_resource_string):
+        mock_resource_string.return_value = 'Hello {{name}}'.encode('utf-8')
+
+        template = utils.load_template('bind9-zone.jinja2')
+
+        self.assertIsInstance(template, jinja2.Template)
+
+    @mock.patch.object(utils, 'resource_string')
+    def test_load_template_keep_trailing_newline(self, mock_resource_string):
+        mock_resource_string.return_value = 'Hello {{name}}'.encode('utf-8')
+
+        template = utils.load_template('bind9-zone.jinja2')
+
+        self.assertTrue(template.environment.keep_trailing_newline)
+
+    def test_load_template_missing(self):
+        self.assertRaises(
+            exceptions.ResourceNotFound,
+            utils.load_template, 'invalid.jinja2'
+        )
+
+    def test_render_template(self):
+        template = jinja2.Template('Hello {{name}}')
+
+        result = utils.render_template(template, name='World')
+
+        self.assertEqual('Hello World', result)
+
+    @mock.patch('six.moves.builtins.open', new_callable=mock.mock_open)
+    @mock.patch('os.path.exists')
+    def test_render_template_to_file(self, mock_exists, mock_open):
+        mock_exists.return_value = True
+
+        output_path = '/tmp/designate/resources/templates/hello.jinja2'
+
+        template = jinja2.Template('Hello {{name}}')
+
+        utils.render_template_to_file(
+            template, makedirs=False, output_path=output_path, name='World'
+        )
+
+        mock_open.assert_called_once_with(output_path, 'w')
+        mock_open().write.assert_called_once_with('Hello World')
+
+    @mock.patch('six.moves.builtins.open', new_callable=mock.mock_open)
+    @mock.patch('os.path.exists')
+    @mock.patch('os.makedirs')
+    def test_render_template_to_file_with_makedirs(self, mock_makedirs,
+                                                   mock_exists,
+                                                   mock_open):
+        mock_exists.return_value = False
+
+        output_path = '/tmp/designate/resources/templates/hello.jinja2'
+
+        template = jinja2.Template('Hello {{name}}')
+
+        utils.render_template_to_file(
+            template, makedirs=True, output_path=output_path, name='World'
+        )
+
+        mock_makedirs.assert_called_once_with(
+            '/tmp/designate/resources/templates'
+        )
+        mock_open.assert_called_once_with(output_path, 'w')
+        mock_open().write.assert_called_once_with('Hello World')
+
+    @mock.patch.object(timeutils, 'utcnow_ts')
+    def test_increment_serial_lower_than_ts(self, mock_utcnow_ts):
+        mock_utcnow_ts.return_value = 1561698354
+
+        ret_serial = utils.increment_serial(serial=1)
+
+        self.assertEqual(1561698354, ret_serial)
+
+    @mock.patch.object(timeutils, 'utcnow_ts')
+    def test_increment_serial_higher_than_ts(self, mock_utcnow_ts):
+        mock_utcnow_ts.return_value = 1561698354
+
+        ret_serial = utils.increment_serial(serial=1561698354 * 2)
+
+        self.assertEqual(1561698354 * 2 + 1, ret_serial)
+
+    def test_is_uuid_like(self):
+        self.assertTrue(
+            utils.is_uuid_like('ce9fcd6b-d546-4397-8a49-8ceaec37cb64')
+        )
+
+    def test_is_not_uuid_like(self):
+        self.assertFalse(utils.is_uuid_like('678'))
+
+    def test_split_host_port(self):
+        host, port = utils.split_host_port('abc:25')
+        self.assertEqual(('abc', 25), (host, port))
+
+    def test_split_host_port_with_invalid_port(self):
+        host, port = utils.split_host_port('abc:abc')
+        self.assertEqual(('abc:abc', 53), (host, port))
+
+    def test_get_paging_params(self):
+        CONF.set_override('default_limit_v2', 100, 'service:api')
+
+        context = mock.Mock()
+        params = {
+            'updated_at': None,
+            'created_at': '2019-06-28T04:17:34.000000',
