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Title III›Division 1 — PLANNING›Chapter 2

17.2 REQUIRED FINDINGS FOR VARIANCES

Humboldt County Zoning Code · 2026-07 edition · updated 2026-07-09 · Humboldt County

The Hearing Officer may approve or conditionally approve an application for a variance only if all of the following findings are made: (See, Sections 65906 and 65906.5 of the Government Code.) (Former Section INL#317-26; CZ#A315-15)

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

Page 58 of 1183

Title III Land Use and Development | Humboldt County Code

17.2.1 That there are exceptional or extraordinary circumstances or conditions applicable to the property involved or to the intended use of the property that do not apply generally to the property or class of use in the same zone in the vicinity; (Former Section INL#317- 26(b); CZ#A315-15(A))

17.2.2 The strict or literal interpretation and enforcement of the specified regulation would result in practical difficulty or unnecessary physical hardship and would deprive the applicant of privileges enjoyed by the owners of other properties classified in the same zoning district; (Former Section INL#317-26(a); INL#317-26(c); CZ#A315-15(B))

17.2.3 That the granting of the variance will not constitute a grant of special privilege inconsistent with the limitations on other properties classified in the same zoning district; and (Former Section INL#317-26(d); CZ#A315-15(C))

17.2.4 That granting the variance or its modification will not be materially detrimental to the public health, safety or welfare. (Former Section INL#317-26(e); CZ#A315-15(D); Ord. 946, Sec. 4, 10/2/73)

17.2.5 In addition to the findings of this section, requests for variances in the Coastal Zone shall be approved only if the following additional finding is made:

The development for which the variance is proposed will be in conformity with the Coastal Land Use Plan. (Former Section CZ#A315-15(E))

17.2.6 Parking Variances. Notwithstanding subsection 65906 (Variances) of the Government Code, a variance may be granted from the parking requirements of a zoning ordinance in order that some or all of the required parking spaces be located offsite, including locations in other local jurisdictions, or that in-lieu fees or facilities be provided instead of the required parking spaces, if both the following conditions are met: (From Government Code Sec. 65906.5; Added by Ord. 2214, 6/6/00)

17.2.6.1 The variance will be an incentive to, and a benefit for, the nonresidential development. (From Government Code Sec. 65906.5; Added by Ord. 2214, 6/6/00)

17.2.6.2 The variance will facilitate access to the nonresidential development by patrons of public transit facilities, particularly guideway facilities. (From Government Code Sec. 65906.5; Added by Ord. 2214, 6/6/00)

