Provided below is a list of the postings on Rural Resurrection about the subject of Housing. When new posts on this subject are added to the blog, this post will typically be updated and re-published later in the week.

• 
  Knoxville Veterans District Provides Workforce HousingMay 18, 2026
  The month of May is Affordable Housing Month. Rural Resurrection continues to look at ways to help communities to provide safe, decent, affordable housing. Across the rural Midwest, communities are… Read more »
• 
  Pawnee City Didn’t Wait for Housing to HappenMay 11, 2026
  The month of May is Affordable Housing Month. Rural Resurrection continues to look at ways to help communities to provide safe, decent, affordable housing. Across rural America, housing storages are… Read more »
• 
  Affordable Housing Month 2026May 4, 2026
  The month of May is Affordable Housing Month. Rural Resurrection continues to look at ways to help communities provide safe, decent, affordable housing. Whereas rural America used to have an… Read more »
• 
  ADUs Work for Small Towns TooMay 19, 2025
  One topic that has not yet been addressed on Rural Resurrection is Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). According to the American Planning Association (APA) an ADU is: “…a smaller, independent residential… Read more »
• 
  The Housing Supply Accelerator PlaybookMay 12, 2025
  May is Affordable Housing Month. Rural Resurrection continues to explore ways to help communities provide safe, decent, affordable housing. Last year, at this time, I reported on a new initiative that… Read more »
• 
  Affordable Housing Month 2025May 5, 2025
  The month of May is Affordable Housing Month. Rural Resurrection continues to look at ways to help communities to provide safe, decent, affordable housing. For the past few years, I… Read more »
• 
  5 Modular Homes for Midwest Infill Housing DevelopmentMay 20, 2024
  The month of May is Affordable Housing Month. Rural Resurrection continues to look at ways to help communities to provide safe, decent, affordable housing. As mentioned previously on Rural Resurrection,… Read more »
• 
  What is the Housing Supply Accelerator?May 13, 2024
  The month of May is Affordable Housing Month. Rural Resurrection continues to look at ways to help communities to provide safe, decent, affordable housing. The National League of Cities (NLC)… Read more »
• 
  The Importance of Infill DevelopmentApril 22, 2024
  Driving through many small towns there is a clear development pattern that has grown in intensity over the past few decades. New housing is sprouting up on the fringe of… Read more »
• 
  Main Street’s Housing Guidebook for Local LeadersMay 22, 2023
  Those of you who follow Rural Resurrection’s Twitter account (@ruralresurrect), know that I tend to follow Main Street America’s Twitter feed (@NatlMainStreet) quite closely. In fact, if you looked at… Read more »
• 
  AARP Helping with Missing Middle HousingMay 15, 2023
  One of the many takeaways from the APA National Conference in Philadelphia this year was AARP’s investment in planning. I’ve already mentioned their desire to fund good placemaking efforts. But… Read more »
• 
  Know Your Midwest Housing StylesMay 8, 2023
  Every rural community has a wide range of housing styles. Many times the styles of your housing stock are based purely on what style was prevalent during the time period… Read more »
• 
  Affordable Housing Month 2023May 1, 2023
  The month of May is Affordable Housing Month. Rural Resurrection continues to look at ways to help communities to provide safe, decent, affordable housing. Whereas rural America used to have… Read more »
• 
  Inmates Helping to Meet Affordable Housing DemandMay 23, 2022
  The month of May is Affordable Housing Month. Rural Resurrection continues to look at ways to help communities to provide safe, decent, affordable housing. Affordable housing is a growing issue… Read more »
• 
  Know Your Housing Market and its AdvantagesMay 9, 2022
  One of the blogs that I regularly follow is Strong Towns (@StrongTowns). I’ve seen the founder, Charles Marohn, speak in public before. I’m even currently reading his latest book, Confessions… Read more »
• 
  Affordable Housing Month 2022May 2, 2022
  The month of May is Affordable Housing Month. Rural Resurrection continues to look at ways to help communities to provide safe, decent, affordable housing. As stated last year, this month… Read more »
• 
  Addressing Need with Housing Needs AssessmentsNovember 22, 2021
  Last year I briefly discussed five plans every community should have. One of those was Housing Studies or Housing Needs Assessments. Housing is a hot topic right now as the… Read more »
• 
  The “Make Marshalltown Home” ProgramJune 21, 2021
  June is National Home Ownership Month. So it seems appropriate to have at least one article on on way for others to invest in your community. In it’s simplest form,… Read more »
• 
  Lloyd House Changing the Look of Affordable HousingMay 24, 2021
  The month of May is Affordable Housing Month. In celebration of Affordable Housing Month, Rural Resurrection is looking at adaptive reuse of the Lloyd House building as a way to… Read more »
• 
  Home Repair Problematic for Elderly and DisabledApril 5, 2021
  Rising healthcare and insurance costs are impacting everyone. However there are two groups that are quite possibly the most adversely affected that we don’t hear from as much as other,… Read more »