+            'pattern': 'blacklisted.com.',
+            'id': 'f6663a98-281e-4cea-b0c3-3bc425e086ea',
+        }
+
+        marker, limit, sort_key, sort_dir = utils.get_paging_params(
+            context, params, ['created_at', 'id', 'updated_at', 'pattern']
+        )
+
+        self.assertIsNone(marker)
+        self.assertEqual(100, limit)
+        self.assertIsNone(sort_key)
+        self.assertIsNone(sort_dir)
+
+    def test_get_paging_params_without_sort_keys(self):
+        CONF.set_override('default_limit_v2', 0, 'service:api')
+
+        context = mock.Mock()
+        params = {
+            'updated_at': None,
+            'created_at': '2019-06-28T04:17:34.000000',
+            'pattern': 'blacklisted.com.',
+            'id': 'f6663a98-281e-4cea-b0c3-3bc425e086ea',
+        }
+
+        marker, limit, sort_key, sort_dir = utils.get_paging_params(
+            context, params, sort_keys=None
+        )
+
+        self.assertIsNone(marker)
+        self.assertEqual(0, limit)
+        self.assertIsNone(sort_key)
+        self.assertIsNone(sort_dir)
+
+    def test_get_paging_params_sort_by_tenant_id(self):
+        CONF.set_override('default_limit_v2', 100, 'service:api')
+
+        context = mock.Mock()
+        context.all_tenants = True
+        params = {
+            'updated_at': None,
+            'created_at': '2019-06-28T04:17:34.000000',
+            'pattern': 'blacklisted.com.',
+            'id': 'f6663a98-281e-4cea-b0c3-3bc425e086ea',
+            'sort_key': 'tenant_id',
+        }
+
+        marker, limit, sort_key, sort_dir = utils.get_paging_params(
+            context, params,
+            ['created_at', 'id', 'updated_at', 'pattern', 'tenant_id']
+        )
+
+        self.assertIsNone(marker)
+        self.assertEqual(100, limit)
+        self.assertEqual('tenant_id', sort_key)
+        self.assertIsNone(sort_dir)
+
+    def test_get_paging_params_sort_tenant_without_all_tenants(self):
+        CONF.set_override('default_limit_v2', 100, 'service:api')
+
+        context = mock.Mock()
+        context.all_tenants = False
+        params = {
+            'updated_at': None,
+            'created_at': '2019-06-28T04:17:34.000000',
+            'pattern': 'blacklisted.com.',
+            'id': 'f6663a98-281e-4cea-b0c3-3bc425e086ea',
+            'sort_key': 'tenant_id',
+        }
+
+        marker, limit, sort_key, sort_dir = utils.get_paging_params(
+            context, params,
+            ['created_at', 'id', 'updated_at', 'pattern', 'tenant_id']
+        )
+
+        self.assertIsNone(marker)
+        self.assertEqual(100, limit)
+        self.assertIsNone(sort_key)
+        self.assertIsNone(sort_dir)
+
+    def test_get_paging_params_invalid_limit(self):
+        context = mock.Mock()
+
+        self.assertRaises(
+            exceptions.InvalidLimit,
+            utils.get_paging_params,
+            context, {'limit': 9223372036854775809}, []
+        )
+
+        self.assertRaises(
+            exceptions.InvalidLimit,
+            utils.get_paging_params,
+            context, {'limit': -1}, []
+        )
+
+    def test_get_paging_params_max_limit(self):
+        CONF.set_override('max_limit_v2', 1000, 'service:api')
+
+        context = mock.Mock()
+
+        result = utils.get_paging_params(context, {'limit': 'max'}, [])
+
+        self.assertEqual(result[1], 1000)
+
+    def test_get_paging_params_invalid_sort_dir(self):
+        context = mock.Mock()
+
+        self.assertRaisesRegex(
+            exceptions.InvalidSortDir,
+            'Unknown sort direction, must be',
+            utils.get_paging_params, context, {'sort_dir': 'dsc'}, []
+        )
+
+    def test_get_paging_params_invalid_sort_key(self):
+        context = mock.Mock()
+
+        self.assertRaisesRegex(
+            exceptions.InvalidSortKey,
