Placer County Horse Properties for Sale

By Matthew Martinez, Founder, CEO & Managing Broker, Diamond Real Estate Group. California DRE #01869679.

Placer County horse properties are mostly in the unincorporated foothills between the valley cities and the Sierra, where the county zoning code’s animal raising and keeping section (17.56.050) sets the rules. That section doesn’t cap horses in most zones. Exceptions include the Agricultural (-AG) combining zone, where the limit is two horses per gross acre, and the Residential Forest (RF) zone, where it’s one per acre, each on a one-acre minimum. Boarding or lesson operations usually need a Minor Use Permit in residential zones. Check the zone and whether the parcel is in a city before you plan the herd size.

At a glance

Where to look in Placer County

Begin with the Placer County real estate hub. Horse-friendly parcels are concentrated in the foothill and rural-residential belt of western Placer: unincorporated areas around Auburn, Loomis, Newcastle, Penryn, Granite Bay, Meadow Vista, Applegate and Foresthill. The valley cities, including Roseville real estate, Rocklin and Lincoln, are mostly planned subdivisions where city zoning applies. Some edges of those cities, and county land just outside them, still have acreage.

Two things decide whether a listing works for horses:

• Jurisdiction. Many unincorporated parcels have an Auburn, Loomis or Roseville mailing address. Inside the Town of Loomis or the Cities of Auburn, Rocklin, Lincoln, Colfax or Roseville, the city’s or town’s code applies, not §17.56.050. Our Placer County jurisdiction and permit research guide shows how to check.
• Setting. Our valley, foothill and mountain comparison explains how lot sizes, utilities and access change as you move east.

For more on how we compare Placer towns by services and rules, see where to live in Placer County.

What to check before you buy

Zone, acreage and horse count

Section 17.56.050 doesn’t set a horse limit in most zones that allow animal keeping. The exceptions are the -AG combining zone (two horses per gross acre) and RF (one per gross acre), both with a one-acre gross minimum. A separate rule covers some -AG subdivisions recorded before 1955: one horse on one-half to nine-tenths of an acre, and two horses on nine-tenths of an acre to one acre.

The version we read is the county’s 2005 edition (Exhibit G, Edition #9), and its zone chart didn’t extract cleanly. Confirm the zone on the parcel record and the current text with Placer County Planning before you count stalls.

Private keeping vs. boarding, lessons and events

The code treats equestrian facilities as a use of their own:

• RA, RF, RES, TPZ, O and -AG zones: Equestrian facilities need a Minor Use Permit, except for "minor equestrian facilities" that meet every listed standard. One standard is that no more than three patrons visit the site at any one time.
• AE, F and FOR zones: Equestrian facilities are allowed if they meet the zone’s development standards and Article 17.54. This section lists no Minor Use Permit.
• Boarding stables: A facility that keeps boarded horses in enclosures, or cares for them other than in pasture, counts as a boarding stable.

If a listing mentions boarding income, ask for the permit and conditions.

Manure, sanitation and enclosures

Section 17.56.050 includes sanitation and manure-control requirements, and it points to §17.56.020 for animal enclosure rules. Ask for the barn and fencing permit history. Look at drainage below paddocks during inspection, because runoff toward a creek or a neighbor’s lot is a common dispute. Our Placer rural house and utilities records guide lists the county records to pull.

Wells, water and septic

Most foothill horse properties use a private well (some also have an irrigation water account) and septic. Test well yield and quality during escrow, and confirm any irrigation water service in writing. If the property diverts from a creek, ask for its water-right filings. Under Water Code section 5101, most surface-water diverters file an annual Statement of Water Diversion and Use with the State Water Resources Control Board.

Fire risk, insurance and evacuation with horses

Foothill parcels often carry wildfire exposure, and that affects both insurance and access. See our Placer County home insurance and site access guide and homeowners insurance during escrow. For the horses themselves, the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s disaster preparedness guide for horse owners recommends:

• Permanent ID and current records for each horse
• Trailers kept fueled, and horses practiced at loading
• Several destinations, with their policies confirmed in advance
• An early departure

Check whether a loaded trailer can get down the driveway and private road. Our guide to private road maintenance agreements covers who maintains a shared road.

Riding near Placer horse properties

Placer County Parks’ Hidden Falls Regional Park, at 7587 Mears Place in Auburn, has more than 30 miles of native-surface, multi-use trails open to horseback riding, plus horse trailer parking. Parking reservations are required on weekends and designated high-use days, and trails can close to riders and cyclists after rain.

Questions people ask

How many horses can I keep per acre in Placer County?

In the -AG combining zone, two per gross acre. In RF, one per gross acre. Both need at least one gross acre. In most other zones that allow animal keeping, §17.56.050 sets no horse limit, but confirm the current text.

Do I need a permit to board horses?

In RA, RF, RES, TPZ, O and -AG zones, an equestrian facility needs a Minor Use Permit unless it meets every standard for a minor equestrian facility, including no more than three patrons on site at once.

Are horses allowed on half-acre lots?

Only in narrow cases. Certain -AG subdivisions recorded before 1955 allow one horse on one-half to nine-tenths of an acre. Otherwise the horse limits apply on parcels of at least one gross acre.

Do county rules apply in Loomis, Auburn or Roseville?

No. Incorporated towns and cities set their own animal-keeping rules. Confirm the jurisdiction on the parcel record.

Where can I trailer in to ride?

Hidden Falls Regional Park near Auburn has horse trailer parking and more than 30 miles of multi-use trails. Reserve parking on weekends and high-use days.

Should I worry about manure and runoff?

Yes. The county section includes sanitation and manure-control requirements. Check drainage and paddock placement during inspection.

Can I use a USDA loan on a horse property?

Some rural Placer homes may qualify for USDA financing, but income-producing farm use and acreage limit eligibility. See our USDA rural home loans guide and talk with a lender.

Sources & notes

1. Placer County, Section 17.56.050 Animal Raising and Keeping (Exhibit G, Edition #9, January 2005, in a Board of Supervisors document). The current Placer County Code may differ. Confirm with Placer County Planning Services before you rely on it.
2. Placer County Parks, Hidden Falls Regional Park.
3. California Department of Food and Agriculture, Disaster Preparedness for Horse Owners.
4. State Water Resources Control Board, Statements of Water Diversion and Use; Water Code §5101.

Enclosure setbacks (§17.56.020) aren’t summarized here because we didn’t open that section. General information, not legal advice. Updated November 2026. Primary sources are linked in this guide.

Related: Placer County homes for sale · Where to live in Placer County · Placer County land for sale · Buying land in California · Woodside residential and equestrian property · Equestrian, ranch and acreage properties in Sonoma County