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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>75049</law_id><section_number>15.2-2288.6</section_number><catch_line>Agricultural operations; local regulation of certain activities</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="15.2">Counties, Cities and Towns</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="II">Powers of Local Government</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="22">Planning, Subdivision of Land and Zoning</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="7">Zoning</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> No <span class="dictionary">locality</span> shall regulate the carrying out of any of the following activities at an agricultural operation, as defined in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/3.2-300/">3.2-300</a>, unless there is a substantial impact on the health, safety, or general welfare of the public: <a id="paragraph-269549" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-2288.6/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Agritourism activities as defined in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/3.2-6400/">3.2-6400</a>; <a id="paragraph-269550" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-2288.6/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> The sale of agricultural or silvicultural products, or the sale of agricultural-related or silvicultural-related items incidental to the agricultural operation; <a id="paragraph-269551" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-2288.6/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> The preparation, processing, or sale of food products in compliance with subdivisions C 3, 4, and 5 of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Inspections required to operate food establishment" href="/3.2-5130/">3.2-5130</a> or related state <span class="dictionary">laws</span> and regulations; or <a id="paragraph-269552" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-2288.6/#A3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Other activities or events that are usual and customary at Virginia agricultural operations.
				Any local restriction placed on an activity listed in this subsection shall be reasonable and shall take into account the economic impact of the restriction on the agricultural operation and the agricultural nature of the activity. <a id="paragraph-269553" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-2288.6/#A4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> No <span class="dictionary">locality</span> shall require a <span class="dictionary">special exception</span>, administrative permit not required by state <span class="dictionary">law</span>, or special use permit for any activity listed in subsection A on property that is zoned as an agricultural district or classification unless there is a substantial impact on the health, safety, or general welfare of the public. <a id="paragraph-269554" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-2288.6/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Except regarding the sound generated by outdoor amplified music, no local <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> regulating the sound generated by any activity listed in subsection A shall be more restrictive than the general noise <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> of the <span class="dictionary">locality</span>. In permitting outdoor amplified music at an agricultural operation, the <span class="dictionary">locality</span> shall consider the effect on adjoining property owners and nearby residents. <a id="paragraph-269555" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-2288.6/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> The provisions of this section shall not affect any entity licensed in accordance with Chapter 2 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Exemptions from licensure" href="/4.1-200/">4.1-200</a> et seq.) of Title 4.1. Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect the provisions of Chapter 3 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/3.2-300/">3.2-300</a> et seq.) of Title 3.2, to alter the provisions of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Licensed farm wineries; local regulation of certain activities" href="/15.2-2288.3/">15.2-2288.3</a>, or to restrict the authority of any <span class="dictionary">locality</span> under Title 58.1. <a id="paragraph-269556" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-2288.6/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2014, cc. 153, 494; 2022, c. 204.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
