Legislative committee considers narrowing Act 250 oversight for accessory on‑farm events

A legislative committee reviewed proposed language to limit when Vermont's Act 250 applies to accessory on‑farm businesses, including farm events and farm stays, legislative counsel Ellen Kozowski told members.

Kozowski told the committee she had prepared “a couple of options to rewrite the language slightly” and walked members through how the 2018 municipal zoning provision for accessory on‑farm businesses and the Act 250 statutory scheme interact.

The issue stems from a 2018 amendment to the municipal zoning statute (24 V.S.A. §4412) that created the accessory on‑farm business category so towns could not prohibit certain farm businesses in zoning; towns may still apply a limited site‑plan review focused on lighting, parking and signage. Act 250, the state land‑use permitting law, separately exempts farming but treats commercial…