Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

Urban Agriculture Business Information Bundle

Relevant Legislation and Regulations

Urban agriculture can provide many benefits to cities, and producing fruits and vegetables within cities raises few concerns. However, raising animals within cities has the potential to create public health and nuisance issues. For that reason, some municipalities have chosen to enact livestock bylaws.

There are also a number of provincial and federal laws and regulations that govern agriculture in general, as listed below.

For Municipalities

OMAFRA's Urban Agriculture: Livestock and Poultry provides an overview of issues municipalities should be aware of when considering developing bylaws around keeping livestock or poultry.

For regulations on selling what you produce, see "Selling Your Products".

For Agricultural Operations

If your operation is considered agricultural, there are also provincial and federal regulations to consider, including:

• The Agricultural Products Act
• The Environmental Protection Act
• The Fertilizers Act
• The Nutrient Management Act
• The Pesticides Act
• The Plant Diseases Act
• The Plant Protection Act
• The Seeds Act
• The Weed Control Act (for further information, see OMAFRA's Weeds Act - Frequently Asked Questions)

FarmStart offers an overview of regulations governing small farms.