Vermont H 94: An act relating to events at accessory on-farm businesses

Bill Text

BILL AS INTRODUCED H.94
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VT LEG #379497 v.1
H.94 1
Introduced by Representatives Harrison of Chittenden, Boyden of Cambridge, 2
Casey of Montpelier, Logan of Burlington, McCann of 3
Montpelier, O'Brien of Tunbridge, Sibilia of Dover, and 4
Surprenant of Barnard 5
Referred to Committee on 6
Date: 7
Subject: Conservation and development; land use; agriculture; Act 250; 8
accessory on-farm business 9
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to include 10
weddings and concerts as events that can be part of an accessory on-farm 11
business. It would also exempt accessory on-farm business events from 12
needing an Act 250 permit if the municipality has adopted performance 13
standards and site plan review. 14
An act relating to events at accessory on-farm businesses 15
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 16
Sec. 1. 24 V.S.A. § 4412(11) is amended to read: 17
(11) Accessory on-farm businesses. No bylaw shall have the effect of 18
prohibiting an accessory on-farm business at the same location as a farm. 19
(A) Definitions. As used in this subdivision (11): 20

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VT LEG #379497 v.1
(i) “Accessory on-farm business” means activity on a farm, the 1
revenues of which may exceed the revenues of the farming operation, and 2
comprises one or both of the following: 3
(I) The storage, preparation, processing, and sale of qualifying 4
products, provided that the qualifying products are produced on a farm; the 5
sale of products that name, describe, or promote the farm or accessory on-farm 6
business, including merchandise or apparel that features the farm or accessory 7
on-farm business; or the sale of bread or baked goods. 8
(II) Educational, recreational, or social events that feature 9
agricultural practices or qualifying products, or both. Such events may include 10
tours of the farm, farm stays, tastings and, meals, weddings, and concerts 11
featuring qualifying products, and classes or exhibits in the preparation, 12
processing, or harvesting of qualifying products. As used in this subdivision 13
(II), “farm stay” means a paid, overnight guest accommodation on a farm for 14
the purpose of participating in educational, recreational, or social activities on 15
the farm that feature agricultural practices or qualifying products, or both. A 16
farm stay includes the option for guests to participate in such activities. 17
* * * 18
Sec. 2. 10 V.S.A. § 6081(t) is amended to read: 19
(t) No permit or permit amendment is required for the construction of 20
improvements for an accessory on-farm business for the storage or sale of 21

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VT LEG #379497 v.1
qualifying products or the other eligible enumerated products as defined in 1
24 V.S.A. § 4412(11)(A)(i)(I). No permit or permit amendment is required for 2
the construction of improvements for an accessory on-farm business for the 3
preparation or processing of qualifying products as defined in 24 V.S.A. 4
§ 4412(11)(A)(i)(I), provided that more than 50 percent of the total annual 5
sales of the prepared or processed qualifying products come from products 6
produced on the farm where the business is located. This subsection shall not 7
apply to No permit or permit amendment is required for the construction of 8
improvements related to hosting events or farm stays as part of an accessory 9
on-farm business as defined in 24 V.S.A. § 4412(11)(A)(i)(II) if the farm is 10
located in a municipality that has adopted performance standards and site plan 11
review. 12
Sec. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE 13
This act shall take effect on July 1, 2025. 14