Bills Ban Requiring Permits for Farmers to do Work on own Land

Counties couldn’t force farmers to get a permit and pay a fee to do work on their own land under a bill that’s cleared the Michigan House.

That work includes clearing fence rows, installing irrigation or uprooting trees – basically anything that disturbs the soil that isn’t plowing or tilling.

State Representative Brett Roberts is sponsoring the bill and says farmers shouldn’t have to cut through red tape to perform regular maintenance on their property.

Roberts doesn’t know of any counties now that are requiring farmers to get a permit but he knows of a few who want to put a permit process in place.

The legislation now moves to the Michigan Senate.