Butte County Municipal Code § 24-25 Purpose of the industrial zones

A. Light Industrial (LI). The purpose of the LI zone is to allow for light industrial and service commercial uses with little potential to create noise, odor, vibration, or other similar impacts to adjacent uses and surrounding areas. Permitted uses in the LI zone include construction, maintenance and repair services; equipment sales and rentals; vehicle repair, service and maintenance; research and development; light manufacturing; and warehousing, wholesaling and distribution and emergency shelters. Limited amounts of retail, personal services, restaurants, and pubic/quasi-public uses are permitted to serve area workers, and ancillary retail areas are permitted for the sale of products manufactured on-site. Caretaker quarters that are accessory to a primary use and live/work units are the only form of residential uses allowed. The maximum permitted floor area ratio in the LI zone is four-tenths (0.4). The LI zone implements the Industrial land use designation in the General Plan.

B. General Industrial (GI). The purpose of the GI zone is to allow for a variety of industrial and service commercial uses in Butte County. Standards for the GI zone are intended to preserve locations for existing and future employment-generating businesses, including both traditional businesses and innovative green technology enterprises. In addition to the uses permitted in the LI zone, the GI zone also permits agricultural and timber processing and heavy manufacturing with the approval of a Conditional Use Permit. The maximum permitted floor area ratio in the GI zone is one-half (0.5). The GI zone implements the Industrial land use designation in the General Plan.

C. Heavy Industrial (HI). The purpose of the HI zone is to allow for a full range of industrial uses, including operations that necessitate the storage of large volumes of hazardous or unsightly materials, or which produce dust, smoke, fumes, odors, or noise at levels that would affect surrounding uses. Uses permitted in the HI are similar to the GI zone, except that heavy industrial uses are permitted either as-of-right or with a Conditional Use Permit, and retail, personal service and restaurant uses are not allowed. The maximum permitted floor area ratio in the HI zone is one-half (0.5). The HI zone implements the Industrial land use designation in the General Plan.

(Ord. No. 4062, § 1, 9-10-13; Ord. No. 4132, § 1(Att. A), 9-12-17)

A. Permitted Uses. Table 24-26-1 (Permitted Land Uses in the Industrial Zones) identifies land uses permitted in the industrial zones.

TABLE 24-26-1 PERMITTED LAND USES IN THE INDUSTRIAL ZONES [1] [2]

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]

Agricultural Wind Energy System not allowed in any Industrial Zone.

[4]

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

(Ord. No. 4062, § 1, 9-10-13; Ord. No. 4091, § 1, 1-27-15; Ord. No. 4094, § 6, 4-21-15; 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. 4159, § 1(Att. A), 3-26-19; Ord. No. 4161, § 1(Att. A), 5-7-19; Ord. No. 4197, § 7, 1-12-21; Ord. No. 4225, § 1, 1-24-23; Ord. No. 4244, § 1, 4-23-24)

A. Parcel Size and Density. Table 24-27-1 (Parcel Size and Intensity Standards for Industrial Zones) identifies the parcel size and intensity standards that apply in industrial zones.

TABLE 24-27-1 PARCEL SIZE AND INTENSITY STANDARDS FOR INDUSTRIAL ZONES

Notes:

[1]

Applies only to the creation of new parcels.

B. Structure Setbacks and Height. Table 24-27-2 (Setback and Height Standards for Industrial Zones) identifies structure setback and height standards that apply in industrial zones.

TABLE 24-27-2 SETBACK AND HEIGHT STANDARDS FOR INDUSTRIAL ZONES

Notes:

[1]

Buildings on corner lots in Industrial zones shall be designed to provide for adequate and safe sight distance for vehicles at adjacent intersections as approved by the Director of Public Works.

[2]

Structures associated with industrial operations may exceed fifty (50) feet in height provided they do not exceed height restrictions in regulated airport approach zones. Such structures shall not exceed the maximum height necessary to perform its intended function.

C. Industrial Buffer Yards.

1. Industrial Buffer Yard Defined. An industrial buffer yard is an area of plantings and walls that shields neighboring residential properties from negative impacts created by industrial land uses.

2. When Required. An industrial buffer yard is required for any development within an industrial zone that is adjacent to a residential zone.

3. Buffer Yard Standards.

a. Industrial buffer yards shall be located along the outer perimeter of a property line abutting a residential zone. See Figure 24-27-1 (Industrial Buffer Yards).

b. The minimum width of an industrial buffer yard shall be twenty-five (25) feet located within the fifty (50) foot minimum setback area. See Figure 34-27-1 (Industrial Buffer Yards).

c. Industrial buffer yards shall include a solid masonry or equivalent wall no less than six (6) feet in height.

d. Industrial buffer yards shall be planted with a mix of deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs of suitable type, size, and spacing to achieve screening year-round.

e. All plantings within an industrial buffer yard shall be maintained in a manner consistent with Section 24-118 (Maintenance) in Article III, Division 11 (Landscaping).

f. Paved surfaces shall be prohibited within industrial buffer yards. Buffer yards shall not be used for parking, driveways, trash enclosures, building areas, or any other activity associated with the primary use on the property.

FIGURE 24-27-1 INDUSTRIAL BUFFER YARDS

[Figure]

(Ord. No. 4062, § 1, 9-10-13; Ord. No. 4105, § 1, 1-12-16)