Ocala, FL Right to Farm: Agricultural Zoning Protection (2026)
Key Facts
- District
- A-1 Agricultural
- Permitted by right
- farms, horse farms, stables
- Rezoning rule since
- June 1, 2014 (annexation-tied)
- Front-yard drainage retention
- max 2½ ft deep, 3:1 slope
- Special exception example
- kennel, golf course
- Enforcement
- code enforcement board/special magistrate
- General penalty
- up to $500/day, Sec. 1-9
Summary
The City of Ocala zones farmland A-1, a district meant for properties still in active agricultural use where more intensive rezoning is premature. The A-1 district permits farms, horse farms, horse racing facilities, nurseries and stables outright, reflecting Ocala's identity as the Horse Capital of the World, and since June 2014 any new A-1 rezoning must tie to an annexation carrying existing county A-1 zoning.
The agricultural (A-1) district is intended to apply to properties where the present use is primarily agricultural, and where future development or a more intensive rezoning is uncertain/premature. The district regulations are intended to allow for a reasonable use of property while preventing the creation of conditions that may affect future use of nearby properties. As of June 1, 2014, a rezoning application for A-1 must be associated with an annexation case where a portion of the annexed property is already zoned A-1 in the county. ... The following uses are permitted in the agricultural (A-1) district: ... (3)Service uses:a.Agricultural use:1.Farm.2.Horse farm.3.Horse racing facility.4.Nursery farm.5.Radio/TV broadcasting facility, transmitters only.6.Stable.
Full Breakdown
Sec. 122-462 permits farms, horse farms, horse racing facilities, nursery farms, stables and radio/TV transmitter facilities outright in the A-1 district, alongside single-family homes, community residential homes for up to 12 unrelated residents, home occupations, farmers markets, garden and nursery sales, roadside fruit and vegetable sales, and veterinarian offices. Special exceptions under Sec. 122-463 open the district to kennels, churches, day care facilities, golf courses, indoor recreation facilities, temporary commercial amusements, airports, cemeteries, parks, post offices and public transportation terminals, each requiring separate city approval rather than being permitted by right.
Lot and buffer standards in Sec. 122-464 tie A-1 lots to the general lot requirements of Sec. 122-286, require landscaped buffers under Sec. 122-260 where A-1 property abuts less intensive uses, and cap any drainage retention area in the front yard at 2½ feet deep or a 3:1 slope. Off-street parking follows article VI of the zoning chapter under Sec. 122-465, and any new development still needs city site plan approval under Sec. 122-466 and article IV. Growth Management administers rezonings and site plans, while Building Safety issues construction permits for farm structures under the Florida Building Code.
Growth Management and code enforcement staff handle compliance questions for A-1 property, and unresolved zoning violations move to the city's code enforcement board or special magistrate under Sec. 2-509, backed by the Code's general penalty in Sec. 1-9 of up to $500 per day.
Violations & Fines
Unauthorized uses or rezonings that skip the annexation requirement are zoning code violations. The city's code enforcement board or special magistrate handles uncorrected violations under Sec. 2-509, and fines run up to $500 under the Code's general penalty, Sec. 1-9, since each day a violation continues is a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep horses on A-1 zoned property in Ocala?
Can I rezone property to A-1 in Ocala?
Are kennels allowed in the A-1 district?
What buffer rules apply to A-1 property next to homes?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ocala
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Ocala to another location·View the Florida right to farm overview
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