Lakewood, CA Right to Farm: Agricultural Zoning Protection (2026)
Key Facts
- Zone
- R-A, Single-Family Residential Limited Agriculture
- Commercial ag min. lot
- 10,000 sq ft, 50 ft frontage
- Odor/dust buffer
- 100 feet from any property line
- Horses/cows allowed
- 2 per acre, 1-acre min lot
- Apiary cap
- 4 hives, 1 per 1,500 sq ft
- Roadside stands/retail sale
- Not permitted under § 9326.B
Summary
Lakewood's R-A (Single-Family Residential, Limited Agriculture) Zone lets homeowners keep small livestock and, on larger lots, grow crops commercially. Municipal Code Section 9326 sets exact caps: two dogs, two cats, two horses or cows per acre, and a 100-foot odor buffer for commercial growing operations. There is no separate nuisance-immunity right-to-farm statute; this is purely a zoning permission.
A. One or two single-family dwelling units of a permanent character placed in permanent locations, including the following accessory uses and buildings: ... 4. The keeping of such domestic animals and in such numbers as expressly declared permissible by the City Council in resolutions or ordinances... (a) Not more than two dogs over four months of age; (b) Not more than two cats over four months of age; (c) Not more than two horses and/or cows per acre provided that the minimum lot area is one acre and lot frontage exceeds 100 feet. ... B. Growing of nursery stock, orchards, vineyards, the raising of field crops, tree, berry and bush crops, or vegetable or flower gardening on a commercial scale, provided, however, that no odor or dust-producing substance or use shall be permitted within 100 feet of any property line. The uses enumerated under this subsection are permitted only when the minimum lot or parcel area is 10,000 square feet and the lot frontage exceeds 50 feet. This subsection does not permit roadside stands, retail sale from the premises, or advertising signs of any nature.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4901715; v5 updated 2026-04-28; through 04-28-2026).
Full Breakdown
Section 9326, Uses Permitted, governs the R-A Zone that covers Lakewood's large-lot single-family neighborhoods. Subsection A allows one or two single-family dwellings plus accessory agricultural uses: greenhouses and hobby shops not operated commercially, and domestic animals in numbers the City Council has expressly authorized by resolution or ordinance. The baseline allowance is two dogs and two cats over four months old, and two horses or cows per acre where the lot is at least one acre with more than 100 feet of frontage. 4, and backyard apiaries of up to four hives (one hive per 1,500 square feet of lot area) with Community Development Director site plan approval, added by Ordinance 2024-4.
Fowl or rabbits beyond those counts require a permit under Part 9 of Article IV. Subsection B is the commercial-agriculture clause: nursery stock, orchards, vineyards, field crops, and flower or vegetable gardening on a commercial scale are allowed only on lots of at least 10,000 square feet with more than 50 feet of frontage, and any odor- or dust-producing use must stay 100 feet from every property line. The subsection expressly bars roadside stands, on-site retail sales, and advertising signs for these commercial growing operations.
Lakewood, a contract city that relies on the LA County Sheriff and County Fire, has no independent right-to-farm nuisance shield in its code; a farmer here gets zoning permission to operate, not immunity from a neighbor's nuisance complaint the way some California agricultural counties provide by ordinance.
Violations & Fines
Zoning violations in Lakewood are prosecuted under the Municipal Code's general enforcement chapter. Section 1200 makes any violation of the Code a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in County Jail, a fine up to the state maximum for misdemeanors, or both, with each day of continued violation charged as a separate offense. Section 1205 lets the City Manager, with the City Attorney's concurrence, instead cite a given violation as an infraction with fines set under state infraction limits, including enhanced fines for repeat violations within a year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sell produce grown on my R-A zoned lot in Lakewood?
How many horses or cows can I keep on a Lakewood R-A lot?
Does Lakewood have a right-to-farm law protecting farmers from complaints?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lakewood
California rules heatmap·Compare Lakewood to another location·View the California right to farm overview
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Agricultural Zoning Protection in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle agricultural zoning protection.