Bensalem, PA Right to Farm: Agricultural Zoning Protection (2026)

Bensalem Township Zoning Ordinance Sec. 232-109 states the R-A district is designed to protect, preserve and maintain existing agricultural, recreation, conservation and other open-space purposes, balancing low-density single-family residential use with preservation of farmlands and discouraging premature higher-density development. Sec. 232-110 lists agricultural or farm use, except piggery, as a permitted R-A use, with the qualifier that any building used for keeping or raising livestock or poultry must sit at least 50 feet from any street line and at least 25 feet from any other property line; this agricultural use may include one single-family dwelling on the lot.

The R-A district also permits accessory roadside stands selling farm or nursery products grown on the property, provided the stand sits at least 30 feet from any street line and displays no more than two signs of six square feet or less advertising the sale. Sec. 232-111's area regulations then set the dimensional floor for any R-A lot: a net lot area of at least one acre per family for a dwelling, a minimum lot width of 150 feet at the building setback line, front yards of at least 50 feet, side yards totaling at least 50 feet with neither less than 20 feet, and rear yards of at least 30 feet; farm buildings are also exempted from the district's standard 35-foot height cap.