Massachusetts protects agricultural land use through MGL Chapter 40A Section 3, exempting agriculture, horticulture, and floriculture from most local zoning restrictions on parcels of five acres or more.
MGL Chapter 40A Section 3 limits municipal zoning authority over agricultural activities. The provision states no zoning ordinance or bylaw shall regulate or restrict agricultural use of land for primary purpose of commercial agriculture, aquaculture, silviculture, horticulture, floriculture, or viticulture on parcels of more than five acres, or two acres if generating gross sales exceeding $1,000 per acre. Cities may still apply reasonable zoning to farm structures and signs but cannot prohibit agricultural use itself. The Chapter 61A current-use tax program provides additional incentives for keeping land in active agricultural use.
Local zoning ordinances purporting to ban protected agriculture on qualifying parcels are unenforceable and may be voided in court with potential attorney fee awards.
Attleboro, MA
Attleboro regulates construction noise under its general noise ordinance and zoning provisions. Any use that is significantly offensive or detrimental to sur...
Attleboro, MA
Attleboro addresses nuisance dogs under its animal control ordinance and state law MGL Ch. 140. Dogs that habitually bark or cause disturbances may result in...
Attleboro, MA
Attleboro adopted a noise ordinance giving police the ability to issue citations and fines for excessive noise. Noise plainly audible at 200 feet may trigger...
Attleboro, MA
Attleboro regulates vehicle parking through Chapter 10 of the Ordinances and the zoning code. Oversized vehicles must comply with general street parking rule...
Attleboro, MA
Attleboro regulates commercial vehicle parking through its traffic ordinances and zoning code. Service zone loading is limited to 15 minutes (30 minutes whil...
Attleboro, MA
Attleboro enforces parking regulations under Chapter 10 of the City Ordinances. During snow emergencies per Ordinance 10-5.1(A), parking is prohibited on bot...
See how Attleboro's agricultural zoning protection rules stack up against other locations.
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