Right to Farm Ordinance

In the late 1970s, the Ventura County Board of Supervisors adopted a “Right to Farm Ordinance” intended to protect the farming community from developments that would inhibit their ability to continue agricultural production. The Ordinance does so by exempting commercial agricultural operations performing customary practices from local nuisance ordinances . Included in the Ordinance is procedures for Mediation through our office.

The Ventura County Right-to-Farm Ordinance consists of two components. The first component is found in the enforcement sections of the Coastal and Non-Coastal Zoning Ordinances, Sec. 8183-4.1 and Sec. 8114-2.1.1, respectively. These sections of the code protect farmers engaged in agricultural activity from public nuisance claims.

The second component of the Right-to-Farm Ordinance is found in several sections of the Ventura County Code of Ordinances: Sec. 9121, Sec. 9131, and Sec. 9136. These sections of the Right-to-Farm Ordinance were updated in 1997 through Ordinance 4151. They require mandatory real estate disclosures to purchasers of properties neighboring agriculture of the potential noise, odors, dust, and spraying that may result from farming. Additionally, these sections detail procedures for mediation of disputes that may arise. The intent is to properly inform and to set realistic expectations for new residents and occupants of buildings located adjacent to farming operations. In essence, this section of the Ordinance informs purchasers that existing agricultural operations inherently have noise, odor, and other potentially annoying activities that are associated with accepted agricultural operations.

For further information on the County’s Right to Farm Ordinance, please contact Alec Thille or Melonie Morgan at (805) 933-2926 or contact the Planning Division at (805) 654-2788