Division 3 — Residential Zones

24-18 - Purpose of the residential zones.

A.

Foothill Residential (FR). The purpose of the FR zone is to allow for the appropriate development of largelot single-family home, small farmsteads, and related uses in the foothill areas of the county. Standards for the FR zone are intended to ensure that the development of homes respond sensitively to the foothill setting. Permitted residential uses in the FR zones include a single-family home, small residential care

home, and an accessory dwelling unit. The FR zone also conditionally permits non-residential uses compatible with a low-density rural setting, including public and quasi-public uses, mining, animal services, hunting and fishing clubs, nurseries, and commercial stables. Animal grazing, crop cultivation, private stables, on-site agricultural product sales, and other similar agricultural activities are permitted uses in the FR zone. The minimum permitted parcel size in the FR zone ranges from one (1) acre to forty (40) acres. The FR zone implements the Foothill Residential land use designation in the General Plan.

B.

Foothill Country Residential (FCR). The purpose of the FCR zone is to allow for the appropriate development of large-lot single-family homes, small farmsteads, and related uses in the foothill areas of the county. The FCR zone is applied to regional areas of the county for the protection of a quiet, country-like setting and does not permit certain uses that would interfere with this purpose. Standards for the FCR zone are intended to ensure that the development of homes respond sensitively to the foothill setting. Permitted residential uses in the FCR zones include a single-family home, small residential care home, and an accessory dwelling unit. Animal grazing, crop cultivation, private and semiprivate stables, on-site agricultural product sales, and other similar agricultural activities are permitted uses in the FCR zone. The minimum permitted parcel size in the FCR zone is twenty (20) acres. The FCR zone implements the Foothill Residential land use designation in the General Plan.

C.

Rural Residential (RR). The purpose of the RR zone is to allow for the appropriate development of large-lot single-family homes, small farmsteads, and related uses in the rural and agricultural areas of the county. Standards for the RR zone are intended to preserve and protect the character of existing rural residential areas and ensure that future rural residential development is compatible with adjacent agricultural uses. Permitted residential uses in the RR zones include a single-family home, small residential care home, and an accessory dwelling unit. The RR zone also conditionally permits non-residential uses compatible with a rural residential setting, including public and quasi-public uses, personal services, nurseries, and animal services. Animal grazing, crop cultivation, private stables, on-site agricultural product sales, and other similar agricultural activities are permitted uses in the RR zone. The minimum permitted parcel size in the RR zone ranges from five (5) to ten (10) acres. The RR zone implements the Rural Residential land use designation in the General Plan.

D.

Rural Country Residential (RCR). The purpose of the RCR zone is to allow for the appropriate development of large-lot single-family homes, small farmsteads, and related uses in the rural and agricultural areas of the county. The RCR zone is applied to regional areas of the county for the protection of a quiet, country-like setting and does not permit certain uses that would interfere with this purpose. Standards for the RCR zone are intended to preserve and protect the character of existing rural residential areas and ensure that future rural residential development is compatible with adjacent agricultural uses. Permitted residential uses in the RCR zones include a single-family home, small residential care home, and an accessory dwelling unit. Animal grazing, crop cultivation, private and semiprivate stables, on-site agricultural product sales, and other similar agricultural activities are permitted uses in the RCR zone. The minimum permitted parcel size in the RCR zone is ten (10) acres. The RCR zone implements the Rural Residential land use designation in the General Plan.

E.

Very Low Density Residential (VLDR). The purpose of the VLDR zone is to allow for single-family homes and related uses in residential neighborhoods within the county. Standards for the VLDR zone are intended to preserve and protect the character of existing neighborhoods and to ensure that new residential neighborhoods provide an appropriate transition from rural to more developed areas. Permitted residential uses in the VLDR zones include single-family homes, small residential care homes, accessory dwelling units, animal grazing, on-site agricultural product sales, and private stables. The VLDR zone also conditionally permits non-residential uses compatible with a residential setting, including public and quasipublic uses, golf courses, park and recreational facilities, personal services, animal-keeping, large residential care homes, and medical offices and clinics. The minimum permitted parcel size in the VLDR zone is one (1) acre. The VLDR zone implements the Very Low Density Residential land use designation in the General Plan.

F.