Building Knowledge: Accessory Dwelling Units

Here’s an interesting article on Accessory Dwelling Units on the Master’s in Public Administration website. It provides some basic information about ADUs as well as the state-level regulations for states that have adopted legislation on the subject.

You may know of an interesting, affordable housing project in a rural community. One that may be a helpful example to other communities, don’t keep it to yourself! Let us know through our contact form.

The post Housing: Links to Stories appeared first on Rural Resurrection.

Across the rural Midwest, communities are quietly wrestling with a difficult question: what should happen to the massive institutional campuses left behind when federal facilities, hospitals, or schools close? On Rural Resurrection, we’ve highlighted a few communities that have chosen adaptive reuse to breathe new life into these historic buildings. However, stakeholders in Knoxville, Iowa, have chosen a different route that is yielding impressive results.

Local leaders weren’t faced with what to do with a single building, but an entire campus of derelict buildings. A former Veterans Administration hospital campus located along one of the main entrances into the community loomed over Knoxville like a dark cloud. But the enormity of the scope required to redevelop the site didn’t stop local leaders. They were determined to turn this eyesore into a long-term asset to the community.

From Federal Campus to Community Opportunity

The Veterans District started off in 1892 as the Industrial Home for the Blind. It would eventually become a veterans hospital in 1920. Over time, the campus expanded into a massive institutional complex with roughly 750,000 square feet of buildings. During World War II, the facility housed about 1,600 patients during peak times.

When the federal government closed the facility in 2009, Knoxville lost a major employer and economic anchor for the community. What remained was a derelict 152-acre campus, too large to ignore, but too tough a nut to crack with a quick redevelopment fix.

Knowing that it was too large of a project for any of the local developers, the City and Marion County worked together on a solution. In 2020, the County acquired the site from the federal government. They then entered into a joint redevelopment agreement (28E) with the City to guide the site’s future together.

Working from a Blank Slate

Before redevelopment could take place, though, the existing site needed to be cleared. To do so, Marion County spent roughly $11 million to demolish the abandoned hospital buildings and obsolete infrastructure. This wasn’t a simple task either, as it involved the demolition and removal of massive structures and the remediation of environmental issues like asbestos. Though costly, it was a necessary step in the redevelopment process. Unless incentives are involved to cover demolition and clearing of a site, developers will choose “greenfield” sites over redevelopment sites.

Once the demolition was complete, Knoxville would take on the next task: installing the base infrastructure to spark new development. Providing the base infrastructure is often seen as a better incentive, as it gives the community an asset rather than a handout to the developer. It also helps the developer limit their development costs and financial risk.

To help fund these activities, a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district was set up for the District. Under the agreement between the entities, the TIF district’s proceeds would be split evenly to reimburse Marion County for demolition and the City of Knoxville for infrastructure improvements.

