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Chapter 19.50 — SPECIAL PURPOSE ZONES

Chico Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · updated 2026-07-25 · 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 OS2
LAND USE PERMIT REQUIREMENT BY
ZONING DISTRICT
Subject to Standards in
Section/Chapter:
PQ OS1 OS2
AGRICULTURAL, RESOURCE & OPEN SPACE USES
Animal keeping UP UP UP 19.76.040
Creekside greenways P P
Crop production, commercial P
Equestrian facilities UP UP
Nature preserves P P
MANUFACTURING & PROCESSING USES
Recycling - Large collection facility UP
Recycling - Small collection facility UP UP
Sewage treatment plants UP
Waste disposal sites UP UP
RECREATION, EDUCATION & PUBLIC ASSEMBLY USES
Campgrounds UP UP
Churches/places of worship UP
Community centers/pavilions UP
Day care facilities, child day care center UP UP
Golf courses, country clubs UP
Government facilities P
Interpretative centers P UP UP
Libraries and museums UP UP
Parks and playgrounds P UP UP
Parks, greenbelts, and landscape areas P P P
Schools - Public and private UP
Schools - Specialized education and
training
UP UP
Sports facilities and outdoor public
assembly
UP UP
Temporary events TU TU 19.22
Theaters - Live entertainment UP
RESIDENTIAL USES
Caretaker housing UP UP UP
Emergency shelters P
RETAIL TRADE
Accessory retail uses P P 19.76.020
Restaurants UP UP
SERVICES
Cemeteries, columbariums, mausoleums UP UP
Medical services - Clinics and labs UP
Medical services - Extended care UP
Medical services - Hospitals UP
Public safety and utility services UP UP UP
Storage, accessory P
Storage, outdoor UP 19.60.060
TRANSPORTATION & COMMUNICATIONS
Broadcast studios UP
Heliports UP
Pipelines and utility lines UP UP
Telecommunications facilities (2) (2) (2) 19.78
Transit stations and terminals UP 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)

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Contents — Chico Zoning Code
Chico Zoning Code
  1. Chapter 19.01 — PURPOSE AND EFFECT OF LAND USE AND DEVELOPMENT…
  2. Chapter 19.02 — INTERPRETATION OF REGULATIONS
  3. Chapter 19.04 — DEFINITIONS
  4. Chapter 19.06 — AMENDMENTS TO PLANS AND ZONING
  5. Chapter 19.08 — NONCONFORMING STRUCTURES, USES, AND PARCELS
  6. Chapter 19.09 — DEEMED APPROVED ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE SALE REGULA…
  7. Chapter 19.10 — NOTICING AND PUBLIC HEARINGS
  8. Chapter 19.12 — APPEALS
  9. Chapter 19.14 — PERMIT REVOCATION
  10. Chapter 19.16 — APPLICATION FILING AND PROCESSING FEES
  11. Chapter 19.18 — SITE DESIGN AND ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW
  12. Chapter 19.20 — HOME OCCUPATION PERMITS
  13. Chapter 19.21 — FRATERNITY AND SORORITY HOUSE PERMITS
  14. Chapter 19.22 — TEMPORARY USES
  15. Chapter 19.23 — MOBILE FOOD VENDORS
  16. Chapter 19.24 — USE PERMITS
  17. Chapter 19.25 — ADMINISTRATIVE USE PERMITS
  18. Chapter 19.26 — VARIANCES
  19. Chapter 19.27 — FOOTHILL DEVELOPMENT PERMITS
  20. Chapter 19.28 — PLANNED DEVELOPMENT
  21. Chapter 19.30 — PERMIT IMPLEMENTATION, TIME LIMITS, EXTENSIONS
  22. Chapter 19.32 — DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS
  23. Chapter 19.34 — TRANSFER OF DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS (TDR)
  24. Chapter 19.36 — SPECIFIC PLANS
  25. Chapter 19.37 — HISTORIC PRESERVATION
  26. Chapter 19.40 — ESTABLISHMENT OF ZONING DISTRICTS
  27. Chapter 19.42 — RESIDENTIAL ZONES
  28. Chapter 19.44 — COMMERCIAL AND OFFICE ZONES
  29. Chapter 19.48 — AIRPORT ZONES
  30. Chapter 19.50 — SPECIAL PURPOSE ZONES
  31. Chapter 19.52 — OVERLAY ZONES
  32. Chapter 19.60 — GENERAL PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT AND USE STANDARDS
  33. Chapter 19.62 — AFFORDABLE HOUSING INCENTIVES/RESIDENTIAL DENS…
  34. Chapter 19.64 — AGRICULTURAL PRESERVATION STANDARDS
  35. Chapter 19.68 — LANDSCAPING STANDARDS
  36. Chapter 19.70 — PARKING AND LOADING STANDARDS
  37. Chapter 19.72 — PLANNED DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS
  38. Chapter 19.74 — SIGNS
  39. Chapter 19.75 — CANNABIS REGULATIONS
  40. Chapter 19.76 — STANDARDS FOR SPECIFIC LAND USES
  41. Chapter 19.78 — WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES
  42. Chapter 19.80 — PURPOSE OF TND ZONING DISTRICT AND ESTABLISHME…
  43. Chapter 19.82 — PROCEDURES FOR APPLYING TND STANDARDS
  44. Chapter 19.84 — BUILDING HEIGHT AND FRONTAGE
  45. Chapter 19.86 — BUILDING TYPES
  46. Chapter 19.88 — MOTOR VEHICLE AND BICYCLE PARKING
  47. Chapter 19.90 — STANDARDS FOR STREETS, ALLEYS AND OTHER PUBLIC…
  48. Chapter 19.92 — SIGN STANDARDS
  49. Chapter 19.94 — OPEN SPACE STANDARDS
  50. Chapter 19.96 — DEFINITIONS

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