Flint, MI Right to Farm: Agricultural Zoning Protection (2026)
Key Facts
- District
- A-1 single-family low density
- Permitted by right
- nurseries, greenhouses
- Expressly excluded
- keeping of farm animals
- Permit needed
- none: principal permitted use
Summary
In the City of Flint's A-1 single-family district, customary agricultural uses like noncommercial nurseries and greenhouses are permitted outright, but § 50-17(d) expressly excludes keeping farm animals.
Customary agricultural uses including noncommercial nurseries and greenhouses, but expressly excluding the keeping of farm animals.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2016 Code: Local legislation current through Ordinance 3821, passed 3-1-2012).
Full Breakdown
Flint zones most single-family land A-1, and § 50-17 lists the uses allowed outright without a permit. Subsection (d), Agricultural, permits "customary agricultural uses including noncommercial nurseries and greenhouses," but the same sentence carves out livestock, "expressly excluding the keeping of farm animals." There is no separate agricultural zoning district or right-to-farm ordinance in the Flint code. Michigan's Right to Farm Act (MCL 286.472) is a state statute that shields qualifying commercial farms from local nuisance suits, but it is not enacted by and does not appear in this local zoning chapter.
Violations & Fines
Keeping farm animals, chickens, goats, other livestock, on A-1 zoned property is a zoning violation under § 50-17(d), enforceable through the Building Inspector regardless of whether an accompanying nursery or greenhouse use is otherwise lawful.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep chickens on A-1 zoned property in Flint?
Does Flint have its own right-to-farm ordinance?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Flint
Compare Flint to another location·View the Michigan right to farm overview
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