§ 19.08 — Novato Zoning Code | GoCodebook Library

19.08.010 - Purpose of Division. ¶

This Division lists the uses of land that may be allowed within the agricultural and resource zoning districts established by Section 19.04.020 (Zoning Districts Established). It also determines the type of land use permit/approval required for each use, and provides general standards for site development.

(Ord. No. 1576, § 2 (Exh. A, amd.), 10-23-2012)

19.08.020 - Purposes of Agricultural and Resource Districts. ¶

The agricultural and resource zoning districts are provided to help preserve and maintain agricultural land, natural open space areas, and conserve natural resources while accommodating a built environment that complements the natural environment. The purposes of the individual agricultural and resource zoning districts and the manner in which they are applied are as follows:

A (Agricultural) District. The A zoning district is intended to be applied to lands that are to be protected and maintained in agricultural use, with allowable non-agricultural uses being related to and supportive of the continuing primary agricultural use. The A zoning district is consistent with the Agricultural land use designation of the General Plan.

B.

OS (Open Space) District. The OS zoning district is intended to preserve natural resources and provide for flood control, to protect the public health and safety on public land. The OS zoning district is consistent with the Open Space land use designation of the General Plan.

C.

ROS (Restricted Open Space) District. The ROS district is intended to recognize lands that have been acquired or dedicated for Open Space purposes and that are restricted in their use. The ROS zoning district is consistent with the Open Space land use designation of the General Plan.

D.

C (Conservation) District. The C zoning district is intended to maintain privately-owned, unimproved land to conserve natural resources. The C zoning district is consistent with the Conservation land use designation of the General Plan.

(Ord. No. 1576, § 2 (Exh. A, amd.), 10-23-2012)

19.08.030 - Agricultural and Resource Zoning District Land Uses and Permit Requirements.

Table 2-2 identifies the uses of land allowed by this Zoning Ordinance in each agricultural and resource zoning district, and the land use permit required to establish each use, in compliance with Section 19.06.030 (Allowable Land Uses and Permit Requirements). In addition to the land use permit required by Table 2-2, special provisions related to certain land uses may apply, and Design Review may also be required for certain uses in compliance with Section 19.42.030 (Design Review). A Building Permit shall be required prior to any construction.

Note: Where the last column in the tables ("Specific Use Regulations") includes a section number, the regulations in the referenced section apply to the use. Provisions in other sections of this Zoning Ordinance may also apply.

TABLE 2-2 Allowed Uses and Permit Requirements for Agricultural and Resource Zoning Districts		P Permitted Use (2)	P Permitted Use (2)	P Permitted Use (2)	P Permitted Use (2)
		UP Use Permit required (3)
		— Use not allowed
LAND USE (1)	PERMIT REQUIRED BY DISTRICT				Specifc Use
	A	OS	ROS	C	Regulations
AGRICULTURE, RESOURCE & OPEN SPACE USES
Agricultural accessory structures	P	P	P	P

Agricultural processing	UP	—	—	—
Community gardens	P	P	—	P
Crop production and horticulture	P	P	—	P
Dairy farming	UP	—	—	—
Farm produce stands	UP	—	—	—
Livestock operations - Grazing & Hay Production	P	P	P	P
Livestock operations - Large animals	UP	—	—	>—
Livestock operations - Small animals	P	—	—	—
Nurseries and greenhouses, no on-site sales	P	—	—	—
Nurseries and greenhouses, with on-site sales	UP	—	—	>—
Storage and use of hazardous materials as accessory use	UP (4)	—	—	UP (4)
RECREATION, EDUCATION & ASSEMBLY USES
Clubs, lodges and membership meeting halls	UP	—	—	—
Equestrian facilities	UP	—	—	—
Golf courses and country clubs	UP	—	—	UP
Hiking trails	P	P	P	P
Marinas, docks, piers	UP	UP	UP	UP
Nature preserves	P	P	P	P
Outdoor recreation facilities, active	UP	—	—	—
Outdoor recreation facilities, passive	P	P	P	P
Parks and playgrounds	UP	UP	—	UP

KEY TO ZONING DISTRICT SYMBOLS

A	Agricultural	ROS	Restricted Open Space
OS	Open Space	C	Conservation

Notes:

(1)

See Article 6 for land use definitions. See Section 19.02.020.F regarding uses not listed.

(2)

Zoning Clearance required (Section 19.42.020). Design Review may also be required; see 19.42.030.

(3)

See Section 19.42.050 for Use Permit processing requirements.

(4)

Accessory use may be allowed in accordance with standards as promulgated by the Novato Fire Protection District and all other applicable local, state and federal laws and regulations.