+            'sort key must be one of',
+            utils.get_paging_params, context, {'sort_key': 'dsc'},
+            ['asc', 'desc']
+        )
+
     @mock.patch('socket.socket')
     def test_bind_tcp(self, mock_sock_impl):
         mock_sock = mock.MagicMock()
@@ -57,6 +445,19 @@ class TestSocket(oslotest.base.BaseTestCase):
             self.stdlog.logger.output
         )
 
+    @mock.patch('socket.socket')
+    def test_bind_tcp_without_reuse_port(self, mock_sock_impl):
+        mock_sock = mock.MagicMock()
+        mock_sock_impl.return_value = mock_sock
+        mock_sock.setsockopt.side_effect = [None, None, AttributeError, None]
+
+        utils.bind_tcp('127.0.0.1', 53, 100, 1)
+
+        self.assertIn(
+            'SO_REUSEPORT not available, ignoring.',
+            self.stdlog.logger.output
+        )
+
     @mock.patch('socket.socket')
     def test_bind_udp(self, mock_sock_impl):
         mock_sock = mock.MagicMock()
@@ -87,3 +488,16 @@ class TestSocket(oslotest.base.BaseTestCase):
             'Listening on UDP port %(port)d' % {'port': random_port},
             self.stdlog.logger.output
         )
+
+    @mock.patch('socket.socket')
+    def test_bind_udp_without_reuse_port(self, mock_sock_impl):
+        mock_sock = mock.MagicMock()
+        mock_sock_impl.return_value = mock_sock
+        mock_sock.setsockopt.side_effect = [None, AttributeError]
+
+        utils.bind_udp('127.0.0.1', 53)
+
+        self.assertIn(
+            'SO_REUSEPORT not available, ignoring.',
+            self.stdlog.logger.output
+        )
diff --git a/designate/tests/unit/utils.py b/designate/tests/unit/utils.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8226f62cf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/designate/tests/unit/utils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may
+# not use this file except in compliance with the License. You may obtain
+# a copy of the License at
+#
+#      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT
+# WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See the
+# License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
+# under the License.
+import functools
+
+import six
+
+
+def def_method(f, *args, **kwargs):
+    @functools.wraps(f)
+    def new_method(self):
+        return f(self, *args, **kwargs)
+
+    return new_method
+
+
+def parameterized_class(cls):
+    """A class decorator for running parameterized test cases.
+    Mark your class with @parameterized_class.
+    Mark your test cases with @parameterized.
+    """
+    test_functions = {
+        k: v for k, v in vars(cls).items() if k.startswith('test')
+    }
+    for name, f in test_functions.items():
+        if not hasattr(f, '_test_data'):
+            continue
+
+        # remove the original test function from the class
+        delattr(cls, name)
+
+        # add a new test function to the class for each entry in f._test_data
+        for tag, args in f._test_data.items():
+            new_name = "{0}_{1}".format(f.__name__, tag)
+            if hasattr(cls, new_name):
+                raise Exception(
+                    "Parameterized test case '{0}.{1}' created from '{0}.{2}' "
+                    "already exists".format(cls.__name__, new_name, name))
+
+            # Using `def new_method(self): f(self, **args)` is not sufficient
+            # (all new_methods use the same args value due to late binding).
+            # Instead, use this factory function.
+            new_method = def_method(f, **args)
+
+            # To add a method to a class, available for all instances:
+            #   MyClass.method = types.MethodType(f, None, MyClass)
+            setattr(cls, new_name, six.create_unbound_method(new_method, cls))
+    return cls
+
+
+def parameterized(data):
+    """A function decorator for parameterized test cases.
