Goat yoga actually is considered an “agri-tourism” activity by the federal government, so Sugar Sweet Farm now can legally offer it under a newly revised city permit.
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The beloved family farm also can also offer summer “farm camp” sessions for kids, host up to 16 events a month and have up to 40 people at farm events at any one time, not counting family members.
The Encinitas City Council agreed last week in a 4-0 vote to rework the farm’s city agricultural permit documents, in response to neighbors’ complaints and city code compliance confusion. Councilmember Luke Shaffer, who described himself as a farm volunteer and a strong supporter, recused himself from voting.
The new permit revisions will allow “agri-tourism” activities, as defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This will make it easier for city code enforcement officers to determine what’s permissible on the site and resolve conflicts with neighbors, council members said.
“Like a judge, I don’t want to see you back here,” Mayor Bruce Ehlers said as he told the farm’s owners that he wanted “rock solid perimeters” around what’s allowed.
Before the vote, farm owner Elizabeth Sugarman and her children — Margaret “Sissy” and Samuel “Bubba” Sugarman — told the council that they informally began operating the farm at their home in Olivenhain more than 20 years ago to introduce children to the joys of farm animals and home-grown produce. In recent years, as the farm has expanded its offerings, they have tried to meet city standards and resolve some neighbors’ concerns, they said.
“Caring for our farm is a labor of love,” Elizabeth Sugarman said as she described how they initially allowed visits by Scout troops and homeschool children, then expanded beyond that.
Her son said they wanted school children to learn what it was like to hold a baby chick or pick an orange from a tree, while her daughter said she’s heading off to veterinary school this fall thanks in large part to all she learned on the family farm.
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In order to visit Sugar Sweet Farm, people must make advance reservations. No one is allowed to just show up for a tour or buy farm products, Elizabeth Sugarman stressed to the council.
Despite this restriction, some of the farm’s adjacent neighbors have voiced concerns in recent years about increased traffic, noise and the number of people attending farm events. They’ve filed complaints with the city, saying the farm business isn’t in compliance with city codes for residential neighborhoods because it has added goat yoga and other paid activities.
In response, the City Council agreed in March 2025 to grant the farm one of the city’s special, new agricultural permits, but placed limits on that permit due to neighbors’ concerns. City officials said goat yoga wasn’t allowed as a paid event because it was considered a non-farm, commercial activity.
However, at last week’s meeting, city development services assistant director Meagan Openshaw said Encinitas now has more information about what the U.S. Department of Agriculture considers “agri-tourism” and goat yoga is permissible because it’s considered an animal interaction that promotes an agricultural business, rather than a regular fitness class.
Also allowed under the federal agriculture promotion standards are farm education programs, and the Sugar Sweet Farm’s summer camp for kids fits that definition, so it no longer needs to be listed in city permit documents as a day care with 12 children or less, Openshaw added. Day cares normally are permitted as a “by right” item in residential areas.
While city officials said the permit changes would make it easier for city code enforcement to make permit compliance findings and thus reduce neighborhood conflicts, a couple of neighboring residents said the farm’s owners have previously violated city codes by advertising paid commercial activities even after being told they couldn’t, so they shouldn’t be trusted to follow the new rules.
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