Very Low Density Country Residential (VLDCR). The purpose of the VLDCR zone is to allow large lot singlefamily homes and related uses in existing residential neighborhoods that are adjacent to or surrounded by areas with uses of a different type or residential uses of a different density. Standards for the VLDCR zone are intended to preserve and protect the character of existing residential neighborhoods. Permitted residential uses in the VLDCR zones include single-family homes, small residential care homes, accessory dwelling units, animal grazing, on-site agricultural product sales, and private stables. The VLDCR zone conditionally permits uses compatible with a low-density residential setting including semi-private stables animal keeping, and major home-occupations. The minimum permitted parcel size in the VLDCR zone is one (1) acre. The VLDCR zone implements the Very Low Density Residential land use designation in the General Plan.

G.

Low Density Residential (LDR). The purpose of the LDR zone is to allow for a mixture of housing types in a low density setting. Standards for the LDR zone are intended to preserve and protect the character of existing neighborhoods. Permitted housing types in the LDR zones include single-family homes and accessory dwelling units. Non-residential uses conditionally permitted in the LDR zone include public and quasi-public uses, park and recreational facilities, personal services, and medical offices and clinics. The minimum permitted parcel size in the LDR zone is thirteen thousand five hundred (13,500) square feet. The LDR zone implements the Low Density Residential land use designation in the General Plan.

H.

Medium Density Residential (MDR). The purpose of the MDR zone is to allow for a mixture of housing types in a medium density setting. Permitted housing types in the MDR zones include single-family homes and accessory dwelling units. Non-residential uses conditionally permitted in the MDR zone include public and quasi-public uses, park and recreational facilities, personal services, medical offices and clinics, and general retail. The minimum permitted parcel size in the MDR zone is six thousand (6,000) square feet. The MDR zone implements the Medium Density Residential land use designation in the General Plan.

I.

Medium High Density Residential (MHDR). The purpose of the MHDR zone is to allow for a mixture of housing types in a medium high density setting. Permitted housing types in the MHDR zone include singlefamily homes, duplex homes, multi-family dwellings, and accessory dwelling units. The MHDR zone also conditionally permits mobile home parks. Non-residential uses conditionally permitted in the MHDR zone include public and quasi-public uses, park and recreational facilities, personal services, medical offices and clinics, and general retail. The maximum permitted residential density in the MHDR zone is fourteen (14) dwelling units per acre. The MDHR zone implements the Medium High Density Residential land use designation in the General Plan.

J.

High Density Residential (HDR). The purpose of the HDR zone is to allow for a mixture of housing types in a high density setting. Permitted housing types in the HDR zones include single-family homes, duplex homes, multi-family dwellings, and accessory dwelling units. The HDR zone also conditionally permits mobile home parks. Non-residential uses conditionally permitted in the HDR zone include public and quasipublic uses, park and recreational facilities, personal services, medical offices and clinics, and general retail. Permitted residential density in the HDR zone ranges from a minimum of fourteen (14) dwelling units per acre to a maximum of twenty (20) dwelling units per acre. The HDR zone implements the High Density Residential land use designation in the General Plan.

K.

Very High Density Residential (VHDR). The purpose of the VHDR zone is to allow for a mixture of housing types at the highest residential densities in unincorporated Butte County. Permitted housing types in the VHDR zones include single-family homes, duplex homes, multi-family dwellings, and accessory dwelling units. The VHDR zone also conditionally permits mobile home parks. Non-residential uses conditionally permitted in the VHDR zone include public and quasi-public uses, park and recreational facilities, personal services, medical offices and clinics, and general retail. Permitted residential density in the VHDR zone ranges from a minimum of twenty (20) dwelling units per acre to a maximum of thirty (30) dwelling units per acre. The VHDR zone implements the Very High Density Residential land use designation in the General Plan.

(Ord. No. 4062, § 1, 9-10-13; Ord. No. 4091, § 1, 1-27-15; Ord. No. 4134, § 1(Att. A), 9-26-17; Ord. No. 4197, § 7, 1-12-21; Ord. No. 4237, § 2, 1-23-24)

24-19 - Land use regulations for residential zones.

A.

Permitted Uses. Table 24-19-1 (Permitted Land Uses in the Residential Zones) identifies land uses permitted in the residential zones.

