Livestock (horses, cattle, goats, sheep, swine) is allowed on land zoned for agriculture, not on standard residential lots. Bona fide farm operations on agricultural land are protected from most local rules by Florida's Right to Farm Act (FS 823.14).
Manatee County's animal ordinance defines domestic animals to include equine, bovine, goats, sheep, swine, and poultry, but keeping such livestock is a zoning matter under the Land Development Code, not the animal ordinance. Livestock keeping is permitted on parcels zoned General Agriculture (A) and Agricultural Suburban (A-1); typical residential districts do not allow it. On land classified as agricultural under FS 193.461, FS 823.14 (Right to Farm Act) bars the county from adopting ordinances that prohibit or limit a bona fide farm operation using accepted best management practices. Owners should confirm their zoning district and any acreage or stocking limits with Manatee County Planning before adding livestock.
Keeping livestock in a district that does not permit it is a Land Development Code zoning violation, subject to county code-enforcement citations and daily fines through the special magistrate.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Manatee County, FL
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