Florida Right to Farm Act Shields Established Farms

Section 823.14, Florida Statutes, declares that established agricultural production conducted on a bona fide farm is presumed reasonable and not a nuisance once it has been in operation for one year or more, provided it complies with generally accepted agricultural practices and laws. The statute also bars local governments from adopting ordinances that prohibit, restrict, regulate, or otherwise limit a bona fide farm operation on land classified as agricultural under Section 193.461. 2023 amendments tightened standing rules, requiring nuisance plaintiffs to be within a half mile of the farm and to file within one year of the operation starting.

Nuisance suits and local ordinances inconsistent with FS 823.14 may be dismissed or invalidated, with prevailing farms entitled to attorney fees in some cases.