In a recent government meeting in Howard County, Maryland, discussions centered around the regulations governing agritourism permits and their implications for private events. Dr. Sara Via provided insights into the definitions and limitations of agritourism activities as outlined in local zoning regulations.

Dr. Via explained that agritourism enterprises allow for various activities on farms, including recreational and educational events. These can involve invited groups and include facilities for picnics and parties. However, she noted that while there is no cap on the number of visitors for these activities, there are restrictions on the number of festival-like events that can be hosted, limited to four per year or a total of eight days.

The conversation also touched on the distinction between agritourism permits and limited social assembly permits. Limited social assemblies cover private functions such as weddings and parties, but Dr. Via clarified that agritourism and limited social assembly are separate categories. This means that events categorized under agritourism do not necessarily fall under the limited social assembly regulations.

The Department of Planning and Zoning (DPZ) evaluates activities based on their compliance with the agritourism permit during the application phase. They do not assess whether these activities might also qualify as limited social assemblies during investigations of potential violations. Dr. Via emphasized that while some events may overlap between the two categories, significant events like weddings are not typically considered incidental to agritourism.

The meeting highlighted the complexities of zoning regulations and the need for clarity in how different types of events are categorized. As agritourism continues to grow in popularity, understanding these distinctions will be crucial for both property owners and local authorities.