5.080 Fairgrounds Overlay Zone.

A. Purpose and Intent. The purpose and intent of the Fairgrounds Overlay Zone is to allow operation of existing

uses on the City-owned Fairgrounds property, provide speciQcations for establishment of new, beneQcial uses of

the Fairgrounds, including temporary uses, permanent uses and structures and site improvements as set forth in

subsection (D) of this section, consistent with the Guiding Principles adopted in City Council Resolution 2022-167

N.C.S., and to ensure ongoing operation of the site and its uses is in the best interest of the public health, safety,

and welfare while a master plan and associated land use policies and zoning are prepared and adopted for the

Fairgrounds property.

B. District Boundaries. The proposed Fairgrounds Overlay Zone applies to areas of the City-owned property,

generally referred to as the Fairgrounds, identiQed as Assessor’s Parcel Numbers (APNs) 007-031-004 and

007-031-005 and zoned Civic Facility (CF) and Mixed Use 1B (MU1B) as shown in Figure 5.1. The boundaries of the

Fairgrounds Overlay Zone are generally described as follows:

The Petaluma Implementing Zoning Ordinance is current through Ordinance 2907, passed September 8, 2025.

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The Fairgrounds Overlay Zone is generally bounded by East Washington Street to the west, Kenilworth

Drive to the north (excluding the area known as the Petaluma Swim Center), APNs 005-010-008, -037,

-038, -039, 005-020-049, and 007-473-042 to the east, and Payran Street to the south (excluding the area

known as the Petaluma Regional Library, Kenilworth Teen Center, and Kenilworth Park).

Figure 5.1 District Boundaries – Fairgrounds Overlay Zone

C. De:nitions.

1. Mobile Vendor. A transient business selling goods in the City in a manner that is intended to be

temporary or is capable of being moved from one location to another.

2. Public BeneAts. Examples of public beneQts concerning uses within the Fairgrounds Overlay Zone

include, but are not limited to, uses that: have an educational component; provide access to arts and cultural

programs and events; oTer recreational opportunities; improve transit access and mobility options; and any

other uses that help support maximizing public access to and use of the Fairgrounds property, and/or that

promote the public health, safety, welfare, and sustainability consistent with the City Council’s adopted

Guiding Principles concerning the Fairgrounds.

3. Site Improvements. Horizontal improvements made on the land such as landscaping, drainage,

circulation, parking, utilities, signage, and fencing.

The Petaluma Implementing Zoning Ordinance is current through Ordinance 2907, passed September 8, 2025.

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4. Temporary Use. A use of land that is designed, operated and occupies a site for a limited period of time,

typically 60 days or less.

D. Existing and New Permitted Uses and Activities.

1. Existing Uses Permitted. The existing uses listed in Table 5.1 are expressly permitted within the

Fairgrounds Overlay Zone, subject to the terms and conditions in applicable license agreement(s) between

the City of Petaluma and licensee(s). In addition to the terms and conditions in license agreements and other

permits or other authorizations issued by the City to allow use of the Fairgrounds, all such licenses, permits or

other authorizations allowing use of the City’s Fairgrounds property shall also be subject to the requirements

in subsections (D)(1)(a) through (D)(1)(e) of this section.

Table 5.1.

Licensee Use

El Roy’s Mobile Vendor

Java Hut Restaurant, Café, CoTee Shop

Airport Express Parking Facility, Commercial

Happy Hearts Preschool Child Care Center

Rebuilding Together OSce (Professional/Administrative)

Play Dog Play Kennel, Animal Boarding

Playland Commercial Recreation, Outdoor

Live Oak Elementary and Middle School School

Glad Enterprises Commercial Recreation, Outdoor

a. Modi:cations to Existing Permitted Use. Permitted uses existing as of the eTective date of this section

or subsequently approved in accordance with this section shall not be enlarged, extended, or relocated

except as expressly authorized in accordance with the applicable license agreement, and applicable

regulations in the Zoning Ordinance.

b. Change of Existing Permitted Use. Permitted uses existing as of the eTective date of this section or

subsequently approved in accordance with this section shall not be changed to another permitted use,

except as allowed in accordance with Section 22.030(C), and subject to a license agreement, permit, or

other City authorization.

c. Change of Operator. Permitted uses existing as of the eTective date of this section or subsequently

approved in accordance with this section shall not be transferred from one operator to another without

prior approval by an authorized City oScial or body, subject to a new or amended license agreement,

permit, or other City authorization.

