Right to Farm in Jacksonville, FL

If you live in Jacksonville or are thinking about moving there, right to farm are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Jacksonville has 2 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of right to farm, and some of them might surprise you.

Agricultural Zoning Protection

Jacksonville's Agriculture (AGR) zoning district, Ordinance Code Sec. 656.331, lets landowners raise farm animals, keep poultry and run roadside stands as of right, and caps residential density on farmland from one dwelling per two and a half acres to one per 100 acres depending on parcel size. The Noise Code separately exempts farm activity covered by the Florida Right to Farm Act.

Key details: Zoning district: Agriculture (AGR), Sec. 656.331. Minimum lot: 100 ft wide, 2.5 acres. Max lot coverage: 10 percent of lot. Density tiers: 1 unit per 2.5-100 acres. Animal-structure setback: 25 ft (200 ft for goats/sheep/swine).

Building or operating outside the permitted AGR uses, exceeding the density tier for the parcel's size, or ignoring the setback distance for animal structures is a civil infraction under Sec. 656.111(a), fined $50 to $500 per violation with each day counted as a separate offense under Sec. 656.111(b). The Municipal Code Compliance Division and Municipal Code Enforcement Board handle enforcement under Sec. 656.110; a contractor who builds without approval faces escalating $1,000-$3,000 penalties under Sec. 656.111(h).

Farm Nuisance Protection

Jacksonville's Noise Control Ordinance, Chapter 368, doesn't reach bona fide farm operations. Sec. 368.105(c) exempts 'agricultural activities of a farm' as defined by the state's Right to Farm Act from the entire Chapter, so farm equipment and operations aren't subject to the City's decibel limits, curfews, or noise citations that apply to everyone else in Duval County.

Key details: Exempt activity: agricultural activities of a "farm". Definition source: Fla. Right to Farm Act, F.S. § 823.14. Exempted from: Chapter 368, Noise Control Ordinance. Chapter 368 scope: General Services District, countywide. Non-farm criminal penalty: up to $500 fine, 90 days jail.

Because Sec. 368.105(c) removes agricultural activity from Chapter 368 entirely, a qualifying farm operation cannot be cited under it at all, unlike the general public, who face up to a $500 fine and 90 days in jail per Sec. 368.301, or a civil penalty up to $10,000 per violation under Sec. 368.302, for noise that breaches the Board's standards.

Jacksonville is more permissive than most cities when it comes to farm nuisance protection. That said, there are still limits.

The Bottom Line

Jacksonville's right to farm rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Jacksonville is broadly strict or permissive.

These rules come from Jacksonville's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.