Article 5 — REGULATIONS FOR THE PRINCIPAL ZONE

• §5.01 In addition to the regulations specified in this Article for each of the principal zones, the general regulations set forth in Article 7 shall be applicable to each and every such zone. In the event of conflict between the particular regulations for each zone set forth in this Article and the general regulations set forth in Article 7, the Planning Commission shall determine which of the conflicting regulations shall be applicable.

• §5.02 Residential One-Family or R1 Zone

The residential One-Family or R1 Zone is intended to be applied in areas of the City where topography, access, utilities, public services and general conditions make the area suitable and desirable for single-family home development. The following regulations shall apply in all Residential One-Family or R1 Zones:

• 5.02.1 Principal permitted uses:

  - a. Single-family dwellings. 
  
  - b. Boarding of not more than two (2) persons not employed on the premises. 
  
  - c. Keeping no more than four (4) household pets for each dwelling unit. d. Vacation rentals. 
  
  - e. Small employee housing. 
  

  • 5.02.2 Uses permitted with a Use Permit:

    • a. Guest houses.

    • b. Public and private non-commercial recreation facilities, including golf courses. c. Bed and breakfast inns.

  • 5.02.3 Other regulations:

    • a. Minimum lot area: 5,000 square feet.

    • b. Minimum lot width: 50 feet.

    • c. Maximum lot depth: 3 times lot width.

    • d. Minimum yards: front, 20 feet; rear, 15 ft; side, 10% of lot width on each side except that no side yard may be less than 5 ft, or need be more than 12 ft.

    • e. Maximum ground coverage: 40%.

    • f. Maximum building height: 35 feet.

  • 5.02.4 Development Criteria: Any single family home constructed or placed within the City of Ferndale in accordance with these provisions shall

    • g. Have a minimum width of 20 feet, and

    • h. Have a minimum twelve (12) inch roof overhang on all sides, and

    • i. (Have an exterior siding composed of one or more of the following materials: i. (Begin section amendments by Ord. 2025-06 on 11/19/2025) Grooved plywood exterior panel siding.

      • ii. Masonry or concrete.

      • iii. Stucco.

      • iv. Any wood product including shingles, shakes, horizontal overlapping board or pressboard siding or any material of wood-like appearance in widths of twelve (12) inches or less, and

    • b. Have exterior siding that shall extend to the ground, except that when a solid concrete masonry foundation is used, the exterior covering material need not extend below the top of the foundation, and

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• c. Have a roof composed of one or more of the following materials: i. Interlocking roof tiles. ii. Composition shingles. iii. Wood.

  • iv. Wood asbestos cement or slate shingles.

  • v. Low- to non-reflective or anti-reflective Class A metal roofs.(End section amendments by Ord. 2025-06 on 11/19/2025)

• d. The Planning Commission may allow a single family dwelling to be constructed or placed within the City of Ferndale with alternative development standards substituted for those herein above set forth, or to exempt such a dwelling from the strict application of such development standards, upon showing of good cause. Application for such substitution of, or exemption from, development standards shall be made to the Planning Commission and any appeal of the decision of the Planning Commission may be taken in accordance with the provisions of Article 11, Appeals.

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• §5.03 Residential Two-Family or R2 Zone.

The Residential Two-Family or R2 Zone is intended to be applied in areas of the City suitable for a variety of low, medium, and high density residential development consistent with the Residential Medium Density (R2) land use designation of the Ferndale General Plan. The following regulations shall apply in all Residential Two-Family or R2 Zones:

• 5.03.1 Principal permitted uses:

  • a. Single family dwellings.

  • b. Two-family dwellings.

  • c. Vacation rentals.

  • d. Boarding of not more than two (2) persons not employed on the premises.

  • e. Keeping no more than four (4) household pets for each dwelling unit.

  • f. Multiple Dwellings and Dwelling Groups

  • g. Small employee housing.

  • h. (Begin section amendments by Ord. 2025-06 on 11/19/2025) Single room occupancy housing and supportive housing developments.

• 5.03.2 Uses permitted with a Use Permit:

  • a. Guest houses.

  • b. Private institutions.

  • c. Bed and breakfast inns.

• 5.03.3 Other Regulations:

  • a. Minimum lot area: 5,000 square feet.

