Division IV — RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS

Article 17.46 — Residential Forest (RF) District

Placer County Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · ingested 2026-07-06 · Placer County

17.46.010. Residential-forest (RF).

  • A. Purpose and Intent. The purpose of the Residential-Forest district is to provide opportunities for rural residential living in the forested, mountainous or foothill areas of Placer County.

  • B. Allowable Land Uses and Permit Requirements. The following land uses are allowed in the RF zone district 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(B)
Agricultural processing MUP
Animal raising and keeping See Section17.56.050
Crop production A
Equestrian facilities See Section17.56.050
Fisheries and game preserves A
Forestry A
Grazing A 17.04.030
Mining, surface and subsurface CUP 17.56.270
Plant production nursery See Section17.56.165
Water extraction and storage (commercial) CUP
Winery See Section17.56.330
Manufacturing and Processing Uses
Electric generating plants CUP
Recycling collection stations See Section17.56.170
Recreation, Education and Public Assembly Uses
ALLOWABLE LAND USES LAND USE PERMIT LAND USE PERMIT
--- --- ---
Campgrounds MUP
Camping, incidental A
Community center CUP
Small agricultural event center CUP
Intermediate agricultural event center CUP
Large agricultural event center CUP
Houses of worship MUP
Libraries and museums MUP
Parks, playgrounds, golf courses MUP
Recycling; reverse vending machines and small collection facilities ARP
Rural recreation MUP
Schools - Elementary MUP
Schools - Secondary MUP
Ski lift facilities and ski runs CUP
Temporary events MUP
Residential Uses
Accessory and junior accessory dwelling units C
Cluster lot development - Agriculture, conservation, open space CUP
Farmworker dwelling unit A
Farmworker housing complex A
Home occupations C
Mobile homes C
Residential accessory uses C
Residential care homes, 6 or fewer clients C
Single-family dwellings C
Temporary dwelling C
Retail Trade
Roadside stands for agricultural products C
Service Uses
Cemeteries, columbariums and mortuaries CUP
Child/adult day care, centers MUP
Child day care, family care homes C
Kennels and animal boarding MUP
Medical services - Veterinary clinics and hospitals MUP
Offces, temporary MUP
Public safety facilities MUP
Public utility facilities MUP
Storage, accessory A
Storage of petroleum products for on-site use C
Transient Lodging
Bed and breakfast lodging MUP
Transportation and Communications
Antennas, communications facilities See Section17.56.060
Pipelines and transmission lines A
KEY TO PERMIT REQUIREMENTS
Allowed use, zoning compliance required (17.06.050) A
KEY TO PERMIT REQUIREMENTS
--- ---
Zoning clearance required (17.06.050) C
Minor use permit required (17.06.050) MUP
Conditional use permit required (17.06.050) CUP
Administrative review permit (17.06.050) ARP

  • 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).

    1. 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.

    2. Minimum Lot Width. Two hundred feet. Other minimum lot widths may be required by a -B combining district (Section 17.52.040 ) applicable to the site.

  • D. Residential Density. The maximum density for single-family dwellings in the RF zone shall be one unit per parcel of the minimum lot area required by subsection C of this section (Minimum parcel size), except where additional units are approved pursuant to Section 17.56.230 (Single-family dwellings, density), or 17.56.200 (Accessory and junior accessory dwelling units).

  • E. Site Development Standards. The following requirements shall apply to all new development in the RF zone, except where otherwise provided by Article 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) 10 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.

  • (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. 5339-B Exh. A, 2004; Ord. 5459-B Exh. A, 2007; Ord. 5526-B § 17, 2008; Ord. 5692-B § 8, 2012; Ord. 5746-B § 12, 2014; Ord. 5895-B § 5, 2017; Ord. 6022-B § 11, 2020; Ord. 6048-B § 23, 2020; Ord. 6144-B § 14, 2022)