4/10 Do you raise rabbits, bees, or mushrooms on less than 1 acre?

Rural Vermont is working with representatives from NOFA-VT, the Vermont Farm Bureau, Agri-Mark, Cabot, the Vermont Dairy Producers Alliance, the Vermont Association of Conservation Districts, the Connecticut River Watershed Farmers Alliance, Farm to Plate, and the Land Access and Opportunity Board in an attempt to restore the municipal exemption for farming this legislative session. As of the 2025 Vermont Supreme Court decision, municipalities can now regulate farms (outside of water quality) and decide where farming is allowed.

Two bills address this issue, H.941 and S.323. Our coalition is still working towards a compromise between the two versions of the bill that protects farmers, respects communities, safeguards water quality, and builds a stronger, more resilient food system for Vermont’s future. One key issue is that protections for farms under 1 acre — and especially certain types of agriculture—are not guaranteed yet.

There’s been a lot of debate around small-scale livestock, and while that’s being pushed to a study committee, we want to make sure that activities like raising rabbits, beekeeping, and mushroom cultivation are clearly protected from local zoning restrictions. That’s why your voice is really important right now- we are looking for testimony and written support!
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