Santa Maria, CA Right to Farm: Agricultural Zoning Protection (2026)
Key Facts
- RA district minimum lot
- 20,000 sq ft (§ 12-5.07)
- Livestock keeping
- 2-acre min, max 2 animals/acre (§ 12-5.03(b))
- Dwelling height cap
- 2 stories or 25 ft (§ 12-5.08)
- Animal housing setback
- 50 ft from public buildings/streets (§ 12-5.09(c)(3))
- Commercial animal raising
- CUP + 5 acres; poultry/rabbits excluded (§ 12-5.04(a))
- Right-to-farm nuisance law
- none; protection via RA zoning purpose only
Summary
Santa Maria protects light farming through its RA Residential Agricultural zoning district rather than a separate right-to-farm ordinance. Section 12-5.02 reserves RA land for light agricultural activities and large suburban estates, and Section 12-5.03 allows keeping cattle, sheep, goats or horses on lots of at least two acres, capped at two animals per acre.
Keeping of cattle, sheep, goats or horses on a lot or parcel of land having an area of not less than two acres; provided, that not more than two such animals per acre are permitted, including the supplementary feeding of such cattle, sheep, goats or horses; provided further, that such grazing is not a part of nor conducted in conjunction with any dairy, livestock feedyard, livestock sales yard or commercial riding academy located on the same premises. No buildings, structures, pens or corrals designed or intended to be used for the housing or concentrated feeding of such stock shall be used on the premises for such grazing other than racks for supplementary feeding, troughs for watering or incidental fencing;
Full Breakdown
02). 03 include single-family dwellings and accessory dwelling units, tree farming, home occupations, cottage food operations, and keeping cattle, sheep, goats or horses on a lot of at least two acres at no more than two animals per acre, provided the grazing isn't tied to a dairy, feedyard, sales yard or commercial riding academy on the same premises. 04(a); commercial poultry, fowl or rabbit raising isn't permitted in the RA district at all. 09). 09(c)(3)). The Code has no separate right-to-farm nuisance-shield provision; agricultural protection here comes from the RA zoning designation itself.
Violations & Fines
Keeping livestock below the two-acre/two-per-acre threshold, housing animals closer than the required 50-foot setback, or running a commercial animal operation without the Section 12-5.04(a) conditional use permit is a Code violation under Section 1-6.01: an infraction starting at $100 and rising to $500 for repeat violations within a year, or a misdemeanor carrying up to $1,000 and six months in jail, with each day of noncompliance treated as a separate offense. The City Attorney can also pursue an unpermitted commercial use as a public nuisance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much land do I need to keep horses in Santa Maria?
Does Santa Maria have a right-to-farm law protecting agricultural operations from nuisance complaints?
Can I raise poultry or rabbits commercially on RA-zoned land?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Maria
California rules heatmap·Compare Santa Maria to another location·View the California right to farm overview
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