Pennsylvania Agricultural Zoning and ASA Protections

Pennsylvania's Agricultural Area Security Law (Act 43 of 1981, codified at 3 P.S. Section 901 et seq.) authorizes the creation of Agricultural Security Areas (ASAs) of 250 contiguous acres or more proposed by landowners and approved by the municipality. ASA designation triggers heightened protection from nuisance suits, eligibility for purchase of agricultural conservation easements through county and state programs, and limits on local ordinances that would unreasonably restrict farming. Pennsylvania's Municipalities Planning Code requires townships to consider agriculture as a permitted land use in agricultural zoning districts, and the Act allows the Attorney General to challenge ordinances that conflict with these protections. ASA designation does not by itself preserve land in perpetuity, but it is the foundation for the state and county easement-purchase program.

Municipal ordinances inconsistent with the Agricultural Area Security Law may be challenged and invalidated by aggrieved landowners or the Attorney General.