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.
Round Rock, TX
Round Rock restricts construction noise to 7 AM–7 PM Monday through Friday. Weekend and holiday construction outside these hours is prohibited under the nois...
Round Rock, TX
Round Rock Code Chapter 14, Article VIII establishes time-based quiet hours and uses a 'plainly audible' standard. Quiet hours run 10 PM–7 AM on weekdays and...
Round Rock, TX
Round Rock Chapter 14 and Chapter 4 (Animals) address barking dogs as a public nuisance. Persistent barking that unreasonably disturbs neighbors is enforceab...
Round Rock, TX
Round Rock requires driveways to comply with impervious cover limits and obtain permits for new or expanded driveway construction. Vehicles may be parked on ...
Round Rock, TX
Round Rock allows residential street parking subject to standard restrictions. Vehicles must face the direction of traffic, park no closer than 15 feet from ...
Round Rock, TX
Round Rock restricts commercial vehicle and heavy equipment parking in residential zones. Large commercial trucks and equipment may not be regularly stored o...
See how Round Rock's farm nuisance protection rules stack up against other locations.
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