Agricultural Zoning Protection
Right to Farm
State rules that limit how cities and counties may zone or restrict agricultural land uses, including livestock and crop operations.
How Agricultural Zoning Protection Rules Differ by Place
West Palm Beach, FL: West Palm Beach Zoning Bans Farming, Livestock
Heavy RestrictionsWest Palm Beach's Permitted Use Table lists "Agricultural production, livestock" as a prohibited use citywide, covering every Standard Industrial Classification major group 0-2…
Jefferson County, AL: Jefferson County A-P Agricultural Zoning
Few RestrictionsUnincorporated Jefferson County protects working farmland through the A-P Agricultural Preservation District, a zoning classification reserved for Rural-context land with Class 1 or…
Lee County, AL: Lee County Agricultural Zoning Protections
Few RestrictionsIn beats that have adopted zoning, Lee County's RP Rural Preserve District is built around farmland: it covers outlying areas beyond the cities and keeps commercial farms, hobby farms…
Maricopa County, AZ: Maricopa County Farm Zoning Protections
Few RestrictionsUnincorporated Maricopa County's Rural zoning districts exist specifically to conserve farmland and prevent conflicts between agricultural and urban uses, with farms permitted by right.
Birmingham, AL: Birmingham A-1 Agricultural District Zoning Rules
Some RestrictionsBirmingham has no separate right-to-farm statute; instead its Zoning Ordinance carves out A-1 and A-2 Agricultural Districts where poultry farms, dairies, ranching, general and truck…
Hoover, AL: Hoover A-1 Agriculture District Rules
Some RestrictionsHoover's A-1 Agriculture District exists to preserve land for agriculture, low-density residential use and outdoor recreation without triggering full urban services, per Zoning…
Agricultural Zoning Protection Rules by State
Statewide law governs this topic in many states. Each entry links to that state's full page.
Alaska
Some RestrictionsAlaska delegates most agricultural zoning to organized boroughs under AS 29.40, while state agricultural land sales under AS 38.05.321 carry covenants requiring continued farming use.
Arizona
Some RestrictionsArizona limits local zoning power over agricultural land, protecting commercial farming activities from overly restrictive land-use regulation.
Arkansas
Some RestrictionsArkansas limits local zoning authority over agricultural operations through the Right to Farm Act and related land-use statutes. Counties and cities cannot enforce zoning that…
California
Some RestrictionsThe California Land Conservation Act of 1965 (Williamson Act), Government Code 51200-51297.4, allows landowners to enter contracts with counties restricting land to agricultural use…
Connecticut
Some RestrictionsConnecticut law under CGS Title 8 and 22 supports agricultural zoning, with municipalities required to allow customary farm operations in agricultural districts.
Delaware
Some RestrictionsDelaware preserves agricultural land through 3 Del.C. Chapter 9 Agricultural Lands Preservation, restricting nonfarm zoning encroachments and supporting county agricultural districts…
Florida
Few RestrictionsFlorida Statutes 823.14 and 163.3162 restrict local governments from adopting zoning rules that inhibit established farms on agriculturally classified land, preserving agricultural…
Hawaii
Some RestrictionsHawaii uniquely classifies all land statewide into four state land use districts under HRS Chapter 205, with the Agricultural District protecting farmland and limiting non-agricultural…
Idaho
Few RestrictionsIdaho protects agricultural land uses through the Local Land Use Planning Act and Right to Farm Act, with Idaho Code 22-4503 limiting local zoning that would restrict established farm…
Illinois
Some RestrictionsIllinois protects agricultural land through the Agricultural Areas Conservation and Protection Act and limits county zoning over farms outside municipal boundaries.
Indiana
Some RestrictionsIndiana allows counties to adopt agricultural zoning under IC 36-7-4 but limits restrictions on bona fide farming activities, especially in unincorporated areas.
Iowa
Some RestrictionsIowa Code 335.2 exempts most farm structures and uses from county zoning regulations, preserving broad rights to operate agricultural land.
Kansas
Some RestrictionsKansas limits how local zoning can restrict bona fide agricultural operations and works alongside the Right to Farm Act to protect farmers.
Kentucky
Some RestrictionsKentucky law restricts how local governments may zone agricultural land. Counties and cities cannot use zoning to unreasonably interfere with bona fide agricultural operations, and…
Louisiana
Some RestrictionsLouisiana's Right to Farm Law (La. R.S. 3:3603) bars local zoning from declaring a lawful, established agricultural operation a nuisance. Parishes retain general zoning authority under…
Maine
Some RestrictionsMaine's Right to Farm and farmland-protection statutes in the Maine Agriculture Protection Act (7 MRS Chapter 6) limit local zoning that would impede agricultural operations meeting…
Maryland
Some RestrictionsMaryland uses agricultural land preservation districts and county zoning to protect farmland, supplemented by state programs and the Right to Farm law.
