Starting an agribusiness? Before beginning, you must first determine if a potential location complies with local ordinances and zoning requirements.

As you begin, create a good working relationship with both the County Tax Assessor’s office and the Planning department. How? Address zoning BEFORE proceeding. Make sure your proposed location meets the requirements for both the County Master plan and zoning ordinances. If you choose a location that does not have the proper zoning designation, you can apply for a variance from a municipality or county. However, it can be a difficult process. Remember, municipalities also have their own set of zoning ordinances to be considered!

Keep in mind, the Right to Farm Act provides protection for some existing agricultural operations. However, it does not protect new agricultural businesses from regulation. That’s a discussion for another blog post.

Determine if a property is zoned for agricultural use in our County by visiting the Brevard County zoning map site at
the County Assessor’s website to find designations.

First click on one of the following buttons:

• Parcel Owner Search
• TaxAcct Search
• Parcel Address Search

Next, click the “Search” button. The site will display a parcel map. The website displays parcels outlined in pink with ID numbers. Click on an ID number, and the website will display a pop-up window with the zoning designation. Brevard County has three zoning designations of interest:

• Productive agricultural zoning classification, PA
• Agricultural zoning classification, AGR
• Agricultural residential zoning classification, AU

If a zoning classification does not contain the word “agricultural”, it will most likely cost you both time and money. Remember, the cardinal rule for situating a successful agribusiness…it’s all about location, location, location.

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