Chapter 19.50 — SPECIAL PURPOSE ZONES
Chico Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · ingested 2026-07-06 · Chico
19.50.010 Purpose, applicability. ¶
This chapter regulates development and new land uses in the special purpose zoning districts established by Section 19.40.010. The purposes of the individual special purpose zoning districts and the manner in which they are applied are as follows.
A. SPA (Special Planning Area). The SPA district is applied to areas appropriate for significant new growth subject to comprehensive planning and which are indicated on the General Plan Land Use diagram as Special Planning Areas. Horizontal or vertical mixed-use is required in all areas designated SPA (except for the Bell-Muir SPA). Development within each SPA is intended to be consistent with the General Plan conceptual land use plan and General Plan policies applicable to each SPA.
B. PQ (Public/Quasi Public Facilities) District. The PQ zoning district is applied to areas appropriate for the wide range of public, institutional, and auxiliary uses that are established in response to the health, safety, cultural, and welfare needs of the City. The PQ zoning district is primarily intended to implement the Public Facilities and Services land use designation of the General Plan.
C. OS1 (Primary Open Space) District. The OS1 zoning district is applied to areas appropriate for permanent protection as open space because of environmental resources or potential hazards. These areas may include the Resource Constraint Overlay Areas of the General Plan and other sensitive habitats, oak and riparian woodlands, wetlands, creekways, riparian corridors, groundwater recharge areas, power transmission corridors, deer herd ranges, hillsides and viewshed management areas, and areas subject to flooding, that are either, publicly owned or have been committed to preservation by property owners in conjunction with development approval. The OS1 zoning district is primarily intended to implement the Primary Open Space land use designation of the General Plan.
D. OS2 (Secondary Open Space) District. The OS2 zoning district is applied to areas appropriate for both intensive and non-intensive recreational activities, such as parks, lakes, golf courses, trails, resource management, detention basins, agriculture, grasslands and other similar uses. The OS2 zoning district is primarily intended to implement the Secondary Open Space land use designation of the General Plan.
(Ord. 2185, Ord. 2427 §32)
19.50.020 Special purpose zone land uses and permit requirements. ¶
Table 4-12 identifies the uses of land allowed by these Regulations in each PQ and OS 1 and OS2 zoning district, and the land use entitlement required to establish the use, in compliance with Section 19.40.020-B (Zoning district regulations).
Where the last column of the table (“Subject to Standards in Section/Chapter”) includes a section or chapter number, the regulations in the referenced section/chapter apply to the use; however, provisions in other sections/chapters may apply as well.
(Ord. 2185; Ord. 2205; Ord. 2223, Ord. 2427 §33, Ord. 2519 §18)
TABLE 4-12 - ALLOWED USES AND PERMIT REQUIREMENTS FOR SPECIAL PURPOSE ZONING DISTRICTS
| LAND USE | PERMIT REQUIREMENT BY ZONING DISTRICT |
Subject to Standards in Section/Chapter: |
|---|---|---|
| PQ | OS1 | |
| --- | --- | --- |
| LAND USE | PERMIT REQUIREMENT BY ZONING DISTRICT |
|
| PQ | OS1 | |
| AGRICULTURAL, RESOURCE & OPEN SPACE USES | ||
| Animal keeping | UP | UP |
| Creekside greenways | P | |
| Crop production, commercial | ||
| Equestrian facilities | UP | |
| Nature preserves | P | |
| MANUFACTURING & PROCESSING | USES | |
| Recycling - Large collection facility | UP | |
| Recycling - Small collection facility | UP | |
| Sewage treatment plants | UP | |
| Waste disposal sites | UP | |
| RECREATION, EDUCATION & PUBLIC ASSEMBLY USES | ||
| Campgrounds | UP | |
| Churches/places of worship | UP | |
| Community centers/pavilions | UP | |
| Day care facilities, child day care center | UP | |
| Golf courses, country clubs | ||
| Government facilities | P | |