Planning for Decades, Not a Single Project

Many communities approach sites like this with a rigid master plan and a hope that the market will buy in and cooperate with the design. However, Knoxville took a different approach.

The Veterans District Concept Plan (2024) intentionally treats redevelopment as a long-term process that will evolve over decades. Instead of dictating a specific plan with building types and land uses, the plan provides a flexible framework that allows development to shift in response to market conditions. The flexibility within the plan reflects the hard truth about rural redevelopment. It won’t happen in one fell swoop, but gradually, over time.

Overall, the concept plan was simple, only eight pages long. But it provided the basis for the redevelopment and a path forward. The resulting land use plan laid out the variety of uses allowed on the site and also provided flexibility in use types to meet market demands.

Focusing on the Housing Need

Like most cities, Knoxville has been in dire need of affordable housing. This immediate need is where the leaders at the County and the City focused the first phase of the Veterans District. The City invested about $5 million in the initial phase of infrastructure for the development. For that sum, the groundwork was laid for 34 residential lots, a new park, and trail connections linking the Veterans District to the rest of the community.

As additional plats are approved, the district will gradually expand to include more housing, recreational amenities and other community facilities, including potential school sites. It’s an incremental approach that may draw criticism as inflation impacts future phases. But it is a prudent approach with limited budgets. When redevelopment doesn’t take place as quickly as anticipated, a phased approach is also an ideal approach for public perception. Without phasing, new infrastructure can sit unused, drawing the public ire.

Origin Homes secured a workforce housing tax credit from the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA). The homebuilder was able to use this tax credit, which incentivizes developers to construct affordable homes by refunding sales, service, or use taxes paid during construction. Based on the credit requirements, residents must meet specific area median income guidelines.

Infrastructure Unlocks the Next Phase

In early 2026, Knoxville received a $750,000 federal grant to build a sanitary lift station within the Veterans District. The funding will assist in the construction of a sanitary lift station within the Veterans District. Critical to the next phase of development, this lift station will allow further expansion of the District to the west.

While lift stations rarely make for good headlines, they are often the keys to future development. Without adequate sewer capacity, large portions of the district would remain essentially undevelopable. City officials highlighted that aspect when the grant was announced. The lift station is “a critical piece of infrastructure” needed to support additional housing and revitalization as the City and County continue to build on the momentum the Veterans District has gained. (City of Knoxville, IA)

The momentum for this redevelopment project continues to build. Over 20 single-family homes have been built with a mix of entry-level workforce housing and larger, market-rate houses intermingled. Two of the multi-family buildings have been erected, one designated for 55+ residents. “We’re already further along than most people back 5 years ago thought we’d be in 10 years,” states Dan Nieland of Marion County Development.

Key Takeaways

In asking what has made this project a success so far, Mr. Nieland pointed out several factors. The first being teamwork. “Having everybody at the table and talking through these things,” he stated. “At least we’re at the same table exploring options.” There’s a noticeable common shared goal between the two entities that drives them to success.

Also, under the 28E agreement, the two entities established a smaller joint task force to handle a significant share of development-related decisions. This Joint Development Committee (JDC) consists of one member of the Knoxville City Council, one member of the Marion County Board of Supervisors, and one resident appointed jointly by both entities. The intent was to have the resident be someone knowledgeable with development/redevelopment. Having everybody at the table and talking through issues as they arise, rather than putting everything before the governing boards of both entities, has made the project flow more smoothly.

Lastly, it is important to support ideas that can result in a positive change to your community. “At least explore it. Don’t reject it out of hand,” Dan states. “Especially in today’s world, the out-of-the-box ideas seem to be what makes things happen.”

The Real Lesson for Rural Communities

The most important takeaway from Knoxville’s Veterans District isn’t the concept plan or the housing developed. It’s the combined efforts of a county and a city to create something transformational from a decaying relic from a time gone by.

