Chapter 18.12

It is hereby found and declared that the City of Norco lies in a natural setting of rural, scenic and historical beauty; that this rural environment generates a strong characteristic for development of Norco as a new equestrian focal point in southern California; that this unique rural environment and historically significant location contributes a material economic advantage to the citizens, businesses, and industries within the City and particularly to the property owners who reside therein; and that development in an orderly manner with compatible uses and appearances of structures within and between zones and with the natural rural environment is necessary to maintain such historic and economic advantage, to stabilize, protect, and maintain property values, and to encourage permanence of desirable residential areas.

This zone is intended to provide and encourage the development of agricultural estate areas designed to take advantage of the rural environment, as well as the outdoor recreation potential of the community by maintaining contiguous undeveloped open land on each and every residential lot.

(Ord. 924 Sec. 1, 2010; Ord. 1019 Sec. 1, 2017)

The following uses are permitted and land shall be used and buildings and structures shall hereafter be erected, altered, enlarged, or otherwise modified for the following uses only:

• A. Single-family detached dwellings. No more than one such dwelling shall be permitted on any lot.

• B. Public parks and playgrounds.

• C. Accessory Structures and Uses.

  1. Accessory buildings as regulated by Chapter 18.68 subject to the lot development standards of this zone.

  2. Deleted by Ord. 924.

  3. Home occupation, as defined in Section 18.02.04(31) and subject to conformance to the criteria for home occupations provided in Chapter 18.32 and all the provisions thereof.

• D. Agricultural Uses:

  1. Nurseries, greenhouses, orchards, aviaries, apiaries, the raising of field crops and tree crops, berry and bush crops, and vegetable, flower, and herb gardening on a commercial scale including the drying, packing, and other accepted methods of processing of fruits, nuts, vegetables, and other horticultural products where such drying, packing, or processing is primarily in conjunction with a farming operation and provided the permanent buildings and structures used in conjunction with such drying, packing, and processing operations are not nearer than 20 feet from the boundaries of the premises.

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City of Norco, CA

NORCO CODE

§ 18.12.06

§ 18.12.06

2. The keeping and maintaining of horses, cattle, swine, sheep, and goats (hereinafter referred to as "keeping," it being the intent that whenever the term "keeping" or "kept" is used in this section it shall mean that portion of a lot upon which such animals receive food and/or water and/or shelter) shall be permitted on the basis of maximum number of adult animal units per lot.

3. Adult animal units shall be determined as follows:

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Animal Shall Equal
One Equine One Animal Unit
One Bovine One Animal Unit
One Swine One Animal Unit
Two Sheep One Animal Unit
Two Goats One Animal Unit
Two Miniature Horses One Animal Unit
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• i. Offspring of permitted adult animal units shall not be counted in determining the permitted number of adult animal units on a given lot, if such offspring do not exceed the following age limitation:

Equine, six months

Bovine, six months Swine, 60 days Sheep, 90 days Goats, 90 days

• ii. Offspring of nonpermitted adult animal units shall be counted as adult animal units, notwithstanding their age at any particular time.

4. The maximum number of adult animal units permitted in relation to lot size shall be determined as follows:

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Lot Size Maximum Animal
40,000 but less than 45,000 sq. ft. 11 Animal Units
45,000 but less than 50,000 sq. ft. 12 Animal Units
50,000 but less than 55,000 sq. ft. 13 Animal Units
55,000 but less than 60,000 sq. ft. 15 Animal Units
60,000 but less than 75,000 sq. ft. 16 Animal Units
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• i. One additional animal unit shall be permitted for each additional 4,000 square feet of lot area beyond 75,000 square feet.

• ii. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, not more than one

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City of Norco, CA § 18.12.06

ZONING

§ 18.12.06

swine shall be allowed for each 10,000 square feet of property or any multiple thereof. However, a miniature pig shall be allowed for each 5,000 square feet of property or any multiple thereof.

5. The nonconforming use of adult animal units on a lot of less than 40,000 square feet in area shall be determined as follows:

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Lot Size Maximum Animal Units
10,000 but less than 15,000 sq. ft. 2 Animal Units
15,000 but less than 20,000 sq. ft. 4 Animal Units
20,000 but less than 25,000 sq. ft. 5 Animal Units
25,000 but less than 30,000 sq. ft. 6 Animal Units
30,000 but less than 35,000 sq. ft. 7 Animal Units
35,000 but less than 40,000 sq. ft. 8 Animal Units
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6. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary stated in subsection (D) of this section, no adult animal unit or offspring thereof, as defined in subsection (D)(3) of this section, shall be permitted on a lot, unless the lot has at least 500 contiguous square feet of land, which does not slope more than 15 degrees, for each animal unit proposed to be kept or maintained on said lot. This provisions shall not apply to goats or sheep.

