Loveland's Relaxed Approach to Right to Farm: What's Allowed

Loveland maintains 122 local ordinances across all categories, and 2 of those deal specifically with right to farm. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Loveland falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Farm Nuisance Protection

Loveland's Unified Development Code exempts farms and ranches that existed before the UDC's effective date, or that were later annexed into the city, from its own farm-or-ranch use standards, citing Colorado's Right to Farm Act at C.R.S. § 35-3.5-101 et seq., so long as the operation meets that statute's own standards.

Key details: Protecting statute: C.R.S. § 35-3.5-101 et seq.. Compliance standard: Must meet C.R.S. § 35-3.5-102. Covers: Farms/ranches predating UDC or later annexed. Base standards exempted: Arterial access, no burning or aerial spray. UDC effective date: November 20, 2018.

A protected farm or ranch that loses its state-law exemption, for example by materially changing the operation in a way C.R.S. § 35-3.5-102 does not cover, becomes subject to the UDC's arterial-access and no-burn/no-aerial-spray standards in Section 18.02.04.11.B.1.a, enforceable through the City's Chapter 18.18 zoning enforcement process.

The rules around farm nuisance protection in Loveland lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

Agricultural Zoning Protection

Loveland's Unified Development Code allows farm and ranch use in every zone in this Larimer County, Colorado city, but new operations must front an arterial street and cannot grow crops requiring controlled burning or aerial pesticide spraying. Farms and ranches that existed before the UDC took effect, or that later annex into the City, are exempt under Colorado's protected right-to-farm law.

Key details: Governing section: UDC § 18.02.04.11.B, Farm or Ranch. Required access: Arterial street access for new farm or ranch use. Crop restriction: No crops needing controlled burning or aerial pesticides. Exemption: Existing/annexed farms exempt under C.R.S. § 35-3.5-101. Jurisdiction: City limits only; Larimer County unincorporated land is separate.

A farm or ranch use that does not qualify for the right-to-farm exemption and fails to meet the arterial-access or crop-restriction standards is a UDC violation, enforceable under Division 18.18.02, Enforcement Procedures. The City's Code Enforcement Officer can issue an inspection order, and violations are punishable under Section 18.18.03.02, Criminal Penalty, by a fine up to the maximum allowed under the Loveland Municipal Code, up to one year's incarceration, or both, in addition to civil remedies such as abatement or injunction.

If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find Loveland gives residents more flexibility on agricultural zoning protection.

The Bottom Line

Compared to many U.S. cities, Loveland gives residents more room on right to farm. 2 of the 2 rules here are rated permissive. But permissive does not mean unregulated. There are still requirements, and the city does enforce them when violations are reported.

These rules come from Loveland's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.