Del Norte County Municipal Code § 21.08 AE Agriculture Exclusive District 21.08.10 Intent; Applicability 21.08.20 The…

Because prime agricultural land is not a readily renewable resource, this district classification is intended to provide for the protection of agricultural land and uses against encroachment by other uses which may be in conflict therewith. The provisions of this section, therefore, shall be interpreted to apply to agricultural pursuits and related uses, to the end that no other use shall be permitted, and no regulation shall be deemed or construed to interfere with any normal accessory use conducted in conjunction therewith. It is the intention

of this section to prevent the subdividing of prime agricultural lands into lot sizes which might threaten the use of such lands for agriculture, and changes of zone from AE to another classification are to be made only where such uses are in accord with the General Plan or an adopted specific plan.

For the purposes of Section 21.52.20(A)(4), the agriculture exclusive district uses listed under the principal permitted use section herein shall be considered as the principal permitted use in the California Coastal Zone. Variances and adjustments to the district's requirements and standards shall not be considered a principal permitted use for purposes of Section 21.52.20(A)(4).

The following regulations shall apply in all AE districts, subject to the provisions of Chapters 21.02 through 21.60.

(Ord. 83-03 (part))

The principal permitted agricultural exclusive use includes:

1. All agricultural uses including horticulture, crop and tree farming, livestock farming and animal husbandry, including dairies, public and private stables, but excepting feed lots.

2. Accessory buildings and uses including barns, stables, and other agricultural buildings.

3. Greenhouses which are constructed with a perimeter foundation.

4. A one-family residence with appurtenant uses including home occupations, guest lodging and appurtenant accessory structures. A manufactured home may be placed in lieu of a conventional residential unit.

5. Home enterprises which are agricultural in nature as outlined in subsections A and C of this section.

(Ord. 99-002 (part), 1999: Ord. 95-17 § 3(1), 1995: Ord. 83-03 (part))

Uses permitted with a use permit shall be as follows:

1. Feed lots for the intensive raising of animals for commercial purposes.

2. Hog farming.

3. Produce sales stands, providing that the majority of the produce sold or offered for sale is grown on the premises.

4. A mobilehome in lieu of a conventional residential unit or a manufactured home.

5. Farm quarters for farm labor employed full-time on the premises.

6. Animal husbandry services including veterinary clinics.

7. Greenhouses which are constructed with a slab or other foundation which will preclude the use of the underlying soil(s).

8. Home enterprises which are not agricultural in nature.

(Ord. 99-002 (part), 1999: Ord. 95-17 § 3(2), 1995: Ord. 95-06 §4 (part), 1995: Ord. 83-03 (part))

Building height limit shall be none.

(Ord. 83-03 (part))

Minimum lot area shall be as follows:

1. Forty acres

2. Within the California Coastal Zone the division of agricultural lands in order to separate the existing farmhouse from the ranch or farm lands for the purposes of sale, lease, financing of the lands or the farmhouse may be approved by the planning commission for parcels less than the minimum parcel size. This action is subject to the following:

   1. The minimum lot for the farmhouse shall be one acre,

   2. The subject residence must have existed prior to the county's zoning of the lands to AE,

   3. The subject lands are designated agricultural prime in the General Plan Coastal Element.

(Ord. 83-03 (part))

Required front yard shall be twenty-five feet. Also refer to Section 21.46.90.

(Ord. 83-03 (part))

Required side yard shall be twenty feet.

(Ord. 83-03 (part))

Required rear yard shall be twenty feet for main building and five feet for accessory building.

(Ord. 83-03 (part))

1. Accessory buildings used as barns, stables or farm outbuildings for animals other than small live-stock farming, shall be kept no less than twenty feet from any side or rear property line, and no less than fifty feet from the front property line. In no case shall any animal other than a household pet be kept or sheltered in a dwelling structure or within twenty feet of a dwelling or residential structure.

2. Yards for the use of any animal husbandry shall be fenced to keep animals not less than twenty feet from any dwelling.

3. Side and rear yards for veterinary clinics shall be no less than sixty feet when adjacent to a lot or parcel used for residential purposes.

(Ord. 86-04 (part), 1986: Ord. 83-03 (part))

Conversion of a parcel within the California Coastal Zone which has been designated as agriculture exclusive land use and/or zoning district to nonagriculture land use and/or zoning district shall not be permitted except where:

1. Continued or renewed agricultural use is not feasible or

2. Such conversion would preserve prime agricultural land or concentrate development within, contiguous with or in close proximity to, existing developed areas able to accommodate it or, where such areas are not able to accommodate it, in other areas with adequate public services and where it will not have significant adverse effects, either individually or cumulatively, on coastal resources.

Where conversion is made, it shall be subject to Coastal Act priorities for Coastal Land Uses (e.g., recreation, coastal dependent industries), Rural Land Division Criteria and be consistent with the General Plan Coastal Element.

(Ord. 83-03 (part))