Right to Farm in Montgomery County, MD (2026)
2 rules for unincorporated Montgomery County, Maryland.
Verified from official government sources
Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Montgomery County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.
Farm Nuisance Protection
Montgomery County requires sellers near agricultural zones to disclose that Maryland law shields farms operating over a year from nuisance lawsuits, under County Code § 40-12B.
Montgomery County Right-to-Farm Disclosure Law
Some RestrictionsMontgomery County Code § 40-12B
existing County and State law is intended to discourage owners of real property adjacent to agricultural-zoned land from filing certain lawsuits against an owner or operator of an agricultural use... Under Maryland law, an agricultural operation is not a nuisance, and a lawsuit may not be successful alleging that an agricultural operation interferes with the use or enjoyment of other property, ...
Agricultural Zoning Protection
The AR zone makes farming the preferred use on roughly a third of the county, protecting farm operations and machinery from being restricted by neighboring uses.
Montgomery County Agricultural Reserve Zoning
Few RestrictionsMontgomery County Code, Ch. 59 (Zoning Ordinance), § 59.4.2.1.A (Agricultural Reserve Zone, Intent Statement)
The intent of the AR zone is to promote agriculture as the primary land use in areas of the County designated for agricultural preservation in the general plan, the Functional Master Plan for Preservation of Agriculture and Rural Open Space, and other current or future master plans... Agriculture is the preferred use in the AR zone. All agricultural operations are permitted at any time, includi...
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