A Baltimore Sun article (2016-08-11) reported that the Somerset County Board of County Commissioners have enacted stronger setback and space rules for poultry houses after local residents expressed concerns over noise and smells. From the article:
County Commissioners on Tuesday adopted an ordinance that calls for the minimum space between chicken houses and residences to be doubled from 200 feet to 400 feet.
The ordinance also calls for buffers, such as plants, around poultry houses to further block the view, sediment in the air, and odor. …Bill Satterfield with Delmarva Poultry Industry, the region’s trade group, said he thinks the new rules are “reasonable” and “workable.”
The article also noted that the new requirements will take place October 1.
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