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▸ Contents — Humboldt County Zoning Code
Humboldt County Zoning Code
  1. ▸ Title III
    Overview
    1. ▸ Division 1 — PLANNING
      Overview
      1. Chapter 2 — ADMINISTRATION, PROCEDURES, AMENDMENTS AND ENFORCE…
      2. Chapter 1
      3. ▸ Chapter 2
        Overview
        1. 1.2 DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ZONING ADMINISTRATOR
        2. 1.3 PLANNING COMMISSION FORMATION AND COMPOSITION
        3. 2.1 PURPOSE
        4. 2.2 REQUIRED ZONING CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE
        5. 2.3 FILING AND PROCESSING APPLICATIONS FOR A ZONING CLEARANCE …
        6. 2.5 EXPIRATION OF ZONING CLEARANCE CERTIFICATES
        7. 3.2 VARIANCES
        8. 4.1 CONDITIONS
        9. 4.2 PROHIBITED CONDITIONS
        10. 4.3 SECURITY MAY BE REQUIRED
        11. 4.4 INSPECTION FEE
        12. 5.2 APPLICATION FORM AND FILING FEE
        13. 6.1 APPLICATION CHECK
        14. 6.3 PUBLIC REVIEW
        15. 6.5 PROJECT APPROVAL
        16. 6.7 NOTICE OF DECISION
        17. 7.1 INITIAL STUDY CONFERENCE
        18. 7.2 PUBLIC COASTAL ACCESS PROTECTION REVIEW
        19. 7.4 WETLAND RESTORATION PLAN PROCEDURE
        20. 7.5 APPLICATION PROCESSING RESPONSIBILITIES FOR OTHER COUNTY D…
        21. 8.1 NOTICE OF APPLICATION SUBMITTAL
        22. 8.2 CONTENT OF THE NOTICE OF APPLICATION SUBMITTAL
        23. 8.3 NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
        24. 8.4 CONTENT OF A PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE
        25. 8.5 REQUESTS FOR NOTIFICATION
        26. 9.1 PUBLIC HEARINGS REQUIRED UNLESS WAIVED
        27. 9.2 PUBLIC HEARING MAY BE WAIVED
        28. 10.1 EFFECT OF PERMIT OR VARIANCE
        29. 10.2 EFFECTIVE DATE OF PERMIT OR VARIANCE
        30. 10.3 ASSIGNMENTS OF PERMITS AND VARIANCES
        31. 10.4 RIGHTS ATTACHED TO PERMITS AND VARIANCES
        32. 10.5 EXPIRATION OF DEVELOPMENT PERMITS AND VARIANCES
        33. 10.6 RENEWAL OF DEVELOPMENT PERMITS AND VARIANCES
        34. 11.1 MINOR DEVIATION FROM THE PLOT PLAN
        35. 11.2 APPLICATION FOR MODIFICATION OF A DEVELOPMENT PERMIT OR V…
        36. 11.3 EXTENSION OF A PERMIT OR VARIANCE
        37. 12.1 REAPPLICATION IF APPLICATION IS DENIED
        38. 13.1 APPEALS TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
        39. 13.2 GROUNDS FOR APPEAL
        40. 13.3 EFFECT OF FILING AN APPEAL
        41. 13.4 PROCESSING AN APPEAL
        42. 13.5 HEARING REQUIRED
        43. 13.6 NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
        44. 13.7 DECISION AND NOTICE OF FINAL ACTION
        45. 13.8 FINALITY AND EFFECTIVE DATE
        46. 13.9 IF NO DECISION REACHED
        47. 13.10 RIGHT TO DECIDE ALL MATTERS
        48. 13.11 MAJOR VEGETATION REMOVAL: APPEAL OF THE DIRECTOR’S DETER…
        49. 13.12 APPEALS TO THE COASTAL COMMISSION
        50. 13.13 GROUNDS FOR APPEAL TO THE COASTAL COMMISSION
        51. 14.1 SUSPENSION
        52. 14.2 REVOCATION
        53. 15.1 APPLICABILITY
        54. 15.4 CRITERIA FOR WAIVER OF PROCEDURES
        55. 15.5 STANDARD PERMIT OR VARIANCE REQUIRED
        56. 16.1 APPLICABILITY
        57. 16.3 APPLICATION FOR WAIVER OF PROCEDURES
        58. 16.4 PROCEEDINGS FOR WAIVER OF PROCEDURES
        59. 16.5 FINDINGS
        60. 16.6 DECISION ON DE MINIMUS WAIVERS IS FINAL
        61. 16.7 EXPIRATION OF DE MINIMUS WAIVERS
        62. 17.2 REQUIRED FINDINGS FOR VARIANCES
        63. 17.3 SUPPLEMENTAL FINDINGS
        64. 18.1 CONDITIONALLY PERMITTED USES IN AN AE ZONE
        65. 19.1 OIL AND GAS PIPELINES
        66. 19.2 SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL
        67. 21.1 USES PERMITTED WITH A CONDITIONAL OR SPECIAL PERMIT IN TC…
