Agricultural districts are special geographic areas where agriculture is encouraged and protected — a comprehensive response to the challenges facing farmers in developing communities. To maintain the land base for agriculture, some agricultural district programs protect farmland from annexation and eminent domain. Some increase restrictions on minimum lot sizes, buffer requirements, and non-agricultural development. Many also require that state agencies limit new infrastructure, such as roads and sewers.
Agricultural districts are typically based on criteria such as soils, topographical features, location, lands currently in agricultural easements or preserve contracts and development densities.
The term "agriculture" may include grazing lands, depending on the context (in the RUCS project, references to "agriculture" include grazing lands) may be considered in the formation of agricultural districts, or grazing districts could even be formed.
Yolo County established the Clarksburg Agricultural District in January 2008 and is currently evaluating Capay Valley and Dunnigan Hills as future districts.