| Interpretative centers | P | UP |
| Libraries and museums | UP | |
| Parks and playgrounds | P | UP |
| Parks, greenbelts, and landscape areas | P | P |
| Schools - Public and private | UP | |
| Schools - Specialized education and training |
UP | |
| Sports facilities and outdoor public assembly |
UP | |
| Temporary events | TU | |
| Theaters - Live entertainment | UP | |
| RESIDENTIAL USES | ||
| Caretaker housing | UP | UP |
| Emergency shelters | P | |
| RETAIL TRADE | ||
| Accessory retail uses | P | |
| Restaurants | UP | |
| --- | --- | --- |
| SERVICES | ||
| Cemeteries, columbariums, mausoleums | UP | |
| Medical services - Clinics and labs | UP | |
| Medical services - Extended care | UP | |
| Medical services - Hospitals | UP | |
| Public safety and utility services | UP | UP |
| Storage, accessory | P | |
| Storage, outdoor | UP | |
| TRANSPORTATION & COMMUNICATIONS | ||
| Broadcast studios | UP | |
| Heliports | UP | |
| Pipelines and utility lines | UP | |
| Telecommunications facilities | (2) | (2) |
| Transit stations and terminals | UP | |
KEY TO PERMIT REQUIREMENTS
| Symbol | Permit Requirement | Procedure is in Section/Chapter: |
|---|---|---|
| P | Permitted use, zoning clearance required. | 19.16.070 |
| UP | Conditional use, use permit required. | 19.24 |
| TU | Temporary use. | 19.22 |
| Use not allowed. | (See Section 19.02.020-E regarding uses not listed.) |
Notes:
(1) See Chapter 19.04 for definitions of the listed land uses.
(2) See Chapter 19.78 for districts in which telecommunications facilities are permitted.
19.50.030 Special purpose zone general development standards. ¶
New land uses and structures and alterations to existing uses or structures shall be designed and constructed in compliance with the requirements in Table 4-13.
(Ord. 2185, Ord. 2519 §19)
TABLE 4-13
SPECIAL PURPOSE ZONE GENERAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS
| Development Feature | Requirement by Zoning District | Requirement by Zoning District | Requirement by Zoning District |
|---|---|---|---|
| PQ | OS1 | OS2 | |
| Minimum Lot Area | Determined by specific plan or planned development permit in SPA and by entitlement in PQ |
1 acre; smaller if approved by Commission based on the finding that a smaller site is suitable because of its unique character or purpose. |
1 acre; smaller if approved by Commission based on the finding that a smaller site is suitable because of its unique character or purpose. |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Setbacks Required Front Sides (each), Street side Rear |
20 ft. | 20 ft. | |
| Impervious Surface Site Coverage | 5%; more if approved by Commission. |
25%; more if approved by Commission. |
|
| Height Limits | 25 ft.; more if approved by Commission. |
(Ord. 2427 §34, Ord. 2519 §19)
19.50.040 Development within the SPA zoning district. ¶
New land uses and development on vacant land within the SPA district shall be in accordance with a specific plan and other comprehensive master plan as follows. No land use entitlements or construction permits shall be issued for development on any vacant land within the SPA zoning district or until a specific plan or other comprehensive master plan has been adopted for the area within that SPA as it is designated by the General Plan. The application for a specific plan, or other comprehensive master plan within a SPA shall include:
A. An application to rezone the area within the SPA to reflect zoning districts that substantially comply with the conceptual land use plan for the SPA, as described in the General Plan;
B. A public facility financing plan;
C. Infrastructure phasing plan;
D. Information documenting that the proposed specific plan or other comprehensive master plan addresses and complies with all of the General Plan policies applicable to the SPA for which the plan is proposed;
E. Such other studies and information as may be determined necessary by the Director to conduct site,
infrastructure and environmental review of the proposed plan; and
F. Such other information as may be required by Chapter 19.36.
(Ord. 2185, Ord. 2427 §35)