The California Right to Farm Act under Civil Code 3482.5 protects established agricultural operations from nuisance lawsuits brought by neighbors who moved in after farming began. The law applies statewide and limits both private and local government nuisance actions.
Civil Code 3482.5 provides that no agricultural activity, operation, or facility conducted on agricultural land for commercial purposes shall be considered a nuisance, private or public, after it has been in operation for more than three years if the operation was not a nuisance at its inception. The protection extends against changed surrounding conditions, including new residential development encroaching on farm areas. The statute applies statewide and binds counties, cities, and private parties. Local nuisance ordinances cannot override the state's three-year farming protection. Operations conducted negligently or in violation of state or federal law lose protection.
Plaintiffs filing barred nuisance actions may face dismissal and statutory attorney fees under Civil Code 3482.5(b) when the agricultural defendant prevails.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Contra Costa County, CA
Contra Costa County, CA
Gas and electric lawn equipment in unincorporated Contra Costa County may generally be operated between 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM on weekdays and 8:00 AM to 5:00 P...
Contra Costa County, CA
Contra Costa County, CA
Contra Costa County's Division 430 establishes an abatement program for abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicles on public or private property...
El Cerrito, CA
El Cerrito limits on-street parking to 72 consecutive hours and prohibits overnight parking (2 AM-6 AM) of trailers, RVs, motor homes, utility trailers, and ...
Contra Costa County, CA
Vehicles parked on any Contra Costa County road for 72 or more consecutive hours may be removed under the California Vehicle Code. Enforcement is handled by ...
See how El Cerrito'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 If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.