Local Regulation of Agriculture

Join Legal Services Counsel Stephen Buckley and Staff Attorney Margaret Byrnes to better understand the local regulation of agriculture. We will discuss statutory protections afforded agricultural uses, creation and powers of agricultural commissions, master plans and planning for agricultural uses, regulation of roadside farm stands as commercial vs. agricultural uses, and the importance of off-premise signs for local farms. We will also discuss whether agricultural uses require greater flexibility through site plan review by the planning board, and the manner of regulating and taxing agricultural structures, such as greenhouses.