2006 Minnesota Code
Chapters 473 - 473I Metropolitan Area
Chapter 473H Metropolitan Agricultural Preserves
Section 473H.17 LAND USE.

473H.17 LAND USE.
Subdivision 1. For agricultural production. Land within an agricultural preserve shall be
maintained for agricultural production. The average maximum density of residential structures
within an agricultural preserve shall not exceed one unit per 40 acres. The location of any new
structure shall conform to locally applicable zoning regulations. Commercial and industrial uses
shall not be permitted except as provided in subdivision 2 after the user is issued a permit by the
authority. The authority shall be responsible for enforcing this section.
Subd. 1a. Allowed commercial and industrial operations. (a) Commercial and industrial
operations are not allowed on land within an agricultural preserve except:
(1) small on-farm commercial or industrial operations normally associated with and
important to farming in the agricultural preserve area;
(2) storage use of existing farm buildings that does not disrupt the integrity of the agricultural
preserve; and
(3) small commercial use of existing farm buildings for trades not disruptive to the integrity
of the agricultural preserve such as a carpentry shop, small scale mechanics shop, and similar
activities that a farm operator might conduct.
(b) "Existing" in paragraph (a), clauses (2) and (3), means existing on August 1, 1987.
Subd. 2. Density restriction after subdivision. When a separate parcel is created for a
residential structure, commercial, or industrial use permitted under subdivision 1, the parcel shall
cease to be an agricultural preserve unless the eligibility requirements of section 473H.03 are met.
However, the separate parcel shall remain under the maximum residential density restrictions in
effect for the original preserve at the time it was placed into the preserve until the agricultural
preserve status for the original parcel ends.
History: 1980 c 566 s 17; 1987 c 396 art 7 s 5-7