{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/3.2-301.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/3.2-301.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/3.2-301.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/3.2-301.html"}],"law_id":68035,"edition_id":1,"section_id":68035,"structure_id":15936,"section_number":"3.2-301","catch_line":"Right to farm; restrictive ordinances","history":"1981, c. 384, \u00a7 3.1-22.28; 1991, c. 293; 1994, c. 779; 2007, c. 444; 2008, c. 860; 2014, c. 246.","full_text":"In order to limit the circumstances under which agricultural operations may be deemed to be a nuisance, especially when nonagricultural land uses are initiated near existing agricultural operations, no locality shall adopt any ordinance that requires that a special exception or special use permit be obtained for any production agriculture or silviculture activity in an area that is zoned as an agricultural district or classification. Localities may adopt setback requirements, minimum area requirements, and other requirements that apply to land on which agriculture and silviculture activity is occurring within the locality that is zoned as an agricultural district or classification. No locality shall enact zoning ordinances that would unreasonably restrict or regulate farm structures or farming and forestry practices in an agricultural district or classification unless such restrictions bear a relationship to the health, safety, and general welfare of its citizens. This section shall become effective on April 1, 1995, and from and after that date all land zoned to an agricultural district or classification shall be in conformity with this section.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":246286,"text":"In order to limit the circumstances under which agricultural operations may be deemed to be a nuisance, especially when nonagricultural land uses are initiated near existing agricultural operations, no locality shall adopt any ordinance that requires that a special exception or special use permit be obtained for any production agriculture or silviculture activity in an area that is zoned as an agricultural district or classification. Localities may adopt setback requirements, minimum area requirements, and other requirements that apply to land on which agriculture and silviculture activity is occurring within the locality that is zoned as an agricultural district or classification. No locality shall enact zoning ordinances that would unreasonably restrict or regulate farm structures or farming and forestry practices in an agricultural district or classification unless such restrictions bear a relationship to the health, safety, and general welfare of its citizens. This section shall become effective on April 1, 1995, and from and after that date all land zoned to an agricultural district or classification shall be in conformity with this section.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":15936,"edition_id":1,"name":"Right to Farm","identifier":"3","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13126,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 04:02:18","date_modified":"2026-06-26 04:02:18","permalink":{"id":194087,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15936,"identifier":"3","token":"3.2\/I\/3","url":"\/3.2\/I\/3\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13126,"edition_id":1,"name":"General Provisions; Protection and Promotion of Agriculture","identifier":"I","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12793,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:19","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:19","permalink":{"id":193941,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13126,"identifier":"I","token":"3.2\/I","url":"\/3.2\/I\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12793,"edition_id":1,"name":"Agriculture, Animal Care, and Food","identifier":"3.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:53","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:53","permalink":{"id":193939,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12793,"identifier":"3.2","token":"3.2","url":"\/3.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":62811,"structure_id":15936,"section_number":"3.2-300","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/3.2-300\/","token":"3.2\/I\/3\/3.2-300","metadata":false},{"id":68035,"structure_id":15936,"section_number":"3.2-301","catch_line":"Right to farm; restrictive ordinances","url":"\/3.2-301\/","token":"3.2\/I\/3\/3.2-301","metadata":false},{"id":61959,"structure_id":15936,"section_number":"3.2-302","catch_line":"When agricultural operations do not constitute nuisance","url":"\/3.2-302\/","token":"3.2\/I\/3\/3.2-302","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":62811,"structure_id":15936,"section_number":"3.2-300","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/3.2-300\/","token":"3.2\/I\/3\/3.2-300","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":61959,"structure_id":15936,"section_number":"3.2-302","catch_line":"When agricultural operations do not constitute nuisance","url":"\/3.2-302\/","token":"3.2\/I\/3\/3.2-302","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/3.2-301\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1981. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 384 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1981 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 5 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1991, chapter 293; in 1994, chapter 779<\/a>; in 2007, chapter 444<\/a>; in 2008, chapter 860<\/a>; in 2014, chapter 246<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":194093,"object_type":"law","relational_id":68035,"identifier":"3.2-301","token":"3.2\/I\/3\/3.2-301","url":"\/3.2-301\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/3.2-301\/","token":"3.2\/I\/3\/3.2-301","dublin_core":{"Title":"Right to farm; restrictive ordinances","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 3.2-301","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

In order<\/span> to limit the circumstances under which agricultural operations<\/span> may be deemed to be a nuisance, especially when nonagricultural land uses are initiated near existing agricultural operations<\/span>, no locality shall adopt any ordinance<\/span> that requires that a special exception or special use permit be obtained for any production agriculture or silviculture activity in an area that is zoned as an agricultural district or classification. Localities may adopt setback requirements, minimum area requirements, and other requirements that apply to land on which agriculture and silviculture activity is occurring within the locality that is zoned as an agricultural district or classification. No locality shall enact zoning ordinances<\/span> that would unreasonably restrict or regulate farm structures or farming and forestry practices in an agricultural district or classification unless such restrictions bear a relationship to the health, safety, and general welfare of its citizens. This section shall become effective on April 1, 1995, and from and after that date all land zoned to an agricultural district or classification shall be in conformity with this section.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nRIGHT TO FARM; RESTRICTIVE ORDINANCES (\u00a7 3.2-301)\n\nIn order to limit the circumstances under which agricultural operations may be\ndeemed to be a nuisance, especially when nonagricultural land uses are initiated\nnear existing agricultural operations, no locality shall adopt any ordinance\nthat requires that a special exception or special use permit be obtained for any\nproduction agriculture or silviculture activity in an area that is zoned as an\nagricultural district or classification. Localities may adopt setback\nrequirements, minimum area requirements, and other requirements that apply to\nland on which agriculture and silviculture activity is occurring within the\nlocality that is zoned as an agricultural district or classification. No\nlocality shall enact zoning ordinances that would unreasonably restrict or\nregulate farm structures or farming and forestry practices in an agricultural\ndistrict or classification unless such restrictions bear a relationship to the\nhealth, safety, and general welfare of its citizens. This section shall become\neffective on April 1, 1995, and from and after that date all land zoned to an\nagricultural district or classification shall be in conformity with this\nsection.\n\nHISTORY: 1981, c. 384, \u00a7 3.1-22.28; 1991, c. 293; 1994, c. 779; 2007, c. 444;\n2008, c. 860; 2014, c. 246.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}