Relocating Livestock Farms Away from Residential Areas: Support, New Locations & Implementation Plan

Regulations on areas where livestock farming is not allowed, safe distance requirements, environmental protection, and planning for centralized livestock farming zones may require some farms located inside or near residential areas to relocate, convert, or adjust their operations according to each locality’s roadmap.

If you currently operate a farm inside a residential area, near a residential area, or in an urbanizing area, this article provides an overview of the legal framework, support policies, new location options, and key preparation steps.

Specific information about whether a farm is subject to relocation, the applicable deadline, the level of support, and the required documents must be confirmed with the local People’s Committee, the Department of Agriculture and Environment, or the specialized agency assigned by the locality, as policies may vary between provinces and cities.

What is a centralized livestock farming zone, and why do farms need to relocate?

Definition of centralized livestock farming zones under the Law on Animal Husbandry and guiding decrees

A centralized livestock farming zone can be understood as an area that a locality has identified or planned for concentrated livestock production, with more suitable conditions in terms of land, distance, technical infrastructure, waste treatment, and disease control.

The Law on Animal Husbandry No. 32/2018/QH14 and Decree No. 13/2020/ND-CP are two important legal bases related to livestock farming conditions, areas where livestock farming is not allowed, and safe distance requirements for livestock facilities. In addition, regulations on land, environment, construction, veterinary management, and local planning also directly affect whether a farm must relocate.

Circular No. 02/2020/TT-BNNPTNT mainly regulates criteria for farm economy classification. Therefore, when determining safe distance requirements or relocation obligations, farm owners should not rely only on this Circular. They need to cross-check the Law on Animal Husbandry, Decree No. 13/2020/ND-CP, local planning, and current guiding documents.

According to national livestock development strategies such as Decision No. 1520/QD-TTg and subsequent implementation documents, Vietnam is moving livestock production from scattered, small-scale farming inside residential areas toward centralized, industrial, or semi-industrial livestock farming zones. However, detailed roadmaps, specific deadlines, and the scope of application are determined and announced by provincial People’s Committees.

Why the State requires farms to move out of residential areas

There are three main reasons behind policies requiring livestock farms to relocate or adjust operations away from residential areas:

Environmental pollution and public health:

Livestock farms in residential areas may generate odors, wastewater, solid waste, emissions, and noise, directly affecting nearby residents, especially in rapidly urbanizing areas.

Disease risks:

High density of people and livestock in the same area can increase the risk of disease transmission. Experience from outbreaks of avian influenza, African swine fever, and several other infectious diseases shows that outbreaks inside residential areas are often more difficult to control than those at farms with biosecurity barriers and clear isolation procedures.

The need to industrialize the livestock sector:

Vietnam is moving toward a livestock industry with higher productivity, clearer traceability, and more consistent quality control. This is difficult to achieve if livestock farming remains scattered in residential areas, with limited waste treatment infrastructure and weak disease control.

Scope of application: farm types and areas that may be subject to relocation

Not every livestock facility is required to relocate under the same deadline. Whether a farm must relocate depends on local planning, safe distance requirements, environmental conditions, farming scale, and decisions issued by competent authorities.

The groups that usually need careful review include:

• Livestock facilities located in areas where livestock farming is not allowed under local regulations.
• Farms located in inner-city areas, urban areas, concentrated residential areas, or urbanizing areas.
• Livestock facilities that do not meet safe distance, environmental, or disease prevention requirements.
• Farms located in areas already included in a land-use conversion plan.
• Facilities that want to expand but whose current location is no longer suitable under planning requirements.

Small-scale household livestock farming may follow a different roadmap or handling approach compared with commercial farms, depending on local regulations. Therefore, farm owners should check directly with the commune/district People’s Committee, the Department of Agriculture and Environment, or the specialized agency assigned by the locality.

Regulations and deadlines for farm relocation

Relocation roadmap and timeline by locality

Under the direction of livestock development, moving livestock facilities that are no longer suitable out of residential areas or urbanizing zones is usually carried out according to each locality’s roadmap. In practice, each province or city may turn this general direction into specific plans for relocation, conversion, or restrictions on livestock development by year.

The key point to understand is that relocation deadlines may differ between localities. Land-use planning, relocation plans, support levels, and implementation timelines fall under the authority of the provincial People’s Committee or the assigned agency. Farm owners need to compare their situation directly with the relocation plan issued by their locality, instead of relying only on general information at the central level.

