Revolution in the countryside. The government is preparing changes for home owners

The government is preparing regulations aimed at protecting the productive nature of the Polish countryside and reducing conflicts between farmers and new inhabitants of rural areas. The project of the Ministry of Agriculture assumes changes to several acts, including the Civil Code and the Act on shaping the agricultural system. One of the most important elements of the new regulations is the obligation for people buying real estate outside city limits to submit a special declaration.

The government wants to protect agricultural activities

The Ministry of Agriculture indicates that the village has primarily a production function, and agricultural activities are associated with natural nuisances, such as noise, odors and work also performed at night. According to the ministry, the number of disputes between farmers and people who move from cities to rural areas is increasing.

An example was the case of a farmer running a farm near Łódź who, after many years of legal dispute, was obliged to pay compensation to neighbors complaining about noise and odors related to the farm’s activities. The Ministry believes that similar situations may threaten the functioning of farms.

A new obligation for property owners

The project provides that when purchasing real estate located outside the administrative boundaries of the city, the buyer will have to submit a declaration confirming awareness of possible disruptions resulting from agricultural activities carried out on neighboring land. The declaration is to be part of the notarial deed.

According to the assumptions, the buyer will confirm that he is aware of potential nuisances related to the operation of farms. The government argues that this solution is intended to reduce future conflicts between residents and farmers. At the same time, an additional declaration may affect the costs of preparing a notarial deed.

Changes in the Civil Code and offenses

The project also envisages adding a new provision to the Civil Code. According to it, agricultural activities carried out in accordance with the principles of proper agricultural management and applicable law will, in principle, not be considered to have an excessive impact on neighboring properties.

The changes are also intended to cover the Code of Petty Offenses. In certain situations, noise related to agricultural activities will not be treated as an offense disturbing the night’s sleep, as long as the activity is conducted in accordance with the regulations.

The president also prepared a similar project

In parallel, a project was created supported by President Karol Nawrocki. It assumes the protection of agricultural activities conducted in accordance with the law and the introduction of mandatory information in notarial deeds regarding real estate located in areas with agricultural or production functions. Purchasers would be advised of the possibility of normal agricultural impacts occurring on adjacent land.

The government project is currently at the review stage. The planned date of its adoption by the Council of Ministers is set for the third quarter of 2026. The presidential project is at an earlier stage of legislative work, but both documents aim to strengthen the protection of the productive functions of the Polish countryside.