Cambria Residents Fight Proposal that Raises Farm Size Requirement, Allows 24/7 Property Access to Inspectors Without Notice

A sweeping package of zoning amendments in the Town of Cambria is facing strong resistance from residents who say the proposed rules would erode property rights, burden small farms, and grant government officials unprecedented authority to enter private land at any time.

The proposed overhaul, which bundles more than 60 amendments into two new laws, is being promoted by town officials as a long-overdue modernization of local code. However, farmers, homeowners, and business owners warn the changes would have far-reaching consequences, particularly for agriculture and rural tourism - two pillars of the local economy.

Among the most controversial provisions is a clause that would authorize the town’s building inspector to access private property 24 hours a day, seven days a week, without prior notice. Opponents say this violates constitutional protections against unreasonable searches, opening the door to abuse and unnecessary intrusion.

Other proposed measures include raising the minimum size of land required to qualify as a farm from five acres to seven, a move residents argue is arbitrary, unnecessary, and inconsistent with state agricultural law. Many fear it could disqualify smaller operations from certain benefits or limit opportunities for new farmers to start up in the community.

Critics also point to steep fines and even potential jail sentences for relatively minor infractions, such as failing to mow grass or exceeding noise limits. While town leaders insist such penalties are rarely enforced, opponents question why they are being preserved in the law at all, noting that the proposed language could allow fines of hundreds of dollars and up to 15 days in jail for each individual offense.

The planned code revisions would also affect rules for temporary farm stands, parking requirements, and a range of other property uses, prompting concerns that they could add red tape and make compliance more difficult for small businesses.

Another proposed measure would alter the town’s regulation for temporary farm stands, which are often used by small farmers to sell produce directly to the public. While the existing code requires stands to be set at least 20 feet from the edge of a street or highway right-of-way, the updated language preserves that distance but folds it into a broader set of structural and access requirements tied to driveway and parking compliance.

Farmers worry that the changes, though subtle on paper, could give the town more latitude to enforce stricter interpretations, potentially limiting where stands can be placed along rural roads. They fear a possible shift could reduce roadside visibility, discourage impulse purchases, and cut into already thin profit margins.

Public outcry over the amendments have already delayed a vote once. Residents are urging the town board to create a joint committee of farmers and local officials to review the proposals line-by-line before making changes.

Many say they support updating outdated rules, but not in a way that sacrifices personal freedoms, private property rights, or the viability of small-scale farming.

Cambria Residents Fight Proposal that Raises Farm Size Requirement, Allows 24/7 Property Access to Inspectors Without Notice