Exemptions and exceptional cases

Some cases may be considered for a separate handling roadmap, depending on each locality’s specific regulations:

• Farms that have invested in waste treatment systems and have been confirmed by competent authorities as meeting environmental requirements.
• Locations that are not yet included in the immediate relocation plan or have not been converted to another land-use purpose in the current planning period.
• Facilities that still meet distance requirements, disease prevention conditions, and do not generate serious complaints.
• Force majeure cases confirmed by competent authorities.

However, meeting technical conditions does not mean a farm is permanently exempt from relocation. Farm owners should request written guidance from the local specialized agency before deciding to continue investing or delay relocation.

Legal consequences if relocation is not completed on time

Depending on the act and severity of the violation, a livestock facility that fails to meet requirements may be subject to administrative penalties, corrective measures, suspension of operations, or other handling measures under regulations on livestock farming, environment, land, and construction.

In addition, farms that fail to follow the relocation roadmap may face the following risks:

• Losing the right to receive relocation support if the policy only applies within the announced period.
• Not being allowed to expand, upgrade, or renovate the facility at the old location.
• Facing land-related penalties if the land is being used against planning requirements or for the wrong purpose.
• Having difficulty obtaining environmental confirmation, quarantine documents, livestock farming condition approval, or related documents.

If there are difficulties with the timeline, farm owners should proactively work with local authorities to request guidance or a written extension, rather than missing the deadline without notification.

Financial support, land access, and loan options when relocating

Types of support that may be considered

Support policies for farm relocation do not automatically apply to every case. Whether support is available depends on the land recovery decision or relocation decision issued by the competent authority, the legal status of the land and assets on the land, the local budget, planning for the new livestock farming zone, and each specific support program.

Some forms of support that may be considered include:

Compensation and asset support

If there is a valid land recovery decision or relocation decision, the farm owner may be considered for compensation, dismantling support, transportation support, or production stabilization support under land regulations and local policies.

The level of support depends on the legal documents for the land, structures on the land, asset inventory records, construction timing, land-use status, and the decision of the competent authority. Assets built without permits or without sufficient legal documents may not be fully compensated. The final result depends on the inventory assessment and specific decision.

Land allocation, land lease, or access to land at the new location

Some localities may allocate or lease land in centralized livestock farming zones or in areas suitable under local planning. However, land access conditions, rental prices, lease terms, incentives, and financial obligations must be confirmed directly with the Department of Agriculture and Environment, district/commune People’s Committee, or the agency assigned by the locality.

Farm owners should not assume that every relocation case will be granted land or offered preferential land rent. They need to check the available land fund, planning status, approval criteria, and required documents at the local level.

Loans

Farm owners may explore agricultural credit programs, policy loans, or suitable commercial loan packages to support relocation and reinvestment. Interest rates, credit limits, loan terms, collateral requirements, and disbursement conditions must be discussed directly with the bank at the time of application.

Low-interest loans should not be viewed as an automatic entitlement when relocating. In practice, banks still assess the business plan, collateral, credit history, and repayment ability of each case.

Eligibility conditions for each type of support

Type of support	Common conditions to meet	Important note
Compensation and asset support	A land recovery decision or relocation decision issued by a competent authority; land and structures have appropriate legal documents	Compensation/support levels depend on inventory results and local decisions
Land allocation or lease in a new zone	Registration within the announced period; the new location is suitable under planning; a feasible livestock investment plan is available	Land incentives, if any, depend on land availability, approval criteria, and each province’s policy
Loans	A production and business plan, repayment capacity, legal documents, and collateral or suitable credit conditions	Each case must be assessed under the bank’s regulations
Dismantling and transportation support	An approved relocation plan or inclusion in a local support program	Not every locality has a separate support package for this item
Production stabilization support	A reinvestment plan at the new location and compliance with the conditions of the support program	Written confirmation from the receiving agency is needed

Checklist of documents to prepare when applying for relocation support

The list below is a general reference guide. Specific documents may differ depending on the locality and type of support. Farm owners should confirm the exact document list with the local receiving agency before submitting.

• Application for relocation support using the form issued by the locality.
• Land-use right certificate or land lease contract for the current facility.
• Construction permit, business registration certificate, or related legal documents, if any.
• Relocation decision or notice from a competent authority, if already issued.
• Asset inventory record prepared by the competent authority.
• Relocation plan and reinvestment plan at the new location.
• Documents for the proposed new location, if already identified.
• Environmental documents, livestock documents, and veterinary documents, if any.
• Citizen ID card of the household owner or legal documents of the legal representative.
• Credit documents or loan plan if the farm owner needs bank financing.

