Equine Ordinance

Overview

The Equine Policy and Ordinance Development project updated the County of San Diego’s Zoning Ordinance with regard to equine uses.

On July 13, 2011, the Board of Supervisors directed staff to develop an ordinance for the permitting of a commercial horse stable.
On September 11, 2013 the project was presented to the Board, with a tiered system of permitting that eliminated the need for a discretionary permit for some horse stables depending on the numbers of horses and the size of usable acreage for a stable.
The project was approved by the Board of Supervisors on September 11, 2013. The ordinance was effective Friday October 11, 2013.
Read the Board Minute Order.

The focus of the changes in the ordinance was to update regulations for commercial horse stables, in particular the requirement for a Major Use Permit in certain areas.
The project provided greater permit flexibility with regulation tiers that are more restrictive with the intensity of the equine options, starting with a ministerial approval for the least intensive.

(POD 11-011)

Use the drop down below to select your preferred language for the Composting and Manure Management Guide.

Summer - Winter 2012
- Community Planning and Sponsor Group Presentations regarding the Draft Ordinance Outline and Draft EIR.
January 19 - February 17, 2012
- Notice of Preparation of an Environmental Impact Report public review
October 2011
- Draft Ordinance Summary with initial recommendations on the project.
July 2011
- Staff was directed by the Board to develop a tiered Equine Ordinance. For additional information on the options that were considered, refer to the: July 13, 2011 Board Letter
May 2011
- Staff presented the Equine Options to the Planning Commission for consideration. For additional information refer to the: Planning Commission Hearing Report
March 2011
- The Board directed staff to Explore Options for Updating Equine Regulations: Item # 2 Equine Board Letter March 2, 2011