Lincoln Municipal Code Ch. 18.29 A-D Agricultural District

Well-located and well-composed agricultural land is a major natural resource that cannot be made nor increased. This type of land is the source of essential food stuffs and fibers. An important aspect to this resource are lands within the city that are economically restricted to grazing and animal husbandry due to location, geological formation and chemical/organic composition. It is important to preserve both productive agricultural lands and grazing lands. The purpose, therefore, of this classification is to accomplish this objective by holding to high minimum area standards, permitting only such uses as are related to agricultural production or are similar thereto and by discouraging the encroachment of urban type development and especially that which would be marginal in character and disruptive of sound long range planning and economic factors. Reasonable consideration, however, shall be given by the city to rezoning of land in this classification at such time as the orderly development of the city and the general welfare necessitate development of portions of this land for residential and related uses.

(Ord. 555B §1(part), 1991)

The following uses are permitted in the (A-D) agricultural district:

(1) One single-family residence and accessory buildings;

(2) ADUs as regulated by Chapter 18.37;

(3) Agricultural corps and open field grazing;

(4) Livestock, poultry and small animals provided:

a. Any building, pen, cage aviary, animal run or area used to contain, house, confine or feed such animals or fowl shall not be located closer than 75 feet to any boundary property line of the premises, or any building containing a dwelling unit on the same premises,

b. Any open-air storage of hay, straw, shavings or similar organic materials shall maintain a distance of not less than 35 feet from any boundary property line, and a distance of not less than 45 feet from any building containing a dwelling unit or accessory living quarters on the same premises;

(5) Greenhouses, when incidental to agricultural uses on premises;

(6) Marketing of products on the premises, provided:

a. Only one stand shall be permitted on the premises and such stand shall contain not more than 500 square feet of floor area, and shall not be located in any required yard or open space on the premises;

(7) Pasturing and grazing;

(8) Public stables and riding academies provided:

a. Any stable or barn shall not be located closer than 75 feet to any boundary property line, or to any building containing a dwelling unit on the same premises,

b. Any corrals, exercise yards or rings shall maintain a distance of not less than 45 feet from any building containing a dwelling unit on the same premises,

c. Any open-air storage of hay, straw, shavings or similar materials shall maintain a distance of not less than 35 feet from any boundary property line, and a distance of not less than 45 feet from any building containing a dwelling unit or accessory living quarters on the same premises.

(9) Signs as permitted by Title 16.

(Ord. No. 1080B, § 5(5.8A), 7-23-2024; Ord. No. 910B, § 2, 1-12-2016; Ord. 555B §1(part), 1991)

The following uses are permitted in the agricultural district subject to issuance of a conditional use permit by the planning commission:

(1) Dairies;

(2) Churches;

(3) Country clubs and golf courses;

(4) Kennels;

(5) Animal hospitals or clinics.

(Ord. 555B §1(part), 1991)

Emergency Generator. An emergency generator defined as a fixed device on a permanently mounted stand-by unit or combination of permanently mounted stand-by units, powered by natural gas for the purpose of temporarily supplying electricity for human occupancy in residential or accessory buildings that operates automatically as [a] secondary source of electrical power shall be permitted in accordance with the following requirements:

(1) An emergency generator shall be used only during periods of power outages or for periodic testing and necessary maintenance operation and shall not be used to sell power back to a power company or for use by power customers during periods of peak demand.

(2) Emergency generators shall be fueled by natural gas.

(3) Emergency generators are not permitted on the roof of a building.

(4) No emergency generator shall be installed prior to the issuance of a building permit.

(5) Placement of an emergency generator shall be permitted a minimum five feet from any building or openable window and shall maintain three-feet of clearance from the generator and the adjacent property line.

(6) Emergency generators are exempt from noise standards during periods of electrical power outages, including maintenance and periodic testing.

(7) The operating specifications of an emergency generator for the purposes of providing power during power outages shall not exceed noise levels of 60 dBA CNEL and interior noise levels of 45 dBA CNEL.

Exception: Fuel powered portable emergency generators are permitted within the residential zone when providing temporary power to energize domestic appliances and tools. Portable generators shall not be connected to an electrical main or sub panel and not exceed the established noise standards as detailed in this provision.

Solar Energy System. A solar energy system as defined in section 15.05.020A. shall be permitted if the solar energy system meets all of the following conditions:

(1) The solar energy system shall be designed for the purpose of reducing on-site energy needs and shall be accessory to and incorporated into the development of an authorized use of the property.

(2) The solar energy system shall only be permitted on the roof of a permitted principle structure or in the rear and side yard of the lot adjacent to a permitted structure.

(3) The solar energy system shall conform to all set back requirements for the district in which the solar energy system is located unless, the community development director or his designee identifies a safety concern requiring placement within the setback.

(4) The solar energy system shall be designed to absorb light, have minimal glint and glare and to scatter the reflected light.

(Ord. No. 1013B, § 7, 6-9-2020; Ord. No. 1001B, § 7, 11-12-2019; Ord. No. 1000B, § 7, 10-8-2019; Ord. No. 996B, § 7, 8-13-2019; Ord. No. 923B, § 9, 9-27-2016)

The maximum height for buildings and structures in the agricultural district shall be 40 feet, except that barns and other specialized structures used for agricultural purposes may exceed the height limit provided such height will not conflict with other provisions of the zoning code.

(Ord. 555B §1(part), 1991)

The minimum area for each lot in the agricultural district shall be as follows: ten acres.

(Ord. 555B §1(part), 1991)

The minimum lot width for each lot in the agricultural district shall be not less than 300 feet.

(Ord. 555B §1(part), 1991)

No building or structure in the agricultural district shall, after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter, be erected or enlarged unless the following yards are provided and maintained:

(1) Front Yard. There shall be a front yard of not less than 35 feet.

(2) Any building or structure, whether it be a main building or structure, or whether it be an accessory building or structure, shall observe a distance of not less than ten feet from any side or rear property line. Where a greater distance is required as a condition to the establishment of permitted building or use, such greater distance shall prevail.

(3) The distance between a building containing a dwelling unit and any other buildings or structures on the same lot shall be not less than 20 feet. Where a greater distance is required as a condition to the establishment of a permitted use, such greater distance shall prevail.

(4) Minimum district depth: 100 feet.

(Ord. 555B §1(part), 1991)