Del Norte County Municipal Code § 21.17

This district classification is designed for the orderly development of rural homesites in the one to five acre category, to encourage a suitable environment for family life for those who desire rural residential land.

Since there is a limited area within the county which is suitable for rural residential land, this district is intended to protect rural residential uses against encroachment by other uses which may be in conflict therewith. The provisions of this section, therefore, shall be liberally interpreted to apply to rural residential and agricultural pursuits and related services, 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 further subdividing of rural residential land into lot sizes which might threaten the rural quality of areas zoned RRA and changes of zone from RRA 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 rural residential agriculture districts 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 RRA districts, subject to the provisions of Chapters 21.02 through 21.60.

(Ord. 83-03 (part))

The principal permitted rural residential agriculture use includes:

1. A one-family residence with appurtenant uses including home occupations and appurtenant accessory structures subject to Section 21.04.140.

2. Animal husbandry, where no more than one horse, mule, cow or steer, nor more than five goats, sheep or similar small livestock are kept for each twenty thousand square feet of lot area.

3. The keeping of one hog or pig.

4. Agricultural uses, including the sale of agricultural products produced on the premises where the sales activity:

   1. Is clearly incidental and secondary to the use of the property for dwelling purposes,

   2. Does not display any visual evidence from surrounding roads and/or properties such as a separate sales stand, employees, traffic and/or parking beyond that normal to the neighborhood in which it is located, etc., except that one unlighted sign not exceeding eight square feet in size may be erected.

(Ord. 94-19 § 13, 1995 Ord. 86-04 (part), 1986: Ord. 83-03 (part))

1. On parcels of land five acres or greater in size, the following may be considered subject to the approval of the county sanitarian:

   1. Animal husbandry, where more than one horse, mule, cow or steer, or more than five goats, sheep or similar livestock are kept for each twenty thousand square feet of lot area.

   2. More than one hog or pig.

2. Guest lodging where it is an integral part of the principal one-family residential use.

3. Home enterprises.

• (Ord. 99-002 (part), 1999 Ord. 94-19 §14, 1994: Ord. 83-03 (part))

Building height limit shall be thirty (30) feet for primary residences and sixteen (16) feet for detached accessory buildings. In zone districts that require a three (3) acre minimum parcel size the building height limit for accessory buildings shall be thirty (30) feet excluding Accessory Dwelling Units which are subject to a maximum height limit of sixteen (16) feet.

• (Ord. 2018-001 (part), 2018: Ord. 86-04 (part), 1986: Ord. 83-03 (part), 1983)

Minimum lot area shall be as required by the planning commission, but in no case less than:

1. One acre in the RRA-1 district.

2. Two acres in the RRA-2 district.

3. Three acres in the RRA-3 district.

4. Five acres in the RRA-5 district.

• (Ord. 83-03 (part), 1983)

Minimum lot width, front, rear and side yard requirements and the maximum percentage of building coverage on any one lot shall be as set forth in the table below and as set forth in Chapter 21.45.

Zoning District Min. Lot Width Max. Lot Coverage Min. Yard Requirements

• Rear yard for a detached accessory building shall be five feet except where Section 21.17.70 applies.

** Where the lot width is less than required, the side yards shall each be ten percent of the lot width, but in no case less than five feet.

(Ord. 83-03 (part), 1983)

1. Accessory buildings used as barns, stable or farm outbuildings for animals other than small livestock 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 livestock shall be fenced to keep animals not less than twenty feet from any dwelling.

• (Ord. 86-04 (part), 1986: Ord. 83-03 (part), 1983)