+    Example:
+        @parameterized({
+            'zero': dict(val=0),
+            'one': dict(val=1),
+        })
+        def test_val(self, val):
+            self.assertEqual(self.get_val(), val)
+    The above will generate two test cases:
+        `test_val_zero` which runs with val=0
+        `test_val_one` which runs with val=1
+    :param data: A dictionary that looks like {tag: {arg1: val1, ...}}
+    """
+
+    def wrapped(f):
+        f._test_data = data
+        return f
+
+    return wrapped
diff --git a/designate/tests/unit/workers/test_zone_tasks.py b/designate/tests/unit/workers/test_zone_tasks.py
index d1b4df5df..020792ea8 100644
--- a/designate/tests/unit/workers/test_zone_tasks.py
+++ b/designate/tests/unit/workers/test_zone_tasks.py
@@ -19,9 +19,9 @@ import oslotest.base
 from oslo_config import cfg
 from oslo_config import fixture as cfg_fixture
 
-import designate.tests.test_utils as utils
 from designate import exceptions
 from designate import objects
+from designate.tests.unit import utils
 from designate.worker import processing
 from designate.worker import utils as wutils
 from designate.worker.tasks import zone
diff --git a/designate/utils.py b/designate/utils.py
index fe32fb8f8..84e4f2ea3 100644
--- a/designate/utils.py
+++ b/designate/utils.py
@@ -140,55 +140,6 @@ def execute(*cmd, **kw):
                                 root_helper=root_helper, **kw)
 
 
-def get_item_properties(item, fields, mixed_case_fields=None, formatters=None):
-    """Return a tuple containing the item properties.
-
-    :param item: a single item resource (e.g. Server, Tenant, etc)
-    :param fields: tuple of strings with the desired field names
-    :param mixed_case_fields: tuple of field names to preserve case
-    :param formatters: dictionary mapping field names to callables
-        to format the values
-    """
-    row = []
-    mixed_case_fields = mixed_case_fields or []
-    formatters = formatters or {}
-
-    for field in fields:
-        if field in formatters:
-            row.append(formatters[field](item))
-        else:
-            if field in mixed_case_fields:
-                field_name = field.replace(' ', '_')
-            else:
-                field_name = field.lower().replace(' ', '_')
-            if not hasattr(item, field_name) and \
-                    (isinstance(item, dict) and field_name in item):
-                data = item[field_name]
-            else:
-                data = getattr(item, field_name, '')
-            if data is None:
-                data = ''
-            row.append(data)
-    return tuple(row)
-
-
-def get_columns(data):
-    """
-    Some row's might have variable count of columns, ensure that we have the
-    same.
-
-    :param data: Results in [{}, {]}]
-    """
-    columns = set()
-
-    def _seen(col):
-        columns.add(str(col))
-
-    six.moves.map(lambda item: six.moves.map(_seen,
-        list(six.iterkeys(item))), data)
-    return list(columns)
-
-
 def increment_serial(serial=0):
     # This provides for *roughly* unix timestamp based serial numbers
     new_serial = timeutils.utcnow_ts()
@@ -199,44 +150,6 @@ def increment_serial(serial=0):
     return new_serial
 
 
-def quote_string(string):
-    inparts = string.split(' ')
-    outparts = []
-    tmp = None
-
-    for part in inparts:
-        if part == '':
-            continue
-        elif part[0] == '"' and part[-1:] == '"' and part[-2:] != '\\"':
-            # Handle Quoted Words
-            outparts.append(part.strip('"'))
-        elif part[0] == '"':
-            # Handle Start of Quoted Sentance
-            tmp = part[1:]
-        elif tmp is not None and part[-1:] == '"' and part[-2:] != '\\"':
-            # Handle End of Quoted Sentance
-            tmp += " " + part.strip('"')
-            outparts.append(tmp)
-            tmp = None
-        elif tmp is not None:
-            # Handle Middle of Quoted Sentance
-            tmp += " " + part
-        else:
-            # Handle Standalone words
-            outparts.append(part)
-
-    if tmp is not None:
-        # Handle unclosed quoted strings
-        outparts.append(tmp)
-
-    # This looks odd, but both calls are necessary to ensure the end results
-    # is always consistent.
-    outparts = [o.replace('\\"', '"') for o in outparts]
-    outparts = [o.replace('"', '\\"') for o in outparts]
-
-    return '"' + '" "'.join(outparts) + '"'
-
-
 def deep_dict_merge(a, b):
     if not isinstance(b, dict):
         return b
@@ -324,14 +237,6 @@ def get_proxies():
     return proxies
 
 
-def extract_priority_from_data(recordset_type, record):
-    priority, data = None, record['data']
-    if recordset_type in ('MX', 'SRV'):
-        priority, _, data = record['data'].partition(" ")
-        priority = int(priority)
-    return priority, data
-
-
 def cache_result(function):
     """A function decorator to cache the result of the first call, every
     additional call will simply return the cached value.