Title 13 — Planning and Zoning RegulationsPart IV — Combining Zone Districts

Article II — GH Geologic Hazards Combining District

Santa Cruz County Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · ingested 2026-07-07 · Santa Cruz County

13.10.421. Purposes of the Geologic Hazards GH Combining District.

The purposes of the GH Combining District are:

  • (A) To designate those lands which are located in areas containing geologic hazards which constitute a threat to life and property.

  • (B) To facilitate implementation of the requirements of the geologic hazards ordinance, Chapter 16.10 SCCC, to reduce the loss of life, injury, damage to public and private property, and public costs for rescue operations, disaster relief and cleanup which are associated with the natural physical hazards of earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, and landslides.

  • (Ord. 3432 § 1, 1983)

13.10.422. Designation of the Geologic Hazard GH Combining District.

  • (A) The Geologic Hazards GH Combining District may be applied to properties where appropriate to facilitate the planning and regulation of land use and development where one or more of the following geologic hazards exist:

    • (1) Coastal bluffs and beach areas;

    • (2) Active and potentially active fault zones;

    • (3) Areas of high or very high liquefaction potential;

    • (4) Active and potentially active landslide areas;

    • (5) One-hundred-year floodplains and tsunami inundation areas.

These hazards are mapped on documents filed with the Planning Department.

  • (B) The Geologic Hazards Combining District shall usually be applied to the entire parcel on which the geologic hazard is located in order to provide early notice of the development constraint and to allow precise determination of the presence and location of the hazard at the time of development project review.

  • (Ord. 3432 § 1, 1983)

13.10.423. Use and development standards in the Geologic Hazards GH Combining District.

In addition to the regulations for development and use imposed by the basic zone district, all projects shall be subject to the provisions of the geologic hazards ordinance, Chapter 16.10 SCCC, as appropriate based on the type of specific geologic hazard(s) which are present on the property and the location of the project.

(Ord. 3432 § 1, 1983)