Wellington, FL Right to Farm: Agricultural Zoning Protection (2026)

Bona fide agriculture appears in Wellington's Table 6.2-1 use regulation schedule as a use permitted, conditionally or by special use, in nearly every Equestrian Preserve Area subarea, referencing Land Development Regulations § 6.8.9.D for the specific standards that apply. That section does not regulate ordinary farming activity like row crops or hay production directly, but it does single out the exotic and game animal component of agricultural operations for closer review. Any bona fide agriculture use that includes exotic animals, meaning imported or non-native species, game animal care raised for commercial breeding, or housing of animals classified as Class I by the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission, must sit on a lot of at least five acres.

Pens, cages or other structures built to house those animals must be set back a minimum of 50 feet from every property line, mirroring the setback Wellington applies to aviculture elsewhere in the same section. Beyond the acreage and setback, housing Class I and game animals is subject to every requirement imposed by the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission itself, layering state wildlife regulation on top of the Village's own standard, and the use also requires a conditional use approval from Wellington rather than qualifying as permitted by right.

That conditional use process means the Village Council, acting on a staff and Planning, Zoning and Building department recommendation, reviews the specific operation before it can begin, rather than allowing it automatically once the five-acre and setback thresholds are met.