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Title III›Division 1 — PLANNING›Part 2 — REGULATIONS FOR THE COMBINING ZONES

33.2 RR – RAILROAD RIGHTS-OF-WAY PROTECTION

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

33.2.1 Purpose. The purpose of these provisions is to protect specified contiguous rail rights-of-way from development that may interfere with the use of the rights-of-way for rail and other public transportation uses.

33.2.2 Applicability. The Railroad Rights-of-Way Protection Combining Zone, indicated by “RR” on the Zoning Maps, shall apply to contiguous rail rights-of-way currently held by the North Coast Railroad Authority, and those along the former Annie and Mary Railroad rail corridor between Arcata and Blue Lake that are designated Railroad in the General Plan Land Use Element and as shown by a line symbol on the Circulation and Public Facilities Maps contained in General Plan Appendix F, Map Book.

33.2.3 Compatible Uses. The following uses are permitted within areas designated as a Railroad Rights-of-Way Protection Combining Zone:

33.2.3.1 Railroad and accessory uses carried out by the applicable rail authority or successor entity, or licensee.

33.2.3.2 Paved public roads, surfaced pedestrian walkways, bicycle paths; semi-improved recreational trails for walkers, bicyclists, and equestrians; and unimproved rural trails for hikers, mountain biking, and horseriding, carried out by the applicable rail authority or successor entity, or licensee.

33.2.3.3 Management and maintenance of trees, shrubs, and other plant life consistent with the Zoning Regulations and other applicable provisions of the Humboldt County Code.

33.2.3.4 Incidental public service purposes, including, but not limited to, pipelines for water, sewer and natural gas utilities, electrical transmission and telecommunication lines.

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

Page 553 of 1183

Title III Land Use and Development | Humboldt County Code

33.2.4 Other Development. All development proposed on land designated Railroad Rights-of-Way Protection Combining Zone on the Zoning Maps other than the compatible uses described in Section 314-33.2.3 shall be sited and designed to protect these areas from activities that may interfere with the use of the rights-of-way for rail and other public transportation purposes and conducted in accordance with applicable law. Evidence that the development is sited and designed to protect the rights-of-way for rail and other public transportation uses shall include, but not be limited to, license agreements between the proponent of the development and the applicable rail authority or successor entity.

33.2.5 Special Permit Required. Development, other than compatible uses identified in Section 314-33.2.3, may be approved in areas designated as Railroad Rights-of-Way Protection Combining Zone on the Zoning Maps upon approval of a special permit and may require approvals from other concerned agencies. Applications for special permits shall be referred to the Public Works Department for review and comment. (Ord. 2629, § 8, 6/11/2019)

314-34 “S” Combining Zone Designations

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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
      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
        Overview
        1. 15.1 APPLICABILITY
        2. 15.2 SPECIAL AREA COMBINING ZONES AND RESPECTIVE DESIGNATIONS
        3. 16.1 AP - AIRPORT SAFETY REVIEW
        4. 17.1 B - SPECIAL BUILDING SITE
        5. 19.1 D - DESIGN CONTROL
        6. 21.1 F - FLOOD HAZARD AREAS
        7. 22.1 G - ALQUIST-PRIOLO FAULT HAZARD
        8. 22.2 GO - GREENWAY AND OPEN SPACE
        9. 27.1 L - LANDSCAPING AND DESIGN
        10. 28.1 M - MANUFACTURED HOME DEVELOPMENT STANDARD COMBINING ZONE
        11. 28.2 MR – MINERAL RESOURCES COMBINING ZONE
        12. 29.1 N - NOISE IMPACT
        13. 31.1 P - PLANNED DEVELOPMENT
        14. 31.2 PRD – PLANNED RURAL DEVELOPMENT
        15. 32.1 Q - QUALIFIED
        16. 33.1 R - RECREATION
        17. 33.2 RR – RAILROAD RIGHTS-OF-WAY PROTECTION
        18. 34.1 S - DEVELOPMENT STANDARD COMBINING ZONE
        19. 34.2 SM - DEVELOPMENT STANDARD COMBINING ZONE
        20. 34.3 SY - DEVELOPMENT STANDARD COMBINING ZONE
        21. 34.4 SZ - DEVELOPMENT STANDARD COMBINING ZONE
        22. 35.1 T - MANUFACTURED HOME COMBINING ZONE
        23. 38.1 PURPOSE
        24. 38.2 APPLICABILITY
        25. 38.3 MODIFICATIONS IMPOSED BY THE STREAMSIDE MANAGEMENT AREAS …
        26. 39.1 X - RECREATION
        27. 40.1 Y - SPECIFIED MINIMUM AND AVERAGE LOT SIZE
        28. 41.1 Z - NO FURTHER SUBDIVISION ALLOWED
      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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