S509 - NC Agriculture and Forestry Act

• Establishes that agricultural and forestry operations cannot be deemed a nuisance due to changed local conditions if the operation has been in operation for more than one year, was not a nuisance when it began, and has not undergone fundamental changes.

• Specifies that changes in ownership, size, temporary cessation of farming, participation in government agricultural programs, employment of new technology, and changes in product type do not constitute fundamental changes to an operation.

• Exempts agricultural and forestry operations from being considered nuisances when local ordinances exist that would otherwise classify them as such, except in cases of negligent or improper operation.

• Allows prevailing defendants in civil nuisance actions against agricultural or forestry operations to recover court-determined costs and reasonable attorneys' fees.

• Removes the exclusion of sawmill operations from the definition of forestry operations and becomes effective July 1, 2013.