  • b. Minimum lot width: 50 feet.

  • c. Maximum lot depth: 3 times lot width.

  • d. Maximum ground coverage: 45%.

  • e. Minimum yards: front, 20 ft; rear, 15 feet; side, 10% of lot width on each side except that no side yard may be less than 5 ft, or need be more than 12 ft.

  • f. Maximum building height: 35 feet.

  • g. Dwelling units per acre: One (1) to eighteen (18) units. All density calculations resulting in fractional units shall be rounded up to the next whole number.

    • i. Accessory dwellings units and junior accessory dwelling units do not exceed the allowable density of the lot.

• 5.03.4 Development criteria: Any two-family home constructed or placed within the City of Ferndale in accordance with these provisions shall

  • a. Have a minimum width of 20 feet, and

  • b. Have a minimum twelve (12) inch roof overhang on all sides, and

  • c. Have an exterior siding composed of one or more of the following materials: i. Grooved plywood exterior panel siding.

    • ii. Masonry or concrete.

    • iii. Stucco.

    • iv. Any wood product including shingles, shakes, horizontal overlapping board or pressboard siding or any material of wood-like appearance in widths of twelve (12) inches or less, and

• d. Have exterior siding that shall extend to the ground, except that when a solid concrete masonry foundation is used, the exterior covering material need not extend below the top of the foundation, and

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• e. Have a roof composed of one or more of the following materials: i. Interlocking roof tiles.

  • ii. Composition shingles. iii. Wood.

  • iv. Wood asbestos cement or slate shingles.

  • v. Low- to non-reflective or anti-reflective Class A metal roofs. (End section amendments by Ord. 2025-06 on 11/19/2025)

• f. The Planning Commission may allow a single family dwelling to be constructed or placed within the City of Ferndale with alternative development standards substituted for those herein above set forth, or to exempt such a dwelling from the strict application of such development standards, upon showing of good cause. Application for such substitution of, or exemption from, development standards shall be made to the Planning Commission and any appeal of the decision of the Planning Commission may be taken in accordance with the provisions of Article 11, Appeals.

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The Residential Multiple Family or R3 Zone is intended to be applied to areas of the City suitable for a variety of low, medium, and high density residential development consistent with the Residential High Density (R3) land use designation of the Ferndale General Plan. The following regulations shall apply in all Residential Multiple Family or R3 Zones:

• 5.04.1 Principal permitted uses:

  • a. Single family dwellings.

  • b. Dwelling Groups and Multiple Dwellings .

  • c. Keeping no more than two (2) household pets for each dwelling unit.

  • d. Bed and breakfast inns.

  • e. Small employee housing.

  • f. (Begin section amendments by Ord. 2025-06 on 11/19/2025) Single room occupancy housing and supportive housing developments.

• 5.04.2 Uses permitted with a Use Permit:

  • a. Hotels, motels, mobile home parks and boarding houses.

  • b. Private institutions.

  • c. Professional offices.

• 5.04.3 Other regulations:

  • a. Minimum lot area: 5,000 square feet, but not less than 600 square feet for each dwelling unit.

  • b. Minimum lot width: 50 feet.

  • c. Maximum lot depth: 3 times lot width.

  • d. Maximum ground coverage: 60%.

  • e. Minimum yards: front, 20 feet; rear, 10 feet; side, 5 feet.

  • f. Special yards for dwelling groups: The distance between separate buildings of a dwelling group shall not be less than 10 feet. The distance between the front of any dwelling unit in the group and any other building shall be not less than 20 feet.

  • g. Residential transitions for dwelling groups: The distance between the front of any dwelling unit in the group sharing a side lot line with a single family home in a R1 zone shall be increased by 2 feet for each 2 feet that any building on the lot exceeds 2 stories.

  • h. Maximum building height: 45 feet.

  • i. Dwelling units per acre: One (1) to twenty-seven (27) units. All density calculations resulting in fractional units shall be rounded up to the next whole number.

    • i. Accessory dwellings units and junior accessory dwelling units do not exceed the allowable density of the lot

• 5.04.4 Development criteria: Any multiple-family home constructed or placed within the City of Ferndale in accordance with these provisions shall

  • a. Have a minimum width of 20 feet, and

  • b. Have a minimum twelve (12) inch roof overhang on all sides, and

  • c. Have an exterior siding composed of one or more of the following materials: i. Groove plywood exterior panel siding.