Instead of waiting for a single developer to take on such a monumental undertaking, local stakeholders have put the work on their backs. They obtained control of the land, removed the obsolete structures, and commenced the phased buildout of infrastructure necessary for redevelopment.

Knoxville is a town known for sprint car racing, home to the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame. But it should be recognized for something else. The innovative desire of two government entities to undertake a massive redevelopment project.

The post Knoxville Veterans District Provides Workforce Housing appeared first on Rural Resurrection.

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Across rural America, housing storages are impacting nearly every community. With a variety of factors impacting the housing market, many communities look at the issue as an unsolvable problem. Land prices are high, construction costs are rising, and developers often don’t see a viable profit in small markets. As housing is a need, rather than a desire, it is unlikely that the market will self-correct.

The town of Pawnee City, Nebraska, decided not to let market forces control its housing needs. Instead, the community developed its own solution. Through a locally-driven housing initiative, Pawnee City created a housing fund to incentivize new home construction. A fund targeted to making it possible for working families to purchase a modern, livable home in the community.

Bridging the Affordability Gap

Through the housing fund, qualified homebuyers can receive up to $50,000 in affordability assistance. The funding is structured as a zero-percent interest loan with no monthly payments. The loan stays in place as long as the homeowner continues living in the property. In practical terms, this loan helps to close the gap between rural incomes and current construction costs. It essentially lowers the effective purchase price of a newly built home and makes financing far more realistic for working families.

The program is specifically targeted towards workforce housing, limiting the use of the funding to households earning up to 120 percent of the area median income. This keeps the fund helping those who need it the most.

How Other Rural Communities Can Do the Same

Pawnee City’s approach may look ambitious for a small town, but the basic framework is surprisingly replicable. Rural communities across the Midwest could set up similar proactive programs by focusing on a few key steps:

1. Create a Local Housing Partnership

Successful rural housing programs rarely start with a developer. They start with a group of local residents who love their community. This often includes the city, a community foundation, local banks, and economic development leaders. Nothing needs to be formally created, though it does help at times when you don’t have a community foundation to run funding applications through. This partnership can also be a source of matching funds, the Pawnee City Community Foundation (PCCF) provided the $50,000 local match for the program funding they saught.

2. Secure Seed Funding

Many states offer housing or community development grants that can help jump-start local housing programs. These funds can provide the upfront capital needed to reduce purchase prices or support affordable housing construction. The PCCF was awarded $640,000 in funding provided through the Nebraska Affordable Housing Trust Fund (NAHTF) from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (NDED).

3. Focus on the Feasibility Gap

In small towns like Pawnee City, the challenge isn’t always the demand for housing, it’s the gap between construction costs and what homebuyers can afford. Programs like down-payment assistance or deferred loans can close that gap. As mentioned earlier, the $50,000 subsidy offered in Pawnee City will be in the form of a 0%, zero payment loan for as long as you own and live in the home.

4. Start Small and Prove the Model

As a town of only 1,000 residents in rural southeastern Nebraska, Pawnee City didn’t strive to build dozens of new homes over a couple of years. They began with a handful of houses that demonstrate the concept, building confidence among lenders, builders, and potential home buyers. Get the program started and move on from there.

5. Treat Housing as Economic Development

As mentioned previously on Rural Resurrection, affordable housing is economic development. It determines whether teachers can move to town, whether healthcare workers stay, and whether those who leave to college return to raise their families. Communities need to treat housing as infrastructure, focusing on it like streets or utilities as housing is important to the economic stability of the whole community.

A Rural Model Worth Watching

Adding to your community’s affordable housing stock doesn’t have to be an impossible mission. With the right structure, a clear vision, and earnestly involved local leadership, even a town of less than 1,000 residents can incentivize new affordable home construction.

