Municipal code
Humboldt County Zoning Code
The enacted municipal code of Humboldt County, California, as published — every title, chapter, and section, verbatim and citable.
- Edition
- 2026-07
- Last updated
- 2026-07-09
- Contents
- 2 titles · 398 chapters
- Jurisdiction
- Humboldt County
Contents
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▸ Title III
Overview-
▸ Division 1 — PLANNING
Overview- Chapter 2 — ADMINISTRATION, PROCEDURES, AMENDMENTS AND ENFORCEMENT
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▸ Chapter 2
Overview- 1.2 DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ZONING ADMINISTRATOR
- 1.3 PLANNING COMMISSION FORMATION AND COMPOSITION
- 2.1 PURPOSE
- 2.2 REQUIRED ZONING CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE
- 2.3 FILING AND PROCESSING APPLICATIONS FOR A ZONING CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE
- 2.5 EXPIRATION OF ZONING CLEARANCE CERTIFICATES
- 3.2 VARIANCES
- 4.1 CONDITIONS
- 4.2 PROHIBITED CONDITIONS
- 4.3 SECURITY MAY BE REQUIRED
- 4.4 INSPECTION FEE
- 5.2 APPLICATION FORM AND FILING FEE
- 6.1 APPLICATION CHECK
- 6.3 PUBLIC REVIEW
- 6.5 PROJECT APPROVAL
- 6.7 NOTICE OF DECISION
- 7.1 INITIAL STUDY CONFERENCE
- 7.2 PUBLIC COASTAL ACCESS PROTECTION REVIEW
- 7.4 WETLAND RESTORATION PLAN PROCEDURE
- 7.5 APPLICATION PROCESSING RESPONSIBILITIES FOR OTHER COUNTY DEPARTMENTS AND DESIGN REVIEW COM…
- 8.1 NOTICE OF APPLICATION SUBMITTAL
- 8.2 CONTENT OF THE NOTICE OF APPLICATION SUBMITTAL
- 8.3 NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
- 8.4 CONTENT OF A PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE
- 8.5 REQUESTS FOR NOTIFICATION
- 9.1 PUBLIC HEARINGS REQUIRED UNLESS WAIVED
- 9.2 PUBLIC HEARING MAY BE WAIVED
- 10.1 EFFECT OF PERMIT OR VARIANCE
- 10.2 EFFECTIVE DATE OF PERMIT OR VARIANCE
- 10.3 ASSIGNMENTS OF PERMITS AND VARIANCES
- 10.4 RIGHTS ATTACHED TO PERMITS AND VARIANCES
- 10.5 EXPIRATION OF DEVELOPMENT PERMITS AND VARIANCES
- 10.6 RENEWAL OF DEVELOPMENT PERMITS AND VARIANCES
- 11.1 MINOR DEVIATION FROM THE PLOT PLAN
- 11.2 APPLICATION FOR MODIFICATION OF A DEVELOPMENT PERMIT OR VARIANCE
- 11.3 EXTENSION OF A PERMIT OR VARIANCE
- 12.1 REAPPLICATION IF APPLICATION IS DENIED
- 13.1 APPEALS TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
- 13.2 GROUNDS FOR APPEAL
- 13.3 EFFECT OF FILING AN APPEAL
- 13.4 PROCESSING AN APPEAL
- 13.5 HEARING REQUIRED
- 13.6 NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
- 13.7 DECISION AND NOTICE OF FINAL ACTION
- 13.8 FINALITY AND EFFECTIVE DATE
- 13.9 IF NO DECISION REACHED
- 13.10 RIGHT TO DECIDE ALL MATTERS
- 13.11 MAJOR VEGETATION REMOVAL: APPEAL OF THE DIRECTOR’S DETERMINATION
- 13.12 APPEALS TO THE COASTAL COMMISSION
- 13.13 GROUNDS FOR APPEAL TO THE COASTAL COMMISSION
- 14.1 SUSPENSION
- 14.2 REVOCATION
- 15.1 APPLICABILITY
- 15.4 CRITERIA FOR WAIVER OF PROCEDURES
- 15.5 STANDARD PERMIT OR VARIANCE REQUIRED
- 16.1 APPLICABILITY
- 16.3 APPLICATION FOR WAIVER OF PROCEDURES
- 16.4 PROCEEDINGS FOR WAIVER OF PROCEDURES
- 16.5 FINDINGS
- 16.6 DECISION ON DE MINIMUS WAIVERS IS FINAL
- 16.7 EXPIRATION OF DE MINIMUS WAIVERS
- 17.2 REQUIRED FINDINGS FOR VARIANCES
