Orange County, FL Right to Farm: Farm Nuisance Protection (2026)
Key Facts
- Exemption basis
- Fla. Right to Farm Act
- State citation
- F.S. § 823.14
- Also exempt
- Non-covered grazing pastures
- Local article
- Fertilizer Management Ordinance, Ch. 15
Summary
Orange County exempts bona fide farm operations covered by Florida's Right to Farm Act from its local fertilizer-use restrictions, under the county's Fertilizer Management Ordinance.
(b)This article shall not apply to a bona fide farm operation consistent with the Florida Right to Farm Act, F.S. § 823.14.(c)This article shall not apply to properties that have pastures used for grazing livestock that are not subject to or covered under the Florida Right to Farm Act.(d)This article shall not apply to any lands used for bona fide scientific research, including, but not limited to, research on the effects of fertilizer use on urban stormwater, water quality, agronomics, or horticulture.(e)This article shall not apply to sports turf areas at parks and athletic fields.(f)Subsections 15-804(b) and (c) of this article shall not apply to vegetable or community gardens, defined as a plot of ground where herbs, fruits (fruit trees and shrubs), flowers, or vegetables are cultivated for human ingestion and not for commercial sale; and yard or food compost, mulches, or other similar materials that are primarily organic in nature and applied to improve the physical condition of the soil. (Ord. No. 2009-26, § 1, 10-6-09; Ord. No. 2017-14, § 10, 6-20-17; Ord. No. 2022-03, § 2, 2-8-22)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 128).
Full Breakdown
Section 15-808(b) of the county's Fertilizer Management Ordinance states the article does not apply to a bona fide farm operation consistent with the Florida Right to Farm Act, F.S. § 823.14, and subsection (c) extends the exemption to pastures used for grazing livestock not otherwise covered by that Act. The county defers to state law rather than imposing its own fertilizer limits on qualifying farm operations.
Violations & Fines
Not applicable: qualifying farm operations are exempt from this article's fertilizer-free zones, application timing, and training requirements under Section 15-808(b).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Orange County's fertilizer ordinance apply to farms?
Are grazing pastures covered by this exemption?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Orange County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Orange County to another location·View the Florida right to farm overview
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