Division I — AGRICULTURAL, RESOURCE AND OPEN SPACE DISTRICTS
Article 17.12 — Forestry (FOR) District
Placer County Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · ingested 2026-07-06 · Placer County
17.12.010. Forestry (FOR). ¶
A. Purpose and Intent. The forestry (FOR) zone is intended to designate portions of the mountainous areas of Placer County where the primary land uses will relate to the growing and harvesting of timber and other forest products, together with public and commercial recreational uses.
B. Allowable Land Uses and Permit Requirements. The following land uses are allowed in the FOR zone as provided by Section 17.06.050 (Land use and permit tables), subject to the land use permit shown for each use, any applicable specific standards, and all other applicable provisions of this chapter.
| ALLOWABLE LAND USES | LAND USE PERMIT | SPECIFIC STANDARDS IN SECTION: |
|---|---|---|
| Agricultural, Resource and Open Space Uses | ||
| Agricultural accessory structures | C | 17.56.020 |
| Agricultural processing | MUP | |
| Animal raising and keeping | See Section17.56.050 | |
| Crop production | A | |
| Equestrian facilities | A | 17.56.050 |
| Fisheries and game preserves | A | |
| Forestry | A | |
| Grazing | A | 17.04.030 |
| Mining, surface and subsurface | CUP | 17.56.270 |
| Oil and gas wells | CUP | |
| Plant nurseries, retail | MUP | |
| Plant production nurseries | See Section17.56.165 | |
| Water extraction and storage (commercial) | CUP | |
| Winery | See Section17.56.330 | |
| Manufacturing and Processing Uses | ||
| Electric generating plants | CUP | |
| Explosives manufacturing and storage | CUP | 17.56.110 |
| Lumber and wood products | CUP | |
| Paper products | MUP | |
| Recreation, Education and Public Assembly Uses | ||
| Campgrounds | MUP | 17.56.080 |
| Camping, incidental | A | 17.56.080 |
| Parks, playgrounds, golf courses | MUP | |
| Rural recreation | MUP | |
| Shooting ranges, commercial | MUP | |
| Ski lift facilities and ski runs | CUP | |
| Temporary events | MUP | 17.56.300 |
| Residential Uses | ||
| Caretaker and employee housing | MUP | 17.56.090 |
| Farmworker dwelling unit | A | 17.56.095 |
| Farmworker housing complex | A | 17.56.095 |
| Retail Trade | ||
| Outdoor retail sales | See Section17.56.160 | |
| Roadside stands for agricultural products | C | |
| Service Uses | ||
| Equipment storage and maintenance facilities for the use of non- proft entities providing public services |
MUP | |
| Offces, temporary | C | 17.56.300 |
| Public safety facilities | MUP | |
| Public utility facilities | MUP | |
| Storage, accessory | A | 17.56.250 |
| Storage of petroleum products for on-site use | C | 17.56.250 |
| Waste disposal sites | CUP | |
| Transportation and Communications | ||
| Airfelds and landing strips | CUP | 17.56.040 |
| Antennas, communications facilities | See Section17.56.060 | |
| ALLOWABLE LAND USES | LAND USE PERMIT | LAND USE PERMIT |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Heliports | CUP | |
| Pipelines and transmission lines | A | |
| KEY TO PERMIT REQUIREMENTS | ||
| Allowed use, zoning compliance required (17.06.050) | ||
| Zoning clearance required (17.06.050) | ||
| Minor use permit required (17.06.050) | ||
| Conditional use permit required (17.06.050) | ||
| Administrative review permit (17.06.050) |
C. Minimum Parcel Size. Each parcel proposed for development or a new land use, and each new parcel proposed in a subdivision shall comply with the following provisions and Section 17.54.040 (Minimum parcel size). New parcels proposed in a subdivision shall also satisfy all applicable provisions of Chapter 16 of this code (Subdivisions).
Minimum Lot Area. Ten acres, unless a -B combining district (Section 17.52.040 ) applies to the site, or a greater area is required by the Health Department, or the provisions of Article 17.56 (Specific Use Requirements) for a particular land use.
Minimum Lot Width. Five hundred feet. Other minimum lot widths may be required by a -B combining district (Section 17.52.040 ) applicable to the site.
D. Site Development Standards. The following requirements shall apply to all new development in the FOR zone, except where otherwise provided by Articles 17.54 (General Development Standards) or 17.56 (Specific Use Requirements) for a particular use or situation. Proposed buildings and structures shall be designed and constructed to satisfy the following setback, site coverage, and height limit requirements.
| Development Feature | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Setbacks (1) (2) | |
| Front | 50 feet minimum |
| Street-Side | 30 feet minimum |
| Side | 30 feet minimum |
| Rear | 30 feet minimum |
| Site coverage (3) | 20 percent maximum |
| Height limit (4) | 36 feet maximum |
Notes:
(1) Additional requirements for setbacks from watercourses and all roads identified in the highway deficiency report and countywide capital improvement program, setbacks between structures on the same site, and setbacks in other situations are established by Section 17.54.140 (Exceptions to front, street-side, side and rear setbacks) and by Article 17.56 for certain specific land uses.
(2) As required by the California Board of Forestry Fire Safe regulations, Section 1276.01 , Title 14, California Code of Regulations, if lot is one acre or larger in size.
(3) The percentage of total site area that may be covered by buildings or structures.
(4) Except as otherwise provided by Section 17.54.020 (Height limits and exceptions), or by Article 17.56 for a specific use.
(Ord. 5126-B, 2001; Ord. 5304-B Exh. 1, 2004; Ord. 5459-B Exh. A, 2007; Ord. 5526-B § 5, 2008; Ord. 5692-B § 5, 2012; Ord. 6048-B § 7, 2020)