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Title 130 — ZONING

Chapter 130.23 — INDUSTRIAL AND RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ZONES

El Dorado County Municipal Code · 2026-09 edition · updated 2026-10-02 · El Dorado County

Sec. 130.23.010 - Zones Established; Applicability.

A.

This Chapter establishes several Industrial zones to provide for a full range of light and heavy manufacturing, including manufacturing, processing, distribution and storage. In addition, a Research and Development Zone is established to provide areas for high technology, non-polluting manufacturing plants, research and development facilities, corporate/industrial offices, and support service facilities in a rural or campus-like setting, such as a business park environment. [See General Plan Policy 2.2.1.2 (Land Use Designations).]

B.

This Chapter further provides regulations applicable to each industrial zone established in Section 130.12.020 (Zoning Maps and Zones) in Article 1 (Zoning Ordinance Applicability) of this Title. The Industrial zones are as follows:

Industrial—Light (IL). The IL zone is applied to lands for manufacturing and associated retail or service activities, wholesaling, and other industrial uses, where the primary activity is conducted within a building or buildings, or in outdoor storage or activity areas. Conditional Use Permits shall be required for those uses which, by their nature, have the potential to produce or emit noise, odor, fumes, dust, smoke, vibrations, glare, heat, electrical interference or waste material beyond the confines of the property boundaries.

Industrial—Heavy (IH). The IH zone is applied to areas which may also be suitable for more intensive industrial uses, including manufacturing, assembling, fabrication and processing, bulk handling, storage, warehousing and trucking. The uses associated with this district are likely to generate significant levels of truck traffic, noise, pollution, vibration, dust, fumes, odors, radiation, radioactivity, poisons, pesticides, herbicides, or other hazardous materials, fire or explosion hazards, or other undesirable conditions. A Conditional Use permit is required for uses having the potential to pose a safety hazard or produce particulate matter. Heavy industrial districts are unsuitable adjacent to residential districts and some commercial uses. Dwellings, care centers, and certain commercial uses are not allowed. Uses allowed within IL (Light Industrial) districts are allowed, provided that the uses are subordinate to and do not restrict heavy industrial uses in the zone. Activity at heavy industrial sites consists predominantly of trucks, rather than passenger vehicles, and the road system is built to support truck traffic. Provisions for pedestrians are not required.

Research and Development (R&D). The R&D, Research and Development zone is intended to provide areas for the location of high technology, non-polluting manufacturing plants, research and development facilities, corporate and industrial offices, and support service facilities in a rural or campus-like setting, such as a business park environment.

Exceptions & meaning →

Sec. 130.23.020 - Matrix of Allowed Uses.

Uses are allowed in the following zones subject to the requirements of this Title as designated in Table 130.23.020 (Industrial / R&D Zones Use Matrix) below in this Section:

Table 130.23.020—Industrial/R&D Zones Use Matrix

IL: Industrial Low IH: Industrial High R&D: Research & Development P A TUP CUP MUP TMA —-/b> Allowed use (Article 4: Special Use Regulations) Administrative permit required (130.52.010) Temporary use permit required (130.52.060) Conditional Use Permit required(130.52.021) Minor use permit required (130.52.020) Temporary mobile home permit (130.52.050) Use not allowed in zone

