6.050 Floodway District (FW).

All areas within the boundaries of the “Areas of Special Flood Hazard” and identified as “Floodway” areas are zoned Floodway.

A. Encroachments in Floodway. Since the floodway is an extremely hazardous area due to the velocity of flood waters which carry debris, potential projectiles, and erosion potential, no encroachments within Floodway lands are permitted; including fill, new construction, intensification of existing use, change to more intensive use, substantial improvements, and other development, except as specified herein as permitted or conditional land uses, and provided that a certification by a registered professional engineer or architect is provided demonstrating that encroachments shall not result in any increase in flood levels during the occurrence of the base flood discharge.

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

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Ch. 6 Floodway and Flood Plain Districts | Petaluma Implementing Zoning Ordinance

B. Permitted Uses, Floodway Districts. The following uses are permitted upon obtaining a Development Permit per Section 6.070(B) without a Use Permit where modification or removal of native vegetation, including trees, is not required:

1. Open space agricultural uses not requiring a fence or closed building such as cropland, orchards, and livestock feeding and grazing.

2. Circuses, carnivals, and other similar transient amusement enterprises provided a zoning permit has been obtained from the Community Development Department.

3. Modification of Native or Riparian Vegetation. Where modification or removal of native or riparian vegetation is required, such modification or removal may be permitted after obtaining a development permit consisting of written approval from the Director, provided that such proposed modifications in the Flood Plain have been found to be consistent with the General Plan.

   4. Any other open type of use as determined by the Zoning Administrator (Director of Planning) to be of the same general character as the above permitted uses.

   5. Periodic dredging of silt material from the navigable portions of the Petaluma River for maintenance purposes, when said silt material is removed from the floodway area.

• C. Conditional Uses, Floodway District. The following uses may be permitted after approval of a conditional use permit by the City of Petaluma:

  1. Open air public and private recreational facilities such as parks, golf courses, and athletic fields.

  2. Private and public docking, mooring, and boat launching facilities, providing such facilities shall be designed and constructed so as not to restrict the carrying capacity of the designated floodway.

3. Above-ground public utility and private service facilities such as water and sanitation pipe lines, telecommunication facilities in accordance with Chapter 14.44 of the Petaluma Municipal Code, roads, bridges, and similar facilities, providing such facilities shall be designed and constructed so as not to restrict the carrying capacity of the floodway.

4. Improvements in stream channel alignment, cross section, and capacity including modification of river bank and flood protection levels, other than periodic dredging of material from the navigable portions of the Petaluma River for maintenance purposes, when said material is removed from the floodway area.