Two houses have been constructed in the community so far, with plans to build more once these new houses have been sold. Each of the houses that have been constructed sit on infill lots in the heart of the community. The community didn’t have to pave a new road connection or extend utilities to each of the lots. The new homes are also a reinvestment into an existing neighborhood, expanding the variety of ages and characteristics of the housing stock.

The takeaway from Pawnee City’s program isn’t so much about the details of the program itself. It’s more about being proactive in finding solutions to the housing problem on a local level. Gather those others who see the need and make an effort.

The post Pawnee City Didn’t Wait for Housing to Happen appeared first on Rural Resurrection.

Whereas rural America used to have an abundance of affordable housing, that is no longer one of the assets rural communities have. Although population growth in rural areas has slowed, new construction (especially of affordable units) has come to a near halt in many communities. That’s why affordable housing month is increasingly important in rural communities throughout the United States.

According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, “Fewer homes are being built per household than almost any other time in US history, and it is even worse in rural areas.” Hence, in many rural communities, stagnant economic growth is not an issue of lack of jobs, but a lack of housing for the workers.

Past Posts on Housing Affordability

Inmates Helping to Meet Affordable Housing Demand

The Newton Correctional Facility in Newton, Iowa, is helping out in its own way. They are participating in a new program called Homes for Iowa. Administered by Iowa’s Prison Industries, Homes for Iowa is working to help the affordable housing issue in its own way.

Under the program, inmates are paid $1 an hour to help build affordable homes. The low wages paid to inmates lower the overhead costs of producing housing. The houses constructed are then sold at an affordable price.

Know Your Housing Market and Its Advantages

Author, Speaker, Strong Towns creator Charles Marhon once wrote a post entitled: “Buying a house? Here’s why you should consider a small town.” He dives into the numbers of the current housing market and how we are in the midst of another “housing bubble”. Marohn provides a convincing numerical argument as to why people should buy rural.

This Strong Towns article is a good analysis as to why purchasing a house in a rural community makes monetary sense. You should know these numbers yourself. But not just the numbers in Marohn’s article. It’s more important to know the numbers in relation to your own community.

Center for Rural Multifamily Housing Preservation Created

Last March, the Housing Assistance Council (HAC) announced the creation of the Center for Rural Multifamily Housing Preservation. The cross-disciplinary initiative focuses specifically on USDA’s Section 515 in its desire to preserve rural rental housing.

No new USDA direct-financed rental housing has been developed in many years. This problem is compounded by the fact that many of the existing USDA Section 515 housing is losing their affordability provisions. The Center provides technical assistance and expertise in an effort to preserve the long-term affordability of this vital rural rental housing stock.

Check out the Center’s website for more information and to apply for technical assistance.

Don’t Stop

Housing affordability is always an issue, but it will only get worse without significant, regular attention and proactive actions. Use Housing Affordability Month to draw attention to the issue and start the conversation.

The post Affordable Housing Month 2026 appeared first on Rural Resurrection.

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After picking up my truck from the dealership, I raced up to Augusta to check the community out. I was far from disappointed by what I witnessed. Augusta is a Destination Town that has been utilizing agritourism effectively for quite a long time.

The First American Virtcultural Area (AVA)

Augusta isn’t just a wine town, it’s the birthplace of the first American Viticultural Area (AVA). The area was designated in 1980, many years before the Napa Valley earned the same designation. That early recognition created a following and interest for an area of the nation that can often get overlooked. Wineries like Mount Pleasant and Augusta Winery aren’t just selling bottles of wine. They are selling a region in central Missouri to thousands of visitors each year.

Wineries as Economic Infrastructure

Wineries are not just rural businesses, they serve as agritourism economic anchors. Weekend after weekend, Augusta’s wineries draw steady traffic from St. Louis, Kansas City, and the surrounding region. Their economic impact goes well beyond the fenceposts of the winery. The presence and traffic of a winery create a rollover impact as entrepreneurs look to capitalize on the proven and reliable traffic drawn by the wineries. Nearby retail and hospitality establishments have filled historic structures that would otherwise sit empty.

