Fauquier Cites Farmer for Farming
If you own a farm here in Fauquier you are “special”. If you own a farm here in Fauquier you are now, after July 14, 2011, being treated in a “special” way. You are now so “special” that if you have a working farm that is being farmed by you to make a living, before you can sell a tomato from your garden or an egg from your chicken or a bale of hay from your field over your fence, you must obtain an Administrative Special Permit. Without this special permit you run the risk if being cited and fined up to $5,000.00 for that tomato sale. This is what makes you so “special” here in the beautiful farming country of Fauquier.
Last Thursday the Fauquier County Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) conducted a hearing to enforce several “violations” committed by a farm in Paris Virginia. If you are a farmer, if you are attempting to make a living from your farm and if you conduct retail sales or tours on your own farm, this is a hearing that you need to be aware of. It would appear farmer-friendly Fauquier ain’t so friendly anymore.
Harold
ACGR's "News with Attitude" 
The supreme court of Virginia will. Back the farms on this…Blanton v. Amelia County said that a locality may not forbid what the commonwealth has expressly authorized, allowed, or permitted. This zoning atrocity violates title 3.2 in every sense of the written words. Zoning was a great concept, but it is an antique system, and subject to interpretation upon enforcement. As long as the farm collects the sales taxes as required, who cares?