The Texas Right to Farm Act, Agriculture Code Chapter 251, protects established agricultural operations from nuisance lawsuits and local regulations after one year of operation. SB 1421 (2023) significantly strengthened protections, preempting municipal ordinances that restrict generally accepted agricultural practices.
Agriculture Code Chapter 251 provides that no nuisance action may be brought against an agricultural operation in operation for one year or more if conditions or circumstances complained of did not exist when operations began. SB 1421 (2023) expanded the act to require courts to award costs and attorney fees to prevailing farms and to limit municipal authority to regulate generally accepted agricultural practices. Local Government Code 251.005 limits annexation and zoning of land qualified for agricultural appraisal under Tax Code 23.51. Cities and counties cannot enforce ordinances that prohibit established farm operations from continuing or expanding within reasonable scope.
Plaintiffs in failed nuisance suits must pay farm operator costs and reasonable attorney fees; municipalities enforcing preempted ordinances face injunctive relief.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Austin, TX
Austin City Code Chapter 9-2 establishes citywide quiet hours from 10:30 PM to 7:00 AM, during which sound plainly audible across a property line in resident...
Austin, TX
Austin enforces Texas Transportation Code Chapter 683 and Austin City Code Chapter 12-5: a vehicle on public right-of-way is abandoned if inoperable for more...
Austin, TX
Austin Land Development Code Chapter 25-2 Subchapter F caps residential fences at 6 feet in side and rear yards and 4 feet in front yards without a permit. C...
Austin, TX
Austin City Code Chapter 3-4 requires dogs in public to be restrained on a leash no longer than 6 feet, with limited exceptions for designated off-leash area...
Austin, TX
Consumer fireworks are illegal to possess, use, or sell within Austin city limits. Violations can carry fines up to $2,000. Permits are issued only for profe...
Austin, TX
Austin imposes no general restriction on year-round lawn ornaments, statuary, or religious displays on private residential property. The sign code (LDC 25-10...
See how Austin's farm nuisance protection rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.