Article I — PURPOSE, FINDINGS AND DEFINITIONS — Humboldt County Zoning Code

3210-1. Purpose.

The purpose of this chapter is to provide the authority for and the process by which a development impact fee may be imposed for fire prevention, suppression, and safety within the unincorporated territory of the County. Consistent with the County General Plan, the fee may be adopted and imposed by the County for a Fire District that prepares and presents to the Board of Supervisors a study that adequately demonstrates the reasonable relationship between new development and the fee to be imposed. In adopting this ordinance, it is the intention of the Board of Supervisors that new development pay its fair share of the cost of the new fire protection infrastructure that will become necessary to maintain the pre-existing level of fire protection service and thereby mitigate the impact of the new development on a Fire District’s ability to provide such service. (Ord. 2437, § 1, 8/ 24/2010)

3210-2. Findings.

The Board of Supervisors of the County of Humboldt finds and declares as follows: (Ord. 2437, § 1, 08/24/10)

(a) Adequate fire protection Facilities and Equipment must be available to serve Development in the unincorporated area of the County. (Ord. 2437, § 1, 8/24/2010)

(b) Development will require the construction or expansion of fire protection Facilities and the acquisition of Equipment. (Ord. 2437, § 1, 8/24/2010)

(c) In many areas of the County, property taxes, fire suppression assessments, and other revenues currently collected by the agencies providing fire protection services are not sufficient to provide funds for the expansion or construction of fire Facilities and the purchase of Equipment that, because of Development, will become necessary to maintain existing levels of service. In the absence of an impact fee contemplated by this ordinance, the result will be a serious potential for inadequate fire protection coverage for the Development and the growing population. (Ord. 2437, § 1, 8/24/2010)

(d) The above conditions, if not addressed, could place Humboldt County’s growing population in a condition that is potentially perilous to its health and safety. (Ord. 2437, § 1, 8/24/2010)

(e) The impacts of Development on the existing fire protection Facilities and Equipment cannot be alleviated without County involvement. (Ord. 2437, § 1, 8/24/2010)

(f) For the reasons set forth above, new methods for financing fire protection Facilities and Equipment necessitated by Development are needed in the County. (Ord. 2437, § 1, 8/24/2010)

The Humboldt County Code is current through Ordinance 2784, passed March 10, 2026.

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Title III Land Use and Development | Humboldt County Code

(g) The provisions of this chapter provide one such method by permitting the imposition of a Fire District development impact fee when conditions justifying the imposition of such a fee exist as specified hereinafter and when the procedures for such imposition have been followed as specified hereinafter. (Ord. 2437, § 1, 8/24/2010)

3210-3. Definitions.

When used in this chapter, the words listed in this section shall have the following meanings: (Ord. 2437, § 1, 08/ 24/10)

(a) “Development” means all construction for which a County building permit or other permit is required except such construction for which a building permit was issued prior to the effective date of this ordinance or such construction which increases an existing structure’s square footage by 200 square feet or less. (Ord. 2437, § 1, 8/ 24/2010)

(b) “Board” means the Board of Supervisors of the County of Humboldt. (Ord. 2437, § 1, 8/24/2010)

(d) “Clerk” means the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors. (Ord. 2437, § 1, 8/24/2010)

(e) “Fire District” and “District” means any special district providing fire protection services within the unincorporated area of the County. (Ord. 2437, § 1, 8/24/2010)

(f) “Facilities and Equipment” means any long-term capital facilities, equipment, and land used by a Fire District for fire suppression and emergency medical services including station construction, station expansion, and fire or emergency medical apparatus. (Ord. 2437, § 1, 8/24/2010)

(g) “County” means the County of Humboldt. (Ord. 2437, § 1, 8/24/2010)

(h) Use and Occupancy Definitions:

(Ord. 2437, § 1, 08/24/10)

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LAND USE DEFINITION & CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE REFERENCE
Residential-Single Single Family Dwelling
Family
R-3 (single family dwellings)
Residential-more More than Single-Family Dwelling
than Single Family
R-2 and R-3 (other than those listed in Residential-Single Family)
Office Civic, Administrative, and Professional Services
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The Humboldt County Code is current through Ordinance 2784, passed March 10, 2026.

Page 945 of 1183

Title III Land Use and Development | Humboldt County Code

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LAND USE DEFINITION & CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE REFERENCE
“B” (Civic Administration and Professional Services)
Commercial Retail, Motel/Hotel, General Business, Education, Clinic, and Motor Vehicle
and Aircraft Repair
A-1 through A-5, “B” (other than those listed in Office), I-1 through I-3, “M”,
R-1, R-3.1, R-4, S-1 (Aircraft Repair Hanger and Motor Vehicle Repair
Garages)
Industrial Manufacturing, Assembly, Fabrication, Finishing, and Repair
F-1 through F-2, H-1 through H-5, S-1 (other than those listed in
Commercial), S-2, “L”, “U” (Except those specified in Article II Exemptions)
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Note: Use and Occupancy Classification pursuant to Chapter 3, Use and Occupancy Classification of the California Building Code. (Ord. 2437, § 1, 08/24/10)