Placer County, CA Right to Farm: Agricultural Zoning Protection (2026)
Key Facts
- District name
- Agricultural Exclusive (AE)
- Governing section
- Zoning Ordinance § 17.08.010
- By-right uses
- Crop production, equestrian, grazing (A permit)
- CUP-required uses
- Feedlots, hog ranches, mining, oil/gas wells
- Rezoning limit
- Requires Board finding of no adjoining harm
Summary
Placer County's Agricultural Exclusive (AE) district, established under Zoning Ordinance § 17.08.010, restricts land to crop production, livestock and other commercial farming uses, bars incompatible development, and locks parcels into that zoning to protect surrounding agricultural operations from encroachment.
Purpose and Intent. The purpose of the agricultural exclusive (AE) district is to provide for the preservation and protection of important agricultural lands that are being used for the commercial production of agricultural commodities, and that constitute economic units... It is intended that the AE district shall: 1. Restrict the use of land within the AE district to crop production, the raising of livestock, poultry and other animals, and to incidental uses that are customarily and necessarily related to agricultural operations... 2. Prohibit land uses that are incompatible with commercial agricultural operations... 3. Once applied to a specific property, not be changed to another zoning classification unless the Board of Supervisors determines that such a change would not adversely affect the continuation of commercial agricultural operations on adjoining parcels and in the site vicinity.
Full Breakdown
010(A) sets the purpose of the Agricultural Exclusive (AE) district as preserving 'important agricultural lands that are being used for the commercial production of agricultural commodities, and that constitute economic units,' defined as land capable of generating enough agricultural income to cover expenses while making efficient use of required labor and equipment. The district restricts land use to crop production, the raising of livestock, poultry and other animals, and incidental uses customarily related to those agricultural operations, plus limited non-agricultural uses necessary for the health, safety and convenience of residents living or working in the rural area.
010(A)(3) locks a parcel into the AE classification once applied: the Board of Supervisors will not rezone it unless it finds the change won't adversely affect commercial agricultural operations on adjoining parcels or in the site vicinity. 010(B) permits agricultural accessory structures and crop production by right, while animal sales yards, feed lots, stockyards, and chicken, turkey and hog ranches require a conditional use permit, and mining, oil and gas wells also require CUP review. 08 gets a further layer of nuisance protection once it's been operating for more than a year.
Violations & Fines
Establishing a use not on the AE allowable-use table, or a use requiring a conditional use permit without first obtaining one, violates the zoning ordinance and is enforceable as a zoning code violation by Placer County code enforcement. Rezoning an AE parcel without the Board of Supervisors' finding that the change won't harm neighboring commercial agriculture is barred outright under § 17.08.010(A)(3).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Agricultural Exclusive (AE) zoning district in Placer County?
Can I build a feedlot or hog ranch in Placer County's AE zone?
How does AE zoning relate to Placer County's right-to-farm protections?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Placer County
California rules heatmap·Compare Placer County to another location·View the California right to farm overview
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