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Chapter 28›Article II — DISTRICTS AND ALLOWABLE USES

Solano County Zoning Code § 28.31 Rural Residential (R-R) Districts

Solano County Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · updated 2026-09-24 · Solano County

Cite as: Solano County Zoning Code § 28.31 · Text as of 2026-09-24

Subdivisions:

28.31.10 Rural Residential Districts 28.31.11 Purposes of Rural Residential Districts 28.31.20 Rural Residential District Land Uses and Permit Requirements 28.31.30 Rural Residential District General Development Standards

28.31.10 Rural Residential Districts

This Section includes regulations for the RR-2.5, RR-5 and RR-10 zoning districts.

Exceptions & meaning →

28.31.11 Purpose of Rural Residential Districts

This Section lists the uses of land that may be allowed within rural residential areas of the County represented by the Rural Residential (R-R) zoning districts. It also determines the type of land use approval required for each use within each district, and provides general standards for site development.

Rural Residential zoning is applied to areas appropriate for rural, low density, single-family homes, where agriculture is not the sole land use and commercial agricultural production capability is low, where self-sufficiency and privacy are desirable and only minimal essential public services and facilities are available. Homesites are to be self-sufficient, with individual wells and individual septic systems. Water may be supplied by a public water system, operated by a public agency, in areas where water from individual wells may be of marginal quantity or quality. Rural Residential is to be applied in a manner that preserves rural character and scenic qualities and protects sensitive resources including agricultural lands, creeks, native trees, open spaces and views. Rural Residential zoning shall not be applied to agricultural lands, or to areas with a high risk of wild

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fires, landslides, or flooding. Rural Residential zoning is consistent with and implements the Rural Residential land use designation of the General Plan. The three Rural Residential zoning districts are differentiated primarily by density classifications that correspond to potential agricultural productivity and the types of public services required for each district, as follows:

District Minimum Parcel
Size
Land Features Services Required
R-R 2 1/2 2.5 acres Non-productive Public water supply and
individual private sewage
disposal systems
R-R 5 5 acres Non-productive Private water wells and
individual private sewage
disposal systems
R-R 10 10 acres Low capability for
agricultural production
Private water wells and
individual private sewage
disposal systems
Exceptions & meaning →

28.31.20 Rural Residential District Land Uses and Permit Requirements

A. Allowed Uses and Permit Requirements:

Table 28-31A identifies the land uses allowed by this Zoning Ordinance in each rural residential district and the land use permit required to establish each use. In addition to the land use permit required by Table 28-31A, special requirements may apply to certain uses.

B. Architectural Review:

Architectural Approval may be required for certain uses in compliance with Section 28.102 (Architectural Approval).

C. Building Permits:

A building permit shall be required prior to any construction.

D. Special Use Regulations:

Where the last column in Table 28.31A (“Land Use Regulations”) includes a section number, e.g. 28.70.10, the zoning regulations in the referenced section apply to the use. Where the last column includes a chapter number, e.g. Chapter 13.6, the regulations in the referenced Solano County Code apply to the use. Provisions in other sections of this Zoning Ordinance may also apply.

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TABLE 28.31A TABLE OF ALLOWED USES

TABLE 28.31A TABLE OF ALLOWED USES
A = Allowed by right, AP = Administrative Permit, MUP = Minor Use Permit, UP = Use Permit,
E = Exempt, - - - = Prohibited
ALLOWED USES*
*See Definitions Section 28.01
Permitted Uses Land Use
Regulations**
**See Section 28.70.10
RR-2.5 RR-5 RR-10
28.71 AGRICULTURAL USES
A.
CROP PRODUCTION AND GRAZING
Cultivated and irrigated farming A A A 28.71.10(B)(1)
Nonirrigated and noncultivated farming A A A 28.71.10(B)(1)
B.
AGRICULTURAL PROCESSING USES
None allowed - - - - - - - - -
C.
ANIMAL FACILITIES AND OPERATIONS
None allowed - - - - - - - - -
D.
OTHER AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS
None allowed - - - - - - - - -
28.72 RESIDENTIAL USES
A.
DWELLINGS
Accessory buildings and uses(1)
Accessory building greater than
2,500 square feet in size(4)
MUP MUP MUP 28.72.30(B)(1)
Accessory buildings, in aggregate: 1)
greater than 2,500 square feet in size
combined on a lot 4 acres or less; or
2) greater than 5,000 square feet in
size combined on a lot greater than 4
acres(2)
MUP MUP MUP 28.72.30(B)(1)
Accessory dwelling unit A A A 28.72.10(A) & (B)(2)
Guest house A A A 28.72.30(B)(1)
Primary dwelling A A A 28.72.10(A)
Rooming and boarding of not more than
3 persons per dwelling unit
A A A 28.72.10(A)
Transitional Housing/Supportive
Housing(4)
A A A
Cannabis Cultivation – Adult Use
(Recreational)
Personal Indoor A A A 28.82

