Pleasanton, CA Right to Farm: Agricultural Zoning Protection (2026)

Chapter 18.28 of the Pleasanton Municipal Code creates the A Agricultural District to let landowners farm while the city holds land for eventual urban development. Section 18.28.010 states the district exists to permit agricultural pursuits, prevent premature urban development ahead of drainage, street and utility installation, and ensure separation between dwellings and animal-housing facilities. Section 18.28.020's Required Conditions clause is the operative right-to-farm text: the city planning commission can bar uses or processes found objectionable for odor, fumes, dust, smoke, noise, vibration, glare or fire hazard, but the same sentence carves out a protection: 'permitted agricultural pursuits conducted in accord with good practice shall not be deemed a nuisance.' Permitted uses under Section 18.28.030 include commercial field and truck crops, nurseries, orchards, vineyards, farming and ranching structures, private noncommercial livestock and poultry raising, private kennels and stables, and roadside stands are separately listed as conditional uses under Section 18.28.040(DD).

Any building or enclosure housing animals or fowl (except household pets) must sit at least 100 feet from any R, O, C, I-P or P district boundary under Section 18.28.030(E). Conditional uses requiring a use permit under Chapter 18.124 include dairies and dairy processing, poultry raising with egg processing and hatcheries, hog and livestock raising (excluding feedlots importing over 50 percent of feed), riding academies, wineries with sales and tasting rooms, and agriculture processing plants. All A District uses must also comply with the site, yard and bulk standards of Chapter 18.84 and are subject to design review under Chapter 18.20, except accessory dwelling units, which follow Chapter 18.106 instead.