The California Right to Farm Act under Civil Code 3482.5 protects established agricultural operations from nuisance lawsuits brought by neighbors who moved in after farming began. The law applies statewide and limits both private and local government nuisance actions.
Civil Code 3482.5 provides that no agricultural activity, operation, or facility conducted on agricultural land for commercial purposes shall be considered a nuisance, private or public, after it has been in operation for more than three years if the operation was not a nuisance at its inception. The protection extends against changed surrounding conditions, including new residential development encroaching on farm areas. The statute applies statewide and binds counties, cities, and private parties. Local nuisance ordinances cannot override the state's three-year farming protection. Operations conducted negligently or in violation of state or federal law lose protection.
Plaintiffs filing barred nuisance actions may face dismissal and statutory attorney fees under Civil Code 3482.5(b) when the agricultural defendant prevails.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
San Bernardino County, CA
Motor-vehicle noise on roads in unincorporated San Bernardino County is governed mainly by the California Vehicle Code, which the state controls: every vehic...
San Bernardino County, CA
Curb colors in unincorporated San Bernardino County follow California Vehicle Code Section 21458, which defines red (no stopping), yellow (freight/passenger ...
San Bernardino County, CA
San Bernardino County Development Code Section 83.11.090 requires off-street loading spaces for institutional, commercial, industrial and special uses. Each ...
San Bernardino County, CA
Unincorporated San Bernardino County does not have a single dedicated 'oversized vehicle' street ordinance. Large and heavy vehicles are instead controlled b...
San Bernardino County, CA
The County Development Code dictates both permitted and prohibited fence materials in the unincorporated area. Required separation and right-of-way walls mus...
San Bernardino County, CA
Backyard composting is allowed and encouraged in unincorporated San Bernardino County. Under California's SB 1383, residents in the mandatory-collection area...
See how San Bernardino County's farm nuisance protection rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.