Texas Right to Farm law protects ag operations in Lavaca County

Texas passed a Right to Farm law in 1981. It says that an agricultural operation (farming, ranching, or livestock) cannot be shut down by a nuisance lawsuit just because new neighbors moved in nearby and don't like the smells, sounds, or dust. The law applies statewide, including Lavaca County.

This matters if you are buying land near an existing farm or feedlot. The farm was likely there first. You would have a hard time winning a nuisance case against it. If you are a farmer, the law gives you protection against complaints from new development encroaching on your operation. The full text of the statute is in the Texas Agriculture Code, Chapter 251.