Union, NY Right to Farm: Agricultural Zoning Protection (2026)

Section 300-40.8 lets a farm stand operate as a seasonal accessory use within the Rural Residential (RR) District, selling agricultural and horticultural products produced on the premises or produced by the owner of a local farm. Seven conditions apply.

Structure and display: no more than one structure of a temporary and movable nature is allowed, capped at 2,000 square feet of total floor space. The ground display area must sit immediately adjacent to and secondary to the stand and cannot exceed 1,600 square feet. The stand has to be at least 20 feet from any public right-of-way, and an off-street parking area for at least two vehicles must be provided.

Season and hours: the stand is permitted only during the recognized season for the production or harvest of its products, and sales occur between dawn and dusk. One sign is permitted and must come down when the stand closes for the season.

Products: only homegrown fruits, vegetables, dairy products, nursery stock, or value-added products produced on-site from other products grown on-site can be sold or offered for sale. Resale of outside goods is not covered by the permission.

The code protects farming operations in a second place. Section 300-40.10(C) provides that keeping, sheltering or maintaining livestock or poultry within an agricultural farming operation in a county-designated agricultural district recognized under the New York State Agriculture and Markets Law shall be permitted. The chapter's definitions describe an agricultural use or farming operation as land used principally as a bona fide agricultural operation, and exclude garbage feeding of hogs, fur farms, raising animals for tests or experiments, and commercial logging and timber harvesting.