Navigating Rural Zoning and Land Use Restrictions

RFD-TV farm legal expert Roger McEowen digs into the details on how to make your rural property dreams a reality — and avoid a living nightmare.

HAYS, KANSAS (RFD-TV) — Rural property owners often face unique challenges when it comes to zoning and land use restrictions. These regulations can be difficult to navigate, making it essential for landowners to understand their rights and responsibilities before making decisions about their property.

RFD-TV farm legal expert Roger McEowen with the Washburn School of Law joined RFD-TV to share insights on how farmers and landowners can better manage zoning concerns and ensure they’re using their property as intended.

In his interview, McEowen discussed why zoning is such an essential topic for rural America and outlined some of the key hurdles producers face. He explained the most common types of rural zoning and offered practical advice on how to verify zoning and use restrictions before purchasing or developing property.

McEowen also shared when it might make sense to consider rezoning a property to fit a specific use, and emphasized the importance of researching local zoning laws as the first step in any land-use decision.

Firm to Farm: Acreage Anxiety—How Zoning Issues Can Limit Your Rural Property Dreams

Related Stories: Firm to Farm
Did the Kansas Court of Appeals Go Too Far in Clark v. McKee?
Balancing Regulatory Compliance and Economic Viability
The court’s decision to deny the defendant’s motion to exclude the expert’s testimony serves as a sharp reminder of the high burden required to exclude expert testimony, particularly in the agricultural context, where “experience” is often the currency of reliability.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Lewis Williamson, from HTS Commodities, joined us to share insights on the farm economy from producers in the field.
Key signs of the U.S. beef herd’s recovery are improved pasture conditions, lower feed costs, and increased regulatory alignment and support for producers to implement targeted grazing practices.
Dr. Mark Svoboda with the National Drought Mitigation Center discusses a new global drought report and resources to help operations increase drought resilience.
Treat financial stress as a health risk—know the warning signs, normalize conversations, and connect farm families to local and national support early.
Congress has just over a month of working days left for the year. Plan for uneven USDA service until funding is restored, and closely monitor Farm Bill talks, as avoiding Permanent Law before January 1 is the single biggest risk to markets and milk prices.
Mexico’s tougher, two-step treatment and added checkpoints are catching cases before they can spread—good news for producers near the border.