Lenexa, KS Right to Farm: Agricultural Zoning Protection (2026)

Section 4-1-B-4 sets the purpose of the AG Agricultural District as preserving existing agricultural and very low-density rural residential land-use patterns and providing a holding zone for areas annexed into the City. Agriculture is a permitted use, along with single-family homes, manufactured homes subject to Section 4-1-C-5, produce stands, commercial stables and kennels, veterinary hospitals, wholesale nurseries and limited day care. Campgrounds, general day care, outdoor entertainment, gun clubs and mining need special use approval from the Governing Body.

The property development table for AG sets a minimum lot size of 20 acres, a maximum density of 1 dwelling unit per 20 acres, a minimum lot width of 300 feet, minimum lot frontage of 50 feet, 50 foot minimum setbacks from streets and elsewhere, 90 percent minimum open space, and maximum height of 35 feet for residential structures and 50 feet for agricultural structures. Before a building permit issues for any nonagricultural use on unplatted land, a plan must be approved by the Community Development Director. Nonagricultural uses within 200 feet of an existing sanitary sewer line must connect to it.

The farm protections are in the special regulations. Farm machinery and implements, including tractors, animal trailers, harrows, manure spreaders and combines, can be parked or stored on AG land only if the land is actually used for agricultural purposes on a regular basis. "Regular Basis" runs from full-time primary business use to part-time ancillary use but excludes gardening solely for family and acquaintances. AG zoning alone does not let an owner store watercraft, cars or other objects not actively used in farming.

When the Community Standards Officer is uncertain, the owner, tenant or lessee can be required to confirm agricultural use by affidavit describing the type of use, when it began, any lapses, the acreage and percentage of time spent. Once an affidavit is filed, a use that predates adjacent nonagricultural development continues without screening of parked machinery, but lapses over two years, and uses that substantially increase size or impact without development plan approval, are not treated as pre-existing.