This snowball of activity eventually results in a variety of small events and festivals that pull in return visits, giving the town a fuller calendar and a stronger economy. Short visits to the wineries become weekend adventures as tourists take advantage of the Katy Trail and local bed-and-breakfast establishments for a fun getaway. This is when agritourism is the most effective, not just a single attraction, but an ecosystem that reinforces itself.

More than Just Wine

Augusta is more than just a wine connoisseur’s destination. There’s more to this community. Just a short couple of blocks from the Augusta Winery is the Walnut Street Historic District. Walnut Street includes a number of historic structures that continue to provide insight into a different time in Augusta’s past. But the buildings along this street are not just some museum of history; they have an operational economic impact.

I counted no less than 10 bed and breakfasts inviting travelers to stay awhile in unique overnight accommodations. There’s also Augusta Emporium and Coffee Shop, providing shopping and a tasty beverage outside of the nearby wine offerings. A couple of blocks away is Root Food + Wine, a high-end eatery with plenty of savory offerings. And at the edge of town sits the Botanical Tea Room, a certified therapeutic horticulture practice and culinary herb school.

There’s also a mix of art galleries and antique stores sprinkled along Walnut Street and elsewhere in the community that are sure to intrigue more than just wine connoisseurs. There’s even the Oaks Crossing Conference Center. A great little venue for bridal showers, office gatherings, and other light events.

Immersed in Bicycle Tourism

Augusta also sits along the Katy Trail, a 240-mile economic conduit that runs across Missouri. The town is roughly 17 miles from the western edge of the St. Louis suburbs. That’s a 1-1/2 hour bike ride at a relatively leisurely pace. Even casual bikers can make that work on a weekend.

The residents of Augusta are clearly aware of the potential economic impact that bicycle tourism can have. The Katy Trail is an excellent example of successful regional economic development. On top of the standard Katy Trail trailhead infrastructure, there are a number of other aspects to draw riders off the beaten path.

Near the trailhead are two businesses that serve visitors to the community, but are oriented specifically towards trail users. The Hoffman Hostel provides convenient overnight accommodations to those on two wheels or two feet who use the trail. Next to the hostel is Kickstand, a utility knife of a commercial business that offers bike repair and bike rental, as well as food and drink for travelers on the trail.

Lessons for Other Rural Communities

You don’t need an entire constellation of wineries to replicate Augusta’s success. Successful communities utilize the assets around them to encourage rollover economic impact. Rural agritourism succeeds when agriculture remains at the heart of the place, not just a fabricated backdrop for visitors. It works best when people are welcomed into a living, working ecosystem, rather than curated carbon copies that rely entirely on tourism for success.

Local governments can help by providing the best environment for agritourism to succeed and protecting what makes the area valuable to those businesses. Communities thrive the most when growth provides additional layers of opportunity rather than supporting short-term opportunities that extract value and move on.

Augusta didn’t trade farming for tourism. It has evolved smarter and quieter, adding tourism to an already strong agricultural base. The result is a strengthened local economy, added resilience, and a local identity that draws return visits and ongoing economic stability.

A Model Worth Studying

Today, Augusta stands as one of the clearest examples in the Midwest of how rural places can build durable economies by pairing agriculture with experience.

Augusta works because several aspects reinforce each other. The town sits close enough to a major metropolitan area to draw regular visitors, but not so close that it loses its rural identity or becomes a nondescript suburb. Its historic buildings and rural character have been preserved in ways that feel authentic rather than manufactured, giving visitors the sense that they’re stepping into a place with real continuity.

Entrepreneurs in Augusta have also understood the value of place. Their businesses were built around the region’s identity rather than imposed on top of it. In a time when many rural towns are searching for a single silver bullet, Augusta offers a quieter, more replicable truth: build around what already works, protect it fiercely, and let time do its job.