USE TYPE IL IH R&D Specific Use Reg.
Industrial
Automotive and Equipment: Salvage and Wrecking Yard CUP CUP —
Hazardous Material Handling CUP CUP CUP
Industrial: General P/CUP P/CUP CUP
Specialized CUP CUP —
Laundries, Commercial P — —
Light Manufacturing P — P
Ceramic Products From Compounded Clay P — P/CUP 1
Lightweight Nonferrous Metal Casting Foundry
Mineral Exploration and Mining See Table 130.29.070.1 (Mineral Exploration and Mining)
Printing and Publishing P — P
Research and Laboratory Services P — P
Slaughterhouse CUP CUP —
Storage Yard: Equipment and Material Permanent P P CUP 130.40.320.C
Temporary TUP TUP TUP
Wholesale Storage and Distribution P P P
Commercial
Adult Business Establishment A — — 130.40.040
Animal Sales and Service: Veterinary Clinics CUP — CUP
Automotive and Equipment: Paint and Body Shops P CUP —
Repair Shop P CUP —
Vehicle Storage P CUP — 130.40.320
Vehicle Sales and Rentals P CUP —
Banks and Financial Services — — P
Bars and Drinking Establishments CUP — —
Brewery: Large Commercial P CUP CUP
Micro Brewery P CUP CUP
Building Supply Store P — — 130.40.220
Business Support Services P — P
Commercial Cannabis Commercial Cannabis Use Permit required (See Article 4 - Special Use Regulations - Chapter 130.41 - Commercial Cannabis)
Commercial Recreation: Indoor Entertainment — — A/CUP
Indoor Sports and Recreation CUP — P
Outdoor Entertainment — — CUP
Outdoor Sports and Recreation — — P 130.40.210
Distillery: 3 Large Commercial P CUP CUP
Craft P CUP CUP
Drive-Through Facility P/CUP 4 — P/CUP 4 130.40.140
Employer-sponsored Child Day Care Center A — A 130.40.110.C
Mobile/Manufactured Home Sales Lot A — — 130.40.220
Offices: Professional and Medical P — P
Printing and Publishing P — P
Recycling Facilities P/A P — 130.40.280
Restaurant P 2 /CUP — P
Retail Sales and Service: Indoor Sales CUP — P
Permanent Outdoor Sales A CUP A/CUP 130.40.220
Temporary Outdoor Sales A/TUP A/TUP A/TUP
Personal Services — — P
Property Services P — P
Self-Storage (Mini Storage) P P CUP
Specialized Education and Training — — P
Trade School, Indoor or Outdoor P — CUP
Wineries 3 Production Facilities P P CUP
Residential
Contractor's Office: On-site A A A 130.40.190
Off-site TUP TUP TUP
Employee Housing: Commercial Caretaker, Permanent A CUP A 130.40.120
Commercial Caretaker, Temporary TMA — TMA
Construction A A — 130.40.190
Civic
Cemetery CUP — —
Churches and Community Assembly, Indoor Only — — CUP
Community Services: Intensive P — P
Schools: College and University — — CUP 130.40.230
Elementary and Secondary, Private — — CUP
Transportation
Airports, Airstrips, and Heliports CUP CUP CUP
Intermodal Facility P — P
Parking Lot, Public P — P
Utility and Communication
Telecommunication Facilities P/A CUP P/A 130.40.130
Public Utility Service Facilities: Intensive CUP CUP — 130.40.250
Minor P — P
Wind Energy Conversion System See Table 130.40.390.1 (WECS Use Matrix) 130.40.390
Recreation and Open Space
Special Events, Temporary TUP — TUP
Agricultural
Crop Production — P —
Grazing — P —
Livestock, High Density — CUP —
Nursery, Plants: Wholesale P P —
Orchards and Vineyards — P —
Packing: On-site Products P P —
Off-site Products P P —
Produce Sales — CUP —
Timber — P —
NOTES: 1 CUP for larger, general industrial-scale use. 2 If restaurant is an ancillary use to an existing primary use, then allowed by right (P); if restaurant is a new primary use, then allowed by CUP. 3 Not subject to Section 130.40.400 (Wineries) in Article 4 (Specific Use Regulations) of this Title. 4 CUP required when adjacent to any residential zoned lot or residential use.

(Ord. No. 5112, § 2, 9-10-2019; Ord. No. 5127, § 3, 9-1-2020; Ord. No. 5241, § 16, 8-19-2025)

Exceptions & meaning →

Sec. 130.23.030 - Development Standards.

Allowed uses and associated structures shall comply with the following development standards listed in Table 130.23.030 (Industrial / R&D Zone Development Standards) below, in addition to those under Section 130.23.040 (Design Standards) below in this Section, and any other applicable requirements of this Title unless a variance is obtained in compliance with Section 130.52.070 (Variance) in Article 5 (Planning Permit Processing) of this Title, or standards are modified pursuant to a Development Plan permit in compliance with Section 130.52.040 (Development Plan Permit) in Article 5 (Planning Permit Processing) of this Title.

Table 130.23.030—Industrial/R&D Zones Development Standards

Development Attribute IL IH R&D
Minimum Lot Size (in square feet) 5 10,000 20,000 10,000
Minimum Lot Width (in feet) 5 60 60 60
Setbacks: (in feet) Front and Secondary front 1 10 30 20
Sides 0 2 or 5 30 0 2 or 5
Rear 10 30 10
Sides and Rear (Abutting residentially zoned land) 3 10 or 30 50 10 or 30
Maximum Building Height (in feet) 50 50 50
Floor Area Ratio (FAR) 4 0.85 0.85 0.50
Notes: 1 Subject to Landscaping requirements in the site planning and design manual. 2 Zero lot line with fireproof wall and no openings meeting building and fire code requirements, otherwise the 5 foot setback applies. 3 Subject to Landscaping requirements in the site planning and design manual. 4 Ratio of allowable floor area to site area. 5 Lots that are created for access road, parking areas, common area landscaping and open space purposes are exempt from the area and width standards of the respective zones.
Exceptions & meaning →

Sec. 130.23.040 - Design Standards.

A.

Research and Development Zones. Design standards for the Research and Development Zone are contained in the County's adopted Research and Development Zone Design Standards (Resolution 201-2015). The Design Review process, where applicable, shall determine whether the structure is in compliance with the adopted design standards.

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