- 17.3 SUPPLEMENTAL FINDINGS
- 18.1 CONDITIONALLY PERMITTED USES IN AN AE ZONE
- 19.1 OIL AND GAS PIPELINES
- 19.2 SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL
- 21.1 USES PERMITTED WITH A CONDITIONAL OR SPECIAL PERMIT IN TC AND TPZ ZONES
- 22.2 SURFACE MINING
- 23.1 HAZARDOUS INDUSTRY
- 25.1 SECONDARY DWELLING UNIT
- 26.1 ALQUIST-PRIOLO GEOLOGIC FAULT HAZARD AREAS
- 30.1 CONDITIONALLY PERMITTED USES IN AN AE ZONE
- 31.1 ELECTRICAL TRANSMISSION LINES
- 31.3 WIND ELECTRICAL GENERATING FACILITIES
- 31.4 SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL
- 32.1 NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL
- 35.1 COASTAL DEPENDENT INDUSTRY
- 35.2 MARINE PETROLEUM TRANSFER FACILITIES
- 35.3 DREDGE SPOILS DISPOSAL
- 38.2 COASTAL SHORELINES
- 39.2 PUBLIC ACCESS
- 39.3 COASTAL SCENIC AREAS
- 39.4 COASTAL STREAMS AND RIPARIAN AREAS
- 39.5 COASTAL VIEW AREAS
- 39.6 COASTAL DUNE AND BEACH AREAS
- 39.7 COASTAL ELK HABITAT AREAS
- 39.8 COASTAL NATURAL DRAINAGE COURSES
- 39.9 COASTAL NATURAL LANDFORMS
- 39.10 OFFSHORE ROCKS AND ROCKY INTERTIDAL AREAS
- 39.11 COASTAL ROAD CONSTRUCTION
- 39.12 COASTAL TRANSITIONAL AGRICULTURAL LAND
- 39.13 COASTAL VEGETATION REMOVAL, MAJOR
- 39.14 COASTAL WETLANDS
- 39.15 COASTAL WETLAND BUFFERS
- 40.2 SUBDIVISIONS IN AGRICULTURAL EXCLUSIVE 160 AND 600 ACRE MINIMUM ZONES
- 40.3 SUBDIVISIONS IN A COMMERCIAL RECREATION ZONE
- 41.1 FINDINGS FOR EXCEPTIONS
- 42.1 PURPOSE
- 42.2 APPLICABILITY
- 42.3 DEFINITIONS
- 42.4 NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC OF AVAILABILITY OF ACCOMMODATION PROCESS
- 42.5 APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
- 42.6 REVIEW AUTHORITY AND PROCEDURES
- 42.7 FINDINGS AND DECISION
- 42.8 ALTERNATIVE REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS
- 42.9 APPEAL FILING AND PROCEDURES
- 42.10 EXPIRATION OF REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION
- 50.1 PURPOSE
- 50.2 AUTHORITY TO MAKE AMENDMENTS
- 50.3 REQUIRED FINDINGS FOR ALL AMENDMENTS
- 50.4 INITIATING AMENDMENTS
- 50.5 PETITION FORM, FILING, AND FEE
- 50.6 PETITION IN CONJUNCTION WITH A GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT
- 50.7 PROCESSING OF PROPOSED AMENDMENTS
- 50.8 SUPPLEMENTAL TIMBERLAND PRODUCTION ZONING PROCEDURES
- 51.1 DUTY TO ENFORCE
- 51.2 EXCEPTIONS
- 51.3 PERMITS IN CONFLICT WITH THIS CODE
- 51.4 INSPECTION TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE
- 51.5 VIOLATION OF THE COUNTY ZONING REGULATIONS
- Chapter 3
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▸ Part 1 — PRINCIPAL ZONES
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▸ Part 2 — SPECIAL AREA COMBINING ZONES
Overview- 15.1 PURPOSE
- 15.2 APPLICABILITY
- 15.3 SPECIAL AREA COMBINING ZONES AND RESPECTIVE DESIGNATIONS
- 15.4 REPRESENTATION OF THE SPECIAL AREA COMBINING ZONES REGULATIONS
- 16.1 A: ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCE AREA OUTSIDE SHELTER COVE
- 16.2 A: SPECIAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCE AREA REGULATIONS FOR SHELTER COVE
- 16.3 AP: AIRPORT SAFETY REVIEW
- 18.1 C: COASTAL RESOURCE DEPENDENT
- 19.1 D: DESIGN REVIEW
