Rancho Cordova, CA Right to Farm: Agricultural Zoning Protection (2026)
Key Facts
- AG-80 minimum lot
- 80 gross acres
- AG-20 minimum lot
- 20 gross acres
- Max density
- 1 dwelling unit per parcel
- Setbacks (all sides)
- 50 feet
- Height limit
- 50 feet (barns/silos may exceed)
- ADU allowance
- 1 unit per 5 gross acres
Summary
Rancho Cordova's two agricultural zoning districts, AG-80 and AG-20, set minimum parcel sizes of 80 and 20 gross acres to keep farmland from being split into house lots. Both zones cap density at one dwelling per parcel and require 50-foot setbacks on every side, buffering the working farms the right-to-farm ordinance shields from nuisance suits.
A. Agricultural (AG) Zoning Districts. These districts are intended to preserve land for agricultural use and operations and discourage the premature conversion of agricultural land to urban uses. ... 1. ... AG-80 Zoning District (80-Acre Minimum). The AG-80 zone is applied to areas of the city to accommodate a wide range of agricultural uses on parcels of land a minimum of 80 gross acres in size. 2. AG-20 Zoning District (20-Acre Minimum). The AG-20 zone is applied to areas of the city to accommodate agricultural use on parcels a minimum of 20 gross acres in size.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4660102; v2 updated 2026-03-02; through 03-02-2026).
Full Breakdown
030 lists what is allowed in both zones by right (P), needing only an administrative use permit (AUP), or needing a conditional use permit (C). Crop production, animal husbandry, livestock and poultry keeping, beekeeping, hobby and commercial equestrian facilities, commercial hog farms, and hobby kennels are all allowed by right in AG-80 and AG-20, along with single-family dwellings, accessory dwelling units, home occupations, and garage sales; agricultural tourism and agricultural products processing require a conditional use permit, and farmworker or caretaker housing needs an administrative use permit.
Accessory dwelling units are capped at one per five gross acres. 040 hold density to one dwelling unit per parcel in either zone and require 50-foot setbacks on the front, both sides, and rear, plus a 50-foot height limit, though water tanks, silos, granaries and barns may exceed that height if they meet other applicable limits. Minimum lot width is 1,000 feet in AG-80 and 500 feet in AG-20, with a 1,500-foot minimum depth in both. 05 right-to-farm ordinance by keeping new rural residences far enough from active farm operations that the three-year nuisance shield rarely needs to be invoked.
Violations & Fines
Development that does not meet the AG-80 or AG-20 minimum lot area, density, setback or height standards in Table 23.307-2 cannot be approved administratively; it requires a variance or is denied outright by the zoning administrator. Uses marked 'C' in Table 23.307-1, such as agricultural tourism or agricultural products processing, cannot legally operate without a conditional use permit from the city, and building or operating without the required permit exposes the property owner to code enforcement under Chapter 23.173 RCMC, including permit revocation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the smallest parcel allowed in Rancho Cordova's agricultural zones?
Can I keep livestock or run a farm stand in AG-20?
How far must farm buildings sit from the property line?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Rancho Cordova
California rules heatmap·Compare Rancho Cordova to another location·View the California right to farm overview
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Agricultural Zoning Protection in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Sacramento County handle agricultural zoning protection.