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TABLE 28.31A TABLE OF ALLOWED USES (Continued)

TABLE 28.31A TABLE OF ALLOWED USES (Continued)
A = Allowed by right, AP = Administrative Permit, MUP = Minor Use Permit, UP = Use Permit,
E = Exempt, - - - = Prohibited
ALLOWED USES*
*See Definitions Section 28.01
Permitted Uses Land Use
Regulations**
**See Section 28.70.10
RR-2.5 RR-5 RR-10
Personal Outdoor - - - - - - - - - 28.82
Cannabis Cultivation – Medicinal
Caregiver Indoor AP AP AP 28.82
Caregiver Outdoor - - - - - - - - - 28.82
Personal Indoor A A A 28.82
Personal Outdoor - - - - - - - - - Unless Exception
Request Granted per
28.82
B.
TEMPORARY DWELLINGS
Temporary manufactured home storage AP AP AP 28.72.20(B)(4)
Temporary occupancy of existing
dwelling while replacement dwelling is
under construction
A A A 28.72.20(B)(5)
Temporary single-family dwelling(3) MUP MUP MUP 28.72.20(B)(6)
C.
ANIMAL FACILITIES INCIDENTAL TO A RESIDENCE
Grazing or keeping of animals other
than hogs, not exceeding two animal
units per net acre of ownership
A A A 28.72.30(A) & (B)(3)
Hog raising A A A 28.72.30(A) & (B)(3)
Small animal husbandry A A A 28.72.30(A) & (B)(3)
Kennel or cattery, small MUP MUP MUP 28.72.30(A) & (B)(3)
Stable, private A A A 28.72.30(A) & (B)(3)
D.
HOME OCCUPATIONS, COTTAGE INDUSTRIES, HOSTED RENTALS AND OTHER
COMMERCIAL USES OF RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY
Cottage industry
Type I MUP MUP MUP 28.72.40(A) & (B)(1)
Type II UP UP UP 28.72.40(A) & (B)(1)
Home occupation
Type I A A A 28.72.40(A) & (B)(2)
Type II AP AP AP 28.72.40(A) & (B)(2)
Hosted rental AP AP AP 28.72.40(A) & (B)(5)

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TABLE 28.31A TABLE OF ALLOWED USES (Continued)

TABLE 28.31A TABLE OF ALLOWED USES (Continued)
A = Allowed by right, AP = Administrative Permit, MUP = Minor Use Permit, UP = Use Permit,
E = Exempt, - - - = Prohibited
ALLOWED USES*
*See Definitions Section 28.01
Permitted Uses Land Use
Regulations**
**See Section 28.70.10
RR-2.5 RR-5 RR-10
Temporary subdivision sales office MUP MUP MUP 28.72.40(A) & (B)(4)
28.73 RECREATION, EDUCATION AND PUBLIC ASSEMBLY USES
A.
RECREATION USES
None allowed - - - - - - - - -
B.
EDUCATION USES
None allowed - - - - - - - - -
C.
PUBLIC ASSEMBLY USES
Church MUP MUP MUP 28.73.30(A) & (B)(1)
Nursery school MUP MUP MUP 28.73.30(A)
Nursing home, rest home MUP MUP MUP 28.73.30(A)
Public stable with horse show MUP MUP MUP 28.73.30(A) & (B)(5)
28.74 RETAIL AND OFFICE USES
A.
RETAIL USES
Bulk storage and sales of hay crops
other than those produced on the
premises
MUP MUP MUP 28.74.10(A)
Farm stand
1,000 square feet or less in size A A A 28.74.10(A) & (B)(8)
Between 1,000 and 2,500 square feet AP AP AP
Greater than 2,500 square feet - - - - - - - - -
B.
OFFICE USES
None allowed - - - - - - - - -
28.75 TOURIST USES
A.
AGRITOURISM
Vacation house rental - - - - - - - - -
B.
TEMPORARY AGRITOURISM
None allowed - - - - - - - - -
28.76 COMMERCIAL SERVICE USES
A.
AGRICULTURAL SERVICES
None allowed - - - - - - - - -

