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.
Selma, CA
Selma establishes decibel measurement criteria in Section 6-17-3 and monitoring procedures in Section 6-17-4. The prima facie violation threshold is 5 dB ove...
Selma, CA
Selma regulates amplified music through both its general noise ordinance (SMC 6-17-5) and public address system rules (SMC 6-17-8). Amplified sound exceeding...
Selma, CA
Selma applies the same 5 dB-over-ambient standard to industrial noise under SMC Chapter 17. The city has industrial and commercial zones along Highway 99 and...
Selma, CA
Selma addresses barking dogs under Section 6-2-10, which prohibits excessive noise and nuisance from animals. Dogs causing repeated disturbances through loud...
Selma, CA
Selma is not located near a major commercial airport. The nearest airports are Fresno Yosemite International (FAT), about 20 miles north, and Selma-based agr...
Selma, CA
Selma does not impose a blanket overnight parking ban on residential streets, making it more permissive than many California cities that restrict parking dur...
See how Selma's farm nuisance protection rules stack up against other locations.
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