The Petaluma Implementing Zoning Ordinance is current through Ordinance 2907, passed September 8, 2025.

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d. Discontinuation of a Use. Absent express authorization of an authorized City oScial or body, a use

shall be considered abandoned and may not be renewed but shall require a new use application and

issuance of a new authorization in accordance with all applicable requirements of subsection (D)(2) of

this section if such use has been discontinued for a period of three months or more.

e. Maintenance and Repair. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to prohibit normal maintenance

and repair of any use or structure permitted pursuant to this section, subject to all requirements of any

applicable license, permit or other City authorization, or the carrying out, upon the issuance of a building

or other permit as required for structural alterations, demolition or other alterations necessary or

desirable in the interest of public safety as determined by an authorized City oScial or body. Where

applicable, modiQcations to existing structures and site improvements shall address historic eligibility of

the structure or improvement as set forth in the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds Historic Resources

Documentation, prepared by Page and Turnbull, July 1, 2022, and shall carry out modiQcations in a

manner that will not result in a substantial adverse change in the signiQcance of a historic resource.

Where applicable, a Historic Site Plan and Architectural Review (HSPAR) or Site Plan and Architectural

Review (SPAR) permit shall be obtained for exterior modiQcations meeting the criteria set forth in Section

24.050.

2. Annual Sonoma-Marin Fair. The Sonoma-Marin Fair shall be permitted to operate, subject to the terms

and conditions in applicable license agreement(s) between the City of Petaluma and licensee(s), and all

applicable requirements of this section and applicable law, including applicable rules and regulations of the

City.

3. Temporary Uses. The Planning Director may approve a Zoning Permit for temporary uses in the

Fairgrounds Overlay Zone in accordance with applicable requirements in Section 7.070.

4. New Public Bene:t Uses Allowed Administratively. The Planning Director may approve a minor use permit to

allow new uses that are not otherwise allowed pursuant to subsection (D) of this section in the Fairgrounds

Overlay Zone pursuant to the Qndings set forth in Section 24.060(E) and aSrmative Qndings that:

a. The use will not involve construction of new permanent structures.

b. The use is consistent with Guiding Principles adopted in City Council Resolution 2022-167 N.C.S.

c. The use provides a public beneQt.

d. The use satisQes all applicable requirements of this section, and is subject to a license agreement,

permit, or other City authorization as approved by an authorized City oScial or body.

5. New Uses Allowed by City Council. The City Council, upon recommendation of the Planning Commission

may approve new conditional use permits for new uses on the City’s Fairgrounds property that are currently

otherwise permitted by right or conditionally permitted within the base zoning districts in which they are

located. Such approvals shall be subject to and in accordance with the review criteria and Qndings set forth in

Section 24.060(E), and additional aSrmative Qndings that:

The Petaluma Implementing Zoning Ordinance is current through Ordinance 2907, passed September 8, 2025.

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a. The use is consistent with the Guiding Principles adopted in City Council Resolution 2022-167 N.C.S.

b. The use provides a public beneQt.

c. The use satisQes all applicable requirements of this section, and is subject to a license agreement,

permit, or other City authorization as approved by an authorized City oScial or body, subject to approval

of the use by the City Council.

6. Major Site Improvements. The City Council, upon recommendation of the Planning Commission, may

approve a Site Plan and Architectural Review (SPAR) permit to allow major site improvements such as new

construction of buildings in the Fairgrounds Overlay Zone pursuant to the Qndings set forth in Section

24.050(E). The Director may grant administrative site plan and architectural review approval to minor

additions or modiQcations, or may refer such development proposals to the Planning Commission.

E. Prohibited Uses and Activities.

1. New Permanent Structures and Uses. No new permanent structures, other than those permitted in

accordance with subsection (D) of this section, shall be permitted within the Fairgrounds Overlay Zone.

2. New Uses. No new uses, other than those permitted in accordance with subsection (D) of this section,

shall be permitted within the Fairgrounds Overlay Zone. (Ord. 2877 § 4 (Exh. A), 2024.)

The Petaluma Implementing Zoning Ordinance is current through Ordinance 2907, passed September 8,

Disclaimer: The city clerk’s oSce has the oScial version of the Petaluma Implementing Zoning Ordinance. Users

should contact the city clerk’s oSce for ordinances passed subsequent to the ordinance cited above.

City Website: cityofpetaluma.net

Hosted by General Code.

The Petaluma Implementing Zoning Ordinance is current through Ordinance 2907, passed September 8, 2025.

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