POLICY DATABASE
Policy Summary

This law regulates operation, permitting and fees for community gardens. Specific issues addressed include: noises and odors; and building, electrical, and other codes. Community gardens may only be operated by a nonprofit organization, church, neighborhood association, school district, or government entity. An annual permit is required, unless the garden is an accessory use to a principal use that is permitted by city law.

Background Information

State Texas
Jurisdiction Name Waco
Jurisdiction Type City,
Population Size 50,000-200,000
Legal Strategies
  • Expressly allows something
  • Requires something, sets standards
Reach Community-wide
Food System Category Grow; Get;
Evidence for Health

This policy may correspond to diet-related strategies identified by the County Health Rankings’ What Works for Health tool, including:

For research on the potential effectiveness, please review the category links above.

We understand that this information is not comprehensive. It also does not include other important forms of evidence such as community members’ lived experiences and practice-based evidence.

Policy Details

Refers to priority populations?
No

Health-related goal?
No

Environmental goal?
No

Economic goal?
No

Includes findings?
No

Has a stated intent or purpose?
Yes

"The purpose of the regulations set forth in this article is to transform vacant land into a productive and valuable community asset in the form of a community garden that will produce food, flowers, and/or other vegetation." §13-453.

Includes definitions?
Yes

§13-454.

Addresses implementation?
Yes

Annual permit application and review policies are addressed, in addition to details regarding fee-setting. §§ 13-456, 458.

Enforcement provisions?
Yes

"The city may immediately revoke or suspend the permit, or deny either the issuance or renewal thereof." § 13-462.

Evaluation component?
No

Requires extra investment?
No

Code context and ordinance history

Sections 13-453 to 13-463 are located in Chapter 13 - Licenses, Permits and Business Regulations, / Article XII. - Community Gardens. History: Ord. No. 2013-482, § 1, 8-20-13.

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