New centralized livestock farming locations in Vietnam

Provinces implementing centralized livestock farming zone planning

The national livestock development strategy sets a direction for regional concentration across the country. Some localities have been developing centralized livestock farming zones or moving livestock farming away from residential areas.

However, the exact list, boundaries of each zone, investment acceptance conditions, and infrastructure readiness must be checked against each province or city’s planning and implementation plans. No reference list should be treated as the final legal basis.

Farm owners should contact the Department of Agriculture and Environment, district/commune People’s Committee, or the specialized agency assigned by the locality to confirm:

• Whether the proposed location is in an area where livestock farming is allowed.
• Whether it is located inside a centralized livestock farming zone or an area encouraged for livestock development.
• What requirements apply regarding distance, environment, disease prevention, and waste treatment infrastructure.
• Whether any support policies or incentives are currently available in the locality.
• Which agency receives applications for investment registration, land lease, or relocation support.

Comparison table: new location vs. farm location inside a residential area

Criteria	Farm inside a residential area	Centralized livestock farming zone or new location suitable under planning
Legal status	May face risks if located in an area where livestock farming is not allowed or if safe distance requirements are not met	More likely to align with planning, but land, environment, construction, and livestock condition documents still need to be completed
Environment	More likely to generate complaints about odor, wastewater, noise, and disease risks	May be more favorable for waste treatment and biosecurity investment, but actual infrastructure must be checked
Expansion potential	Usually limited by land area, distance requirements, and planning	May be more favorable if located in an area where livestock development is allowed
Land cost	May be higher if located near urban or residential areas	Depends on land availability, local policies, and the infrastructure management unit
Logistics infrastructure	May depend on residential roads, making access difficult for large trucks	Transport roads, electricity, water, waste treatment, and distance to slaughterhouses/buyers must be checked
Market access	Close to consumption areas but may face restrictions on transport, environment, and road load limits	May be farther away, but more favorable if well connected to transport routes and purchasing chains

Notes on evaluating and selecting a suitable location

When considering a location in a centralized livestock farming zone or another new location suitable under planning, the practical factors below directly affect operating costs and profitability:

Existing infrastructure

Prioritize areas with stable electricity, roads strong enough for transporting feed and livestock, suitable water sources, waste treatment capacity, and connections to slaughterhouses or buyers. If infrastructure is incomplete, the farm owner must include self-investment costs in the total relocation budget.

Transport distance

The distance from the new location to slaughterhouses, feed mills, consumption points, or end markets directly affects production costs. A location with low rent but far from major transport routes may become more expensive in the long run.

Land-use cost and form

It is important to distinguish between leasing land from the State, leasing land from an infrastructure company, leasing land from an individual, or entering a partnership model. Each form has different legal risks, lease terms, financial obligations, and procedures.

Disease prevention conditions

Areas with a history of disease outbreaks, areas near rivers or lakes prone to flooding, locations near live animal transport routes, or areas near newly developed residential zones are all factors that need careful review before investment.

Expansion potential

The new location should not only be sufficient for the current scale. It should also take into account expansion needs over the next 5–10 years if the farm’s business strategy includes increasing herd/flock size or upgrading technology.

Step-by-step farm relocation implementation plan

Step 1 — Identify the current legal status

Farm owners need to review all land documents, construction documents, livestock documents, environmental documents, and the actual distance from the farm to residential areas, roads, water sources, or sensitive areas.

At the same time, they should check planning information with the Department of Agriculture and Environment, district/commune People’s Committee, or the specialized agency assigned by the locality to determine whether the farm is subject to relocation, operational adjustment, or conversion.

Step 2 — Register for relocation and request support if eligible

If there is a relocation notice or decision, the farm owner should contact the commune/district People’s Committee where the farm is located to ask which agency receives the application, what the submission deadline is, and which application form must be used.

At this stage, the farm owner should conduct asset inventory with the competent authority and keep all minutes, decisions, notices, and written exchanges. Verbal communication alone should be avoided, as a lack of written documents may delay the support review process.

