Mendocino County Municipal Code Ch. 20.700 Cottage Industries

It is the intent of this Chapter to provide for limited commercial and industrial uses, in conjunction with a dwelling, which are more extensive than home occupations, but which, like home occupations, do not alter or disturb the residential or rural nature of the premises or its surroundings. Such limited commercial and industrial uses are known as Cottage Industries. This Chapter is also intended to provide for home occupations in private garages and accessory buildings.

(Ord. No. 3915 (part), adopted 1995.)

(Ord. No. 4395, § 2, 11-17-2017)

(A) Cottage Industries may be permitted upon issuance of a Minor Use Permit in the MMU Zoning District and a Major Use Permit in the MRR, MTR, MRM, or MSR Zoning Districts only.

(B) Use Permits for Cottage Industries may be granted for an unlimited period of years, unless it is determined that a shorter period is more appropriate to insure conformance with the intent and standards of this Section or other applicable requirements.

(Ord. No. 3915 (part), adopted 1995.)

(Ord. No. 4395, § 2, 11-17-2017)

(A) The particular use(s) conducted by Cottage Industries, and their operation and appearance, shall not change or disturb the residential or community character of the premises or its surroundings.

(B) Any Cottage Industry use shall have no significant adverse effect on coastal resources, the physical environment, the human environment, or on public access to and along the coast.

(C) No significant additional service demands shall be created by the use.

(Ord. No. 3915 (part), adopted 1995.)

(Ord. No. 4395, § 2, 11-17-2017)

Cottage Industries shall conform to the following requirements:

(A) Not more than one (1) person who does not reside in the dwelling unit may be employed on the premises in addition to the members of the family residing in the dwelling unit.

(B) Cottage Industries shall be a secondary use of a parcel containing a dwelling that is occupied as a principal residence of the owner or operator of the Cottage Industry. Multiple uses may be permitted within a Cottage Industry. Such industry or equipment and storage related thereto shall not be located within fifty (50) feet of any property line excluding buildings constructed prior to the certification by the Coastal Commission of the County of Mendocino Coastal Element of the General Plan on November 20, 1985.

(C) No Cottage Industry permitted pursuant to this Chapter may occupy more than six hundred forty (640) square feet within any building or buildings, on one (1) parcel (lot).

(D) One (1) sign not exceeding two (2) square feet, non-illuminated, and attached flat to the main structure or visible through a window.

(E) No merchandise (except articles produced on the premises or those items necessary for repair work in the equipment repair services, consumer use types, and specialty shops) shall be sold or displayed on the premises.

(F) Not more than ten (10) customers or clients shall come to the dwelling unit for service or products during any one (1) day. Not more than two (2) vehicles may be parked on the premises or a street adjacent to the Cottage Industries while awaiting or undergoing repair, or awaiting removal after repair.

(G) No large vehicles and construction equipment (including but not limited to trucks of over one (1) ton gross weight rating, tractors, bulldozers, backhoes, skip-loaders, well-drilling rigs, cement mixers, rollers, welders, air compressors, forklifts, or graders) shall be operated, maintained, or parked in connection with Cottage Industries, except to the extent that such vehicles and equipment are of a type and number customarily used by residents of the surrounding neighborhood for their own agricultural or home use on their own property, and further provided that no Cottage Industries employing said vehicles or construction equipment shall be located in Historical Zone A.

(H) Noise generation from within the Cottage Industries site shall not exceed sixty-five (65) dBA Ldn at the nearest off site residence.

(Ord. No. 3915 (part), adopted 1995.)

(Ord. No. 4395, § 2, 11-17-2017)

(A) Any use listed in Section 20.696.015 which does not conform to the specific standards for a Home Occupation due to its location in a private garage or accessory building may be permitted as a Cottage Industries, subject to the provisions of this Division, only in the MMU, MSR, MTR, MRM, and MRR Zoning Districts.

(B) Cottage Industries Use Types listed below are subject to the provisions of this Division, require a Major Use Permit, and may be permitted only in the MRR, MRM, MTR, or MSR Zoning Districts:

Administrative and Business Offices

Animal Sales and Services: Household Pets

Building Maintenance Services

Custom Manufacturing and Repairs

Food and Beverage Preparation: Without Consumption

Horticulture

Medical Services

Personal Services

Repair Services, Consumer

(Ord. No. 3915 (part), adopted 1995.)

(Ord. No. 4395, § 2, 11-17-2017)

Where a use described in this Chapter is permitted without the necessity of obtaining a use permit, the regulations within the Zoning District shall apply.

(Ord. No. 3915 (part), adopted 1995.)

(Ord. No. 4395, § 2, 11-17-2017)