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Livingston County Commissioners have revised the county’s health ordinance dealing with concentrated animal farming operations (CAFOs). The revised document replaces a 1997 version and includes, in part, changes in setback requirements, updates from the Department of Natural Resources, an increased administrative fee schedule and matters regarding irrevocable lines of credit.

Additionally, the new ordinance prohibits development of CAFOs in designated floodplain areas. It also ensures that CAFOs would not be placed near occupied dwellings (include schools and churches) and not near populated areas which would include locations within two miles of an incorporated area or within one mile of a populated area.

Administrative fees — the fees associated with the processing of the application — were increased from $1,500 to $2,500 — for Class 2 operations. Class 2 operations would include farms with between 300 and 1,000 animal units. In the case of hogs, that number would be between 750 and 2,499.

The revision is a compromise between the county government and county residents who sought a stricter health ordinance, according to Livingston County Commissioner Eva Danner. "This is a health ordinance and we want to make sure that our environment is protected as well as the health of our residents." The commission approved the ordinance June 9.

Health Ordinance 97-3 as Amended 06 09 09 (178KB PDF)