Blaine, MN Right to Farm: Agricultural Zoning Protection (2026)

Blaine does not carry a state-style right-to-farm nuisance-immunity statute in its own code; what it has instead is a dedicated Agricultural (AG) zoning district built to keep farmland intact. Section 109-19 states the AG district's intent plainly: it is meant for areas held as long-term agricultural preserves, no sewer service will be extended to them, and the district exists to preserve farmland within the city.

Section 109-20 permits agricultural preserves, single-family detached dwellings, and raising domestic farm animals, excluding hogs and fur-bearing animals, up to one animal unit per acre, subject to the farm fence rules in § 129-8. Section 109-23 backs that intent with real numbers: a minimum of 40 acres to zone land AG, a 40-acre minimum lot, 1,200 feet of both front footage and average width, and no minimum depth. Setbacks scale to protect neighboring farms and residences: 45 feet for the house and standard garage in the front yard and on corner lots, 30 feet in the rear and 20 feet on the sides for houses and garages, but any accessory building sheltering domestic farm animals needs 200 feet from the front lot line or on a corner lot, and 50 feet from the rear and side lot lines.

Conditional uses layered onto the AG district under § 109-22 include boardinghouses, places of worship, schools, golf courses, home occupations, private kennels, and any combined garage/accessory building space over 3,000 square feet, all requiring council approval through the conditional use permit process in § 101-4 rather than being available by right.