What's happening
This bill amends New York law to include urban farming as a recognized form of agricultural district and farm operation.
Why it matters
Expanding agricultural support and protections to urban farming. By recognizing urban farming as a formal farm operation, urban growers could gain access to benefits, funding, and legal protections that traditional rural farms enjoy, potentially encouraging more local food production within cities.
Broadening the definition of agriculture. Including activities like the cultivation of flowers, ornamental plants, fowl, bees, and aquaculture under "urban farming" could legitimize a wide range of small-scale, non-traditional agricultural activities that often face regulatory uncertainty or zoning challenges in urban environments.
Potential impact on land use and city planning. The bill could influence local zoning laws and planning decisions, making it easier to use vacant lots, rooftops, or other urban spaces for agricultural purposes, which may help address food deserts and promote sustainability in dense urban areas.
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Include Urban Farms in Law
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to agriculture
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Include Urban Farming in Law
In Senate Committee · Agriculture · Sponsor Terrence P. Murphy
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
9712
IN ASSEMBLY
February 2, 2018
Introduced by M. of A. BICHOTTE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Agriculture
AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to including urban farming written agricultural districts
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 11 of section 301 of the agriculture and markets law, as amended by chapter 35 of the laws of 2016, is amended and a new subdivision 19 is added to read as follows:
11. "Farm operation" means the land and on-farm buildings, equipment, manure processing and handling facilities, and practices which contribute to the production, preparation and marketing of crops, livestock and livestock products as a commercial enterprise, including a "commercial horse boarding operation" as defined in subdivision thirteen of this section, a "timber operation" as defined in subdivision fourteen of this section, "compost, mulch or other biomass crops" as defined in subdivision seventeen of this section [and], "commercial equine operation" as defined in subdivision eighteen of this section and "urban farming" as defined in subdivision nineteen of this section. Such farm operation may consist of one or more parcels of owned or rented land, which parcels may be contiguous or noncontiguous to each other.
19. "Urban farming" means the cultivation of fruits, vegetables, flowers and ornamental plants, as well as the limited keeping and raising of fowl or bees and the practice of aquaculture.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11588-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.