Plymouth, MN Right to Farm: Agricultural Zoning Protection (2026)
Key Facts
- FRD minimum lot size
- 20 acres
- Farm retail sales
- only what's grown on-site
- Stables/riding academies
- conditional use permit required
- RSF-1 farming
- allowed as interim use
- Enforcement
- Zoning Administrator, Section 21050
Summary
In the City of Plymouth, agriculture is a permitted use in the Future Restricted Development (FRD) District, the City Council's holding zone for land not yet ready for urban development. Plymouth City Code Section 21350.01 sets a 20-acre minimum lot size so farmland, nurseries, greenhouses and tree farms can continue until an owner applies to rezone consistent with the Comprehensive Plan.
The purpose of the Future Restricted Development (FRD) District is to provide a holding zone until a landowner/developer makes application for development, at which time the City may rezone the affected property consistent with its designation in the Comprehensive Plan, provided that the development does not result in the premature extension of public utilities, facilities, or services. A lot size minimum of 20 acres will retain these lands in their natural or current state or in agricultural uses until such time as development occurs. ... The following are permitted uses in the FRD District: Subd. 1.Agriculture, nurseries, greenhouses for growing only, landscape gardening and tree farms, including sales of only those products grown on the premises.
Full Breakdown
01 as a holding zone until a landowner or developer files for rezoning consistent with the Comprehensive Plan, provided the change would not force premature extension of City utilities, roads or services. 03, Subd. 1 lists agriculture, nurseries, greenhouses for growing only, landscape gardening and tree farms as permitted uses, but on-site retail is capped: sales are allowed only of products actually grown on the premises, not resold goods. 05 permits keeping of animals under Section 21170, fencing under Section 21130 (including barbed wire and electric fencing for FRD agricultural uses without needing an interim use permit, an exemption not extended to other districts), and home occupations under Section 21145.
07, Subd. 02. The Plymouth City Council can rezone FRD parcels once development is proposed, and the Zoning Administrator processes that request under Section 21015. 09, Subd. 1, letting farming continue on platted single-family land until a home is built. The FRD area sits mostly on Plymouth's western edge, where development pressure near Medicine Lake has been slowest.
Violations & Fines
The Plymouth Zoning Administrator enforces FRD and agricultural-use standards under Section 21050.03, with authority to restrain unlawful construction or use, order discontinuance, and pursue court action in the City's name. Under Section 21050.05, any violation of the Zoning Ordinance, including exceeding FRD's agricultural retail limits or building without a required conditional use permit, is a misdemeanor punishable up to Minnesota's maximum misdemeanor fine, and each day a violation continues counts as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep farming land zoned FRD in the City of Plymouth?
Can I sell produce or plants from my FRD-zoned land?
What happens to my FRD land when I'm ready to develop it?
Are stables allowed on agricultural FRD land?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Plymouth
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