Lenexa, KS Right to Farm: Farm Nuisance Protection (2026)

Lenexa City Code § 4-1-B-4-G-7 sits in the special regulations for the AG Agricultural District, the zone the City created to preserve existing agricultural land-use patterns and to hold annexed land. An owner, tenant, or lessee who has submitted an affidavit under § 4-1-B-4-G-8, and whose agricultural use existed before adjacent property was developed for non-AG uses, is allowed to continue that use. The City cannot require alterations such as screening of appropriately parked, placed, or stored farm machinery or implements to make the property compatible with the newer development next door.

The affidavit goes to the Community Standards Officer. It has to outline the specific type of agricultural use, when the use began, any lapses, the total amount of property in the use, the percentage of contiguous property the owner has in agricultural use, the percentage of time spent on it, and any non-agricultural uses of the property. The Community Standards Officer can also require an affidavit from any AG-zoned owner when it is unclear that land is farmed on a regular basis. Some uses never count as pre-existing: lapses in agricultural use longer than two years, and uses that substantially increase their size or impact on adjacent properties without the required development plan approvals.

The neighboring rules define what qualifies. Farm machinery and implements, including tractors, animal trailers, harrows, manure spreaders, and combines, can be parked or stored on AG land only if the land is actually used for agriculture on a regular basis, and gardening solely for family and acquaintances does not count. The AG district itself sets a 20-acre minimum lot size and 50-foot setbacks.