7. No adult animal unit or offspring thereof shall be kept, or maintained at a distance less than 35 feet from a dwelling located on an adjacent lot. Except for swine, an adult animal unit or offspring thereof may be kept or maintained at a distance less than 35 feet from dwelling on an adjacent lot, if the owner of said animal unit or offspring thereof constructs a solid fence not less than six feet high on his lot in a manner that screens said adult animal unit or offspring thereof from a dwelling located on an adjacent lot. Under no circumstances shall swine be kept or maintained at a distance less than 35 feet from a dwelling on an adjacent lot.

If any lot is developed in such a manner as to cause an owner or occupant of a lot adjacent thereto to be in violation of this section, the developer of said lot shall provide the screening as required hereinabove.

8. Adult animal units, including offspring thereof, which are being kept or maintained by the following uses:

4-H Projects

Future Farmers Projects

Horse Ranches

Training Stables

Boarding Stables

Breeding Farms

may be so kept or maintained in excess of the quantities provided in subsections

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City of Norco, CA § 18.12.06

NORCO CODE

§ 18.12.08

(D)(4) and (5) of this section, subject to the issuance of a conditional use permit therefor pursuant to the procedures set forth in Chapter 18.45 (Conditional Use Permits).

• i. For the purposes of this subsection the use "horse ranches" shall mean selling, purchasing, trading, and exchanging horses for profit.

• ii. In the case of an application for a use permit related to 4-H and Future Farmers of America uses, no filing fee shall be required to accompany the application.

9. A temporary or permanent stand for the display and sale of the products of any permitted use, produced upon the premises upon which such stand is located or upon lands owned or leased by the owner or occupant of such premises. Such stand shall be located not nearer than 20 feet to any street or highway line upon which such property fronts. Where the stand permitted by this subsection is of a permanent nature, there shall be provided adequate off-street automobile storage space for use in conjunction therewith.

10. A nonlighted sign, single or double faced, not exceeding 12 square feet in area per face and pertaining only to the sale, lease or hire of the premises or of the products produced by the owner or occupant of the premises, including articles used in conjunction with farming or agriculture or activities or services carried on by such owner or occupant. Temporary signs of a similar nature not exceeding six square feet in area shall be permitted for seasonal use only and may be placed to the street line.

• E.

  • Child home care.

• F. Other similar uses permitted by Commission determination in accordance with Chapter 18.42 (Similar Uses).

• G. Shoeing horses, if said use is not being conducted at a fixed place of business, which is being operated wholly or partially for farrier purposes.

• H. Farrier at a fixed place of business which is being operated wholly or partially for farrier purposes.

• I. Mobile homes, on lawfully existing nonconforming lots consisting of less than 20,000 square feet. No more than one such dwelling shall be permitted on any lot, subject to all provisions of the A-E Zone.

• J. Supportive housing as defined in Chapter 18.02.

• K. Transitional housing as defined in Chapter 18.02.

• L. Single-resident occupancy as defined in Chapter 18.02 and regulated by Section 18.66.06. (Ord. 277 Sec. 2 (part), 1974; Ord. 306 Sec. 3, 1974; Ord. 471 Sec. 4, 1982; Ord. 497 Sec. 3, 1983; Ord. 624 Sec. 1, 1991; Ord. 664, 1993; Ord. 675 Sec. 1, 1993; Ord. 818, 2004; Ord. 924 Sec. 1, 2010; Ord. 969 Sec. 1, 2014; Ord. 1019 Sec. 1, 2017)

The following uses may be permitted, subject to the approval of a conditional use permit as provided in Chapter 18.45 (Conditional Use Permits):

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City of Norco, CA

ZONING

§ 18.12.08

§ 18.12.12

• A. Public schools.

• B. Private schools providing education as required under the California State Education Code.

• C. Day nurseries or nursery schools.

• D. Public golf courses, tennis clubs, swimming clubs and other similar recreation facilities.

• E. Restaurants and other related facilities only when associated with and incidental to a golf course, tennis club, or other recreational facility. In granting a permit for such activities, the Planning Commission shall ensure, through the imposition of appropriate conditions, that no interference with the conduct of nearby residential uses occurs.

• F. Churches, temples or other places used exclusively for religious worship.

