RESEARCH &
EDUCATION
CENTERS (REC)
Action items
Author:
Nicole Cook, B.S., J.D., LL.M., Environmental and Agricultural, Faculty Legal Specialist, Agriculture Law Education Initiative (ALEI), University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Post date:
Nov 27, 2019
Urban Ag home | Table of contents
Operating an urban farm requires compliance with a number of state or local zoning, permitting, licensing, and other regulatory requirements. These requirements could have a significant impact on your production and operating plans, and the costs to run your farm. To minimize the impacts and plan your production:
- Identify any zoning or building permits, waivers, variances or licenses that you are going to need and the costs to obtain them and to comply with them
- Identify any production regulatory requirements that could significantly affect your farm and the costs to bring your farm into compliance with them (e.g., waste handling and disposal requirements, worker health and safety plans and inspection requirements, environmental permits, food safety regulations, business licenses and food handlers’ licenses)
- Identify regulatory requirements or industry standards for handling, storing, packaging, and distributing the farm’s products
- Identify any property, sales or use tax requirements
- Identify insurance tools appropriate to your situation
Key termsLegislation: Laws passed by a governing legislative body (Federal or State Government), including authorizing an administrative agency to write regulations to carry out the purpose of the lawsStatute: A law enacted by a legislative bodyRegulation: The rules and procedures that agencies develop, implement, and enforce to achieve the goals of the lawsMunicipality: A city or town with corporate status and its own governmentOrdinance: Legislation enacted by a municipal authorityPreemption: A situation where a law enacted by a higher authority takes precedence over a law enacted by a lower authority |
Previous page: Chapter 4: Managing legal risks to grow your urban farm-Introduction
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