Fort Smith, AR Right to Farm: Agricultural Zoning Protection (2026)
Key Facts
- Zone
- ETJ Open-1 (extraterritorial)
- Truck farms
- Permitted by right
- General agriculture
- Conditional use permit required
- Farm animal buildings
- 100-ft property line setback
Summary
Fort Smith's extraterritorial open zone (ETJ Open-1) permits truck farms by right and agricultural operations as a conditional use just outside city limits.
2.Permitted uses.a.General uses:1.Single-family homes;2.Two-family homes (duplexes);3.Nurseries and greenhouses, private and commercial;4.Truck farms;5.Private or public golf courses;6.Fire and police stations;7.Utility substations;8.Parks, playgrounds and other open spaces.b.Conditional uses:1.Agricultural (not including commercial/industrial operations, e.g., commercial food lots, processing plants, and sales yards);
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 4).
Full Breakdown
In the area covered by Fort Smith's extraterritorial zoning jurisdiction, land outside the city limits but subject to the city's planning authority, the ETJ Open-1 district permits truck farms and nurseries or greenhouses by right alongside single-family homes. General agricultural uses, excluding commercial operations like food lots, processing plants, and sales yards, are allowed with a conditional use permit, and accessory farm buildings such as barns, cribs, and silos are permitted conditionally as long as animal housing sits at least 100 feet from any property line. This is Fort Smith's own ETJ zoning; it does not apply inside the incorporated city limits.
Violations & Fines
Operating a commercial agricultural processing or sales-yard use, or building farm animal housing closer than 100 feet to a property line, without the required conditional use permit is a zoning violation in the ETJ Open-1 zone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Fort Smith zone land for farming?
Does this agricultural zoning apply inside Fort Smith's city limits?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fort Smith
Compare Fort Smith to another location·View the Arkansas right to farm overview
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