Odor issues are one of the most frequent complaints received by local boards of health. Zoning enforcement officers and local health officials, often get into debates with farmers over odor issues. These disputes are very common throughout the Commonwealth, particularly when farmers are spreading manure near homes. Massachusetts law allows local boards of health to investigate when a nuisance smell appears to go beyond “normal maintenance” on a farm. Often the Department of Agricultural Resources will be called to send a representative to inspect the farm.
