Keeping larger livestock such as horses, goats, sheep, and swine in Macomb County is controlled by local city and township zoning, not a countywide limit. Commercial livestock operations may be governed by the Michigan Right to Farm Act and its GAAMP setback and site-selection standards.
Macomb County Animal Control does not set livestock limits; where livestock may be kept is determined by each municipality's zoning ordinance. The county Best Practices (Section 9.2) provide that where farm animals are permitted, owners must obtain zoning and building approval, comply with MDARD and USDA requirements, and follow the most recent GAAMPs for site selection and odor control under the Michigan Right to Farm Act (MCL 286.471 et seq.). Barns, pens, and waste-storage facilities must observe the property-line setbacks in the livestock GAAMPs. The Best Practices (Section 3.11) also require owners to prevent livestock and poultry from running at large without the property owner's consent, while allowing supervised driving along a public highway.
Keeping livestock where zoning prohibits it, or without required approvals and setbacks, can trigger municipal zoning enforcement. Allowing livestock to run at large violates the Best Practices; uncontrolled manure or odor that becomes a nuisance can prompt abatement.
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