Massachusetts protects agricultural land use through MGL Chapter 40A Section 3, exempting agriculture, horticulture, and floriculture from most local zoning restrictions on parcels of five acres or more.
MGL Chapter 40A Section 3 limits municipal zoning authority over agricultural activities. The provision states no zoning ordinance or bylaw shall regulate or restrict agricultural use of land for primary purpose of commercial agriculture, aquaculture, silviculture, horticulture, floriculture, or viticulture on parcels of more than five acres, or two acres if generating gross sales exceeding $1,000 per acre. Cities may still apply reasonable zoning to farm structures and signs but cannot prohibit agricultural use itself. The Chapter 61A current-use tax program provides additional incentives for keeping land in active agricultural use.
Local zoning ordinances purporting to ban protected agriculture on qualifying parcels are unenforceable and may be voided in court with potential attorney fee awards.
Taunton, MA
Taunton adopted a comprehensive noise ordinance (Chapter 315) on November 2, 2021, prohibiting preventable and unnecessary noise. Noise that annoys or distur...
Taunton, MA
Taunton restricts construction, demolition, alteration, and repair of buildings to 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM under Chapter 315. Work outside these hours requires a ...
Taunton, MA
Taunton's noise ordinance Chapter 315 prohibits keeping any animal or bird that causes frequent or long-continued sounds plainly audible within a noise-sensi...
Taunton, MA
Taunton enforces street parking regulations under its traffic ordinances. Parking lot landscaping is required for lots of 10+ spaces under the zoning code. T...
Taunton, MA
Taunton regulates commercial vehicle parking through traffic and zoning ordinances. Commercial vehicles must comply with general parking rules and zoning dis...
Taunton, MA
Taunton's zoning ordinance Chapter 440 regulates off-street parking and driveways. Rear yard parking areas must be at least 5 feet from adjoining property li...
See how Taunton's agricultural zoning protection rules stack up against other locations.
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