Step 3 — Survey and finalize the new location

Farm owners should survey at least 2–3 locations instead of choosing the first one. Key criteria to check include land legality, livestock planning, electricity, water, transport roads, distance to slaughterhouses/buyers, disease prevention conditions, waste treatment capacity, and long-term land lease costs.

After choosing a location, the farm owner needs to negotiate and sign a land lease contract, request land allocation, or complete land-use procedures in accordance with regulations. Before signing a long-term contract, the farm owner should ask the lessor or local authority to provide written planning information if possible.

Step 4 — Complete legal procedures at the new location

Depending on the scale and type of project, the farm owner may need to complete the following procedures:

• Land procedures or a valid land lease contract.
• Construction procedures if a permit or notification is required.
• Environmental procedures under current regulations, which may include an environmental impact assessment, environmental permit, environmental registration, or other documents depending on the scale, capacity, animal species, and project characteristics.
• Livestock farming condition documents if applicable.
• Quarantine, veterinary, and disease prevention documents related to restocking, animal transport, or changing the farming location.

The same set of documents should not be used for every case, because actual requirements vary by scale, animal species, production capacity, locality, and the legal status of the project.

Step 5 — Build and install facilities at the new location

Once the basic legal documents are clear, the farm owner can begin building livestock houses, waste treatment systems, feed storage, isolation areas, electricity and water systems, biosecurity fences, and operating areas.

This stage usually takes the most time. Farm owners should plan construction at the new location in parallel with gradually reducing operations at the old facility to minimize production downtime.

Step 6 — Transport livestock, dismantle the old facility, and hand over the old site

Animal transport should be carried out according to a plan that meets quarantine requirements and guidance from the local veterinary authority. For animals or animal products subject to quarantine, a valid quarantine certificate is required before transport.

After the animals have been moved to the new location, the farm owner needs to dismantle the old structures according to the approved plan, hand over the site if required, and complete the remaining support procedures if applicable.

Reference timeline by stage

The table below is a reference timeline for a medium-sized farm. In practice, it should be adjusted based on the local plan, farm scale, and processing speed for each procedure.

Stage	Reference timeframe	Main content
Preparation	First 3–6 months	Review legal status, determine whether the farm is subject to relocation, and work with local authorities
Planning	Next 3–6 months	Survey new locations, finalize the financial plan, and estimate costs
Legal procedures	3–6 months or longer	Complete land, construction, environmental, and livestock condition documents as required
Construction	6–9 months	Build the new facility, install equipment, and test systems
Relocation and handover	2–4 months	Transport livestock, dismantle the old facility, and hand over the site if required
Stable operation	After handover	Operate officially at the new location and complete support documents if any

Large farms or farms with specific animals such as cattle, buffalo, or sows need to adjust the construction and transport timeline accordingly. The actual total timeline depends significantly on the processing speed of local authorities, construction progress, and capital mobilization capacity.

Common mistakes and risks to avoid when relocating a farm

Waiting until the deadline is near before registering

This is the most common mistake. Legal procedures at the new location, such as land, construction, environment, and livestock condition procedures, may take many months. Late registration can lead to delayed construction, delayed operation, and loss of support opportunities if the policy has a deadline.

Not checking the new location’s infrastructure carefully before signing a contract

Many farm owners only look at land rent without checking electricity, water, transport roads, waste treatment capacity, or flood risks. This can easily cause delays and major additional costs after the contract has already been signed.

Building more at the old facility after a relocation notice has been issued

Investing more in the old farm after a relocation decision or notice has been issued is a major financial risk, because assets added after the notice may not be fully included in support or compensation.

Transporting animals without a quarantine certificate when quarantine is required

Transporting animals or animal products subject to quarantine without a valid quarantine certificate may result in penalties under veterinary law. Farm owners need to confirm quarantine requirements with the local veterinary authority before transport.

Handing over the old site before the new facility is ready to operate

Some farm owners hand over the old site while the new facility is not yet complete, leading to long production interruptions. The transition period should be clearly negotiated in writing with the competent authority.

Not keeping complete written records

All agreements, asset inventory records, support decisions, relocation notices, asset documents, and cost receipts should be stored carefully. Missing documents are one of the reasons why support review, disbursement, or final settlement can be delayed.

FAQ: Common questions about relocating farms away from residential areas

Which provinces are covered by centralized livestock farming zone planning?

In principle, the Law on Animal Husbandry and its guiding decrees apply nationwide. However, relocation deadlines, priority levels, restricted areas, and support policies differ between localities.

