Right to Farm in Massachusetts (2026)
15 rules on the books across Massachusetts, 12 cities and counties. Select a rule to read the full details.
Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions
Farm Nuisance Protection
Whether established farms are shielded from nuisance lawsuits and from local ordinances that would restrict their operations.
Massachusetts: statewide
StatewideFew RestrictionsMassachusetts protects farms from nuisance lawsuits under M.G.L. c. 243 § 6: a farm operating more than one year using…
Read full rule →Framingham
Few RestrictionsCity Code § 255-3 declares a right to farm in Framingham, protecting commercial agricultural operations from nuisance…
Read full rule →Agricultural Zoning Protection
State rules that limit how cities and counties may zone or restrict agricultural land uses, including livestock and crop operations.
Massachusetts: statewide
StatewideFew RestrictionsMassachusetts protects agricultural land use through MGL Chapter 40A Section 3, exempting agriculture, horticulture…
Read full rule →Framingham
Some RestrictionsIn the City of Framingham, the agricultural preservation development (APD) zoning provisions let an active farm owner…
Read full rule →Lynn
Some RestrictionsAgriculture is a permitted, by-right use in every one of Lynn's fifteen zoning districts under the 2025 Zoning…
Read full rule →Methuen
Some RestrictionsIn the City of Methuen, Massachusetts, the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance makes sales of products raised on the…
Read full rule →Somerville
Some RestrictionsSomerville's Zoning Ordinance treats farming as its own use category under Article 9, splitting it into Commercial…
Read full rule →Taunton
Some RestrictionsTaunton's zoning code treats agriculture, including keeping poultry, swine, cattle and other livestock, as a use…
Read full rule →Cambridge
Light RestrictionsCambridge zoning recognizes urban farming, community gardens and related agricultural uses under Article 23.000, but…
Read full rule →Newton
Light RestrictionsNewton's zoning ordinance defines agriculture broadly, covering horticulture, silviculture, floriculture, and…
Read full rule →Southborough
Light RestrictionsSouthborough lists agriculture, horticulture, floriculture and viticulture as permitted uses in the C Conservation…
Read full rule →Fall River
Few RestrictionsMassachusetts law lets Fall River landowners farm as of right: any parcel of five acres or more may be used, and…
Read full rule →Leominster
Few RestrictionsLeominster sets aside its Rural Residence and Agriculture (RR) district specifically for farming under City Code §…
Read full rule →New Bedford
Few RestrictionsNew Bedford's Zoning Ordinance marks "Agricultural Use (Exempt)", farming on parcels over five acres that qualifies…
Read full rule →Springfield
Few RestrictionsSpringfield's zoning lets residents grow and sell produce by right on any lot under five acres in every zoning…
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