Relevant section of the code: https://imgur.com/a/Imqb178
Details: we’re looking at buying a property (13 acres) to have a homestead / hobby farm. It’s an 1880s house and barn, 8 acres of the existing land has been farmed in corn up until the last year, used to be a dairy farm but no animals in at least the last 20 years. I was looking at the Rural zoning code that it falls under to see if there are limits on animals, and I see this list. So, only 1 permitted usage, you can have “Agriculture” defined as field crops, “Animal Husbandry” defined as raising animals for profit (no limit in the code but you need at least 10 acres, which is fine) or a “Single Family detached dwelling” which is a house. But you can’t have more than 1 on the lot??? So you can’t have row crops and cows grazing on a lot? You can’t have a house and field crops? By that definition the property is already out of code because it has agriculture and a house.
I have been trying to get clarification from the zoning officer, but she’s very terse and unhelpful. When I asked her if I can have more than 1 use from the list she said I can request a variance from the zoning board.
Is this just an example of poorly written zoning code? I can’t imagine anyone in this rural district is actually following this? But it’s stressing me out because I don’t want to buy the place if I can’t legally have animals on it.