Land Use & Zoning
What is Pennsylvania's 'Right-to-Farm' law and how does it protect agricultural operations?
AA law guaranteeing farmers the right to purchase adjacent parcels before they're sold to developers
BA law protecting normal agricultural operations from nuisance lawsuits by neighbors, particularly in areas where residential development has encroached on farmland✓ Correct
CA constitutional provision ensuring rural Pennsylvanians can maintain subsistence farms
DPADEP's exemption for small farms from environmental permitting requirements
Explanation
Pennsylvania's Right-to-Farm Act (3 Pa. C.S. §951) protects normal agricultural operations from nuisance complaints by neighboring property owners, particularly when residential development has expanded near established farms. If a farm was operating before the neighboring residential use was established, neighbors cannot successfully sue for nuisance based on normal farm operations (odors, noise, pesticides). Right-to-Farm protections are particularly important in Chester County, Lancaster County, and other peri-urban farming areas.
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