    • ii. Masonry or concrete.

    • iii. Stucco.

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• iv. Any wood product including shingles, shakes, horizontal overlapping board or pressboard siding or any material of wood-like appearance in widths of twelve (12) inches or less, and

• d. Have exterior siding that shall extend to the ground, except that when a solid concrete masonry foundation is used, the exterior covering material need not extend below the top of the foundation, and

• e. Have a roof composed of one or more of the following materials: i. Interlocking roof tiles.

  • ii. Composition shingles. iii. Wood.

  • iv. Wood asbestos cement or slate shingles.

  • v. Low- to non-reflective or anti-reflective Class A metal roofs. (End section amendments by Ord. 2025-06 on 11/19/2025)

• f. The Planning Commission may allow a multiple-family dwelling to be constructed or placed within the City of Ferndale with alternative development standards substituted for those herein above set forth, or to exempt such a dwelling from the strict application of such development standards, upon showing of good cause. Application for such substitution of, or exemption from, development standards shall be made to the Planning Commission and any appeal of the decision of the Planning Commission may be taken in accordance with the provisions of Article 11, Appeals.

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The Neighborhood Commercial or C1 Zone is intended to provide for neighborhood shopping centers which provide convenient sales and service facilities to residential areas, detracting from the residential desirability of such areas. The following regulations apply in all Neighborhood Commercial or C1 Zones.

• 5.05.1 Principal permitted uses:

  • a. Social halls, fraternal and social organizations and clubs, plant nurseries and greenhouses.

  • b. Professional and business offices and commercial instruction.

  • c. Stores, agencies and services of a light commercial character, conducted entirely within an enclosed building, such as: antique shops, art galleries, retail bakeries, banks, barber shops, beauty salons, book stores, clothing and apparel stores, coin-operated dry cleaning and laundries, dry cleaning laundry agencies, drug stores, florists, food markets, furniture stores, hardware and appliance stores, radio and television sales and services, restaurants and licensed premises appurtenant thereto, automobile service stations, studios, tailor shops, enclosed theaters, variety stores and mortuaries, nurseries and greenhouses.

  • d. Sales of used and secondhand goods when appurtenant to any of the foregoing.

  • e. Vacation Rentals in conjunction with a dwelling use permit.

  • f. (Begin section amendments by Ord. 2025-04 on 8/20/2025 and Ord. 2025-06 on 11/19/2025) Dwellings, small employee housing, and Multiple Dwellings and Dwelling Groups, single room occupancy housing, and supportive housing developments above the first floor.

• 5.05.2 Uses permitted with a Use Permit

  • a. Dwellings, small employee housing, Multiple Dwellings and Dwelling Groups, single room occupancy housing, and supportive housing developments on the first floor. (End section amendments by Ord. 2025-04 on 8/20/2025 and Ord. 2025-06 on 11/19/2025)

  • b. Hotels, motels, boarding houses and mobile home parks.

  • c. Small animal hospitals, completely enclosed within a buildings.

  • d. Stores, agencies and services such as: minor automobile repair, new automobile, trailer and boat sales, and used automobile, trailer and boat sales when appurtenant thereto, bowling alleys, licensed premises not appurtenant to any restaurant, pet shops, public garages, sales of used or secondhand goods, storage warehouses.

• 5.05.3 Other Regulations:

  • a. Minimum lot area: 2,000 square feet.

  • b. Minimum lot width: 25 feet.

  • c. Minimum yards: front, none, except where frontage is in a block which is partially in an “R” Zone, the front yard shall be the same as that required in such “R” Zone; rear, 15 feet, except where a rear yard abuts on an alley, such rear yard may be not less than 5 feet; side, none, except that a side yard of an interior lot abutting on an “R” Zone shall be not less than the front yard required in such “R” Zone.

  • d. Maximum building height: 35 feet.

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The Community Commercial or C2 Zone is intended to apply to areas where more complete commercial facilities are necessary for community convenience. The following regulations shall apply in all Community Commercial or C2 Zones:

• 5.06.1 Principal permitted uses:

  • a. Social halls, fraternal and social organizations and clubs, plant nurseries and greenhouses.