- 20.1 E: COASTAL ELK HABITAT
- 21.1 F: FLOOD HAZARD AREAS
- 22.1 G: ALQUIST-PRIOLO FAULT HAZARD
- 28.1 M: MANUFACTURED HOMES
- 29.1 N: NOISE IMPACT
- 30.1 O: OFFSHORE ROCKS AND ROCKY INTERTIDAL AREAS
- 31.1 P: PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT
- 32.1 Q: QUALIFIED
- 33.1 R: STREAMS AND RIPARIAN CORRIDORS PROTECTION
- 34.1 S: DEVELOPMENT STANDARD COMBINING ZONE REGULATIONS
- 34.2 SM: MODIFIED BUILDING STANDARDS INCLUDING PROVISION FOR MANUFACTURED HOMES
- 34.3 SX: DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS WHICH ARE COMBINED WITH A PROHIBITION AGAINST FURTHER SUBDIVISION
- 34.4 SY: DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS WHERE STANDARDS IN ADDITION TO MINIMUM LOT SIZE ARE MODIFIED
- 34.5 STMP: SAMOA TOWN PLAN STANDARDS
- 35.1 T: TRANSITIONAL AGRICULTURAL LANDS
- 38.1 W: COASTAL WETLAND AREAS
- 39.1 X: NO FURTHER SUBDIVISION ALLOWED
- 40.1 Y: SPECIFIED MINIMUM AND AVERAGE LOT SIZES
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▸ Part 1 — USES AND ACTIVITIES
Overview- 43.1 ACCESSORY USES
- 43.2 ALLOWED AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES NOT A NUISANCE (“RIGHT TO FARM ORDINANCE”)
- 43.3 ANIMAL KEEPING
- 45.1 COASTAL-DEPENDENT INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT
- 45.2 COTTAGE INDUSTRY
- 50.1 HOME OCCUPATION AND ADDRESSES OF CONVENIENCE
- 55.1 INDOOR CULTIVATION OF CANNABIS FOR PERSONAL USE
- 55.2 OUTDOOR CULTIVATION OF CANNABIS FOR PERSONAL USE
- 55.3 MEDICAL CANNABIS DISPENSARIES
- 55.4 COMMERCIAL CULTIVATION, PROCESSING, MANUFACTURING, DISTRIBUTION, TESTING, AND SALE OF CAN…
- 55.5 INDUSTRIAL HEMP LAND USE REGULATIONS
- 57.1 OIL AND GAS DRILLING AND PROCESSING
- 61.05 SHORT-TERM RENTALS
- 61.2 SURFACE MINING AND RECLAMATION
- 62.1 TEMPORARY USES
- 64.1 VEGETATION REMOVAL, MAJOR
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▸ Part 2 — STRUCTURES AND FACILITIES
Overview- 69.05 ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT
- 69.1 ACCESSORY STRUCTURES
- 71.1 COUNTY HISTORIC STRUCTURES
- 73.1 ELECTRICAL TRANSMISSION LINES, MAJOR
- 74.1 FENCES
- 83.1 OIL AND GAS PIPELINES
- 87.1 REPEALED BY ORD. 2717
- 87.2 SHORELINE PROTECTION STRUCTURES
- 87.3 SIGNS AND NAMEPLATES
- 88.1 TEMPORARY STRUCTURES
- 91.1 WIND-GENERATING FACILITY
- Part 4 — REGULATIONS THAT APPLY IN SENSITIVE HABITATS AND HAZARDOUS AREAS
- Part 5 — NONCONFORMING USES AND STRUCTURES
- Part 1 — CLASSIFICATION OF USE TYPES
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▸ Part 1 — PRINCIPAL ZONES
Overview- 1.1 ZONE MAPPING DESIGNATIONS
- 1.2 LISTS OF PERMITTED USES
- 2.1 C-1: NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL ZONE
- 2.2 C-2: COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL ZONE
- 2.3 C-3: INDUSTRIAL COMMERCIAL ZONE
- 2.4 CH: HIGHWAY SERVICE COMMERCIAL ZONE
- 3.1 MB: BUSINESS PARK ZONE
- 3.2 ML: LIMITED INDUSTRIAL ZONE
- 3.3 MH: HEAVY INDUSTRIAL ZONE
- 4.1 AV: AIRPORT ZONE
- 4.2 PF1: PUBLIC FACILITY (URBAN)
- 4.3 PF2: PUBLIC FACILTY ZONE (RURAL)
- 4.5 PR: PUBLIC RESOURCE AND RECREATION
- 5.1 DF: DESIGN FLOODWAY ZONE
- 5.2 FP: FLOOD PLAIN ZONE
- 6.1 RS: RESIDENTIAL SUBURBAN ZONE
- 6.2 R-1: RESIDENTIAL ONE-FAMILY ZONE