The post Destination Town: Augusta, Missouri appeared first on Rural Resurrection.

After months of legal battles and political debate, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has brought back the BRIC program. A total of $1 billion is available through the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program for projects that help communities prepare for natural disasters. The program supports efforts like flood control, wildfire mitigation, and infrastructure hardening, investments widely shown to reduce long-term disaster recovery costs and save lives.

The reinvestment in the program follows last year’s abrupt cancellation under the Trump administration, a move that froze billions in planned projects and drew bipartisan criticism. A federal court ultimately ordered the program restored, pushing FEMA to resume funding.

Not Without Changes

However, the program’s return comes with notable changes. The new rules that come with the program shift more responsibility to state and local governments. They also prioritize “shovel-ready” infrastructure projects and eliminate some forms of technical assistance. While these adjustments aim to streamline funding and emphasize local control, they may pose challenges for smaller, rural communities with limited capacity.

At the same time, FEMA has introduced measures intended to broaden access. They’ve set funding caps and prepared additional consideration for first-time applicants and lower-income areas. These tweaks could help address past concerns that the program favored larger or coastal states. Rural communities will have more of a fighting chance to obtain BRIC funding through the new regulations.

The Stakes are High

The stakes are high. As billion-dollar disasters become more frequent, research continues to show that proactive investment can have a significant impact. The question now is whether the revised BRIC program can strike the right balance between efficiency, equity, and local readiness in an era of increasing risk and increasing cost.

The application period is open, apply now!

The post BRIC is Back appeared first on Rural Resurrection.

This is agritourism in action, a rapidly growing sector of the rural economy. For many farmers, inviting visitors onto their land isn’t just hospitality, it’s a way to stay financially viable in an industry that can be volatile and inconsistent. But long before the first guess arrives, the question rises:

Is this actually allowed?

That’s where zoning comes in.

When Old Rules Meet New Uses

Most rural zoning codes were written at a time when farming only meant growing crops or raising livestock. The idea that a farm might host school tours, weddings, or festivals simply wasn’t on the radar. The term “agritourism” wasn’t really popular yet, and it certainly wasn’t in practice as much as is now. Unfortunately, as agritourism has grown, those previous assumptions about farms have created friction.

Farmers are sometimes surprised to learn that while agriculture is permitted in their zoning district, hosting people may not be. Parking requirements, noise limits, building codes, and event restrictions can all come into play. Many times, after money has already been spent on marketing or making improvements.

Different Communities, Different Needs

Some communities have really leaned into agritourism, updating their agricultural zoning districts to allow certain activities by right. But others are taking a more cautious approach. They require conditional or special use permits for certain uses. These processes allow local officials and neighbors to be heard. But opponents argue that they also introduce uncertainty, delays, and added costs for those farmers who want to start an agritourism business.

Increasingly, zoning codes are trying to strike a middle ground regulating agritourism based on the type of agritourism sub-use, rather than agritourism as a whole. A small farm stand selling honey doesn’t have the same impact as a pumpkin patch, and modern ordinances are starting to reflect that reality.

The Issues that may Arise

When agritourism runs into zoning troubles, it’s rarely about the agriculture itself. It’s more about what comes with the visitors that agritourism draws.

With many years of experience, a pumpkin patch may handle parking relatively well. But an inexperienced crew or a rapidly growing venue may not be able to handle the parking effectively. If this happens, you may have visitors parking along the roadside, possibly hindering access for emergency vehicles. Or they may park in areas that neighbors may not appreciate.

Then there are motorcoaches and RVs. Many tourists and RV enthusiasts tour the country visiting agritourism sites and other points of interest, but is there enough stable parking for their large load? Imagine one of those large motorcoaches trying to get into a parking area and going through a level B road or an embargoed bridge!  Can your roads accommodate the turning radii of these massive vehicles as well? 