  • b. Professional and business offices and commercial instruction.

  • c. Stores, agencies and services of a light commercial character, conducted entirely within an enclosed building, such as: antique shops, art galleries, retail bakeries, banks, barber shops, beauty salons, book stores, clothing and apparel stores, coin-operated dry cleaning and laundries, dry cleaning laundry agencies, drug stores, florists, food markets, furniture stores, hardware and appliance stores, radio and television sales and services, restaurants and licensed premises appurtenant thereto, automobile service stations, studios, tailor shops, enclosed theaters, variety stores and mortuaries, nurseries and greenhouses.

  • d. Sales of used and secondhand goods when appurtenant to any of the foregoing.

  • e. (Section amended by Ord. 2025-04 on 8/20/2025 and Ord. 2025-06 on 11/19/2025) Dwellings, small employee housing, Multiple Dwellings and Dwelling Groups, hotels, motels, vacation rentals, boarding houses, mobile home parks, single room occupancy housing, and supportive housing developments.

  • f. Small animal hospitals, completely enclosed within a buildings.

  • g. Stores, agencies and services such as: minor automobile repair, new automobile, trailer and boat sales, and used automobile, trailer and boat sales when appurtenant thereto, bowling alleys, licensed premises not appurtenant to any restaurant, pet shops, public garages, sales of used or secondhand goods, storage warehouses.

• 5.06.2 Uses permitted with a Use Permit:

  • a. Stores, agencies & services such as: carpentry and cabinetry & cabinet-making shops, clothing manufacturers, contractors’ yards, dry cleaning & laundry plants, handicraft manufacture, lumber yards, metal-working shops, wholesale outlet stores, painters’ & decorators’ yards, plumbing shops, printing & lithographing.

• 5.06.3 Other regulations:

  • a. Minimum lot area: 2,000 square feet.

  • b. Minimum lot width: 25 feet.

  • c. Minimum yards: front, none, except where frontage is in a block which is partially in an “R” Zone, the front yard shall be the same as that required in such “R” Zone; rear, 15 feet, except where a rear yard abuts on an alley, such rear yard may be not less than 5 feet; side, none, except that a side yard of an interior lot abutting on an “R” Zone shall be not less than the front yard required in such “R” Zone.

  • d. Maximum building height: 45 feet.

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• §5.07 Highway Service Commercial or CH Zone

The Highway Service Commercial or CH Zone is intended to provide necessary services and conveniences for the traveling public along main roads and highway frontages at proper intervals and locations in developments designed for safety, convenience and suitable appearance. The following regulations shall apply in all Highway Service Commercial or CH Zones:

• 5.07.1 Principal permitted uses:

  • a. Restaurants and appurtenant services.

  • b. Hotels, motels and mobile home parts.

  • c. Automobile service stations.

  • d. Nurseries and greenhouses, retail fruit and vegetable stands.

  • e. Amusement parks and commercial recreational facilities.

  • f. Outdoor advertising signs and structures which identify the use or pertain directly to the service or product offered on the site.

• 5.07.2 Uses permitted with a Use Permit

  • a. Small animal hospitals and kennels.

  • b. Trailer camps.

  • c. (Section amended by Ord. 2025-04 on 8/20/2025) Dwellings, boarding houses, small employee housing, Multiple Dwellings and Dwelling Groups.

• 5.07.3 Other uses which the Planning Commission finds are similar to the principal permitted uses.

• 5.07.4 Other regulations

  • a. Minimum lot area: 5,000 square feet.

  • b. Minimum lot width: 50 feet.

  • c. Minimum yards: front, 15 feet; rear, none, except where a rear yard abuts on an R Zone, such rear yard shall be not less than 20 feet; side, none, except where a side yard abuts on an R Zone, such side yard shall be not less than 15 feet, provided further, that such side yard of a motel shall be not less than 6 feet.

  • d. Maximum building height: 45 feet.

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The Limited Industrial or ML Zone is intended to apply to areas in which light manufacturing and heavy commercial uses of the non-nuisance type and large administrative facilities are the desirable predominant uses. The following regulations shall apply in all Limited Industrial or ML Zones:

• 5.08.1 Principal permitted uses:

  • a. Stores, agencies and services such as: carpentry and cabinetry and cabinetmaking shops, clothing manufacturers, contractors’ yards, dry cleaning and laundry plants, handicraft manufacture, lumber yards, metal-working shops, wholesale outlet stores, painters’ and decorators’ yards, plumbing shops, printing and lithographing.

