Larger livestock like horses and cattle is allowed only in agricultural and rural zoning districts under Sarasota County's Unified Development Code, subject to lot-size, use-table, and setback standards. Small residential lots cannot keep large animals.
Sarasota County's Unified Development Code permits the keeping and raising of farm animals, livestock, and poultry only as specifically allowed in the UDC use table. Horses, cattle, and similar large animals are confined to agricultural and rural zoning districts, where structures for keeping livestock must be separated from property lines and residentially zoned properties by required setbacks. Agricultural use standards and minimum acreage govern how many animals a parcel may support. Backyard hens (up to four, no roosters) are the main animal allowance in standard residential districts; large livestock is not permitted there. Right-to-farm protection (FS 823.14) shields established bona fide farm operations.
Keeping livestock outside a permitted zoning district, or without required setbacks, is a code-enforcement violation subject to notice, abatement orders, and daily fines.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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