        68. 22.2 SURFACE MINING
        69. 23.1 HAZARDOUS INDUSTRY
        70. 25.1 SECONDARY DWELLING UNIT
        71. 26.1 ALQUIST-PRIOLO GEOLOGIC FAULT HAZARD AREAS
        72. 30.1 CONDITIONALLY PERMITTED USES IN AN AE ZONE
        73. 31.1 ELECTRICAL TRANSMISSION LINES
        74. 31.3 WIND ELECTRICAL GENERATING FACILITIES
        75. 31.4 SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL
        76. 32.1 NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL
        77. 35.1 COASTAL DEPENDENT INDUSTRY
        78. 35.2 MARINE PETROLEUM TRANSFER FACILITIES
        79. 35.3 DREDGE SPOILS DISPOSAL
        80. 38.2 COASTAL SHORELINES
        81. 39.2 PUBLIC ACCESS
        82. 39.3 COASTAL SCENIC AREAS
        83. 39.4 COASTAL STREAMS AND RIPARIAN AREAS
        84. 39.5 COASTAL VIEW AREAS
        85. 39.6 COASTAL DUNE AND BEACH AREAS
        86. 39.7 COASTAL ELK HABITAT AREAS
        87. 39.8 COASTAL NATURAL DRAINAGE COURSES
        88. 39.9 COASTAL NATURAL LANDFORMS
        89. 39.10 OFFSHORE ROCKS AND ROCKY INTERTIDAL AREAS
        90. 39.11 COASTAL ROAD CONSTRUCTION
        91. 39.12 COASTAL TRANSITIONAL AGRICULTURAL LAND
        92. 39.13 COASTAL VEGETATION REMOVAL, MAJOR
        93. 39.14 COASTAL WETLANDS
        94. 39.15 COASTAL WETLAND BUFFERS
        95. 40.2 SUBDIVISIONS IN AGRICULTURAL EXCLUSIVE 160 AND 600 ACRE M…
        96. 40.3 SUBDIVISIONS IN A COMMERCIAL RECREATION ZONE
        97. 41.1 FINDINGS FOR EXCEPTIONS
        98. 42.1 PURPOSE
        99. 42.2 APPLICABILITY
        100. 42.3 DEFINITIONS
        101. 42.4 NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC OF AVAILABILITY OF ACCOMMODATION PRO…
        102. 42.5 APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
        103. 42.6 REVIEW AUTHORITY AND PROCEDURES
        104. 42.7 FINDINGS AND DECISION
        105. 42.8 ALTERNATIVE REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS
        106. 42.9 APPEAL FILING AND PROCEDURES
        107. 42.10 EXPIRATION OF REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION
        108. 50.1 PURPOSE
        109. 50.2 AUTHORITY TO MAKE AMENDMENTS
        110. 50.3 REQUIRED FINDINGS FOR ALL AMENDMENTS
        111. 50.4 INITIATING AMENDMENTS
        112. 50.5 PETITION FORM, FILING, AND FEE
        113. 50.6 PETITION IN CONJUNCTION WITH A GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT
        114. 50.7 PROCESSING OF PROPOSED AMENDMENTS
        115. 50.8 SUPPLEMENTAL TIMBERLAND PRODUCTION ZONING PROCEDURES
        116. 51.1 DUTY TO ENFORCE
        117. 51.2 EXCEPTIONS
        118. 51.3 PERMITS IN CONFLICT WITH THIS CODE
        119. 51.4 INSPECTION TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE
        120. 51.5 VIOLATION OF THE COUNTY ZONING REGULATIONS
      4. Chapter 3
      5. Part 1 — PRINCIPAL ZONES
      6. Part 2 — SPECIAL AREA COMBINING ZONES
      7. Part 1 — USES AND ACTIVITIES
      8. Part 2 — STRUCTURES AND FACILITIES
      9. Part 3 — DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS
      10. Part 4 — REGULATIONS THAT APPLY IN SENSITIVE HABITATS AND HAZA…
      11. Part 5 — NONCONFORMING USES AND STRUCTURES
      12. Part 1 — CLASSIFICATION OF USE TYPES
      13. Part 2 — GLOSSARY OF USE TYPES
      14. Part 1 — PRINCIPAL ZONES
      15. Part 2 — REGULATIONS FOR THE COMBINING ZONES
      16. Part 1 — USES AND ACTIVITIES
      17. Part 2 — STRUCTURES AND FACILITIES
      18. Part 3 — DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS
      19. Part 4 — (SECTION RESERVED FOR FUTURE USE)
      20. Part 5 — NONCONFORMING USES AND STRUCTURES
      21. Part 1 — CLASSIFICATION OF USE TYPES
      22. Part 2 — GLOSSARY OF USE TYPES
  2. Title III — LAND USE AND DEVELOPMENT

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