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The rural areas are rapidly urbanized and developed, so, if you have moved to a suburban home with a big yard, it is only natural to think about whether you can keep a farm animal or not. It can not be for commercial purposes but enough to feed the loved ones.
As the food-to-table movement is gaining popularity all over the world, many urban and rural dwellers are interested in running their own small farms.
It is important to know first what the law says about the occupier keeping farm animals on the property.
Can I Keep Farm Animals on My Property?
It depends on the property size, suitability, and the laws and regulations of the state you are living in. Some states and areas allow landowners to keep farm animals as pets on less than 5 acres of land.
Though the laws are different for different areas, if the occupier is permitted to keep livestock or other animals on your property, then, he needs to meet these requirements.
- A minimum of 2 acres of land is required to keep large animals such as horses, cattle, goats, sheep, or pigs, with each animal needing an acre of land.
- It is easier to keep poultry and other small animals like rabbits, guinea pigs, and others at a suitable animal to acreage ratio. 2 Adult small animals can be kept per acre on a property less than 2 Acres. Keep 4 adult small animals per acre on property greater than 2 acres.
Having a big, beautiful yard of more than 5 acres, the property owner can keep livestock with animal confinement areas of less than one acre.
Waste should be disposed of away from the public street and residential areas.
Keeping Farm Animals In Rural Areas
Many urban dwellers are moving to the countryside to enjoy a peaceful and quiet life. The large tracts in rural areas are divided into 5 to 100 acres.
There are no or fewer restrictions on keeping livestock and other farm animals on private rural property. Simply decide which animal is suited for the small acreage and likely to be profitable for you.
According to the University of Missouri, no strict restrictions on the number of animals that can be kept on rural land. However, the landowner needs to understand responsible animal ownership.
The farmer also needs to take care of the basic needs of the animals like feed, water, shelter, and physical activity. Also, make sure your property is well-suited for stock animals.
Keeping Farm Animals in Urban Areas
Keeping large farm animals on an urban property is a lot difficult, not just in terms of law but also the upkeep. Some states do not allow farm animals on urban property near commercial areas.
Besides the law, the landowner needs to consider the size and suitability of the property, type of farm animals, housing, fencing, feed and manure storage (away from residential areas), waste disposal, and drainage. learn the cost of starting a farm.
Regulations on Keeping Livestock on Your Property
After you have bought a property, it is tempting to keep animals as pets or run a mini-farm.
Farming livestock and other animals are regulated at the local, state, and/or federal levels. Poultry, livestock, camelids are all regulated differently.
Unfortunately, there is no satisfactory answer to this question, the landowner needs to study local laws before investing in animals, farm equipment, feed, and fencing. The permission to keep farm animals also depends on whether the property is zoned as “agricultural” or “residential”. Learn Ranch vs Farm
Researching Local Laws About Keeping Farm Animals
When researching local regulations about keeping farm animals, the first place to contact is the local zoning board or zoning office.
You will be informed about the property’s zoning and they may direct you to the relevant office or city agency to know whether you can keep animals on your property or not.
Final Thoughts
The potential legal and social pitfalls of keeping an animal on private property are quite discouraging. The legal and social aspects of having an animal on the land are so restrictive that one might give up on this endeavor altogether.
If you do not want to go through the scrutiny of running a small farm, just go for an easier and lower maintenance initiative, like planting herbs or vegetable gardens.