Massachusetts
Few RestrictionsMassachusetts protects agricultural land use through MGL Chapter 40A Section 3, exempting agriculture, horticulture, and floriculture from most local zoning restrictions on parcels of…
Minnesota
Some RestrictionsMinnesota agricultural zoning combines local authority under chapter 394 county planning with state feedlot rules in Minn. Stat. 116.07, while Right to Farm protections in 561.19 limit…
Mississippi
Some RestrictionsMississippi limits local zoning authority over established agricultural operations through Miss. Code Section 95-3-29 and related statutes that protect farms from later-imposed…
Missouri
Some RestrictionsMissouri RSMo 537.295 and constitutional protections constrain how counties and cities may zone agriculture, limiting local authority to restrict expansions or modernization of…
Montana
Few RestrictionsMontana counties may zone to protect farmland, and the Right to Farm and Ranch Act (MCA 76-2-901 to 76-2-903) bars local ordinances from declaring established agricultural operations a…
Nebraska
Some RestrictionsNebraska counties zone agricultural land under Neb. Rev. Stat. 23-114 to 23-114.05 and the Livestock Operation Siting and Expansion Act, while the Right to Farm Act protects existing…
New Hampshire
Some RestrictionsNew Hampshire limits municipal zoning over agriculture. RSA 672:1, III-b declares agriculture a beneficial use not to be unreasonably limited, and RSA 674:32-a to 674:32-c keep farming…
New York
Few RestrictionsAgriculture and Markets Law Article 25-AA governs certified agricultural districts statewide and limits how local zoning can apply to working farms inside them.
North Carolina
Some RestrictionsNorth Carolina limits county zoning of bona fide farms under NCGS 160D-903, exempting most agricultural activities on qualifying farms from county zoning regulation.
North Dakota
Some RestrictionsNorth Dakota counties and townships may adopt agricultural zoning under NDCC 11-33 and 58-03, balancing local land use control with statewide Right to Farm protections.
Ohio
Some RestrictionsOhio law limits township and county zoning authority over agricultural uses, preserving farming activities on land used primarily for agriculture.
Oklahoma
Some RestrictionsOklahoma constrains the ability of local governments to zone established agricultural operations out of existence, working alongside the Right to Farm Act under Title 50.
Oregon
Some RestrictionsORS Chapter 215 establishes Exclusive Farm Use zones that limit non-farm development and preserve agricultural land statewide.
Pennsylvania
Few RestrictionsPennsylvania protects agricultural land through Agricultural Security Areas under Act 43 of 1981 and the Agricultural Area Security Law, working alongside municipal zoning to limit…
Rhode Island
Few RestrictionsRhode Island supports agricultural zoning through RIGL Chapter 2-23 Right to Farm provisions and RIGL Chapter 45-24 zoning enabling statutes, encouraging municipal agricultural…
South Carolina
Some RestrictionsSouth Carolina law limits how local zoning can restrict bona fide agricultural operations and farm-related activities on land used for farming.
South Dakota
Some RestrictionsSouth Dakota counties zone agricultural land under SDCL 11-2, balancing local control with state Right to Farm protections that limit zoning's ability to restrict farms.
Tennessee
Some RestrictionsTennessee limits local zoning interference with bona fide farm operations under T.C.A. 13-7-114 and Right to Farm protections in T.C.A. 43-26-103, preserving rural land use rights.
Texas
Few RestrictionsTexas Local Government Code Chapter 212 and Agriculture Code Chapter 251 limit municipal authority to zone or regulate land qualified for agricultural use appraisal. Counties have no…
Utah
Some RestrictionsUtah law supports agricultural zoning, greenbelt taxation, and Right to Farm protections that limit local restrictions on customary agricultural land uses.
Vermont
Some RestrictionsVermont law under 24 V.S.A. 4413 limits municipal zoning authority over accepted agricultural and silvicultural practices, preserving farming statewide.
Virginia
Some RestrictionsVirginia Code 15.2-2288 and 15.2-2288.3 limit how localities may zone agricultural land, preserving by-right production and restricting special use permit requirements for bona fide…
Washington
Some RestrictionsWashington's Growth Management Act under RCW 36.70A.170 requires counties and cities to designate and protect agricultural lands of long-term commercial significance through zoning.
West Virginia
Some RestrictionsWest Virginia limits local zoning that would restrict bona fide agricultural uses, working alongside the Right to Farm Act in W. Va. Code 19-19.
Wisconsin
Few RestrictionsWisconsin's Working Lands Initiative under Statute 91 establishes farmland preservation zoning districts, certifies county and local plans, and offers income tax credits to farmers in…
Wyoming
Some RestrictionsWyoming limits county zoning over bona fide agricultural operations, preserving farm and ranch use rights even within county-adopted land use plans.
Cities & Counties with Agricultural Zoning Protection Rules
354 locations