Chapter 17.132 — A-D AGRICULTURE-DAIRY ZONE

Chapter 17.132 - A-D AGRICULTURE-DAIRY ZONE

Sections:

The board of supervisors finds that because of the importance of the dairy industry to the economy of the county, the need to protect dairies from urban encroachment, and the need to encourage dairies to locate in established rural and agricultural areas to minimize incompatibilities between dairy operations and urbanizing communities, it is desirable to establish a zone classification which will preserve dairy operations.

(Ord. 348.2358, 1984; Ord. 348 § 14.51)

A.

The following uses are permitted in the A-D zone:

1.

One-family dwellings in conjunction with a dairy operation;

2.

Dairy farms and dairy calf, heifer, dry cow and herd replacement operations including the selective or experimental breeding and raising of cattle, the grazing of cattle and, as an accessory use, the processing, packaging and marketing of waste products produced on the premises;

3.

Farms for rabbits, fish, frogs, worms, chinchilla or other small animals (excluding crowing fowl); nurseries, greenhouses, orchards, aviaries, apiaries, field crops, tree crops, berry and bush crops, vegetable flower and herb gardening. The drying, packing, canning, freezing and other accepted methods of processing the produce resulting from such permitted uses, when such processing is primarily in conjunction with a farming operation and further provided that the permanent buildings and structures used in conjunction with such processing operations are not nearer than twenty (20) feet from the boundaries of the premises;

4.

The grazing of horses, sheep, goats or other farm stock or animals, not including hogs, including the supplementary feeding thereof, not to exceed five animals per acre of all the land available; provided however, the systematic rotation of animals with more than five animals per acre is permitted so long as the total number of permitted animals is not exceeded. For the grazing of sheep or goats, the permissible number of animals per acre may be multiplied by three, except that there shall be no limit to the permissible number of sheep which may be grazed per acre when the grazing is for the purpose of cleaning up unharvested crops. The provisions of this subdivision apply to mature breeding stock, maintenance stock and similar farm stock, and shall not apply to the offspring thereof, if such offspring are being kept, fed or maintained solely for sale, marketing or slaughtering at the earliest practical age of maturity. In all cases the permissible number of animals per acre shall be computed upon the basis of the nearest equivalent ratio;

5.

Farms or establishments for the selective or experimental breeding and raising of sheep, goats, and horses, subject to the limitations set forth in subsection (A)(4) of this section;

6.

Future Farmers of America (FFA) or 4-H projects conducted by the occupants of the premises. Provided, however, if the project involves crowing fowl, an unexpired crowing fowl affidavit form describing the project must be on file with the planning director. Affidavit forms are available at the planning department and may be filed free of charge;

7.

A temporary stand for the display and sale of the agriculture produce of any permitted use that is produced upon the premises where such stand is located or upon contiguous lands owned or leased by the owner or occupant of the premises;

8.

Water work facilities, both public and private intended primarily for the production and distribution of water for irrigation purposes;

9.

A sign, single- or double-faced, not exceeding twelve (12) square feet in area per face, advertising only the sale of services or the products produced on the premises. The sign shall not be lighted or have flashing objects or banners;

10.

The keeping or raising of not more than fifty (50) mature female crowing fowl and ten (10) mature male crowing fowl on lots or parcels between twenty thousand (20,000) square feet and thirty-nine thousand nine hundred ninety-nine (39,999) square feet or not more than one hundred (100) mature female crowing fowl and twenty (20) mature male crowing fowl on lots of forty thousand (40,000) square feet or more for the use of the occupants of the premises. The crowing fowl shall be kept in an enclosed area located not less than

twenty (20) feet from any property line and not less than fifty (50) feet from any residence and shall be maintained on the rear portion of the lot in conjunction with a residential use;

11.

The outside storage of materials, such as irrigation equipment and farming machinery, is allowed provided the materials are used in conjunction with a farm. Otherwise, the amount of outside storage materials is limited to one hundred (100) square feet with a maximum height of three feet on parcels less than one-half acre and two hundred (200) square feet with a maximum height of three feet for parcels on one-half acre or more;

12.

