The Michigan Right to Farm Act (Act 93 of 1981, MCL §286.471 et seq.) provides nuisance protection for qualifying commercial farms following Generally Accepted Agricultural and Management Practices (GAAMPs). Section 4(6) preempts local ordinances that conflict with the Act or with GAAMPs, including most attempts to restrict commercial agricultural operations.
MRTFA (MCL §286.471 et seq.) shields commercial farm operations from nuisance lawsuits and local regulations when they follow Generally Accepted Agricultural and Management Practices (GAAMPs) issued by the Michigan Commission of Agriculture. Section 4(6) preempts local ordinances that conflict with the Act or GAAMPs. A 2014 amendment to the Site Selection GAAMP withdrew Right to Farm protection from livestock on land zoned primarily residential, returning regulatory authority over backyard livestock to municipalities in those zones. Commercial operations on ag-zoned land remain strongly protected against ordinances banning roosters, manure handling, or odors. Non-commercial backyard chickens are NOT covered.
Local ordinances that conflict with the Act are unenforceable against qualifying commercial farms; courts have awarded attorney fees to farmers asserting MRTFA defenses. Farmers operating outside GAAMPs lose statutory protection and face all local rules and nuisance claims.
Flint, MI
Residential pool barriers in Flint follow the Michigan Residential Code 2015 Appendix AG105, which requires a barrier at least 48 inches high around any pool...
Flint, MI
Flint Sec. 17-4 does not list approved residential fence materials but regulates construction features. Commercial and industrial fences over six feet must b...
Flint, MI
Flint Sec. 17-4 does not require neighbor consent to build a fence. Boundary-line disputes between adjoining owners are resolved under Michigan's partition-f...
Flint, MI
Flint requires a Certificate of Zoning Compliance for fence construction. The Zoning Division reviews placement against Sec. 17-4 height and material rules a...
Flint, MI
Flint Code Sec. 17-4 caps fences in A, B, and C residential zoning at 6 feet behind the 50-foot front setback line and 5 feet (max 50% solid) within the fron...
Flint, MI
The City of Flint does not impose a numeric ceiling on the number of dogs, cats, or other companion animals per household in Chapter 9 of the Code. Limits ar...
See how Flint's farm nuisance protection rules stack up against other locations.
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