Earlier this year, the N.C. General Assembly passed a law allowing Wake County cities and towns to wave building codes for farmers. Until the bill passed, only county governments could exempt farmers from ordinances.

"We wanted farmers to continue farming space, and we wanted to encourage local business," Knightdale Mayor Russell Killen said.

Before the exemption, farmers, like all other businesses, had to pay a set of fees for any new building. The administrative fee for new structures in Knightdale is $125. Property owners also have to pay inspection fees, which are determined based on the size of the new building. Inspection fees start at $50.

Last year, a few farmers cried out for such an exemption after becoming part of the town's expanded zoning jurisdiction.

"I was totally against it because it appeared they were trying to put us out of business to obtain our land," said Sue Puryear, who farms cattle, hay and soy on her land on Buffalo Road. "Now I feel better about it."

Knightdale delayed implementation of the new jurisdiction so farmers wouldn't have to pay building-code fees.

Killen said he hopes Knightdale has built trust with farmers. "We had no interest in legislating the farmers," he said. "(When Knightdale extended it's jurisdiction) we just wanted to make sure that, if that land does start to develop, that it does so within the town's standards."