Massachusetts protects commercial agriculture from nuisance lawsuits under MGL Chapter 111 Section 125A, recognizing farms operating consistent with generally accepted practices as not constituting a nuisance.
MGL Chapter 111 Section 125A establishes Massachusetts Right to Farm protections. The statute provides that no farm operation conducted for at least one year shall become a public or private nuisance due to changing conditions in or around its locality, provided the operation does not violate state and federal law and uses generally accepted agricultural practices. Most Massachusetts cities and towns have also adopted local Right to Farm bylaws that provide additional protections and require dispute resolution before litigation. The law shields against complaints related to noise, odor, dust, and operating hours typical of farm work.
Cities or neighbors attempting to enforce nuisance claims against protected farm operations may have actions dismissed and may face attorney fee awards in some circumstances.
Quincy, MA
Quincy Code Article III (Animal Control) prohibits owners or keepers from allowing animals to disturb the quiet of any person by barking, howling, biting, or...
Quincy, MA
Under Quincy Code Chapter 215, permitted construction may begin no earlier than 7:00 AM and must finish by 6:00 PM. Contractors must prepare a written noise-...
Quincy, MA
Quincy regulates noise under Chapter 215 of the City Code, adopted June 7, 2010 (Order No. 2010-114). Residential zones may not exceed 75 dBA from 7 AM–5 PM ...
Quincy, MA
Quincy regulates on-street parking under its traffic ordinances and a resident permit system. Time limits are enforced daily; a vehicle that moves to an adja...
Quincy, MA
Quincy's ordinance broadly prohibits commercial vehicles from parking on public streets. Commercial vehicles are defined as any vehicle over one ton, with 5+...
Quincy, MA
Quincy's zoning and traffic codes regulate driveway use. Blocking a private road or driveway on public streets is prohibited. Resident parking permits are on...
See how Quincy's farm nuisance protection rules stack up against other locations.
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