The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a largely agricultural state. We are the “Horse Capital of the World”, the largest beef producing state east of the Mississippi River, a significant producer of poultry, and much of the fruits and vegetables that Kentuckians consume are grown in state. This pride and ownership in creating quality agricultural products is evidenced in the Kentucky Proud program and the many agricultural events held throughout the state. Because of our strong agricultural focus, most rural areas have agriculturally friendly planning and zoning regulations. However, like much of the Unites States, Kentucky farms are impacted by urban sprawl.
What Is Agricultural Land Use?
While it may be tempting to think, this is an agricultural activity and I’m not subject to any state or local regulation; that is not a productive line of thought. Kentucky state statute does not make any zoning exemptions for agricultural land use; it simply defines agricultural land use.
Kentucky revised statute KRS 100.111 defines agricultural (in terms of planning and zoning) use as land of at least 5 contiguous acres in the production of agricultural crops including pasture. This definition of agricultural use encompasses most properties owned and used by recreational horse owners.
The statute also defines the following equine activities (which may be associated with horse farms) as agricultural use regardless of the size of the tract of land: riding lessons, rides, training, projects for educational purposes, boarding and related care, and shows with youth and amateur programs with 70 or fewer participants.
Continue reading Understanding Equine (Agricultural) Land Use in Kentucky
