May 21, 2018

Michigan bill stops zoning prohibition on farm wedding venues

Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) supports a bill that has been referred to the House Agriculture Committee.

House Bill 5947, introduced by Rep. Tom Barrett, R-Potterville, would amend the state zoning and enabling law to prevent local ordinances from prohibiting a barn or other facilities located on agriculturally zoned land from being used as commercial venue for weddings or similar events.

This does not prohibit the regulation of noise, advertising, traffic, hours of operation or other conditions from being regulated.

“Farmers have tried many different business ventures over the years to support their families and preserve their family farms,” said Matt Kapp, government relations specialist with MFB. “One of those has been on-farm weddings, but some townships have been very restrictive and even prohibited on-farm weddings in agriculture zones. Michigan Farm Bureau supports agri-tourism, and we see this bill as a way to keep family farms profitable.”

MFB policy supports local zoning ordinances that recognize the benefits, and allow for the operation of, agri-tourism destinations on agriculturally zoned land without a special use permit. Therefore, MFB supports the bill that has been referred to the House Agriculture Committee.