[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of County Commissioners of
Calvert County 3-26-1996 by Res. No. 7-96. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Zoning — See Ch. 155.
A.
It is the declared policy of Calvert County to preserve, protect
and encourage the development and improvement of its agricultural
land for the production of food and other agricultural products. It
is the purpose of this chapter to reduce the loss to the county of
its agricultural resources by limiting the circumstances under which
agricultural and forestry operations may be deemed to constitute a
nuisance, trespass or other interference with the reasonable use and
enjoyment of land, including but not limited to smoke, odors, dust,
noise, chemicals or vibration, provided that nothing in this chapter
shall in any way restrict or impede the authority of the state and
of the county to protect the public health, safety and welfare.
B.
It is in the public interest to promote a clearer understanding between
agricultural, forestry operations and nonagricultural residential
neighbors concerning the normal inconveniences of agricultural operations
which follow generally accepted agricultural and forestry practices
and do not endanger public health or safety.
C.
This chapter is not intended to and shall not be construed as in
any way modifying or abridging local, state or federal laws relating
to health, safety, zoning, licensing requirements, environmental standards
(including those standards which relate to air and water quality),
and the like.
D.
An additional purpose of this chapter is to promote a good-neighbor policy by advising purchasers and users of property adjacent to or near agricultural or forestry operations of the inherent potential problems associated with such purchase or use. These potential problems include, but are not limited to, noises, odors, dust, chemicals, smoke, vibration and hours of operation that may accompany agricultural operations. It is intended that, through mandatory disclosures, purchasers and users will better understand the impact of living near agricultural or forestry operations and be prepared to accept attendant conditions as the natural result of living in or near rural areas. However, this chapter shall be effective regardless of whether disclosure was made in accordance with § 99-5 herein.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
All real property within the boundaries of Calvert County
that is lying in the Agriculture District or carried on the tax rolls
of the State Department of Assessments and Taxation as agricultural
or all other land that has been used as an agricultural operation
or forestry continuously for one year.
Includes, but is not limited to, all matters set forth in
the definition of "operation" at Courts and Judicial Proceedings,
§ 5-508(a), of the Annotated Code, as amended from time
to time; the production of all matters encompassed within the definition
of "farm product" at Agriculture, § 10-601(c), of the Annotated
Code, as amended from time to time; the cultivation and tillage of
the soil; composting; production, harvesting and processing of agricultural
crops; raising poultry; production of eggs; production of milk and
dairy products; production of livestock, including pasturage; production
of bees and their products; production of fish; production of fruit,
vegetables and other horticultural crops; production of aquatic plants;
aquaculture; production of timber and any commercial agricultural
procedure performed as incident to or in conjunction with such operations,
including preparation for market, delivery to storage or to market
or to carriers for transportation to market; and usage of land in
furtherance of educational and social goals, such as 4-H, Future Farmers
of America, and the like.
Includes, but is not limited to, the cultivation and production
of all matters, products etc., derived from the practice of forestry,
as encompassed within the definition of "practice forestry," as set
forth in Business Occupations and Professions, § 7-101(e),
of the Annotated Code, as amended from time to time.
Those methods used in connection with agricultural or forestry
operations which do not violate applicable federal, state or local
laws or public health safety and welfare and which are generally accepted
agricultural or forestry practices in the agriculture or forestry
industry. "Generally accepted agricultural or forestry practices"
includes practices which are recognized as best management practices
and those methods which are authorized by various governmental agencies,
bureaus and departments, such as the Calvert County Cooperative Extension
Service of the University of Maryland, and the like. If no generally
accepted agricultural or forestry practice exists or there is no method
authorized by those agencies mentioned herein which govern a practice,
the practice is presumed to be a generally accepted agricultural or
forestry practice.
A.
A private action may not be sustained with respect to an agricultural
or forestry operation conducted on agricultural land on the grounds
that the agricultural or forestry operation interferes or has interfered
with the use or enjoyment of property, whether public or private,
if:
(1)
The agricultural or forestry operation, including any change in the
operation, has been under way for a period of one year or more and
if the operation or the change did not constitute a nuisance from
the date the operation or change in the operation began; and
(2)
The agricultural or forestry operation is conducted substantially
in accordance with generally accepted agricultural or forestry practices.
