Oakland Residents Discuss Requirement of Conditional Use Permits for Urban Agriculture

The strict regulations instituted by the Oakland zoning board this March caused much contention amongst local residents. Under the new policy, homeowners owning livestock or planting vegetable gardens would be forced to purchase costly Oakland conditional use permits.

At last week’s urban farming community meeting; residents were given an opportunity to voice their angst over the current city policy and to give suggestions for a more reasonable way of regulating urban agriculture.

The ideas ranged from lowering the cost of the Oakland business permit to totally doing away with the need of a city permit by urban agriculture developers. Oakland Local quotes one resident suggesting, "Urban farmers should pay a nominal yearly fee, perhaps $100 per participating farm, to fund animal husbandry inspections."

City officials plan on coming up with their own proposal after reviewing the ideas given by residents and putting the new regulations up for public approval later on this year.

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