Chico, CA Right to Farm: Agricultural Zoning Protection (2026)
Key Facts
- Minimum buffer width
- 100 feet
- Applies to
- New development near cropland
- Buffer boundary
- City's Sphere of Influence
- Allowed in buffer
- Trails, gardens, solar, sheds
Summary
New development next to commercial crop production along Chico's Sphere of Influence must keep at least 100 feet of separation from any habitable structure, per Chico Municipal Code Section 19.64.040.
A. Applicability. New development that is adjacent to commercial crop production along the City of Chico Sphere of Influence boundary. B. Buffer Design. 1. Agricultural buffers must provide at least 100 feet of physical separation between the agricultural use and any habitable structure. This separation may include roadways, pedestrian/bicycle routes, and/or creeks or other waterways.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Supplement contains local legislation current through: Codified Resolution No. 53-26, adopted 7-14-26 and Ordinance No. 2622, adopted 6-2-26).
Full Breakdown
Chico Municipal Code Chapter 19.64, Agricultural Preservation Standards, protects farmland along the city's Sphere of Influence boundary from being squeezed out by new subdivisions. Section 19.64.040 requires any new development adjacent to commercial crop production to provide at least 100 feet of physical separation before any habitable structure, though roadways, bike paths, or creeks within that buffer can count toward the distance. Vegetation in the buffer must screen sight, noise, or air-quality impacts between the farm and the new neighbors. Landscaping, trails, gardens, solar arrays, and accessory structures like garages and sheds are allowed inside the buffer strip.
Violations & Fines
Failure to provide the required 100-foot agricultural buffer is a zoning code violation caught at development review: the Community Development Department can withhold building permits or require project redesign until the buffer standard is met.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the 100-foot buffer count roads and creeks?
What's the buffer meant to protect?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Chico
California rules heatmap·Compare Chico to another location·View the California right to farm overview
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