San Mateo County, CA Right to Farm: Agricultural Zoning Protection (2026)
Key Facts
- Scope
- Unincorporated agricultural land only
- Grievance filing window
- 30 days from incident
- Committee decision
- Advisory only
- Adopted
- Ord. 4398, Oct. 30, 2007
Summary
Unincorporated San Mateo County's Agricultural Awareness ordinance declares normal farm impacts on neighboring property acceptable and routes disputes to a grievance committee instead of court first.
It is recognized that normal and routine agricultural operations can and may cause inconvenience and discomfort to adjacent property owners. The County of San Mateo finds that such impacts from normal and routine agricultural operations, as long as they are carried out in a legal manner and conducted according to established practices, are acceptable.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 47).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 2.65 of the County Ordinance Code protects agricultural operations on unincorporated agricultural land from nuisance pressure created by nearby residential or commercial development. Routine farm impacts (dust, noise, odor, chemical use) are declared acceptable if operations are legal and follow established practices. The County also mails an agricultural-land disclosure with tax bills and requires it as a permit condition on ag-adjacent development, and it operates a five-member grievance committee (Assistant County Manager, Agricultural Commissioner, Farm Bureau rep, and local advisory-council members) to mediate complaints before litigation. This applies only within unincorporated county land zoned for agriculture, not the incorporated cities that surround it.
Violations & Fines
No fines are set; the ordinance channels disputes to a 30-day grievance filing window before a five-member committee, whose recommendation is advisory only, leaving court action available if unresolved.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this ordinance ban lawsuits over farm noise or odor?
Does this apply inside Redwood City or Half Moon Bay?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Mateo County
California rules heatmap·Compare San Mateo County to another location·View the California right to farm overview
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