The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) provides resources and information on topics including farming, land use, food manufacturing, funding, research and information about Northern Ontario agriculture and local food.
Where the keeping of livestock is a permitted use, new or expanding livestock facilities are required to comply with the Minimum Distance Separation (MDS) formulae and guidelines. The MDS formulae and guidelines are land use planning tools that determine setback distances between livestock barns, manure storages or anaerobic digesters and surrounding land uses, with the objective of minimizing land use conflicts and nuisance complaints related to odour. The MDS II setback distances shall be met prior to the approval of the building permit application for a first or altered livestock facility occupying an area greater than 10 m2 or any anaerobic digester. Demonstrating that an MDS setback can be met, may be required before a land use planning approval or building permit can be issued. (Source: OMAFRA)
For more information on MDS Formulae and Guidelines for Livestock Facility and Anaerobic Digester Odour Setbacks please view The Minimum Distance Separation (MDS) Document provided by OMAFRA.