- 6.3 R-2: RESIDENTIAL TWO-FAMILY ZONE
- 6.4 R-3: RESIDENTIAL MULTIPLE FAMILY ZONE
- 6.5 R-4: APARTMENT PROFESSIONAL ZONE
- 6.6 RA: RURAL RESIDENTIAL AGRICULTURE
- 7.1 AE: AGRICULTURE EXCLUSIVE ZONE
- 7.2 AG: AGRICULTURE GENERAL ZONE
- 7.3 FR: FORESTRY RECREATION ZONE
- 7.4 TPZ: TIMBERLAND PRODUCTION ZONE
- 7.5 TE: TIMBERLAND EXCLUSIVE ZONE
- 7.6 TL: TRIBAL LANDS
- 8.1 U: UNCLASSIFIED ZONE
- 9.1 MU1: MIXED USE (URBAN)
- 9.2 MU2: MIXED USE (RURAL)
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▸ Part 2 — REGULATIONS FOR THE COMBINING ZONES
Overview- 15.1 APPLICABILITY
- 15.2 SPECIAL AREA COMBINING ZONES AND RESPECTIVE DESIGNATIONS
- 16.1 AP - AIRPORT SAFETY REVIEW
- 17.1 B - SPECIAL BUILDING SITE
- 19.1 D - DESIGN CONTROL
- 21.1 F - FLOOD HAZARD AREAS
- 22.1 G - ALQUIST-PRIOLO FAULT HAZARD
- 22.2 GO - GREENWAY AND OPEN SPACE
- 27.1 L - LANDSCAPING AND DESIGN
- 28.1 M - MANUFACTURED HOME DEVELOPMENT STANDARD COMBINING ZONE
- 28.2 MR – MINERAL RESOURCES COMBINING ZONE
- 29.1 N - NOISE IMPACT
- 31.1 P - PLANNED DEVELOPMENT
- 31.2 PRD – PLANNED RURAL DEVELOPMENT
- 32.1 Q - QUALIFIED
- 33.1 R - RECREATION
- 33.2 RR – RAILROAD RIGHTS-OF-WAY PROTECTION
- 34.1 S - DEVELOPMENT STANDARD COMBINING ZONE
- 34.2 SM - DEVELOPMENT STANDARD COMBINING ZONE
- 34.3 SY - DEVELOPMENT STANDARD COMBINING ZONE
- 34.4 SZ - DEVELOPMENT STANDARD COMBINING ZONE
- 35.1 T - MANUFACTURED HOME COMBINING ZONE
- 38.1 PURPOSE
- 38.2 APPLICABILITY
- 38.3 MODIFICATIONS IMPOSED BY THE STREAMSIDE MANAGEMENT AREAS AND WETLANDS COMBINING ZONE
- 39.1 X - RECREATION
- 40.1 Y - SPECIFIED MINIMUM AND AVERAGE LOT SIZE
- 41.1 Z - NO FURTHER SUBDIVISION ALLOWED
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▸ Part 1 — USES AND ACTIVITIES
Overview- 42.1 APPLICABILITY
- 43.1 ACCESSORY USES
- 43.2 ALLOWED AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES NOT A NUISANCE (“RIGHT TO FARM ORDINANCE”)
- 43.3 ANIMAL KEEPING
- 44.1 REPEALED BY ORD. 2732, § 9, 3/5/2024
- 45.1 COTTAGE INDUSTRY
- 46.1 DAY SHELTERS
- 47.1 EMERGENCY HOUSING UNDER SHELTER CRISIS DECLARATION
- 47.2 EMERGENCY SHELTERS
- 47.3 EMPLOYEE HOUSING
- 50.1 HOME OCCUPATIONS AND ADDRESSES OF CONVENIENCE
- 54.1 LOW BARRIER NAVIGATION CENTERS
- 55.1 INDOOR RESIDENTIAL CULTIVATION OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA FOR PERSONAL USE
- 55.2 OUTDOOR CULTIVATION OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA FOR PERSONAL USE ON SMALL PARCELS
- 55.3 MEDICAL CANNABIS DISPENSARIES
- 55.4 COMMERCIAL CULTIVATION, PROCESSING, MANUFACTURING, DISTRIBUTION, TESTING, AND SALE OF CAN…
- 55.5 INDUSTRIAL HEMP LAND USE REGULATIONS
- § 56.5
- 58.1 PUBLIC USES
- 59.1 REMOVAL OF NATURAL MATERIALS
- 60.05 SHORT-TERM RENTALS
- 60.1 SINGLE-ROOM OCCUPANCY STRUCTURES AND FACILITIES
- 61.05 SAFE PARKING AND SAFE SHELTER PILOT PROGRAM
- 61.1 STREAMSIDE MANAGEMENT AREAS AND WETLANDS ORDINANCE
- 61-2 SUPPORTIVE HOUSING
- 62.1 TEMPORARY USES
- 62.2 TIMBER PRODUCTION
- § 62.3
- § 62.4
- § 62.5
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▸ Part 2 — STRUCTURES AND FACILITIES
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▸ Part 3 — DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS
