Rockingham County, VA Right to Farm: Agricultural Zoning Protection (2026)

The A-1 Prime Agricultural and A-2 General Agricultural districts, described in Secs. 01, are built around the county's poultry-and-livestock economy: both districts require only a six-contiguous-acre minimum, favor agricultural production and forestry as the predominant use, and permit agritourism and agribusiness support uses to supplement farm income. Sec. 17-607's supplemental standards for Poultry operation and Hog operation then set the specific siting rules for any operation started after October 1, 2014. Each poultry house or hog structure, and any associated denuded area, must sit at least 150 feet from a property line, reducible to 75 feet by notarized consent of the adjoining landowner, and at least 100 feet from the travel surface of a public road, a distance that cannot be reduced.

Non-reducible minimum setbacks also apply farther out: at least 1,000 feet from any incorporated town or city boundary and from public wells, springs, and water intakes, and at least 600 feet from designated urban growth areas, residentially zoned districts, manufactured home parks and subdivisions, public schools, and county, town, and community recreation areas, and 50 feet from any jurisdictional waterway. No operation permit issues until the zoning administrator receives notice that DCR has approved a nutrient management plan, and poultry litter or hog manure stored outside for more than 14 days must be covered, kept off groundwater-shallow soil without an impermeable barrier, and protected from stormwater runoff.

Operations already running as of October 1, 2014 that do not meet these setbacks are valid nonconforming uses, capped at three houses per parcel, with expansion allowed only by notarized consent of adjacent landowners.