Provinces with fast urbanization, high density of farms inside residential areas, or strong environmental pressure often have more active implementation roadmaps. However, farm owners need to check the livestock relocation plan and land-use planning of the province or city where the farm is located to obtain the most accurate information.

How much relocation support is available, and what are the eligibility conditions?

There is no single support level applied nationwide. The specific level of support depends on the decision of the provincial People’s Committee, local budget, legal status of the land and assets, inventory results, and each support program.

Basic conditions often include: a relocation or land recovery decision issued by a competent authority, assets with appropriate legal documents, registration within the announced period, and a relocation/reinvestment plan that is eligible for review. Farm owners should contact the Department of Agriculture and Environment, Department of Finance, district/commune People’s Committee, or the assigned local agency for specific conditions.

What happens if a farm does not relocate on time?

Depending on the severity of the violation, the farm may be subject to administrative penalties, corrective measures, suspension of operations, or other handling measures under regulations on livestock farming, environment, land, and construction.

In addition, a farm that misses the deadline may lose the opportunity to receive support if the policy only applies within a certain period. If there are difficulties with progress, the farm owner should proactively work with the local authority to request guidance or a written extension.

Where and when should relocation support applications be submitted?

The receiving agency is usually specified by the locality in the relocation notice or plan. Farm owners can begin by asking the commune/ward People’s Committee where the farm is located, then follow the guidance to the district People’s Committee, the Department of Agriculture and Environment, or the specialized agency assigned by the locality.

The application deadline is usually announced together with the relocation decision or plan. Farm owners should submit early enough to allow time for supplementation if the application is incomplete.

Where can farm owners look up the nearest centralized livestock farming zone to their current farm?

The search should begin with the provincial/city Department of Agriculture and Environment, district/commune People’s Committee, local planning agency, or the official portal of the provincial People’s Committee. For central-level industry information, farm owners may refer to the Department of Animal Health and Production under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.

Farm owners should also review land-use planning maps, the locality’s annual land-use plan, and information about centralized livestock farming zones if the locality has published them.

How to look up information and prepare for the relocation process

The farm relocation process involves several procedures at the same time: legal, financial, technical, environmental, and logistical. Missing one step can delay the entire timeline.

Because support policies and relocation deadlines may change by locality and stage, farm owners should regularly update information directly from management agencies instead of relying only on general information.

Sources to consult include:

• The commune/ward People’s Committee where the farm is located.
• The district People’s Committee.
• The provincial/city Department of Agriculture and Environment.
• The Department of Finance if support, compensation, or local budget matters are involved.
• The Department of Animal Health and Production under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment if central-level industry information is needed.
• The official portal of the provincial/city People’s Committee.
• The Land Registration Office or local planning agency if land information needs to be checked.

The most practical first step is to contact the Department of Agriculture and Environment or the specialized agency assigned by the locality to confirm whether the farm is subject to relocation, the specific deadline that applies, the receiving agency for applications, and available support policies, if any.

Update Policies and Sustainable Livestock Development Solutions at VIETSTOCK 2026

VIETSTOCK 2026 – Vietnam’s Premier International Feed, Livestock, Meat Industry Show – is expected to bring together more than 300 brands and 13,000 trade visitors from many countries, including government agencies, livestock enterprises, equipment suppliers, and agricultural development support organizations. This is an opportunity to:

• Speak directly with government agencies and industry experts about centralized livestock farming zone planning, legal requirements, and sustainable livestock development roadmaps under the new direction.
• Explore livestock housing solutions, waste treatment systems, and operating equipment that meet biosecurity, environmental, and modern livestock farming standards.
• Connect with infrastructure investors, land leasing units, and financial institutions to learn about opportunities to access centralized livestock farming zones and capital solutions for reinvestment at a new location.
• Update industry trends toward centralized production, supply chain standardization, and higher environmental standards that are reshaping investment and operating opportunities for medium and large farms in Vietnam.

Time: October 21–23, 2026

Venue: Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), 799 Nguyen Van Linh, Ho Chi Minh City.

Register now to capture development and networking opportunities in the livestock industry:

Visitor registration: https://www.vietstock.org/en/online-registration-2/

Event website: https://www.vietstock.org/en/

Contact information:

• Exhibiting: Ms. Sophie Nguyen – [email protected]
• Group Delegation Support: Ms. Phuong – [email protected]
• Marcom Support: Ms. Anita Pham – [email protected]