101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
SB3329

 

Introduced 2/14/2020, by Sen. Scott M. Bennett

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
New Act

    Creates the Right to Garden Act. Provides that the State or a unit of local government may not regulate gardens or the use of season extension techniques and devices on residential property. Provides that the Act does not preclude the State or a unit of local government from adopting statutes or regulations pertaining to: restrictions on water use during drought conditions; existing or future adoption of property set-backs; maximum lot coverage; utility safety; fertilizer use; control of invasive species; a substance regulated under the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, the Industrial Hemp Act, or the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act; or any other regulation that does not have the effect of prohibiting gardens. Defines the terms "garden", "residential property", and "season extension techniques and devices". Limits home rule powers. Effective immediately.


LRB101 20392 BMS 69939 b

HOME RULE NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB3329LRB101 20392 BMS 69939 b

1    AN ACT concerning agriculture.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Right
5to Garden Act.
 
6    Section 5. Findings. The State of Illinois finds that the
7right of a property owner to create and maintain a garden on
8his or her own residential property, whether it be for produce,
9flowers, herbs, fungi, or grains, and when done so for one's
10own consumption and enjoyment, should not be infringed upon by
11the State or any unit of local government.
 
12    Section 10. Definitions. As used in this Act:
13    "Garden" means a piece of property wholly located within a
14person's residential property that is used to grow produce,
15flowers, herbs, fungi, or grains for one's own consumption and
16enjoyment.
17    "Residential property" means real property on which there
18is a dwelling unit with accommodations for 4 or fewer separate
19households and occupied, or to be occupied, in whole or in
20part, by the mortgagor; however "residential property":
21        (1) is limited to the primary residence of a person;
22        (2) does not include an investment property or

 

 

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1    residence other than a primary residence; and
2        (3) does not include residential property taken in
3    whole or in part as collateral for a commercial loan.
4    "Season extension techniques and devices" means any low or
5high tunnels and membrane structures constructed according to
6the United States Department of Agriculture's best practices
7utilized for season extension, wind break, or insect and shade
8netting in the growth and cultivation of food crops.
 
9    Section 15. Regulations of gardens on residential
10property. The State or a unit of local government may not
11regulate gardens or the use of season extension techniques and
12devices on residential property. However, this does not
13preclude the State or a unit of local government from adopting
14statutes or regulations pertaining to: restrictions on water
15use during drought conditions; existing or future adoption of
16property set-backs; maximum lot coverage; utility safety;
17fertilizer use; control of invasive species; a substance
18regulated under the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, the
19Industrial Hemp Act, or the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act; or
20any other regulation that does not have the effect of
21prohibiting gardens.
 
22    Section 20. Home rule. A home rule unit may not regulate
23gardens on residential property in a manner inconsistent with
24this Act. This Section is a limitation under subsection (i) of

 

 

SB3329- 3 -LRB101 20392 BMS 69939 b

1Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution on the
2concurrent exercise by home rule units of powers and functions
3exercised by the State.
 
4    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
5becoming law.