This chapter may be cited as the “Madera County right to farm ordinance.” (Ord. 522 § 2(part), 1989)

The county board of supervisors finds that where nonagricultural land uses extend into agricultural areas or exist side-by-side, agricultural operations often become the subject of nuisance complaints. As a result, some agricultural operations are forced to cease or curtail operations, others are discouraged from making investments in farm improvements, and efficient agricultural production is generally discouraged due to burdensome litigation against farmers. (Ord. 522 § 2(part), 1989)

It is the intent of the county to conserve, protect and encourage the development, improvement and continued viability of its agricultural land and industries for the long-term production of food and other agricultural products, and for the economic well-being of the county’s residents. It is also the intent of the county to balance the rights of farmers to produce food and other agricultural products with the rights of nonfarmers who own, occupy or use land within or adjacent to agricultural areas. It is the intent of this chapter to reduce the loss to the county of its agricultural resources by limiting the circumstances under which agricultural operations may be deemed to constitute a nuisance. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to limit the right of any owner of real property to request that the county consider a change in the zoning classification of his property in accordance with the procedures set forth in the county zoning ordinance. (Ord. 522 § 2 (part), 1989)

For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and phrases are defined and shall be construed as having the following meanings:
A. “Agricultural activity, operation or facility, or appurtenances thereof” includes, but is not limited to, the cultivation and tillage of the soil, dairying, the production, cultivation, growing and harvesting of any agricultural commodity, including timber, viticulture, apiculture or horticulture, the raising of livestock, fur-bearing animals, fish or poultry, and any practices performed by a farmer or on a farm as incident to or in conjunction with such farming operations, including preparation for market, delivery to storage or to market, or to carriers for transportation to market. (Ord. 522 § 2(part), 1989).

A. No agricultural activity, operation or facility, or appurtenances thereof, conducted or maintained for commercial purposes, and in a manner consistent with proper and accepted customs and standards, as established and followed by similar agricultural operations in the same locality, shall be or become a nuisance, private or public, due to any changed condition in or about the locality, after the same has been in operation for more than one year if it was not a nuisance at the time it began.
B. This section shall not invalidate any provision contained in the Health and Safety Code, Fish and Game Code, Food and Agricultural Code, or Division 7 (commencing with Section 13000) of the Water Code of the State of California, if the agricultural activity, operation or facility, or appurtenances thereof, constitutes a nuisance, public or private, as specifically defined or described in any such provision.
C. This section is not to be construed so as to modify or abridge the state law set out in the California Civil Code relative to nuisances, but rather it is only to be utilized in the interpretation and enforcement of the provisions of county ordinances and regulations. (Ord. 522 § 2(part), 1989).

A. The planning director shall cause the following notice to be recorded in the office of the county recorder for any land division proposed under Title 17 of this code:

“It is the declared policy of the County of Madera that no agricultural activity, operation, or facility, or appurtenances thereof, conducted or maintained for commercial purposes in the unincorporated area of the County, and in a manner consistent with proper and accepted customs and standards, as established and followed by similar agricultural operations in the same locality, shall be or become a nuisance, private or public, due to any changed condition in or about the locality, after the same has been in operation for more than one (1) year, if it was not a nuisance at the time it began. The term “agricultural activity, operation, or facility, or appurtenance thereof” includes, but is not limited to, the cultivation and tillage of the soil, dairying, the production, cultivation, growing, and harvesting of any agricultural commodity, including timber, viticulture, apiculture, or horticulture, the raising of livestock, fur-bearing animals, fish, or poultry, and any practices performed by a farmer or on a farm as incident to or in conjunction with such farming operations, including preparation for market, delivery to storage or to market, or to carriers for transportation to market. Residents of property in or near agricultural districts should be prepared to accept the inconveniences and discomfort associated with normal farm activities.”

B. The county may cause to be mailed to all property owners of real property within the county with the annual tax bill the following notice:

“The County of Madera has declared it a policy to protect and encourage agricultural operations. If your property is located near an agricultural operation, you may at some times be subject to inconvenience or discomfort arising from agricultural operations. If conducted in a manner consistent with proper and accepted standards, said inconveniences and discomforts are hereby deemed not to constitute a nuisance for purpose of Madera County Code.”
(Ord. 522 § 2(part), 1989).

If any provision, clause, sentence or paragraph of this chapter or the application thereof to any person or circumstances shall be held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect the other provisions or applications of the provisions of this chapter which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end, the provisions of this chapter are declared severable. (Ord. 522 § 2(part), 1989).