Porterville Municipal Code § 200.03 Development Regulations

200.01: PURPOSE:¶

The specific purpose of the “Agricultural/Rural/Conservation” Districts is to preserve agricultural and resource conservation areas while providing opportunities for rural living.

Additional purposes of each “Agriculture/Rural/Conservation” District:

AC Agricultural/Conservation. To preserve agricultural and resource conservation areas. Incidental residential uses with septic systems are allowed. Industrial gravel and aggregate mining are allowed in areas classified by the State as Mineral Resource Zones. Clustered development is encouraged.

RR Rural Residential. To provide opportunities for rural living on 2.5 acre or larger lots. This district serves as a transition between agriculture/open space and more intensive urban uses and helps define the limits of urban development. Clustered development is encouraged, and smaller lots may be allowed, provided that the overall density does not exceed 0.2 units per acre, with lower limits applying in the Hillside Development Zone. (Ord. 1866, 11-19-2019)

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200.02: LAND USE REGULATIONS:¶

Table 200.02 below prescribes the land use regulations for “Agricultural/Rural/Conservation” Districts. The regulations for each district are established by letter designations as follows:

“P” designates permitted uses.

“C” designates use classifications that are permitted after review and approval of a Conditional Use Permit by the City Council.

“M” designates use classifications that are permitted after review and approval of a Minor Conditional Use Permit by the City Council.

“(#)” numbers in parentheses refer to specific limitations listed at the end of the table.

“-“ designates uses that are not permitted.

Use classifications are defined in Chapter 701, Use Classifications. In cases where a specific land use or activity is not defined, the Zoning Administrator shall assign the land use or activity to a classification that is substantially similar in character. Use classifications and sub-classifications not listed in the table or not found to be substantially similar to the uses below are prohibited. The table also notes additional use regulations that apply to various uses. Section numbers in the right hand column refer to other sections of this Chapter.

TABLE 200.02: LAND USE REGULATIONS - AGRICULTURE/RURAL/CONSERVATION DISTRICTS

Use Classification	Use Classification	Use Classification	AC	RR	Additional Regulations
Residential uses:	Residential uses:	Residential uses:	Residential uses:	Residential uses:	Residential uses:
	Single-family dwelling:	Single-family dwelling:	See sub-classifications below	See sub-classifications below	See sub-classifications below
		Detached	P	P
	Family daycare home:	Family daycare home:	See sub-classifications below	See sub-classifications below	See sub-classifications below
		Small	P	P
		Large	P	P	Section 301.07, "Family Daycare Home, Large"
	Group residential	Group residential	-	P(1)
	Residential care facilities	Residential care facilities	See sub-classifications below	See sub-classifications below	See sub-classifications below
		Limited	P	P
		Large	C	C
Employee housing	Employee housing	Employee housing	P	P
Public and semipublic uses:	Public and semipublic uses:	Public and semipublic uses:	Public and semipublic uses:	Public and semipublic uses:	Public and semipublic uses:
	Religious facilities	Religious facilities	-	C
	Social services facilities	Social services facilities	C	C	Section 301.19, "Social Services Facilities"
Commercial uses:	Commercial uses:	Commercial uses:	Commercial uses:	Commercial uses:	Commercial uses:
	Animal care, sales and services:	Animal care, sales and services:	See sub-classifications below	See sub-classifications below	See sub-classifications below
		Kennels	M	M
		Veterinary services, large	C	C
Transportation, communication, and utilities uses:
	Communication facilities:	Communication facilities:	See sub-classifications below	See sub-classifications below	See sub-classifications below
		Antenna and transmission towers, camouflage facilities	P	P	Section 301.20, "Telecommunication Facilities"
		Antenna and transmission towers, non-camouflage facilities	M	M	Section 301.20, "Telecommunication Facilities"
	Utilities, minor	Utilities, minor	P	P
Agricultural and extractive uses:	Agricultural and extractive uses:	Agricultural and extractive uses:	Agricultural and extractive uses:	Agricultural and extractive uses:	Agricultural and extractive uses:
	Animal raising	Animal raising	P	P(2)
	Crop cultivation, commercial	Crop cultivation, commercial	P	P	Section 301.06, "Crop Cultivation"
	Crop cultivation, non-commercial	Crop cultivation, non-commercial	P	P
	Mining and quarrying	Mining and quarrying	C(3)	-
	Agriculture employee housing	Agriculture employee housing	P	P
Other applicable types:	Other applicable types:	Other applicable types:	Other applicable types:	Other applicable types:	Other applicable types:
	Accessory uses and structures	Accessory uses and structures	P	P	Section 301.01, "Accessory Uses And Structures"
	Animal keeping	Animal keeping	P	P	Section 301.03 "Animal Keeping"
	Caretaker unit	Caretaker unit	P(4)	-
	Home occupations	Home occupations	P	P	Section 301.09, "Home Occupations"
	Second dwelling unit	Second dwelling unit	P	P	Section 301.16, "Second Dwelling Units"
	Nonconforming use	Nonconforming use	Article 307, "Nonconforming Uses, Structures, And Lots"	Article 307, "Nonconforming Uses, Structures, And Lots"	Article 307, "Nonconforming Uses, Structures, And Lots"
	Temporary use	Temporary use	Section 301.21, "Temporary Uses"	Section 301.21, "Temporary Uses"	Section 301.21, "Temporary Uses"

