Title II — ADMINISTRATION›Part 2 — REGULATIONS FOR THE COMBINING ZONES
Humboldt County Municipal Code § 33.2 Rr – Railroad Rights-of-Way Protection
Humboldt County Municipal Code · 2026-09 edition · updated 2026-10-04 · Humboldt County
Cite as: Humboldt County Municipal Code § 33.2 · Text as of 2026-10-04
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.¶
33.2.3.1 Railroad and accessory uses carried out by the applicable rail authority or…¶
33.2.3.2 Paved public roads, surfaced pedestrian walkways, bicycle paths; semi-improved…¶
for walkers, bicyclists, and equestrians; and unimproved rural trails for hikers, mountain biking, and horse- riding, 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…¶
Regulations and other applicable provisions of the Humboldt County Code.
33.2.3.4 Incidental public service purposes, including, but not limited to, pipelines…¶
natural gas utilities, electrical transmission and telecommunication lines.
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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