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

Section 41-201 of the Santa Ana Municipal Code lists the by-right uses in the A1 (general agricultural) zoning district, the city's only agricultural district under Chapter 41, Article III, Division 1. Permitted uses include farming of every kind, crop agriculture, horticulture, grazing and small animal farms, but the section carves out two exceptions that cannot occur by right: hog and commercial livestock feeding ranches, and farms operated for disposing of garbage, sewage, rubbish or offal. Also permitted by right are public or quasi-public parks, playgrounds, recreation buildings, golf courses and country clubs, plus accessory buildings and structures.

Farmers may put up a temporary produce stand to sell what's grown or produced on the same premises, but the stand can't exceed 100 square feet of floor area, must sit at least 20 feet back from any public right-of-way, has to be removed by the owner at the owner's expense once it's no longer in use, and needs planning commission-approved plans if it will stay up more than 90 days. One single-family dwelling, plus a detached guest home and employees' quarters, is allowed at a density of one unit per 6,000 square feet of lot area on parcels of a half-acre or less.

5 separately lists uses that need a conditional use permit in the A1 district, including apiaries, commercial dairies with more than five head, commercial stables, feed mills and kennels, meaning those uses aren't barred but do require discretionary city approval before they can operate.