Livestock Siting Overview

State law sets forth many requirements for choosing a site for a new livestock barn. These requirements include setbacks from residences, churches, schools, businesses and public use areas, including cemeteries. Some of the water quality requirements include a soils and bedrock depth investigation, tile line exploration, and setbacks from streams, rivers, designated wetlands, and wells. Most of these requirements also apply to the growth of an existing farm.

County governments have a role in the state decision-making process on a new construction permit for a livestock barn. Counties have a choice of how and whether they participate in the state review process, including a choice of whether or not to adopt a “construction evaluation ...