Specific Limitations:

(1) Limited to no more than two rooms in a dwelling rented to not more than a total of four persons and meals are not provided to more than four boarders.

(2) Limited to 4-H and FFA projects, recognized youth organizations, school projects, and other similar projects when conducted in compliance with the public health and animal laws of the City and to the keeping of bovine animals, horses and other equine animals, sheep and goats on lots 20,000 sq ft or more. The shelter for such animals shall not be closer than 50 feet to any residences.

(3) In areas designated as Mineral Resource Zones in the General Plan.

(4) For agricultural employees, when located on farms or ranches containing more than 10 acres. Such dwellings shall be a permanent structure.

(Ord. 1866, 11-19-2019; amd. Ord. 1909, 1-21-2025)

Exceptions & meaning →

200.03: DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS:¶

Table 200.03 prescribes the development standards for “Agricultural/Rural/Conservation” Districts. Additional regulations are denoted in the right hand column. Section numbers in this column refer to other sections of this Chapter, while individual letters refer to subsections that directly follow the table.

TABLE 200.03: DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS - AGRICULTURAL/RURAL/CONSERVATION DISTRICTS

Standard	AC	RR	Additional Regulations
Lot and density standards:	Lot and density standards:	Lot and density standards:	Lot and density standards:
Minimum lot area (acres)	40	2.5	Section 200.03(a)
Minimum lot width (feet)	120	120	Section 200.03(a)
Minimum lot depth (feet)	120	120	Section 200.03(a)
Maximum density (dwelling units/net acre)	0.02	0.25
Building form and location:	Building form and location:	Building form and location:	Building form and location:
Maximum height (feet)	35	35	Section 300.06, “Heights And Height Exceptions”
Minimum yards (feet):	Minimum yards (feet):	Minimum yards (feet):	Minimum yards (feet):
Front	30	30	Section 300.01, “Building Projections Into Yards”
Interior side	30	30	Section 200.03(b); and section 300.01, “Building Projections Into Yards”
Street side	30	30	Section 200.03(b); and section 300.01, “Building Projections Into Yards”
Rear	30	30	Section 300.01, “Building Projections Into Yards”
Maximum building coverage (percent of lot)	5	10	Section 200.03(c)

Additional Development Regulations:

(a) Reduced Lot Area, Width, and Depth. Reduced lot area, width, and depth are allowed with cluster development provided the overall maximum density does not exceed the standard. Deed restrictions shall be filed on each property to ensure the overall maximum density is not exceeded through future subdivision or development.

(b) Narrow Lots. For lots less than one hundred (100) feet in width, each side yard shall be a minimum of ten (10) percent of the lot width, or five (5) feet, whichever is greater.

(c) Coverage Exception. Greater coverage on individual lots may be allowed with clustered development provided the overall site coverage of the entire development does not exceed the standard.

(Ord. 1866, 11-19-2019)

Exceptions & meaning →