St. Johns County Agricultural Enclave Applications: Updated Map and Status (2026)

Status snapshot: November 4, 2026

St. Johns County has received 16 agricultural enclave applications associated with 12 general locations. Some landowners filed revised applications after withdrawing earlier ones, so the number of applications is greater than the number of sites shown on the map.

As of this status check, three applications have been certified, four have been denied, eight have been withdrawn, and one remains pending. The accompanying map shows approximate locations and nearby road cues. It is meant to help readers recognize the general area, not to show parcel boundaries.

What changed after the October and November hearings?

At its October 20 meeting, the County Commission certified two applications:

• Carter Road Associates: about 200.75 acres near the north end of Carter Road, west of Thompson Bailey Road. Approved 4-1.

• Pacetti Oaks: about 40.5 acres at 3975 Pacetti Road, south of State Road 16. Approved 3-2.

At the November 3 meeting, commissioners unanimously denied the revised Star IV application. The 70.83-acre property is west of State Road 16, south of Grand Oaks, and north of Windward Ranch.

The applicants for Osceola Lakes North and South withdrew those two applications before the November 3 hearing, so the commission did not vote on them. The properties are south of Wildwood Drive and north of Watson Road, about a mile west of U.S. 1.

Where the applications stand

Certified

Three applications are currently listed as approved or certified:

• AFI Property: about 310 acres near County Road 208 and Pacetti Road. Certified September 15.

• Carter Road Associates: about 200.75 acres. Certified October 20.

• Pacetti Oaks: about 40.5 acres. Certified October 20.

“Certified” refers to the agricultural enclave application. It does not mean a final subdivision plan or building permits have been approved.

Denied

Four applications have been denied:

• N Palm Valley Road: about 4,462 acres near Nocatee. Denied September 15. The applicant filed a court petition seeking review of the denial on October 19.

• Heritage Development East: about 615 acres east of I-95 and south of State Road 207.

• Heritage Development West: about 551 acres west of I-95 and south of State Road 207. Both Heritage applications were initially approved in August, then denied on reconsideration in September.

• Star IV: the revised 70.83-acre application west of State Road 16. Denied November 3.

Withdrawn

Eight applications have been withdrawn. Several were earlier filings for sites where an applicant later submitted a revised application:

• Sandy Creek: about 379 acres south of County Road 210 West and east of I-95.

• Adler Creek: an original application for about 610 acres and a revised application for about 594 acres, both withdrawn.

• Star IV: the original application for about 176 acres was withdrawn. A later, smaller application was denied.

• Entrada: about 51 acres near Lightsey Crossing Lane.

• Osceola Lakes: an original application for about 143 acres was withdrawn. The later Osceola Lakes North and South filings, about 103.29 acres and 40 acres, were also withdrawn before the November 3 hearing.

Pending

The remaining application is King, for 36.626 acres at 9400 Byrd Road in Hastings. A public hearing is noticed for November 17, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. The application requests certification for future single-family development at up to one home per acre. No final subdivision layout or development plan is part of that certification request.

What does Florida’s agricultural enclave law do?

Florida’s 2026 law creates a process for owners to ask a local government to certify qualifying agricultural land as an “agricultural enclave.” The statute sets eligibility requirements. They include qualifying agricultural use, tests for how the land is surrounded by existing or planned development, public-service requirements, and limits on acreage. The application must also meet the law’s test for the density allowed on at least one adjacent parcel or development.

Certification can change the planning path for future residential development. If a property is certified, its owner may submit plans for single-family housing at a use, density, and intensity consistent with one or more adjacent parcels or developments. The statute says those plans must be treated as a conforming use even if they differ from the county’s comprehensive plan, future land-use designation, or zoning.

Certification is not the same as approval of a final subdivision layout, site plan, or building permits. Development plans still go through a later review process under the statute.

How can a county deny an application?

A county can deny certification if the evidence does not establish that the application meets the statutory requirements. The denial must be in writing and include detailed findings of fact and conclusions of law. That means the decision should address the evidence and the particular legal criteria, rather than rely only on general opposition to development.

The timeline is short. The county must provide a written report within 30 days after receiving an application, hold a public hearing within 30 days after providing that report, and approve or deny the application within 90 days after receipt. If the county does not approve or deny it within 90 days, the statute says the property must be certified. An applicant may seek circuit-court review of a denial by filing a petition within 30 days of the decision.

For neighbors, a practical first step is to review the application and county staff report, note the hearing date, and follow the county’s instructions for submitting comments or speaking at the hearing. Comments tied to the legal criteria and the record are most useful in this process.

Sources and records: St. Johns County agricultural enclave application portal · Florida Statutes § 163.3162 · Florida Statutes § 163.3164 · October 20 meeting record · November 3 Star IV and Osceola Lakes outcomes

Map locations are approximate, not parcel boundaries. Application statuses can change, so check the county portal for the latest records.

Machell Klee, Realtor®
ONE Florida Group · Real Broker LLC
815-210-3557 · [email protected]