§205-45.5 Important agricultural land; farm dwellings and employee housing. A landowner whose agricultural lands are designated as important agricultural lands may develop, construct, and maintain farm dwellings and employee housing for farmers, employees, and their immediate family members on these lands; provided that:

(1) The farm dwellings and employee housing units shall be used exclusively by farmers and their immediate family members who actively and currently farm on important agricultural land upon which the dwelling is situated; provided further that the immediate family members of a farmer may live in separate dwelling units situated on the same designated land;

(2) Employee housing units shall be used exclusively by employees and their immediate family members who actively and currently work on important agricultural land upon which the housing unit is situated; provided further that the immediate family members of the employee shall not live in separate housing units and shall live with the employee;

(3) The total land area upon which the farm dwellings and employee housing units and all appurtenances are situated shall not occupy more than five per cent of the total important agricultural land area controlled by the farmer or the employee's employer or fifty acres, whichever is less;

(4) The farm dwellings and employee housing units shall meet all applicable building code requirements;

(5) Notwithstanding section 205-4.5(a)(12), the landowner shall not plan or develop a residential subdivision on the important agricultural land;

(6) Consideration may be given to the cluster development of farm dwellings and employee housing units to maximize the land area available for agricultural production; and

(7) The plans for farm dwellings and employee housing units shall be supported by agricultural plans that are approved by the department of agriculture. [L 2008, c 233, §2]