An amendment to Webster County’s zoning ordinance will now allow rural property owners to use some of their agricultural-zoned property as event venues.

The Webster County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a resolution for the amendment on Tuesday, with Chairwoman Niki Conrad absent.

The amendment adds the definition of “event venue” into the ordinance, and adds event venue as a conditional use in agricultural preservation districts and transitional agricultural districts. Property owners in those zoning districts can now apply for a conditional use permit for an event venue on their property.

“There is considerable demand in the county for event facilities, particularly those designed for hosting weddings and wedding receptions,” attorney Nick Cochrane wrote in the application for the zoning ordinance amendment. “Currently, Webster County residents often host their events in other parts of the state, which represents lost business opportunities to potential venue owners, but also to local caterers, florists and other businesses which serve special events.”

As a conditional use, event venues will be subject to approval by the Board of Adjustment on a case-by-case basis.