TABLE 24-19-1 PERMITTED LAND USES IN THE RESIDENTIAL ZONES [1] [2]

M Minor Use Permit

Notes:

[1]

See Article 42 (Glossary) for definitions of listed land uses.

[2]

Standards in the Zoning Ordinance that apply to specific uses are identified under the column "Applicable Regulations," defined under Section 24-8G.5, and are intended to direct the reader to a section that is related to the use.

[3]

Permitted only on sites five (5) acres or larger.

[4]

Requires the approval of a mining permit and reclamation plan pursuant to Butte County Code Chapter 13.

[5]

Permitted only on sites one-acre or larger.

[6]

One single-family home and an accessory dwelling unit is permitted per legal parcel.

[7]

Micro Wind Systems are subject to an Administrative Permit in all residential zones.

[8]

Agricultural Wind Energy System permitted in the FR and RR with a Minor Use Permit and not allowed in all other residential zones.

[9]

Small Wind Energy Systems are subject to a Conditional Use Permit in the RR, RCR, FR and FCR zones and not allowed in all other residential zones.

[10]

Large Wind Energy Systems not allowed.

[11]

Medical Offices and Clinics are not permitted in areas subject to the Unique Agriculture Overlay Zone.

[12]

Micro Wind Systems are not permitted in the VLDCR Zones.

[13]

Minor Use Permit for Tier 2 Solar Electric System only, all other Utility, Accessory uses not allowed.

[14]

Permitted only on parcels of four (4) acres or larger.

[15]

Permitted only as an interim use on parcels of one (1) acre or more in size, prior to subdivision and development with residential uses.

(Ord. No. 4062, § 1, 9-10-13; Ord. No. 4091, § 1, 1-27-15; Ord. No. 4094, § 4, 4-21-15; Ord. No. 4105, § 1, 1-12-16; Ord. No. 4134, § 1(Att. A), 9-26-17; Ord. No. 4159, § 1(Att. A), 3-26-19; Ord. No. 4161, § 1(Att. A), 5-7-19; Ord. No. 4183, § 1, 5-26-20; Ord. No. 4197, § 7, 1-12-21; Ord. No. 4225, § 1, 1-24-23; Ord. No. 4244, § 1, 4-23-24)

A.

Foothill Residential (FR Sub-Zones). The FR zone is divided into six (6) sub-zones, each with its own minimum parcel size. All standards that apply to the FR zone in general also apply to each individual subzone, except for minimum parcel area as specified in Table 24-20-1 (Parcel Size and Density for Residential Zones).

B.

Parcel Size and Density. Table 24-20-1 (Parcel Size and Density for Residential Zones) identifies the parcel size and density standards that apply in residential zones.

TABLE 24-20-1 PARCEL SIZE AND DENSITY FOR RESIDENTIAL ZONES

Notes:

[1]

A minimum forty (40) foot parcel frontage is permitted for cul-de-sac parcels.

[2]

Accessory dwelling units are permitted in all residential zones.

[3]

In the FR, FCR, RR, RCR, VLDR, VLDCR, LDR and MDR zones, only one (1) primary dwelling unit and one (1) accessory dwelling unit is permitted per parcel, regardless of parcel size.

[4]

Applies only to the creation of new parcels through the subdivision process.

C.

Structure Setbacks and Height. Table 24-20-2 (Setback and Height Standards for Residential Zones) identifies structure setback and height standards that apply in residential zones.

TABLE 24-20-2 SETBACK AND HEIGHT STANDARDS FOR RESIDENTIAL ZONES [1]

Notes:

[1]

Additional setbacks may be required by the Butte County Fire Safe regulations and the Public Resources Code, Section 4290.

TABLE 24-20-3 PRIMARY AND ACCESSORY STRUCTURE SIDE AND REAR YARD SETBACKS IN THE VLDR ZONE

(Ord. No. 4062, § 1, 9-10-13; Ord. No. 4105, § 1, 1-12-16; Ord. No. 4132, § 1(Att. A), 9-12-17; Ord. No. 4134, § 1(Att. A), 9-26-17; Ord. No. 4197, § 7, 1-12-21; Ord. No. 4237, § 3, 1-23-24; Ord. No. 4241, § 1, 3- 26-24)