The County of San Diego Agriculture and Livestock Pass Program

Allows commercial agriculture or livestock operators access to restricted areas to care for crops and animals. The Ag Pass would allow law enforcement and fire officials to identify pass holders at roadblocks and inside an evacuated area.

Only fire and law enforcement can make the decision for entry, which will be based on fire behavior and safety for the pass holders. Holding a pass doesn’t authorize an individual to ignore evacuation orders and it doesn’t guarantee access. 

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For livestock operations, the Ag Pass will be limited to the purposes of sheltering, moving, transporting, evacuating, feeding, watering, or administering veterinary care to livestock. For agricultural operations, the Ag Pass will allow work on irrigation systems, farm equipment, and other essential infrastructure.

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Additionally, Ag Pass holders will be required to acknowledge the inherent risks and hazards associated with accessing restricted areas subject to official road closure as the result of a local emergency and agree to indemnify and hold the County of San Diego harmless from any potential liability.

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Phase 1 in Fall 2022 - Accepting applications through October 1, 2022 

Commercial cattle and equestrian operators and managerial employees in the unincorporated area

Phase 2 in Spring/Summer 2023

All commercial livestock or agricultural operators and managerial employees in the unincorporated area

 

Fire Safety Training

Verified applicants will be contacted by County Fire to schedule the annual mandatory training conducted by CAL FIRE.

Upcoming training scheduled  Oct 13 and the tentative location will be the San Diego County Farm Bureau office in Escondido.

The training will take four hours* and it covers fire safety, fire behavior and weather, entrapment avoidance, evacuation, communications and incident command.

*The initial training is four hours, and the annual refresher training is one hour.

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Verification of a Commercial Operation

Interested parties will submit an application and a minimum of two verification documents to County Fire and then Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures will review and confirm the operation’s commercial status. Examples of documentation for verification of a commercial operation include:

• Redacted tax forms or other business documentation (LLC/partnership/incorporation)

• AWM issued Operator ID

• Restricted Materials Pesticide Permit

• Certified Producer Certificate

• California State Organic Program Registration

• California Department of Agriculture Livestock Identification Number

• Industry Association Letter - CCA & San Diego-Imperial Association Membership 

• USDA Documentation for Commercial Livestock Producer

• USDA Farm Services Agency Farm Number

• Permitted equestrian facility

• Brand # and/or Brand Certification Documentation

• USDA Documentation for Commercial Livestock Producer

• Zoning or use permit, such as permitted agricultural zoning commercial horse stable 

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Now accepting applications from commercial cattle and equestrian operations in the unincorporated area.

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Questions and completed applications can be sent to Ag.Pass@sdcounty.ca.gov

 

Application Checklist:

• Business name and applicant name

• Contact info and address (including APN or Lat/Long)

• 2 forms of verification to show it is a commercial operation – such as tax documentation, industry association membership, zoning or use permit, or something else you want us to consider (like a website or tax ID)

• Estimated acreage or number of livestock (horses)

• If you are including a managerial employee, we need an emergency plan and insurance documentation

• Signed Waiver and Release Agreement