Noise is often an issue, as many of these venues bring in bands or play music that increases the noise level to a point that annoys neighbors for miles. Sometimes that band is part of a special event that lets out after the end of the concert. Do local police and/or the sheriff need to be notified ahead of time? Is there a need for security?

Another recurring issue is whether agritourism must remain “accessory” to farming. Some zoning ordinances require proof that the land is still actively farmed, raising practical questions about how success is measured. If the tourism-related income surpasses crop sales, does the use stop being agricultural?

These issues and gray areas are where conflicts tend to arise.

Clarity in Zoning

Even with the headaches that can come from agritourism, the good that comes from it often well outweighs the bad when they are handled well. So what can be done to support agritourism? There is a limited number of things that a community can do to promote and invigorate interest in agritourism. But the actions you can do can spark some interest by bringing attention to it. 

Define What You Want

First, you need to define agritourism. Many overlook the importance of definitions. At least until you are taken to court. Definitions are one of the key foundations of any successful zoning ordinance. The same goes for agritourism.

“…any activity incidental to the operation of a farm that brings members of the public to the farm for educational, recreational, or retail purposes.”

  – American Planning Association (APA)

Note that this is a general definition. Through the resources available from the American Planning Association’s (APA) Agritourism Knowledgebase, additional definitions of the term are available. Pick which one fits your community.

Define Sub-uses

There’s also some other possible definitions that are related that you should look into. Some of these, you may be willing to rely on the commonly accepted definition for these terms. But what is that definition? Google definition of value-added agricultural product, you can get multiple definitions from multiple “expert” sites. Attorneys like to find the definition that they like if your regulations get challenged and there’s no definition specific to that sub-use. Here are a few sub-uses and other terms you should consider defining:

• Farmer’s Market/Roadside Stand
• U-Pick
• Shooting Preserve or Game Farming
• Winery
• Cider Mill
• Christmas Tree Farm
• Pumpkin Patch
• Agricultural Products
• Value-Added Agricultural Product
• Non-Agriculturally Related Products
• Seasonal

Different Ways to Implement for Different Communities

There’s four main ways to implement agritourism into your regulations:

• Use Permitted Outright in an Existing Zoning District
• Listed as a Conditional Use/Special Use in an Existing Zoning District
• Overlay Zoning District
• Stand-Alone Zoning District

The selection of which one is best for you is based on your level of comfort with agritourism as a whole and if you are concerned of the impact of an agritourism use  on its neighbors.

Allowing the uses outright is the fastest path to kick-starting agritourism in your area. But it also gives you the least amount of control to protect the surrounding landowners and your community.

If you’re going to allow it outright, it is recommended to add some Supplemental Use Regulations into your zoning ordinance in relation to Agritourism. With supplemental use regulations, you can set forth constraints in relation to maximum facility sizes, parking, noise, nuisances, hours of operation, signage, and other potential aspects that could have an impact on your community. You may not be able to deal with a specific issue due to the specific type of business or location, but most of the general problematic aspects of agritourism can be handled through supplemental regulations.

Conditional Use Permits provide the best controls because you can lay out specific conditions for each use. If the expectations are written specific and clear for those involved then many issues can be avoided. Also, the problems that do arise can be remedied through the enforcement of the permit.

In most states, conditional use permits/special use permits often require public hearings as part of the approval process. So it is also a good time for public input. To address the neighbors’ concerns before the use is approved.

Why this Matters

When zoning is clear, predictable, and based on standards used elsewhere, potential agritourism owners can move forward with their dreams with confidence. Communities are able to add a business, add an amenity, without adding frustration.

Agritourism works best when the rules acknowledge that farms can be places of production and connection. Proper zoning balance doesn’t just protect rural character, it helps ensure that farms remain part of the rural landscape for generations to come.

The post Zoning for Agritourism: Why Rules Matter appeared first on Rural Resurrection.

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The post Grant Spotlight: T-Mobile Hometown Grants appeared first on Rural Resurrection.