• G. Public utility uses, both publicly and privately owned.

• H. Caretaker dwellings.

• I. Small and large animal hospitals.

• J. Farms devoted to the hatching, raising, butchering or marketing on a commercial scale of chickens, turkeys, or other fowl or poultry and eggs, rabbits, fish, frogs, mink, chinchilla, or other small animal farms of a similar nature; provided, however, that not more than 500 turkeys per acre, in addition to brooding stock, shall be kept, fed or maintained on a parcel of less than five acres. No commercial poultry shall be established on a parcel containing less than nine acres or with a width of less than 300 feet, and all poultry buildings and structures shall be set back a minimum of 25 feet from the rear and side lines of the parcel and 50 feet from any public road or highway.

• K. Packing, freezing, or processing, which use is primarily in conjunction with a farming operation on a commercial scale, and provided the permanent buildings and structures used in conjunction with such packing, freezing, and processing operations are not nearer than 20 feet from the boundaries of the premises.

• L. Sales yards limited to agricultural commodities, livestock and farm implements.

• M. Accessory Structures and Uses. Private garages used by persons residing on the premises, cabanas, laundry rooms, workshops, stables, barns, tack rooms, covered corrals and pens, and similar animal-keeping/agricultural structures that exceed 864 square feet, provided these structures shall not be used as a habitable dwelling or space, as defined by the adopted Uniform Building Code. Approval shall be through a minor conditional use permit review.

• (Ord. 308 Sec. 2, 1974; Ord. 497 Sec. 4, 1983; Ord. 924 Sec. 1, 2010)

All lots in this zone shall contain a minimum lot area of least 40,000 square feet and no lot in this zone shall be reduced below this minimum.

All lots shall maintain the following minimum standards:

• A. Width: Minimum width of 80 feet.

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City of Norco, CA

NORCO CODE

§ 18.12.12

§ 18.12.28

• B. Cul-de-Sac Lots: Minimum average width of 80 feet and minimum frontage of not less than 50 feet.

• C. Depth: Minimum depth of 150 feet. (Ord. 364 Sec. 1(a), 1976)

Subject to Section 18.14.24, the following shall apply:

• A. Front Yard. Minimum of 25 feet from the right-of-way line as determined by the master plan of streets and highways.

• B. Side Yard.

  1. Interior. All lots on which dwellings or buildings are located shall have side yards on each side of the dwelling, and the width of one side yard shall be no less than five feet and the width of the other side yard shall have such a dimension that the sum of the widths of the two yards shall be no less than 20 feet; provided, however, the width of the other yard shall not be less than 12 feet.

  2. Corner Side. A side yard on the street side of 20 percent of the lot width but no more than 15 feet need be provided.

• C. Rear Yard: A minimum of 30 feet. (Ord. 264 Sec. 2 (part), 1973)

The maximum height of an accessory building shall be per the regulations of Chapter 18.68. (Ord. 924 Sec. 1, 2010; Ord. 1019 Sec. 1, 2017)

The maximum lot coverage of all structures shall be not more than 40 percent of the total lot area. All in-ground pools and spas along with a five-foot coping around the perimeter of said structures shall be included in the building coverage calculations.

(Ord. 499 Sec. 3, 1983; Ord. 741, 1998; Ord. 1019 Sec. 1, 2017)

The minimum space between separate buildings on the same lot shall be 10 feet.

The provisions of Section 18.31.08 (Walls, Fences, and Structures in the Setback Areas) shall apply.

The provisions of Chapter 18.38 (Off-Street Parking) shall apply. No required front or corner side yard shall be used for parking.

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City of Norco, CA § 18.12.28

ZONING

§ 18.12.42

Every single-family dwelling having two bedrooms or less shall have a floor area of not less than 1,200 square feet, exclusive of porches and garages.

All other single-family dwellings shall have a minimum floor area of not less than 1,500 square feet, exclusive of porches and garages. The architecture and general appearance of such building shall be in keeping with the character of the neighborhood and such as not to be detrimental to the general welfare of the community in which it is located.

The provisions of Chapter 18.37 (Signs) shall apply.

Water works facilities, both public and private for the production and distribution of water for primarily irrigation purposes shall not be subject to any of the provisions of this chapter.

Deleted by Ord. 701.

(Ord. 294 Sec. 2(a) (part), 1974; Ord. 400 Secs. 1–3 (part), 1977; Ord. 639 Sec. 1, 1991)

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City of Norco, CA

ZONING

§ 18.13.02

§ 18.13.06