Montana Agricultural Zoning and Farmland Protection

Montana counties have authority to adopt zoning that designates and protects agricultural districts. The Right to Farm and Ranch Act, MCA 76-2-901 through 76-2-903, protects agricultural activities from local zoning and nuisance ordinances: a qualifying operation cannot be declared a nuisance solely because the surrounding area changed. 'Agricultural activity' is defined by a $1,500 gross-income threshold or agricultural/forest tax classification (MCA 76-2-902). Counties balance growth and farmland preservation through zoning, conservation easements, and subdivision review under separate statutes.

Local ordinances that would declare a protected agricultural operation a nuisance are barred; zoning violations are enforced by county citation and injunctive relief.