Urban Agriculture

Background

Maplewood is working to help people across the City embrace the benefits of local foods with urban agriculture zoning ideas. These ideas come from a two-year study (PDF) by the Environmental and Natural Resources Commission that focused on three areas of urban agriculture including animal agriculture (keeping of chickens), crop agriculture (community gardens), and direct to consumer sales (farm stands). 

Study Results

Based on the study results, the Environmental and Natural Resources Commission recommended approval of urban agriculture ordinance amendments that would remove barriers and promote urban agriculture uses.

On June 11, 2018, the Maplewood City Council adopted the urban agriculture ordinances. View a summary and a link to the full ordinances.

Garden Area

Urban Agriculture Ordinances

  • Keeping of Bees (PDF)
    • Allow beekeeping in any zoning district as a permitted use.
    • Hive placement requirements as follows:
      • Located at least five feet from any property line with the front of the hive facing in toward the property.
      • Located at least ten feet from a public sidewalk with the front of the hive facing in toward the property.
      • Located at least 25 feet from a principal building on an adjoining lot.
  • Keeping of Poultry in All Zoning Districts (PDF)
    • Allowing other types of poultry in addition to chickens (i.e, quail and pheasants)
    • Changing the neighborhood consent requirements from 100% to 60% consent for approval of a poultry permit.
    • Allowing the keeping of poultry on property that is not zoned single family residential with a permit.
  • Temporary Keeping of Goats and Sheep (PDF)
    • Allow the temporary keeping of goats and sheep (up to 60 days) for vegetative management with a permit.
    • Require 60% neighborhood consent for the temporary keeping of goats and sheep.
    • Allow up to 75 goats or sheep, depending on size of lot.
  • Aquaponics and Aquaculture in the Light and Heavy Manufacturing Zoning Districts (PDF)
    • Amend the Monday through 1 and Monday through 2 Zoning Districts to allow for these uses.
  • Community and Market Gardens (PDF)
    • Allow community gardens one acre or under as a permitted use in any zoning district with standards such as setbacks, time limits for sale of produce, etc.
    • Allow community gardens over one acre in any zoning district with a conditional use permit.
  • Front Yard Gardening and Permaculture (PDF)
    • Adding text that makes it clear that front yard gardening is a permitted use in all residential zoning districts.
  • Urban Farms (PDF)
    • Allow urban farms on park land if it meets the City's Park Master Plan.
    • Allow urban farms in all other zoning districts with a conditional use permit.