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Clay County adopts revised CAFO/AFO rules after months of hearings
Summary
After months of public testimony and technical review, the Clay County Commission adopted Ordinance #2017‑01 revising the zoning code’s CAFO/AFO definitions, thresholds and aquifer protections. The ordinance change followed contested hearings where residents raised water‑quality and setback concerns and farmers cited economic viability.
After extensive public hearings between spring and late summer 2017, the Clay County Commission adopted Ordinance #2017‑01, amending the county zoning code’s CAFO and AFO provisions to update definitions, conditional‑use procedures, and aquifer/overlay protections. The board recorded a roll‑call adoption with all five commissioners voting aye.
The revision process included multiple informational meetings, technical consultation with the South Eastern Council of Governments (SECOG) and the state agencies referenced in the hearing record, and dozens of public comments. Opponents cited public‑health and water‑quality risks and urged smaller dairy thresholds and larger setbacks; proponents and several farmers argued that higher thresholds and clarified procedures were necessary for economic viability. The adopted ordinance retains aquifer protection and site‑specific conditional use review while updating permitting steps and thresholds for dairy and other confined livestock units.
