Regulatory and other barriers to urban and peri-urban agriculture: A case study of urban planners and urban farmers from the greater Chicago metropolitan area

Seven perceived barriers to urban and peri-urban agriculture in the greater Chicago metropolitan area are identified through interviews with urban planners and farmers. All seven perceived barriers involve unclear or agriculture-unfriendly regulations governing urban and peri-urban agriculture. Results suggest that urban and peri-urban farmers commonly are being forced to operate within a legal limbo or petition for exceptions to a variety of current regulations. The study documents the need for clear and agriculture-inclusive local ordinances and provides direction for local efforts to create them.