  • b. Administrative, business and professional offices.

  • c. Manufacturing of electrical and electronic equipment, of household effects such as lamps, rugs and fabrics, research and development laboratories.

• 5.08.2 Uses permitted with a Use Permit

  • a. (Section amended by Ord. 2025-04 on 8/20/2025) Dwellings, small employee housing, Multiple Dwellings and Dwelling Groups, hotels, motels and mobile home parks.

  • b. Animal hospitals and kennels.

  • c. Animal feed and sales yards.

  • e. Manufacture of furniture, finished paper and paper products.

• 5.08.3 Other regulations:

  • a. Minimum lot area: 5,000 square feet.

  • b. Minimum lot width: 50 feet.

  • c. Minimum yards: front, 15 feet; rear, none, except where a rear yard abuts on an R Zone, such rear yard shall be not less than 20 feet; side, none, except where a side yard abuts on an R Zone, such side yard shall be not less than 15 feet, provided further, that such side yard of a motel shall be not less than 6 feet.

  • d. Maximum building height: 50 feet.

  • e. Special regulations: All manufacturing and fabricating areas shall be enclosed in buildings. All equipment and materials storage areas adjacent to R Zones shall be screened by walls, fences or adequate plantings to a height of not less than 6 feet.

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• §5.09 Heavy Industrial or M-H Zone

The Heavy Industrial or M-H Zone is intended to apply to areas devoted to normal operations of industries, subject only to such regulations as needed to control congestion and protect surrounding areas. The following regulations shall apply to all Heavy Industrial

• 5.09.1 Principal permitted uses:

  • a. Stores, agencies and services such as: carpentry and cabinetry and cabinetmaking shops, clothing manufacturers, contractors’ yards, dry cleaning and laundry plants, handicraft manufacture, lumber yards, metal-working shops, wholesale outlet stores, painters’ and decorators’ yards, plumbing shops, printing and lithographing.

  • b. Administrative, business and professional offices.

  • c. Manufacturing of electrical and electronic equipment, of household effects such as lamps, rugs and fabrics, research and development laboratories.

  • d. Dwellings, hotels, motels and mobile home parks.

  • e. Animal hospitals and kennels.

  • f. Animal feed and sales yards.

• g. Manufacture of furniture, finished paper and paper products.

  • h. Industrial manufacturing uses, except as provided in 5.12.2.

• 5.09.2 Uses permitted with a Use Permit:

  • a. (Section amended by Ord. 2025-04 on 8/20/2025) Dwellings, small employee housing, Multiple Dwellings and Dwelling Groups, hotels, motels and mobile home parks.

  • b. Hog farms, turkey farms, frog farms and fur farms.

  • c. Animal products processing plants.

  • d. Cemeteries.

  • e. Amusement parks and commercial amusement enterprises.

  • f. Junk yards and garbage dumps.

  • g. Smelting or reduction of metallic ores.

  • h. Trailer camps.

  • i. Bag cleaning and rag works.

  • j. Manufacturing, refining and storage by manufacturers or wholesalers of petroleum or petroleum products, acids, cement, explosives, fireworks, gas, glue, gypsum and inflammable fluids or gases.

  • k. Drilling for oil or gas, or commercial excavation of sand, rock, gravel or other natural materials.

  • l. Manufacture of concrete, pottery or asphalted paving products.

• 5.09.3 Other regulations:

  • a. Minimum lot area: 5,000 square feet.

  • b. Minimum lot width: 50 feet.

  • c. Minimum yards: front, 15 feet; rear, none, except where a rear yard abuts on an R Zone, such rear yard shall be not less than 20 feet; side, none, except where a side yard abuts on an R Zone, such side yard shall be not less than 15 feet, provided further, that such side yard of a motel shall be not less than 6 feet.

  • d. Maximum building height: 50 feet.

  • e. Special regulations: All manufacturing and fabricating areas shall be enclosed in buildings. All equipment and materials storage areas adjacent to R Zones

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shall be screened by walls, fences or adequate plantings to a height of not less than 6 feet.

