El Dorado County Municipal Code Ch. 130.21 Agricultural, Rural, and Resource Zones

A. Zones Established; Applicability. A number of agricultural, rural and resource zones are established in this Ordinance to implement the uses described in the General Plan, and to provide for, promote and regulate the range of uses applicable to those lands.

B. This Chapter lists the uses allowed within an agricultural, rural land and a resource zone established by Section 130.12.010 (Zones Established) in Article 1 (Zoning Ordinance Applicability) of this Title, determines the type of planning permit/approval required for each use, and provides basic standards for site layout and building size.

C. The manner in which the individual agricultural, rural lands and resource zones are applied is as follows:

1. Planned Agricultural (PA). The PA, Planned Agricultural Zone, applies to the development of agricultural enterprises and uses whether encumbered by a farmland conservation contract or not. This zone shall be utilized to identify those lands most capable of supporting horticulture, aquaculture, ranching, and grazing, based on existing use, soil type, water availability, topography, and similar factors. Agricultural enterprise is intended to be the primary use of these lands, but compatible commercial uses, as listed in Table 130.21.020 (Agricultural, Rural, and Resource Zone Districts Use Matrix) below in this Chapter, may also be allowed in compliance with the provisions of this Chapter. Minimum lot size designators shall be applied to this zone based on commodity type, soil type, surrounding uses, and other appropriate factors. The designator shall represent the number of acres and shall be in the following increments: 10, 20, 40, 80, and 160.

2. Limited Agricultural (LA). The LA, Limited Agricultural Zone, applies to the development of agricultural enterprises and uses, whether encumbered by a farmland conservation contract or not. This zone shall be utilized to identify those lands most capable of supporting horticulture, aquaculture, ranching, and grazing, based on existing use, soil type, water availability, topography, and similar factors. The LA zone is distinguished from the PA zone in that it provides limited opportunities for ranch marketing and commercial winery uses, and shall generally be applied where those more intensive commercial uses may be undesirable. Minimum lot size designators shall be applied to this zone based on commodity type, soil type, surrounding uses, and other appropriate factors. The designator shall represent the number of acres and shall be in the following increments: 10, 20, 40, 80, and 160.

3. Agricultural Grazing (AG). The AG, Agricultural Grazing Zone, is applied to lands suitable for grazing whether encumbered by a farmland conservation contract or not. This zone shall be utilized to identify those lands that are being used for grazing and/or that have the potential for commercially viable grazing operations, based on existing use, soil type, water availability, topography, and similar factors. Grazing and other agricultural activities are intended to be the primary use of these lands, but other compatible commercial uses may also be allowed in compliance with the provisions of this Chapter. Minimum lot size designators shall be applied to this zone based on use designation and other appropriate factors. The minimum lot size designator shall be in the following increments: 40, 80 and 160 acres.

4. Timber Production (TPZ). The TPZ, Timber Production Zone, is applied to identify and regulate lands subject to the Forest Taxation Reform Act of 1976 (California Government Code Section 51110, et seq.). Criteria for establishing a TPZ is located in Section 130.40.350 (Timber Production Zone: Criteria, Regulations, and Zone Change Requirements) in Article 4 (Specific Use Regulations) of this Title.

5. Forest Resource (FR). The FR, Forest Resource Zone, is applied to lands containing valuable timber or having the potential for timber production, but that are not subject to TPZ zoning requirements in compliance with Section 130.40.350 (Timber Production Zone: Criteria, Regulations, and Zone Change Requirements) in Article 4 (Specific Use Regulations) of this Title. The purpose of this zone is to encourage timber production and associated activities, and to limit noncompatible uses from restricting such activities. Minimum lot size designators shall be applied to this zone based on elevation and other appropriate factors. The minimum lot size designator shall be in the following increments: 40, 80, and 160 acres.

6. Rural Lands (RL). The RL, Rural Lands Zone, is intended to identify those lands that are suitable for limited residential development based on topography, access, groundwater or septic capability, and other infrastructural requirements. This zone may be applied where resource-based industries in the vicinity may impact residential uses. Commercial support activities that are compatible with the available infrastructure may be allowed within this zone to serve the surrounding rural and agricultural communities. Although agricultural uses are allowed, these lands generally do not support exclusive agricultural use. This zone is applied to those lands to allow uses which supplement the agricultural use. For special setback purposes, the RL zone is not considered to be an agricultural or timber zone. Minimum lot size designators shall be applied to this zone based on the constraints of the site, surrounding uses, and other appropriate factors. The designator shall represent the minimum number of acres and shall be in the following increments: 10, 20, 40, 80, and 160.

Uses are allowed in the following zones subject to the requirements of this Title as designated in Table 130.21.020 (Agricultural, Rural, and Resource Zone Districts Use Matrix) below in this Section:

Table 130.21.020—Agricultural, Rural, and Resource Zone Districts Use Matrix

(Ord. No. 5097, § 2, 1-8-2019; Ord. No. 5112, § 2, 9-10-2019; Ord. No. 5152, § 2, 11-16-2021; Ord. No. 5168, § 2, 11-1-2022; Ord. No. 5177, § 2, 6-20-2023; Ord. No. 5241, §§ 1, 16, 8-19-2025)

Allowed uses and associated structures shall comply with the following development standards listed in Table 130.21.030 (Agricultural, Rural, and Resource Zones Development Standards) below in this Section in addition to 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 130.21.030—Agricultural, Rural, and Resource Zones Development Standards