§ 5.11. Agricultural Activities.

Agricultural activities may occur in the various districts as established by Appendix 4F, Zoning District Matrix but shall be restricted in intensity and in relation to human domestic density according to the following provisions. Note that animal maintenance is further restricted by the distance limitations and other restrictions of the Santa Fe Code of Ordinances, Chapter 2, Animal Control.

5.11.01. Agricultural uses, all districts, crop and truck: no limitations.

5.11.02. Agriculture uses, with animal husbandry in whole or in part.

A.

The maximum density shall be as set out in Table #1:

Table #1
Expressed as "animal units per acre".

Property Size	Animal type, mature weight < 25 lbs.	Animal type, mature weight 25 to 200 lbs.	Animal type, mature weight > 200 lbs.
Up to ¼ acre	6	0	0
Subsequent ¼—½ acre containing residence	12	3	0.5*
Subsequent ½ to 1 acre containing residence	36	6	2.5*
All acreage over one acre or acreage containing no residence	100	12	5 units per acre
Stables, private	See limits shown above
Stables, public	AR-Agricultural/Residential District only- 5 animal units per acres

 

NOTE: Permissible quantities are additive as acreage increases.

Table #2
Expressed as "animal units per acre".

Property Size	Animal type, mature weight < 25 lbs.	Animal type, mature weight 25 to 200 lbs.	Animal type, mature weight > 200 lbs.
Animal unit count per acre	54	9	3

 

*One animal greater than one year of age = One animal unit

*One animal under one (1) year in age = One-half (½) animal unit

B.

Wherever animal unit counts per acre exceed the limits of Table #2, methods must be instituted for the control and removal of animal manure. Manure produced in excess of the natural biological breakdown and absorption rate of the land shall be removed from the site on a periodic basis. Manure shall not be allowed to accumulate in a manner or quantities that cause a public nuisance, a health risk or contamination of storm water runoff leaving the property. Collected manure shall be stored on a stabilized non-absorbent surface and shall be contained by methods or structures capable of limiting polluted storm water run-off to neighboring properties and drainage systems. Overgrazing or animal densities causing the destruction of 50 percent of the normally occurring natural vegetative ground cover, over the area devoted to the agricultural activity, shall be deemed as prima facie evidence of excessive animal densities regardless of whether the densities comply with the above tables. Animal densities shall thereafter be reduced to mitigate the condition.

(Ord. No. 19-2003, 8-28-03)