B.
Notwithstanding any provision of this section, no action alleging that an agricultural or forestry operation has interfered with the reasonable use or enjoyment of real property or personal well-being shall be maintained if the plaintiff has not sought arbitration through Agricultural Reconciliation Committee, as defined in § 99-4 herein.
A.
Nuisances which affect public health.
(1)
Complaints. A person may complain to the Calvert County Health Department
to declare that a nuisance which affects public health exists.
(2)
Investigations. The health officer shall investigate all complaints
of nuisance received against an agricultural or forestry operation.
When a previous complaint involving the same condition resulted in
a determination by the health officer that a nuisance condition did
not exist, the health officer may investigate the complaint but the
health officer may also determine not to investigate such a complaint.
The Calvert County Health Department may initiate any investigation
without citizen complaint.
(3)
After the health officer has completed his investigation, he will
report his findings to the Agricultural Reconciliation Committee,
to aid in their determination as to the existence of a nuisance.
B.
Resolution of disputes regarding agricultural operations.
(1)
Should any controversy arise regarding an interference with the use
or enjoyment of property from agricultural or forestry operations
conducted on agricultural land, the parties to that controversy shall
submit the controversy to the Agricultural Reconciliation Committee
as set forth below.
(2)
There is hereby established the Calvert County Agricultural Reconciliation
Committee, which shall arbitrate and mediate disputes involving agricultural
or forestry operations conducted on agricultural lands and issue opinions
on whether such agricultural or forestry operations are conducted
in a manner consistent with generally accepted agricultural or forestry
management practices.
(3)
The Agricultural Reconciliation Committee shall be composed of five
persons, all county residents, who are appointed by the Board of Commissioners.
Two members shall be a members of homeowner's associations, two
members who shall be recommended by the Agriculture Commission, and
one member shall be chosen as an at-large member by the Board of Commissioners.
Members of the Committee shall serve at the pleasure of the County
Commissioners for terms of three years.
(4)
The Agricultural Reconciliation Committee will conduct its proceedings
in an informal manner and the rules of evidence shall not apply. In
each case before it the Agricultural Reconciliation Committee shall
engage in nonbinding arbitration in controversies arising out of agricultural
or forestry operations, including but not limited to the invasion
of property and personal rights by agricultural or forestry operations
conducted on agricultural land.
(5)
If the Agricultural Reconciliation Committee or a court finds that
the conduct of a party in bringing or maintaining an action in connection
with an agricultural or forestry operation conducted on agricultural
land was in bad faith or without substantial justification, the Reconciliation
Committee or court may require that party to pay to the owner of the
agricultural or forestry operation (or any other party opponent) the
costs of the proceeding and the reasonable expenses, including reasonable
attorney's fees, incurred by that party in defending against
the action.
A.
Upon any transfer of real property by any means, the transferor shall provide the purchaser or lessee a statement specifically advising the purchaser or lessee of the existence of this chapter which shall be in substantially the form set forth in Appendix A.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Appendix A is included at the end of this chapter.
B.
In addition, because of the county's desire to maintain a good-neighbor policy and the county's desire to provide this information to county real property owners, the Calvert County Treasurer shall mail a copy of the right to farm notice to all owners of real property in Calvert County with the annual tax bill in substantially the form set forth in Appendix B.[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: Appendix B is included at the end of this chapter.
C.
Penalty for violation. Any person who violates any provision of this
section is guilty of an infraction punishable by a civil penalty not
exceeding $100. Failure to comply with any provision of this right
to farm notice and real estate transfer disclosure section shall not
prevent the recording of any document, or the title to real property
or any mortgage or deed of trust made in good faith or for value,
and it shall not affect the application of this chapter.
Section headings, chapter headings, titles, etc., are for the
purpose of description or ease of use and do not form a part of the
text of this chapter or any code or text adopted hereby.
Except to the extent specifically provided herein, this chapter
shall not discharge, impair or release any contract, obligation, duty,
liability or penalty whatever existing on the date of its enactment.
It is not intended hereby that the law of nonconforming use be changed,
or that the court's rule of construction concerning the application
of changes in the law during the pendency of actions be modified hereby,
but simply that this chapter should not effect a change between private
parties.