The Floodway or FW Zone is intended to be applied to lands which lie within stream or tidal channels and to adjacent areas which are periodically inundated, or which will be inundated by a “Design Flood.” The “Design Flood” shall be specifically defined for each particular FW Zone upon the Zone Map. The regulations set forth in this section are intended to provide for the reasonably unrestricted passage of a “Design Flood” and to provide reasonable measures for the protection of life and property in floodway areas.

• 5.10.1 Principal permitted uses:

  • a. General agriculture, but not including building or structures

  • b. Recreational uses on open land, including public or private parks and golf courses.

• 5.10.2 Uses permitted with a Use Permit:

  • a. Boat docks and launching facilities.

  • b. Water, sewer, roadway, bridge and other such facilities necessary for public health and safety.

  • c. Minor or temporary structures incidental to agricultural or recreational uses which will not impede flood flow and are of flood-proof design.

  • d. Excavation of natural materials or construction of earthworks or water flow control devices.

• 5.10.3 Other regulations:

  • a. None, except conditions in use permits.

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• §5.11 Flood Plain or FP Zone

The Flood Plain or FP Zone is intended to be applied to areas other than floodway areas which have been inundated by overflow flood waters in the past and which may reasonably be expected to be inundated by such flood waters in the future. The Flood Plain Zone is intended to limit the use of areas subject to such inundation and flooding to protect lives and property from loss, destruction and damage due to flood waters and to the transportation by water of wreckage and debris. The following regulations shall apply in all Flood Plain or FP Zones:

• 5.11.1 Principal permitted uses:

  • a. General agriculture, nurseries and greenhouses, and animal sales and feed yards, except as provided in 5.14.2.

  • b. Trailer camps and mobile home parks.

  • c. Roadside stands.

  • d. Recreational uses, including public stables, docks, boathouses, golf courses and shooting ranges.

• 5.11.2 Uses permitted with a Use Permit:

  • a. (Section amended by Ord. 2025-04 on 8/20/2025) Residential uses, including farm dwellings, and small and large employee housing.

  • b. Commercial and industrial uses which, in the opinion of the Planning Commission, are compatible with contiguous zones.

  • c. Recreational uses requiring enclosed buildings.

• 5.11.3 Other regulations:

  • a. Minimum lot area: five (5) acres.

  • b. Minimum lot width: 300 feet.

  • c. Minimum yards: front and rear, 20 feet; side, 10 feet.

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The Planned Development or PD Zone is intended to apply to parcels of undeveloped land which are suitable for, and of sufficient size to contain, a completely planned development. The following regulations shall apply in all Planned Development or PD Zones:

• 5.12.1 Principal permitted uses:

  • a. Any use or combination of uses which are so arranged or designed as to result in an overall development in conformity with the standards, intents and purposes of the General Plan of the City may be permitted with a use permit.

• 5.12.2 Uses permitted with a Use Permit: Applications for use permits for the development of land in Planned Development Zones shall be accompanied by a plan of the development. Such plan shall include a map or maps and such written material as may be required to show

  • a. Topography of the land and contour intervals, and

  • b. Proposed access, traffic and pedestrian ways, and

  • c. Lot design and easements, and

  • d. Areas proposed to be dedicated or reserved for parks, parkways, playgrounds, school sites, public or quasi-public buildings and other such uses, and

  • e. Areas proposed for commercial uses, off-street parking, multiple and single family dwellings, and all other uses proposed to be established within the zone, and

  • f. Proposed location of buildings on the land, including all dimensions necessary to indicate size of structure, setback and yard areas, and

  • g. Proposed landscaping, fencing and screening, and

  • h. Such other detailed elevations, plans and other information as may be required by the Planning Commission to enable it to evaluate adequately the proposed development.

• 5.12.3 Other Regulations:

  • a. All uses shall conform to the height, area, width, depth, ground coverage and yard regulations normally required for such uses, except where the over-all development will be improved by a deviation from such regulations. In all cases each structure shall conform to the precise development plan, which shall be made a part of the approved use permit.

  • b. Planned Development Zones shall be delineated on the Zoning Map by the PD designation followed by consecutive numbers to indicate the consecutive order to establishment of each such zone, and the approved plans and use permits shall constitute supplemental regulations for such zones.