Employee housing meeting the requirements, as determined by the planning director, set forth in Health and Safety Code Section 17021.8, as may be amended, or consisting of no more than thirty-six (36) beds in a group quarters or twelve (12) units or spaces designed for use by a single-family or household. Review of determinations that employee housing meets the requirements set forth in Health and Safety Code Section 17021.8 shall be processed and considered by the planning commission in accordance with Health and Safety Code Section 17021.8.(c).

B.

The following uses are permitted subject to the approval of a plot plan pursuant to Chapter 17.216. The plot plan approval may include conditions to assure that the use is compatible with the surrounding area:

1.

A permanent stand for the display and sale of the agricultural produce of any permitted use that is produced upon the premises where such stand is located or upon contiguous lands owned or leased by the owner or occupant of the premises;

2.

An additional one-family dwelling (including mobilehomes), excluding the principal dwelling, shall be allowed for each ten (10) acres gross being farmed. The additional dwelling units shall be located on a parcel being farmed and occupied by the owner, operator or employee of the farming operation as a onefamily residence; provided that:

a.

The dwellings are not rented or held out for lease,

b.

The dwellings are located not less than fifty (50) feet from any property line,

c.

The dwellings are screened from view from the front property line by shrubs or trees,

d.

The arrangement of the dwellings, sanitary facilities and utilities conforms with all of the requirements of the county health department, the county building and safety department and state law,

e.

The number of dwellings for employees shall not exceed four per established farming operation.

C.

The following uses are permitted, provided a conditional use permit is granted pursuant to Chapter 17.200:

1.

Abattoirs.

2.

Solar power plant on a lot ten (10) acres or larger.

3.

Employee housing not meeting the requirements set forth in Health and Safety Code Section 17021.8, as may be amended, or consisting of more than thirty-six (36) beds in a group quarters or twelve (12) units or spaces designed for use by a single-family or household.

D.

Reserved.

E.

Subject to the provisions of Chapter 17.206, the number of mature crowing fowl may be increased up to fifty (50) percent over each (male and female) of the permitted numbers.

F.

Industrial hemp activities are permitted or conditionally permitted in subsection A., B., or C. in section 17.132.020 pursuant to the provisions set forth in chapter 17.306 of this ordinance including, but not limited to, permit processing, location, standards and approval requirements.

G.

Any use that is not specifically listed in subsections B. and C. may be considered a permitted or conditionally permitted use provided that the planning director finds that the proposed use is substantially the same in character and intensity as those listed in the designated subsections. Such a use is subject to the permit process which governs the category in which it falls.

(Ord. 348.4087 § 29, 2003; Ord. 348.3966 § 1 (part), 2000; Ord. 348.3954 §§ 37—40, 2000; Ord. 348.2669, 1987; Ord. 348.2358, 1984; Ord. 348 § 14.52)

(Ord. 348.4713, § 16, 11-9-2010; Ord. 348.4705, § 14, 11-8-2011; Ord. No. 348.4911, § 18, 9-10-2019; Ord. No. 348.4931, § 12, 11-10-2020; Ord. No. 348. 4950, §§ 18, 19, 3-2-2021)

A.

Minimum lot size shall be twenty (20) acres.

B.

One-family residences shall not exceed forty (40) feet in height. No other building or structure shall exceed fifty (50) feet in height, unless a greater height is approved pursuant to section 17.172.230. In no event, however, shall a building exceed seventy-five (75) feet in height or any other structure exceed one hundred five (105) feet in height, unless a variance is approved pursuant to Chapter 17.196.

C.

Minimum front yard requirements shall be twenty (20) feet; fifty (50) feet for dairy operations, including the processing, packaging and marketing of waste products produced on the premises, and all other agricultural operations involving the keeping of animals.

D.

Minimum side and rear yard requirements shall be ten (10) feet. Twenty-five (25) feet for dairy operations, including the processing, packaging and marketing of waste products produced on the premises, and all other agricultural operations involving the keeping of animals.

E.

Automobile storage space shall be provided as required by Chapter 17.188.

(Ord. 348.3990 §§ 23, 24, 2001; Ord. 348.2443, 1985; Ord. 348.2358, 1984; Ord. 348 § 14.53)