At an April 20 meeting, commissioners discussed agricultural and agri-business use standards, including farm stands, agritourism and disclosure tied to Conservation Use Valuation Assessment. Mr. Norwood said the UDC should be updated for consistency, potentially by expanding the use table in Section 2-1, and he agreed to draft proposed updates that could include a new Agricultural Business (AB) zoning category for the board to review.
IssueFranklin Countyunder consideration
Franklin County commissioners discuss new agricultural use definitions for zoning code
The changes could affect how farm stands, agritourism activities and other farm-related businesses are allowed to operate under the county's zoning rules.
Latest
April 20, 2026: Update of UDC Sections 2-1 and 2-2 use tables
What happens next
Mr. Norwood will update Sections 2-1 and 2-2 of the UDC and distribute revised tables for Board review and feedback as part of the formal amendment process.
At a glance
What this means now
The story
On April 14, the Franklin County Board of Commissioners discussed adding new agricultural use category definitions to the Unified Development Code, including Agritourism, Agritainment, Farm Events, Farm Markets and Agribusiness Processing. One definition discussed covers activities on a working farm that let the public visit for recreation, entertainment or education while supporting agricultural production.
The board also discussed broader 'Agricultural Use Modernization' amendments, described as intended to help attract small farms and hobby farms to the community, and a redefinition of agricultural use meant to preserve the ability to farm, produce and sell from small established farms in the county.
At an April 20 meeting, commissioners discussed agricultural and agri-business use standards, including farm stands, agritourism and disclosure tied to Conservation Use Valuation Assessment. Mr. Norwood said the UDC should be updated for consistency, potentially by expanding the use table in Section 2-1, and he agreed to draft proposed updates that could include a new Agricultural Business (AB) zoning category for the board to review.
What happened
How this issue got here
Open any step for its supporting record. A proposal remains labeled as proposed until later evidence establishes an outcome.
DiscusseddiscussedAgricultural and agri-business use standards, including farm stands, agri-tourism, and Conservation Use Valuation Assessment (CUVA) disclosure
Mr. Norwood
stated that the UDC should be updated for consistency, potentially by expanding the use table
(Section 2-1).
+
Agricultural and agri-business use standards, including farm stands, agri-tourism, and Conservation Use Valuation Assessment (CUVA) disclosure
Mr. Norwood stated that the UDC should be updated for consistency, potentially by expanding the use table (Section 2-1).
DiscusseddiscussedCreation of a new Agricultural Business (AB) zoning category
Mr. Norwood agreed to draft proposed
updates, including a potential Agricultural Business (AB) category, for Board review.
+
Creation of a new Agricultural Business (AB) zoning category
Mr. Norwood agreed to draft proposed updates, including a potential Agricultural Business (AB) category, for Board review.
DiscusseddiscussedUpdate of UDC Sections 2-1 and 2-2 use tables
Mr. Norwood will update Sections 2-1 and 2-2 of the UDC and distribute revised tables for
Board review and feedback as part of the formal amendment process.
+
Update of UDC Sections 2-1 and 2-2 use tables
Mr. Norwood will update Sections 2-1 and 2-2 of the UDC and distribute revised tables for Board review and feedback as part of the formal amendment process.
DiscusseddiscussedNew agricultural use category definitions (Agritourism, Agritainment, Farm Events, Farm Markets, Agribusiness Processing)
Activities conducted on a working farm that allow the public to visit for recreation,
entertainment, or education while supporting agricultural production.
+
New agricultural use category definitions (Agritourism, Agritainment, Farm Events, Farm Markets, Agribusiness Processing)
Activities conducted on a working farm that allow the public to visit for recreation, entertainment, or education while supporting agricultural production.
DiscusseddiscussedAgricultural Use Modernization amendments (small/hobby farms, CUVA, farm-to-table)
These amendments are intended to help attract small farms, and hobby farms to the
community.
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Agricultural Use Modernization amendments (small/hobby farms, CUVA, farm-to-table)
These amendments are intended to help attract small farms, and hobby farms to the community.
DiscusseddiscussedUDC amendment to redefine agricultural use to preserve ability to farm and run small businesses on farm properties
Agriculture/Farming - redefine and preserve the ability to farm, produce, and sell
from small established farms within the county
+
UDC amendment to redefine agricultural use to preserve ability to farm and run small businesses on farm properties
Agriculture/Farming - redefine and preserve the ability to farm, produce, and sell from small established farms within the county
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