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

Tustin City Code Section 9221 lists the permitted uses in the Residential Agricultural District (RA), which include single-family dwellings with accessory dwelling and junior accessory dwelling units, light farming, crop and tree farming, home occupations, and employee housing, all subject to the site standards in Table 1 of Section 9220. Light farming is a by-right use, but the ordinance specifically carves out commercial dairies, commercial kennels, and commercial rabbit, fox, goat, or hog farms, and commercial chicken or poultry ranches, which are not permitted as of right in the RA district.

Beyond by-right farming, Section 9221(b) allows the Planning Commission to conditionally permit places of worship, schools, parks, and public utilities on a minimum 20,000-square-foot to five-acre site, and separately allows keeping no more than two horses or cows for private use on a minimum 30,000-square-foot lot with a 60-foot minimum front yard setback, or up to 25 rabbits or similar small animals, or commercial chicken raising, on a minimum one-acre site with a 100-foot minimum lot width. Each conditional agricultural use carries its own setback and lot-coverage package, and all such uses require an approved Conditional Use Permit before they may operate in the RA district.