Florida Statutes 823.14 and 163.3162 restrict local governments from adopting zoning rules that inhibit established farms on agriculturally classified land, preserving agricultural uses against incompatible local regulation.
Section 163.3162, the Agricultural Lands and Practices Act, bars counties from exercising any authority to adopt zoning ordinances or regulations that prohibit or otherwise limit a bona fide farm operation on land classified as agricultural under Section 193.461. Section 823.14 reinforces this by limiting nuisance liability and ordinance reach against established farms. Counties retain authority to address public health and safety concerns and may regulate non-agricultural activities, but they cannot dictate accepted agricultural practices, prohibit specific crops or livestock, or impose setbacks designed to displace farms. Municipalities are likewise limited where land qualifies as bona fide agricultural.
County zoning rules conflicting with FS 163.3162 or FS 823.14 are void as applied to bona fide farms; affected farmers may seek declaratory and injunctive relief.
Cocoa, FL
Cocoa Code Chapter 13.5 (Nuisances) regulates noise disturbances. Quiet hours are typically enforced from 11 PM to 7 AM consistent with Brevard County standa...
Cocoa, FL
Cocoa addresses animal noise under Chapter 13.5 (Nuisances) and defers to Brevard County Chapter 14 for animal control. Persistent barking for 30 consecutive...
Cocoa, FL
Cocoa limits construction noise to designated daytime hours consistent with Florida municipal standards. Construction with building permits is generally perm...
Cocoa, FL
Cocoa regulates parking through its Code of Ordinances. Downtown Cocoa and Cocoa Village have time-limited parking areas. Residential street parking is gener...
Cocoa, FL
Cocoa restricts commercial vehicle parking in residential zoning districts through its Appendix A Zoning code. Commercial vehicles and heavy equipment must b...
Cocoa, FL
Cocoa requires vehicles to park on approved paved surfaces. Parking on grass or unpaved areas in residential zones is a code enforcement violation. The Code ...
See how Cocoa's agricultural zoning protection rules stack up against other locations.
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