Los Angeles County Municipal Code Ch. 22.16 Agricultural, Open Space, Resort and Recreation, and Watershed Zones

A.

General Purpose. The Agricultural, Open Space, Resort and Recreation, and Watershed Zones consist primarily of lands for agricultural uses or are in natural resource areas which limit dwellings and accessory uses. These zones provide areas for agricultural operations, open space, recreation, natural resource industries, or natural resource protection.

B.

Purpose of Individual Zones. The purposes of individual zones are established as follows:

Agricultural Zones. The Agricultural Zones (Zones A-1 and A-2) are established to permit a comprehensive range of agricultural uses in areas particularly suited for agricultural activities. Permitted uses are intended to encourage agricultural activities and other such uses required for, or desired by, the inhabitants of the community. An area so zoned may provide the land necessary to permit low-density single-family residential development, outdoor recreational uses, and public and institutional facilities.

Open Space Zone. The Open Space Zone (Zone O-S) is established to provide for the preservation, maintenance, and enhancement of the recreational, natural, and environmental resources of this County as defined in the General Plan. The purpose and intent of Zone O-S is to:

a.

Provide for the continued availability of open space lands for outdoor recreational usage.

b.

Protect water resources by maintaining groundwater recharge and watershed areas.

c.

Protect ecological and habitat areas to assure the continued survival of wildlife and vegetation.

d.

Protect sites of historical, archaeological, scenic, or scientific value.

e.

Protect areas identified as having significant mineral resources to assure their continued availability, conservation, and production.

f.

Reduce the risk to public safety through protective management of seismic, flooding, erosion, fire, geologic, and other natural hazard areas.

g.

Protect areas used for the managed production of resources, including but not limited to rangeland and agricultural land.

Resort and Recreation Zone. The Resort and Recreation Zone (Zone R-R) is established to provide for outdoor recreation and agricultural uses suitable for development without significant impairment to the resources of the area. Zone R-R also recognizes some single-family residences, additional recreation uses, and limited commercial and public service facilities, subject to review and conditions to protect natural scenic or recreational value.

Watershed Zone. The Watershed Zone (Zone W) is established to provide for conservation of water and other natural resources within a watershed area and to protect areas subject to fire, flood, erosion, or similar hazards. Zone W also provides for limited recreational development of the land and necessary public facilities.

(Ord. 2019-0004 § 1, 2019.)

Table 22.16.020-A, below, identifies "Agricultural Zones," as used in this Title 22:

(Ord. 2019-0004 § 1, 2019.)

A.

General. This Section prescribes the land use regulations for Zones A-1, A-2, O-S, R-R, and W.

B.

Permit and Review Requirements. Table 22.16.030-A, below, identifies the permit or review required to establish each use listed in Subsection C, below.

C.

Use Regulations.

Principal Uses. Table 22.16.030-B, below, identifies the permit or review required to establish each principal use.

Accessory Uses. Table 22.16.030-C, below, identifies the permit or review required to establish each accessory use.

Temporary Uses. Table 22.16.030-D, below, identifies the permit or review required to establish each temporary use.

(Ord. 2024-0054 § 3, 2024; Ord. 2024-0049 § 13, 2024; Ord. 2023-0060 § 3, 2023; Ord. 2023-0004 § 3, 2023; Ord. 2023- 0001 § 3, 2023; Ord. 2022-0023 § 14, 2022; Ord. 2022-0008 § 7, 2022; Ord. 2021-0017 § 9, 2021; Ord. 2021-0011 § 2, 2021; Ord. 2020-0064 § 3, 2020; Ord. 2020-0059 § 4, 2020; Ord. 2019-0053 § 10, 2019; Ord. 2019-0020 § 4, 2019; Ord. 2019-0004 § 1, 2019.)

A.

Development on any lot in Zones A-1, A-2, O-S, R-R, and W shall comply with Division 6 (Development Standards), where applicable.

B.

New sensitive uses developed in permitted zones and located adjacent to existing, legally-established industrial uses, recycling or solid waste uses, or vehicle-related uses listed in Table 22.22.030-B (Principal Use Regulations for Industrial Zones), except for the vehicle sales and rentals sub-category, shall comply with Division 7, Chapter 22.134 (Sensitive Uses).

(Ord. 2022-0023 § 15, 2022; Ord. 2019-0004 § 1, 2019.)

A.

Required Yards. Table 22.16.050-A, below, identifies minimum yard depths for Zones A-1 and A-2:

B.

Maximum Height. Every single-family residence shall not exceed a height of 35 feet above grade.

(Ord. 2019-0004 § 1, 2019.)

Premises in Zone O-S shall be subject to the following regulations:

A.

Development. Premises shall remain essentially unimproved and buildings, structures, grading excavation, fill or other alterations shall be prohibited except for the specified uses listed as permitted or conditionally permitted in Section 22.16.030.C (Use Regulations). Additionally, for any premises located within a significant ecological area such uses shall be subject to a Minor Conditional Use Permit (Chapter 22.160) application.

B.

Maximum Height. Buildings or structures, except historical monuments, shall not exceed a height of two stories or 35 feet, whichever is less, including the basement but excluding the cellar.

C.

Additional Regulations for Zone O-S. In addition to the application requirements listed in Section 22.16.030.C (Use Regulations), the following applies to specified applications in Zone O-S.

Significant Ecological Areas. Where any uses or buildings subject to a Minor Conditional Use Permit (Chapter 22.160) application, as specified in Section 22.16.030.C, are located within a significant ecological area, the site plans shall be reviewed by SEATAC and its recommendations shall be sent to the Hearing Officer. The Hearing Officer may approve the application only after the applicant substantiates the following findings:

a.

That the use or buildings requested are clearly accessory and subordinate to, will not alter the nature of, and are limited to facilities compatible with the intent and purpose of Zone O-S on the property where proposed; and

b.

That in a significant ecological area such placement will not contribute to the detriment of the resources constituting the basis for classification as a significant ecological area.

Fences. In Zone O-S, fences shall require a Ministerial Site Plan Review (Chapter 22.186) application and shall be subject to the following standards:

a.

Fences shall not exceed eight feet in height except where a higher fence is required by other ordinance or law.

b.

Fences shall be open-work, non-view-obscuring except where a solid fence limited to five feet in height is specifically approved by the Director to protect identified resources.

Conditions of Approval. In approving any discretionary application in Zone O-S, the Commission or Hearing Officer may impose additional conditions to ensure that the use will be in accordance with the findings of such application. Additional conditions may include, but are not limited to:

a.

Appropriate measures to further the safety of persons using the facilities or adjacent properties.

b.

Dedication of conservation easements or other easements to ensure the preservation of specified resources.

c.

Delayed commencement of a project for a specified period of time to provide for scientific studies of resources on the subject property.

(Ord. 2019-0004 § 1, 2019.)