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.
Keller, TX
Keller limits construction noise to roughly 7 AM to 8 PM weekdays and Saturdays, with tighter limits on Sundays and holidays. Emergency utility work is exemp...
Keller, TX
Keller combines a plainly audible standard with dB limits at the receiving property line, typically low 60s dBA daytime and mid 50s dBA nighttime in resident...
Keller, TX
Keller requires residential driveways to be paved with concrete or approved hard-surface material. New curb cuts or driveway approaches in the public right-o...
Keller, TX
Retaining walls over 4 feet measured from grade to top require a Keller building permit and Texas-registered engineered plans. Walls must not block drainage ...
Keller, TX
Keller bans no dog breed. TX Health and Safety Code 822 (Lillian's Law) uses a behavior-based dangerous dog standard. HOAs may privately restrict breeds.
Keller, TX
Keller limits grass, weeds, and rank vegetation to 12 inches on all lots including the parkway strip. Code Enforcement uses a 10-day notice before abatement....
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Tarrant County.
See how Keller's farm nuisance protection rules stack up against other locations.
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