Urban agriculture in the city of Chicago has been on the rise. Mayor Richard Daley proposed an ordinance to regulate the growing number of urban farms to be considered by the City Council. While proponents of the ordinance claim it will help facilitate urban agriculture, some urban farmers are concerned that it will impair their agricultural activities within the city.
The Department of Zoning and Land Use Planning created the ordinance, which includes requirements for fencing, landscaping, size of plots, and processing, which would apply to commercial plots as well as nonprofit farms and community gardens. Many current projects within Chicago exceed these limitations and would potentially be shut down if the new rules were put into place. There is also the possibility that preexisting gardens could be grandfathered in even if they violate the provisions.
