Cabarrus County, NC Right to Farm: Agricultural Zoning Protection (2026)

Section 1-4, Bona Fide Farms Exempt, states plainly that "the provisions of this Ordinance shall not affect bona fide farms, owner-operated or leased," though any farm property switched to non-farm purposes becomes subject to the Ordinance again. Chapter 2's definitions section ties Bona Fide Farm to the crops, grains, fruits, vegetables, dairy, livestock, poultry and "all other forms of agriculture as defined in G.S. 106-581.1," and lists four kinds of documentation the county will accept as sufficient evidence of bona fide farm status: a Department of Revenue farm sales tax exemption certificate, a property tax listing showing eligibility for the present-use value program under G.S. 105-277.3, a copy of the farm owner's or operator's Schedule F from their most recent federal return, or a forest management plan.

Beyond the exemption, Section 3-4 creates Agricultural/Open Space (AO) as one of the county's standard residential zoning districts, and Section 3-7 explains why: AO covers land on the county's eastern side where soil type and topography favor keeping ground in farmland, forest or open space rather than development, and the Ordinance notes the district exists partly because Cabarrus County's proximity to Charlotte-Mecklenburg puts real growth pressure on that farmland. Public utilities are not planned for AO land. Uses permitted by right in AO include Agriculture Excluding Livestock, Agriculture Including Livestock, Agritourism Accessory to Agriculture, Livestock Sales, Dairy Processing, Bulk Grain Storage, Nursery/Greenhouse operations and Single Family Detached Residential, with additional uses such as accessory dwelling units and gas service stations allowed only if they meet extra standards.