  • c. Use permits may specify development completion dates and provide for reversion to prior Zoning classification.

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The Agriculture Exclusive or AE Zone is intended to be applied in fertile areas in which agriculture is and should be the desirable predominant use and in which the protection of this use from encroachment from incompatible uses is essential to the general welfare. The following regulations shall apply in all Agriculture-Exclusive or AE Zones:

• 5.13.1 Principal permitted uses:

  • a. All general agricultural uses, except those specified in 5.16.2.

  • b. Farm dwellings, nurseries, greenhouses and roadside stands. c. Vacation rentals.

  • d. (Begin section amended by Ord. 2025-04 on 8/20/2025) Small employee housing.

  • e. Large employee housing, including employee housing meeting the requirements, as determined by the City Manager or their designee, set forth in California Health and Safety Code Section 17021.8, as may be amended. Review of determinations that employee housing meets the requirements set forth in Health and Safety Code section 17021.8 shall be processed and considered by the planning commission in accordance with Health and Safety Code Section 17021.8(c). (End section amended by Ord. 2025-04 on 8/20/2025)

• 5.13.2 Uses permitted with a Use Permit:

  • a. Hog farms, turkey farms, frog farms and fur farms.

  • b. Animal feed yards and sales yards.

  • c. Agricultural and timber products processing plants.

  • d. Rental and sales of irrigation equipment and storage incidental thereto. e. Animal hospitals.

  • f. Bed and breakfast inns.

• 5.13.3 Other regulations:

  • a. No subdivisions or residential developments, whether by official map, record or survey or recorded subdivision, shall be permitted in Agriculture-Exclusive or AE Zones.

  • b. Minimum lot area: 4 acres.

  • c. Minimum lot widths: 100 feet.

  • d. Maximum ground coverage: 35%.

  • e. Minimum yards: front, 30 feet; rear, 20 feet; side, 10% of the lot width on each side, but not more than 20 feet shall be required.

  • f. Farm outbuildings shall not be less than 20 feet from any dwelling unit on the premises.

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The Public Facility or PF Zone is intended to be applied to lands owned by public agencies or to lands upon which such agencies operate public facilities.

• 5.14.1 Principal permitted uses:

  • a. Public schools, parks, playgrounds and recreational facilities.

  • b. Public fairgrounds and related uses.

  • c. Public buildings, including City Hall, fire stations, libraries, courts, museums, auditoriums, hospitals, and similar uses.

  • d. (Begin section amended by Ordinance 2014-02 on 5/1/2014) Emergency shelters, provided such facility complies with all of the following:

    • i. Any emergency shelter newly proposed for construction or operation within the City shall not be located within three hundred feet (300’) of any other emergency shelter. The distance shall be measured along the street frontage from one emergency shelter to another emergency shelter.

    • ii. Adequate external lighting shall be provided for security purposes to ensure fully lit parking, gathering, and waiting areas. Lighting shall be placed so as to not create glare or impact adjoining parcels.

    • iii. The facility shall contain a maximum of 10 beds and shall serve no more than 10 persons.

    • iv. The facility shall have an interior, enclosed client waiting and intake area large enough to accommodate the number of persons equal to 25% the number of beds. The area shall be based on space required for seated persons. The facility shall also have an adjoining, exterior overflow waiting area of equal size to the interior waiting area. The exterior waiting area shall be fenced, screened, gated, and shall not obstruct sidewalks or driveways.

    • v. The facility shall provide security during hours that the shelter is in operation, shall provide an on-site manager, and must have a minimum of 1 fully trained staff person with at least 1 year of homeless services experience on site at all times when a client is on the premises.

    • vi. The number of off-street parking spaces shall be calculated per §7.16 of this Ordinance.

    • vii. Temporary shelter shall be available to residents for no more than 60 days. Extensions up to a total stay of 180 days in any continuous 12month period may be provided if no alternative housing is available (end section amended by Ordinance 2014-02 on 5/1/2014).

• 5.14.2 Uses permitted with a Use Permit:

  • a. Penal, correctional or detention institutions and facilities for the care of mental patients.

• b. Public corporation yards, shops, repair and storage yards and buildings.

• 5.14.3 Other regulations:

  • a. None, except as provided in use permit conditions.

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City of Ferndale

Zoning Ordinance 02-02

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