TABLE 2-2 Allowed Uses and Permit Requirements for Agricultural and		P Permitted Use (2)	P Permitted Use (2)	P Permitted Use (2)	P Permitted Use (2)
		UP Use Permit required (3)
Resource Zoning Districts		— Use not allowed
LAND USE (1)	PERMIT REQUIRED BY DISTRICT				Specifc Use Regulations
	A	OS	ROS	C
RESIDENTIAL USES
Accessory dwelling units/junior accessory dwelling units	P	—	—	P	19.34.030 and 19.34.031
Accessory residential uses and structures	P	—	—	P	19.34.032
Agricultural Worker Housing Center	P	P	P	P	19.34.200
Alcoholism or Drug Abuse Recovery or Treatment Facility, 6 or fewer persons	P	—	—	P
Alcoholism or Drug Abuse Recovery or Treatment Facility, 7 or more persons	—	—	—	—
Cannabis cultivation - personal indoor	P	P	—	P	19.34.065
Cannabis cultivation - personal outdoor	—	—	—	—	19.34.065
Caretaker quarters	UP	UP	—	—
Community Care Facility, 6 or fewer persons	P	—	—	P
Community Care Facility, 7 or more persons	UP	—	—	UP
Farm labor housing	UP	—	—	—
Home occupations	P	—	—	P	19.34.080
Residential Care Facility for the Elderly (RCFE), 6 or fewer persons	P	—	—	P
Residential Care Facility for the Elderly (RCFE), 7 or more persons	UP	—	—	UP	19.34.160
Single-family dwellings	P	—	—	P
SERVICE USES

Bed and breakfast inns (B&Bs)	UP	—	—	—
Cemetery	—	—	—	P
Child/adult day care, 8 or fewer clients	P	—	—	P
Child/adult day care, 9 to 14 clients	P	—	—	—	19.34.070
Child/adult day care, 15 or more clients	UP	—	—	—	19.34.070
Funeral Homes	—	—	—	UP
Kennels	UP	—	—	—
TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATION USES
Wireless communications facilities	UP	UP	UP	UP	19.38

KEY TO ZONING DISTRICT SYMBOLS

A	Agricultural	ROS	Restricted Open Space
OS	Open Space	C	Conservation

Notes:

(1)

See Article 6 for land use definitions. See Section 19.02.020.F regarding uses not listed.

(2)

Zoning Clearance required (Section 19.42.020). Design Review may also be required; see 19.42.030.

(3)

See Section 19.42.050 for Use Permit processing requirements.

(Ord. No. 1576, § 2 (Exh. A, amd.), 10-23-2012; Ord. No. 1595, § 2(Exh. A), 12-16-2014; Ord. No. 1643, § 5, 109-2018; Ord. No. 1676, Exh. A, 3-8-2022; Ord. No. 1718, § 3(Exh. C), 9-10-2024; Ord. No. 1723, § 3(Exh. B), 3- 25-2025)

19.08.040 - Agricultural and Resource District General Development Standards. ¶

Subdivisions, new land uses and structures, and alterations to existing land uses and structures, shall be designed, constructed, and/or established in compliance with the requirements in Table 2-3, in addition to the applicable development standards (e.g., landscaping, parking and loading, etc.) in Article 3 (General Property Development and Use Standards).

TABLE 2-3

AGRICULTURAL AND RESOURCE DISTRICT

GENERAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS

	Requirement by Zoning District
Development Feature	A Agriculture	OS/ROS Open Space/ Restricted Open Space	C Conservation
Minimum lot size	Minimum area, width, and	depth required for new parcels.
Area	60 acres
Width	150 ft	None	10 acres—60 acres (3)
Depth	150 ft
Maximum density (1)	1 dwelling unit per 60 acres	Not applicable	1 dwelling unit per 10 acres
Setbacks	Minimum setbacks required. See Article 19.20 for setback measurement, allowed projections into setbacks, and exceptions to setbacks.
Front	30 ft
Sides (each)	25 ft
Rear	30 ft
Height limit (2)	40 ft for agricultural accessory structures; 30 ft for all other structures.
Architecture	As required by Division 19.27.
Landscaping	As required by Division 19.28 (Landscaping).
Parking	As required by Division 19.30 (Parking and Loading).

Notes:

(1)

Maximum number of dwellings allowed per gross acre in a single-family subdivision. The actual number of units allowed is determined through the applicable subdivision or land use permit process, and there is no guarantee that the maximum density may be achieved.

(2)

Maximum allowed height of structures. See also Section 19.20.070 (Height Limits and Exceptions).

(3)

The Zoning Map designations include a suffix denoting the minimum lot area in acres for the Conservation zone. For example, CON-20 requires a minimum lot area of 20 acres. The density suffix shall be applied to property as part of the rezoning process.

(Ord. No. 1576, § 2 (Exh. A, amd.), 10-23-2012; Ord. No. 1705, § 4(Exh. A), 10-10-2023)