Sec.
19a-341. Agricultural or farming operation not deemed a nuisance;
exceptions. Spring or well water collection operation not deemed a nuisance. (a) Notwithstanding any general statute or municipal
ordinance or regulation pertaining to nuisances to the contrary, no
agricultural or farming operation, place, establishment or facility, or any of
its appurtenances, or the operation thereof, shall be deemed to constitute a
nuisance, either public or private, due to alleged objectionable (1) odor from
livestock, manure, fertilizer or feed, (2) noise from livestock or farm
equipment used in normal, generally acceptable farming procedures, (3) dust
created during plowing or cultivation operations, (4) use of chemicals,
provided such chemicals and the method of their application conform to
practices approved by the Commissioner of Environmental Protection or, where
applicable, the Commissioner of Public Health, or (5) water pollution from
livestock or crop production activities, except the pollution of public or private
drinking water supplies, provided such activities conform to acceptable
management practices for pollution control approved by the Commissioner of
Environmental Protection; provided such agricultural or farming operation,
place, establishment or facility has been in operation for one year or more and
has not been substantially changed, and such operation follows generally
accepted agricultural practices. Inspection and approval of the agricultural or
farming operation, place, establishment or facility by the Commissioner of
Agriculture or his designee shall be prima facie evidence that such operation
follows generally accepted agricultural practices.
(b) Notwithstanding any general statute or
municipal ordinance or regulation pertaining to nuisances, no operation to
collect spring water or well water, as defined in section 21a-150, shall be
deemed to constitute a nuisance, either public or private, due to alleged
objectionable noise from equipment used in such operation provided the
operation (1) conforms to generally accepted practices for the collection of
spring water or well water, (2) has received all approvals or permits required
by law, and (3) complies with the local zoning authority's time, place and
manner restrictions on operations to collect spring water or well water.
(c) The provisions of this section shall
not apply whenever a nuisance results from negligence or wilful or reckless
misconduct in the operation of any such agricultural or farming operation,
place, establishment or facility, or any of its appurtenances.
(P.A. 81-226;
P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A.
97-11, S. 53, 65; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 146(e); P.A. 04-189, S. 1.)
History: P.A.
93-381 replaced commissioner of health services with commissioner of public
health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced
Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with
Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; June 18
Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-11 added new Subsec. (b) re
collection of spring or well water and redesignated existing Subsec. (b) as Subsec. (c), effective July 1, 1997; June 30 Sp. Sess.
P.A. 03-6 replaced Commissioner of Agriculture with Commissioner of Agriculture
and Consumer Protection, effective July 1, 2004; P.A. 04-189 repealed Sec. 146
of June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, thereby reversing the merger of the Departments
of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, effective June 1, 2004.
Elements of
common law private nuisance claim discussed. 259 C. 345.