- Part 4 — (SECTION RESERVED FOR FUTURE USE)
- Part 5 — NONCONFORMING USES AND STRUCTURES
- Part 1 — CLASSIFICATION OF USE TYPES
- Part 2 — GLOSSARY OF USE TYPES
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▸ Title III — LAND USE AND DEVELOPMENT
Overview-
▸ Division 2
Overview- Chapter 2.5 — Design for Solar Access
- Chapter 9 — Development Impact Fee Mill Creek Marketplace
- Chapter 3.5
- Chapter 5 — ACTION ON TENTATIVE SUBDIVISION MAPS
- Chapter 5.5 — LOT LINE ADJUSTMENT
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▸ Chapter 6 — FINAL AND PARCEL MAPS
- Chapter 7 — REVERSION TO ACREAGE BY FINAL MAP OR PARCEL MAP
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▸ Chapter 7.5 — MERGER OF PARCELS
- Chapter 8 — ENFORCEMENT AND PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION
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▸ Chapter 8.1
Overview- Article I — ADOPTION OF PLAN; APPLICATION; FINDINGS; DEFINITIONS
- Article II — MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
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▸ Article III — DRAINAGE FEES
Overview- 1-1. Administration
- 1-2. Maintainability
- 2-1. Basic Design Objectives
- 2-2. Design Speed
- 3-1. Access Openings
- 3-2. Driveways
- 3-3. Scenic Values in Planning and Design
- 3-4. Erosion and Water Pollution
- 4-1. Integrating the County Classification System into the Roadway Design Process
- 4-2. Guidelines for Determining Roadway Categories
- 5-2. Circulation Element
- 5-3. Centerlines
- 5-4. Non-Access Strips
- 5-5. Street Center Sections
- 6-1. Street Names
- 6-2. Signs
- 7-1. General
- 7-2. Exceptions to Lot Frontage Requirements
- 7-3. Double Frontage Lots
- 7-4. Corner Lots
- 7-5. Preservation of Ecological and Scenic Features
- 8-1. Sewer Connections
- 8-2. Water
- 8-4. Deeded Water Rights
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▸ Chapter 9 — DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FEE MILL CREEK MARKETPLACE
- Chapter 9.1
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▸ Chapter 10 — FIRE DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FEES
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▸ Division 3
Overview- Chapter 1 — Codes: Building, Plumbing, Electrical and Others
- Chapter 1.5 — Modifed Limited Density Owner-Built Rural Dwelling Regulations (for Alternative …
- Chapter 3 — Airport Approach Zone Building Height Regulations
- Chapter 1 — CODES: BUILDING, PLUMBING, ELECTRICAL AND OTHERS
- Chapter 1.5
- Chapter 3 — AIRPORT APPROACH ZONE BUILDING HEIGHT REGULATIONS
- Chapter 5
- Chapter 6
- Chapter 7
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▸ Division 5
Overview-
▸ Chapter 1 — PUBLIC NUISANCES ABATEMENT PROCEDURE
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- Division 6
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▸ Division 8
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▸ Division 9
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▸ Division 10
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▸ Division 11
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