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TABLE 28.31A TABLE OF ALLOWED USES (Continued)

TABLE 28.31A TABLE OF ALLOWED USES (Continued)
A = Allowed by right, AP = Administrative Permit, MUP = Minor Use Permit, UP = Use Permit,
E = Exempt, - - - = Prohibited
ALLOWED USES*
*See Definitions Section 28.01
Permitted Uses Land Use
Regulations**
**See Section 28.70.10
RR-2.5 RR-5 RR-10
B.
COMMERCIAL SERVICES
Kennel or cattery, large MUP MUP MUP 28.76.20(A) & (B)(2)
28.77 INDUSTRIAL, MANUFACTURING, PROCESSING AND WHOLESALE USES
A.
INDUSTRIAL, MANUFACTURING AND PROCESSING USES
None allowed - - - - - - - - -
B.
WHOLESALE USES
None allowed - - - - - - - - -
28.78 COMMUNICATION, INFRASTRUCTURE AND PUBLIC SERVICE USES
A.
COMMUNICATION USES
Wireless communication facility
Co-location MUP MUP MUP
New tower UP UP UP
B.
INFRASTRUCTURE USES
Battery energy storage system - - - - - - - - -
Commercial solar energy facility - - - - - - - - -
Commercial wind turbine generator - - - - - - - - -
Noncommercial wind turbine 28.80
100 feet or less in height A A A 28.80
Over 100 feet in height MUP MUP MUP 28.80
Oil or gas well UP UP UP 28.78.20(A) & (B)(7)
Pipeline, transmission or distribution
line in R.O.W.
A A A 28.78.20(A) & (B)(8)
Utility facilities or infrastructure,
outside of R.O.W.
UP UP UP 28.78.20(A) & (B)(9)
C.
TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION AND INFRASTRUCTURE
Meteorological tower, 100 feet or less
in height
AP AP AP 28.78.20(A) & (B)(6)
Meteorological tower, greater than 100
feet in height
MUP MUP MUP 28.78.20(A) & (B)(6)
D.
PUBLIC SERVICE USES
Cemetery UP UP UP 28.78.30(A) & (B)(1)

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TABLE 28.31A TABLE OF ALLOWED USES (Continued)

TABLE 28.31A TABLE OF ALLOWED USES (Continued)
A = Allowed by right, AP = Administrative Permit, MUP = Minor Use Permit, UP = Use Permit,
E = Exempt, - - - = Prohibited
ALLOWED USES*
*See Definitions Section 28.01
Permitted Uses Land Use
Regulations**
**See Section 28.70.10
RR-2.5 RR-5 RR-10
Community care facility UP UP UP 28.78.30(A) & (B)(2)
Hospital or sanitarium UP UP UP 28.78.30(A) & (B)(3)
Public service facility UP UP UP 28.78.30(A) & (B)(4)
28.79 RESOURCE PROTECTION USES
None allowed - - - - - - - - -

Notes:

  • (1) Residential accessory building:

    • a) Does not include a guest house.

    • b) May not be established prior to construction or installation of a primary dwelling on the same property.

  • (2) Use permit approval is required by the Zoning Administrator only, unless otherwise referred to the Planning Commission by the Zoning Administrator. Aggregate square footage shall include all accessory buildings, except as follows:

    • a) Any structure used for the keeping of animals, such as a stable or corral, or for crop storage, which is unenclosed with an open side and no flooring, shall not require a use permit and shall not be counted as part of the aggregate total for accessory buildings.

