Pine Ridge is one of Citrus County's largest and most established acreage communities — generous lots, mature oak canopy, room to roam. Before you buy, the details that matter most aren't in the listing — they're in the deed restrictions: what you can build, how the community is governed, and (for those who want them) the horse and barn rules.
Pine Ridge was built around horses. It offers 27.3 miles of horseback-riding and walking trails and a 94-acre equestrian and sports complex with a show arena, dressage ring, jumping ring, trail arena, round pen, and cross-country area.
One of the most useful — and least-known — benefits for horse owners: the community barn at the Equestrian Complex can house up to 17 property owners' horses during the time they are building their own barn. If you already own horses and need somewhere to keep them while you construct on your lot, this can be the difference-maker.
Barns for housing horses are permitted on most lots in Pine Ridge Estates — but not everywhere. There is at least one important exception, the Country Club section (see Section Differences below). Always confirm the rule for the specific lot and section you're considering.
If keeping horses is the reason you're buying, this is exactly the kind of thing to confirm before you make an offer — not after.
Pine Ridge is deed-restricted, and the rules for accessory structures — barns, detached garages, sheds, workshops — are specific and they scale with lot size. Smaller lots carry stricter caps on the number and total square footage of accessory buildings; larger lots allow more, but everything still has to meet placement, height, material, and design standards.
| Lot size | Max # of structures | Max total sq ft |
|---|---|---|
| 2 acres or less | 2 | 2,000 |
| 2–3 acres | 3 | 3,500 |
| 3–5 acres | 4 | 5,000 |
| 5+ acres | 5 | 7,000 |
One shed up to 420 sq ft (set 25 ft from lot lines, behind the rear line of the home) doesn't count toward those totals.
Generally limited in size, and required to match the main house in materials, color, roof pitch, and style — located behind the front line of the residence.
An ambitious structure — a large workshop, a multi-bay garage, an oversized outbuilding — can quickly run past the aggregate square-footage limits on all but the very largest lots, and may collide with height, placement, and design standards. Anything significant needs Architectural Design Committee approval in addition to Citrus County permits.
Beyond the equestrian facilities, the community's sports complex includes:
Not every part of Pine Ridge plays by identical rules. The most notable documented difference: in the Country Club section, barns for housing horses are not permitted (per the recorded Pine Ridge deed restrictions). Other sections generally allow equestrian use, subject to the overall deed restrictions.
The golf course closed — the rule didn't. The Pine Ridge Country Club golf course closed in 2022, and in 2025 the former course land was approved for a new, separate community — Pine Ridge Reserve (approximately 80 homes) — that will operate under its own homeowners association, not the existing Pine Ridge POA. Even so, the Country Club section's barn restriction remains part of the original community's governing documents. If you're considering a property in or near the former Country Club area, the redevelopment is still working through the local approval process, so it's especially worth confirming current status before you buy.
Because Pine Ridge is a large community built out over decades, the controlling language lives in the recorded Declaration of Restrictions and any amendments. Always verify the rules for the exact lot and section you're considering — a half-mile difference can change what you're allowed to do.
"It's an equestrian community, so I can do whatever I want with horses and buildings." That assumption is where costly mistakes start.
Pine Ridge Estates was created in 1972 by developer Frank Mackle Jr. — planned from the start as an equestrian community with large lots, rolling terrain, and wooded settings that still set it apart in Citrus County. (A local touch: Elkcam Road is "Mackle" spelled backwards, a nod to the original builders.)
Today it's the largest population area in Citrus County, and a mature, deed-restricted community that has worked hard to preserve its equestrian character and natural amenities while still allowing new construction on the remaining homesites. The Property Owners Association manages the amenities, enforces the restrictions, and represents resident interests.
The community's original golf course closed in 2022. In 2025, Citrus County approved the former course land for a new, separate residential development — Pine Ridge Reserve — which will have its own homeowners association distinct from the original Pine Ridge Estates. We're happy to explain exactly what that means for any property you're considering.
We deliberately don't host our own copies of the POA's documents. Instead we link directly to the association's own files, so when they update or amend something, the version you open is the current one — not a stale PDF sitting on our server.
Bringing horses? Planning a barn or a workshop? Need temporary boarding during construction? Weighing a specific lot or section? That's exactly where a local specialist saves you from expensive surprises. We'll help you read the restrictions for a specific property, understand the section differences, and connect with the POA for current documents.
Call (352) 746-0744 — ask for the Pine Ridge Home Team