City Officials Voice Support for Urban Garden Policy Proposal

Published on March 20, 2025

Proposed changes to municipal code would strengthen local food system

Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird today said that proposed changes to municipal codes that would permit onsite sales of produce grown at individual residences and community gardens would increase local food security and create entrepreneurial opportunities.

The Lincoln-Lancaster Planning Commission will consider the Urban Garden Policy Proposal April 16. If approved by the Planning Commission, a public hearing by the City Council regarding the ordinance is scheduled for 3 p.m. May 5.

“Homegrown gardens provide fresh, affordable food, support local growers, and strengthen community connections. The new Urban Gardens policy would make it easier for community members to grow food on their own property and even sell their produce in a limited, neighborhood-friendly way,” Mayor Gaylor Baird said.

The proposed ordinance would make two major changes to Lincoln Municipal Code:

1. Individual homeowners would be allowed to operate urban gardens as a primary use in residential districts and sell produce and plants onsite. Owners of group-managed urban gardens in residential districts would also be allowed to sell produce and plants onsite. Currently, only groups of people may operate urban gardens as a primary use on a residential lot – and those group-managed gardens in residential districts are prohibited from selling produce and plants onsite.

Conditions for individuals to operate urban gardens as a primary use on a vacant lot and sell homegrown items onsite would include:

• Produce and plants must be unprocessed and grown onsite.
• A Health Department soil test would be required.
• Sales would be limited to eight days per calendar month and 30 days per calendar year.
• Sales infrastructure such as a sales table or display area may only be present when sales are occurring.
• Signage may not exceed two square feet.
• Total building area in gardens would be limited to 150 square feet for sheds and 500 square feet for greenhouses.
• Composting may only include waste generated onsite. 
• No chemical, mechanical, or electrical equipment may be used which will disturb neighbors.
• Keeping of animals would be prohibited.

1. Urban gardening would be included as a home occupation. Currently, only limited home-based commercial activities are allowed as home occupations.

Clarifications of conditions for urban gardening as a home occupation would include:

• Garden areas would not require screening.
• Garden areas would not need to be limited to 20% of the dwelling floor area.
• A Health Department soil test would be required.

Joining Mayor Gaylor Baird at the news conference were Kim Morrow, City of Lincoln Chief Sustainability Officer; Tim Rinne, Lincoln resident local food advocate; and Shahab Bashar, Community Crops Farm Program Specialist.

Morrow said the proposed ordinance helps Lincoln meet the goals of its Local Food Plan, which include increasing access to healthy food, and investment in Lincoln’s food and farm community to strengthen food production and security. The code changes are designed to make it easier for residents to grow and sell fresh produce, she said.  

“As we face growing challenges in our food systems, local solutions become increasingly important for building a healthy, connected community,” Morrow said. “We believe everyone deserves access to fresh, nutritious food, and that building local food systems creates a more resilient Lincoln.”

Rinne noted that 90% of food purchased and consumed in Lincoln is imported, with some items like fresh produce traveling 1,500 miles. By increasing the availability of locally produced food, the proposed ordinance helps protect the community from shortages caused by crop failures, price fluctuations and disruptions in supply chains, he said.

According to U.S. Department of Agriculture, Lincoln residents require over 1.5 million pounds of food daily to meet their dietary needs, Rinne said.

“There’s a built-in market for growing some of our own food,” Rinne said. “Food production and consumption is really big business. Everybody eats and the City of Lincoln boasts 300,000 eaters who need regular meals.”

Bashar said that the code changes will likely increase the diversity of homegrown produce available in the community while also promoting the wide variety of cultures in Lincoln.

“This amendment we are discussing today is not just about supporting small farmers. It’s about preserving culture, promoting food security, and ensuring that future generations have access to these essential crops,” Bashar said. “By allowing farmers to continue growing culturally significant produce, we are keeping traditions alive and making Lincoln a more inclusive and vibrant place.”