Imperial County Municipal Code Ch. 18 S-1 (open Space/Recreational)

The purpose of the S-1 zone is to designate areas that recognize the unique open space and recreational character of Imperial County including the deserts, mountains and water-front areas. Primarily the S-1 zone is characterized by low intensity human utilization and small-scale recreation related uses. Any new subdivision in the S-1 zone will require all necessary infrastructure, including potable water, sewer and roads to county standards.

(Ord. No. 1565, §§ 3, 4, 12-15-20)

The following uses are permitted in the S-1 zone provided they meet the requirements of this title:

a) Accessory structure including cargo container (provided they have an approved building permit and are subordinate to a primary building/use).

b) Crop and tree farming (not allowed within Ocotillo/Nomirage Community Area Plan)(ONCAP).

c) Directional signs of not to exceed six square feet in area but not including commercial advertising.

d) Duck clubs (not allowed within ONCAP).

e) Fish farms (not allowed within ONCAP).

f) Forest industries.

g) Grazing.

h) Gun clubs.

i) Harvesting of any wild crop.

j) Home occupation per Division 4, Chapter 4 (home occupation permit required hotels and motels.

k) Marinas, boat liveries and boat launching ramps.

l) Mobile home/RV park provided fifty percent (50%) of the total use is for RV use.

m) Residence (one per legal parcel).

n) RV park.

o) Solar energy extraction generation provided that it is for on-site consumption only.

(Ord. No. 1565, §§ 3, 4, 12-15-20)

The following uses are permitted in the S-1 Zone provided they meet the requirements of this Title:

a) Airports.

b) Breeding and raising of animals in excess of the limits specified in Section 90502.13.

c) Churches and other places used exclusively for religious worship.

d) City, County, State and Federal enterprises including buildings and facilities.

e) Communication Towers: including radio, television, cellular, digital, along with the necessary support equipment such as receivers, transmitters, antennas, satellite dishes, relays, etc. (subject to requirements of this zone and Division 24; Section 92401 "Communications Facilities Ordinance" et al).

f) Contractors office and storage yard (temporary).

g) Daycare or nursery school.

h) Equestrian establishments, stables, or riding academies (not allowed within ONCAP).

i) Establishments or enterprises involving large assemblages of people or automobiles including amusement parks, circuses, carnivals, expositions, fairs, open air theatres, race tracks, recreational concert venues, and sport centers.

j) Facilities for abused people.

k) Hospital sanitariums.

l) Institutions of a philanthropic nature.

m) Major facilities relating to the generation and transmission of electrical energy provides such facilities are not under State or Federal law, to approved exclusively by an agency, or agencies of the State or Federal government, and provided such facilities shall be approved subsequent to coordination review of the Imperial Irrigation District for electrical matters. The maximum allowance of battery shall be in a ratio of 2 to 1 compared to solar. Such uses shall include but be limited to the following:

Electrical generation plants.

Facilities for the transmission of electrical energy (100—200 kV).

Electrical substations in an electrical transmission system (500 kv/230 kv/161 kV).

n) Meteorological Tower.

o) Off road vehicle and or motorcycle events.

p) Oil, gas and geothermal exploration.

q) Planned unit development.

r) Recreational vehicle storage facilities.

s) Real Estate tract office and signs (temporary).

t) Special Occasion Facility.

u) Surface mining operations.

(Ord. No. 1565, §§ 3, 4, 12-15-20; Ord. No. 1587, §§ 1, 2, 12-5-23)

All other uses not permitted by Section 90518.01 or 90518.02 of the chapter are prohibited in the S-1 zone.

(Ord. No. 1565, §§ 3, 4, 12-15-20)

The minimum lot size for the S-1 zone is one acre and any parcel existing at less than one acre at the adoption of this ordinance [title] shall be deemed a legal parcel.

(Ord. No. 1565, §§ 3, 4, 12-15-20)

The minimum lot area per dwelling unit in the S-1 zone shall be one acre for each residence allowed by this chapter.

(Ord. No. 1565, §§ 3, 4, 12-15-20)

Yards and setbacks in the S-1 zone are as follows:

A. Front Yard: The front yard minimum setback for all buildings shall be as follows:

Twenty-five (25) feet from the edge of right-of-way or property line or eighty (80) feet from center line or adjacent street, whichever is greater.

B. Side Yard: Ten (10) feet minimum.

C. Rear Yard: Ten (10) feet minimum.

(Ord. No. 1565, §§ 3, 4, 12-15-20)

Buildings or structures in the S-1 zone shall not exceed thirty-five (35) feet, except for communication towers, which are one hundred (100) feet.

(Ord. No. 1565, §§ 3, 4, 12-15-20)

The following requirements apply to the minimum distances between structures in the S-1 zone:

A. There shall be a minimum of ten (10) feet between primary residential use buildings, except for zero lot line approved subdivisions.

B. There shall be a minimum distance of six feet between a residential building and any detached accessory building, except that any detached structure used to house, keep or maintain animals, permitted in this zone shall be separated as follows:

Thirty (30) feet from primary residence.

Eighty (80) feet from front lot line.

Twenty-five (25) feet from any side or rear lot line.

One hundred (100) feet from any school or public park.

One hundred (100) feet from any water well.

NOTE: A covered walkway or breezeway is not considered attached.

(Ord. No. 1565, §§ 3, 4, 12-15-20)

Off-street parking shall be provided in the S-1 sone according to the standards contained in Sections 90402.00 through 90402.15 of this title. RVs, trailers and other vehicles provided they belong to the property owner may be stored on site only if they are within the rear yard and not readily visible or accessible to public view.

(Ord. No. 1565, §§ 3, 4, 12-15-20)

The following signs shall be permitted in the S-1 zone; however, all signs shall be subject to Section 90401 as applicable:

1. Temporary real estate signs not exceeding twenty (20) square feet, and advertising the property for sale or lease, and meeting requirements of Division 4, Chapter 1, of this title.

2. Temporary construction signs related to construction on said property, meeting requirements of Division 4, Chapter 1.

3. Temporary political, religious, civic and campaigning signs not to exceed three months, meeting requirements of Division 4, Chapter 1.

4. Institutional signs.

5. Signs attached to buildings.

6. Monument signs.

7. Pole signs advertising on-site identification uses only.

8. Signs approved in conjunction with a conditional use permit approved for the site.

(Ord. No. 1565, §§ 3, 4, 12-15-20)

Every S-1 lot, parcel or use shall meet the requirements of Section 90302.06.

(Ord. No. 1565, §§ 3, 4, 12-15-20)

The keeping of animals in the S-1 zone shall comply with Section 90502.13.

(Ord. No. 1565, §§ 3, 4, 12-15-20)