Below is a list of Berkshire towns that have adopted the Right to Farm bylaws that require a home seller to inform a home buyer that the community allows farming. Please note that a ‘Right to Farm’ status does not give farming rights to an actual property, those rights are found in zoning and use laws!! The disclosure is intended to alert residents that farming activities within the town may create noises, smells and dust (and slow traffic) but those are not legal nuisances. It also defines and sets out a process for resolving disputes about nuisance issues. Each town bylaw is different, so here is a summary we established after reaching out to the towns. The city/towns of Lanesboro, Hinsdale, North Adams and Pittsfield do not require a written disclosure notification to be filed, but listing brokers should keep these records in the listing file. Also, the towns that do have a filing requirement provided acceptance of our sample form and shared where and how to file it with the town. Town Mailing/Email list in PDF format and the Right to Farm Standard form
- Adams
- Alford
- Becket
- Cheshire
- Egremont
- Florida
- Great Barrington
- Hancock
- Hinsdale*
- Lanesborough*
- Lee
- Monterey
- New Marlboro*
- North Adams*
- Peru
- Pittsfield*
- Richmond
- Sandisfield
- Savoy
- Sheffield
- West Stockbridge
- Williamstown
- Windsor
*Disclosure Does Not Require Submission to City/Town.
This list shows Berkshire County towns. For a full list of all communities in the state, information from the Mass.gov Department of Agricultural can be found at:
http://www.BerkshireRealtors.net/re-business-news/right-to-farm-communities/