Modoc County Municipal Code Ch. 18.40 Rural Town (rt) Zone

The purpose of an RT zone is to provide for a combination of residential, commercial and agricultural uses that are compatible in a low density town setting. The RT zone is typically applied to the established unincorporated communities which lack well defined commercial and residential areas, and which historically have relatively stable or declining population and economic bases. The RT zone may also be applied to new mixed use development, provided there are no conflicts with the general plan. The RT zone is consistent with the urban areas and rural residential general plan designations.

(Ord. 236-73 Exh. A(part), 1991)

The regulations set out in this chapter shall apply in all RT zones and shall be subject to the provisions and limitations set out in Chapters 18.100 through 18.110 of this title.

(Ord. 236-73 Exh. A(part), 1991)

A. Livestock grazing, cultivation of crops, continuation of existing agricultural uses;

B. One one-family dwelling and accessory uses (section 18.100.010); or one two-family dwelling when the minimum lot size is met;

C. Accessory dwelling unit (section 18.100.070);

D. Residential care facility, small and/or unlicensed (section 18.100.090);

E. Employee housing, small and large (section 18.100.080);

F. Transitional housing (section 18.100.110);

G. Supportive housing (section 18.100.110);

H. Bed and breakfast guest facility;

I. New and used retail sales, including limited ranch supply store when conducted within a building. An area not to exceed one-half the gross ground floor area may be used for outdoor storage and retail sales provided a six-foot-high screening fence is erected between the use and any existing residential uses on an adjacent lot;

J. Service station, provided a six-foot-high screening fence is erected between the use and any existing residential use on an adjacent lot located within one hundred feet;

K. Restaurant, restaurant with drive-in service, fast-food restaurant; any food establishment where alcoholic beverages may be consumed incidental to food service, excluding a bar or lounge operated in conjunction with a food establishment;

L. Personal services, professional offices;

M. Health care facilities for not more than twelve clients;

N. Public uses and quasi-public uses primarily conducted within a building when similar to other uses in this section, such as offices, churches, community hall, or lodges;

O. Public utilities necessary in the locations proposed to support residential uses and other rural town uses when such uses are compatible with the setting. Such uses are generally located and conducted within a building or screened from view, do not emit noise, electronic interference, or other influences detectable at the property boundary, and do not occupy more than one-half acre;

P. Small recycling collection facility when accessory to an appropriate commercial or public use in this section, such as retail sales or automobile fuel service; and

Q. Similar uses (section 18.100.010).

(Ord. No. 236-162, 3-24-2026; Ord. 236-73 Exh. A(part), 1991)

A. Assemblage of people;

B. Guest house.

(Ord. No. 236-146, 12-12-2017; Ord. 236-73 Exh. A(part), 1991)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 236-146, adopted Dec. 12, 2017, changed the title of § 18.40.040 from "Uses permitted with an administrative permit" to read as herein set out.

A. Assemblage of people, guest house, home occupation (section 18.100.030);

B. Multiple-family dwellings, recreational vehicle park, mobilehome park, boarding or rooming house;

C. Residential care facility, large licensed (section 18.100.090);

D. Motel and hotel;

E. Health care facilities for more than twelve clients;

F. Public utilities that do not meet the criteria in section 18.40.030; public uses and quasi-public uses such as fire hall, equipment yards, police station, hospital, or parks;

G. Automobile or equipment sales, repair, or service;

H. Bar, lounge, or any establishment where a principal activity is the on-premises consumption of alcoholic beverages rather than food service (includes a bar or lounge operated in conjunction with a food establishment);

I. Outdoor new and used retail sales, outdoor storage, mini-storage;

J. Small recycling collection facility not accessory to an appropriate use; and

K. Similar uses (section 18.100.030).

(Ord. No. 236-162, 3-24-2026; Ord. No. 236-146, 12-12-2017; Ord. 236-73 Exh. A(part), 1991)

Except as provided in Chapter 18.100:

A. Minimum lot size and width:

1. Six thousand square feet, with a minimum width of fifty feet, when public water and public sewer, or only public sewer, are available and utilized.

2. Fifteen thousand square feet, with a minimums width of one hundred feet, when only public water is available and utilized.

3. Three acres, with a minimum width of one hundred fifty feet, when neither public water or public sewer is available. Lots created by division may be granted an exception by the planning commission, acting on a finding by the county health officer that a lesser size is adequate to accommodate the proposed water system and sewage disposal system without endangering any person. If granted, the minimum lot size shall not be less than fifteen thousand square feet with a minimum lot width of one hundred feet.

B. Minimum yards:

1. Front, side street: Dwellings and nonfarm buildings: twenty feet; farm buildings: ten feet.

2. Rear, side: Five feet, except (1) where the zone abuts an RH, RL, or RR zone, the yard for farm buildings shall be twenty feet, and (2) where the zone abuts an RH, RL, or RR zone or a RT zone with an existing or approved dwelling, the yard for commercial buildings and uses shall be ten feet.

C. Access, parking, signs, other: As provided in Chapter 18.100.

D. Maximum structure height: buildings: two stories not to exceed fifty feet; other structures: fifty feet.

E. Maximum lot coverage: sixty percent when any dwelling or residential use is located on the lot.

(Ord. 236-73 Exh. A(part), 1991)

A. Any lot in any zone shall be improved and maintained as follows:

1. No trash or rubbish shall be allowed to accumulate on any lot or parcel.

2. It is unlawful to park, store, leave or to permit the parking, storing or leaving of any licensed or unlicensed motor vehicle of any kind or part thereof, which is in a wrecked, junked, partially dismantled, inoperative or abandoned condition, whether attended or not, upon any private property within the county for a period of time in excess of seventy-two hours, except that two or less such vehicles or parts thereof may be stored if within a building, or placed behind an opaque screening fence; and except that such vehicles and parts may be stored in a junk yard or automobile wrecking yard lawfully established pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.

B. The storage of merchandise, materials, partially or completely dismantled automobiles or salvage materials in any zone shall be enclosed in a sight-obscuring fence of not less than six feet in height, and such storage shall not be placed in a greater height than the enclosing wall or fence. Where such storage qualified as a legal nonconforming use, the property owner and/or proprietor shall have a period of six months from the date of notification of violation of this provision by the planning director to amortize such storage and bring it into conformance with this section.

(Ord. 236-75 (part), 1998)