Agricultural zoning, including forestry zoning, restricts land uses to farming and livestock, other kinds of open-space activities and limited home building. It is sometimes used in tandem with urban growth restrictions.

A local government ordinance limits nonfarm development. It can protect large areas of farmland at a low public cost. Types: exclusive agricultural zoning, large minimum lot size, area-based allocation (either fixed or sliding), and agricultural buffer zones.

A designation intended to protect farmland and farming activities from incompatible nonfarm uses. Agricultural zoning can specify many factors, such as the uses allowed, minimum farm size, the number of nonfarm dwellings allowed or the size of a buffer separating farm and nonfarm properties.