Politics & Government

Urban Farming Could Soon be Legal in St. Pete

City staff will be crafting regulations to create an ordinance that would allow urban farming in St. Pete.

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At a recent city council committee meeting, council members asked staff to come up with proposed regulations to allow urban farming on private property in the city limits of St. Pete. 

The city currently allows community gardens, but according to council chair Karl Nurse, when the city approved those, "we frankly didn't realize what community interest there would be.

"I’m amazed at how much interest there is," Nurse added. "(The plots) are pretty small sites, smaller than we realize. Corn next to your house is not very disruptive."

According Derek Kilburn, with the city's planning and economic development department, while staff supports moving forward with urban farming there are some potential public concerns. 

Potential Impacts and Public Concerns:

  • Sanitation issues related to: 
  • Composting 
  • Animals 
  • Noise pollution from farm machinery and power tools
  • Pollution from air-borne soil and sand particles
  • Parking issues related to volunteers / employees / customers
  • Traffic issues related to on-site sales
    • In 2009 the community garden ordinance was approved. There are currently four active community gardens with another along the way. 

    Existing Community Gardens    :
    • 2735 Oakdale St. So. – Oakdale C.G.
    • 1443 Highland St. So. – Bartlett Park C.G.
    • 116 Hampton Ave. NE – Faith Covenant C.G.
    • 452 1st Ave. NE – Christ United Methodist C.G.
    • 2121 Beach Drive SE (Pending)
    The Sustainable Urban Agriculture Coalition is supportive of the city's initiative to allow urban farms. 

    "We ask, if not now, then when? The collaborative call for urban agriculture is here. Healthcare advocates all over the nation and in St. Petersburg are joining with community gardeners, extension agencies, and faith-based organizations in city-wide coalitions, health organizations, and sustainability councils to maintain and expand urban food availability and improve access to nutritious food ... A growing consumer desire for fresh, local food demands new markets for urban food production. Social ills of minority and low income residents who are living in poverty and experience poor nutrition, and high unemployment necessitate the need for an innovative holistic solution that urban agriculture can provide.

    " ... Now is the time to elevate the commitment to becoming green and capitalize on the great potential of food production in our urban area. As dozens of cities across the nation have realized and successfully demonstrated, the urban agriculture movement is not only necessary, but viable."

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