    • b) Any structure 120 square feet in size or less and exempt from the permit requirements of County Building Code shall not be counted as part of the aggregate total for accessory buildings.

  • (3) Allowed only when the primary dwelling is under construction, and the temporary dwelling is installed on a temporary foundation.

  • (4) These land uses are subject to the same restrictions on residential uses contained in the same type of structure.

(Ord. No. 1757, §3 (Exh. A); Ord. No. 1764, §6 (Exh. D); Ord. No. 1788, §2 (Att. A); Ord. No. 1794, §6; Ord. No. 1798, §4; Ord. No. 1817, §9; Ord. No. 1821, §5; Ord. No. 1840, §12; Ord. No. 1845, §§19, 20; Ord. No. 1860, §5; Ord. No. 1864, §5; Ord. No. 1867, §4)

Exceptions & meaning →

28.31.30 Rural Residential Districts General Development Standards

  • A. General site and building standards. Subdivisions, new land uses, main buildings inclusive of primary dwellings, accessory dwelling units, and alterations to existing land uses and buildings shall be designed, constructed, and/or established in compliance with the applicable development standards delineated or referenced in Table 28.23B.

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TABLE 28.31B Development Standards for Main Building[(1)] and Accessory Dwelling Unit

TABLE 28.31B
Development Standards for Main Building(1) and Accessory Dwelling Unit
Development Feature Requirement by Zoning District
R-R 2-1/2 R-R 5 R-R 10
Minimum Lot Area(2) Minimum area required for new lots
2-1/2 acres 5 acres 10 acres
Minimum Lot Frontage
Lot (typical)
Flag lot or cul-de-sac(3)
Minimum frontage required for new lots
40 feet 40 feet 40 feet
30 feet 30 feet 30 feet
Dwelling Size
Primary dwelling
Accessory dwelling unit
Minimum or maximum gross floor area for new dwelling
1,000 square feet minimum
See Section 28.72.10(B)(2)
Setbacks(4)
Front
Sides (each)
Rear
Minimum setbacks required. See Section 28-97 for setback
measurement, allowed projections into setbacks, and
exceptions.
30 feet, and 50 feet from the street centerline, unless
otherwise indicated by building lines on the Zoning Map.
10 feet
25 feet
Between structures(5) 10 feet
Height limit Maximum allowed height of structures. See also: Sect. 28-
80 (wind turbine generators), Sect. 28-93 (height
exceptions), and Sect. 28-99 (Airport Flight Obstruction
Areas)
35 feet
Parking As required by Section 28-94 (“Parking Requirements”)
and Section 28-102 (“Architectural Approval”)
Signs See Section 28.96 (“Signs”)

Notes:

  • (1) In any R district, the primary dwelling shall be deemed the main building on the building site.

(2) The following may be used to determine acceptable lot area:

  • a) The actual number of lots allowed is determined through the applicable subdivision process, based on specific site characteristics and potential environmental impacts, and there is no guarantee that the maximum possible number may be achieved.

  • b) The area bounded by the centerline of the right-of-way on which the lot fronts, and the lot sidelines extended to such right-of-way centerline may be included in the computation of the minimum lot area requirement.

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  • c) Reduced lot area may be allowed for specific uses with a use permit, see Section 28.92(C)(6).

  • (3) For flag lot requirements, see Subdivision Ordinance Section 26-72.2. The required minimum lot frontage for a flag lot shall be measured along the access strip frontage, and no flag lot shall have an access strip less than 30 feet or more than 40 feet in width at any point.

  • (4) Other setbacks may be required for specific uses listed in Table 28-31A, as referenced.

  • (5) Other separation between structures may be required by County Building Code.

    • B. Accessory buildings and structures. New accessory buildings and other structures, including alterations to existing accessory buildings and other structures, shall be designed, constructed, and/or established in compliance with the applicable development standards in Table 28-23C.
TABLE 28-31C
Development Standards for Accessory Buildings(1)
Development Feature
Requirement by Zoning District
R-R 2-1/2 R-R 5 R-R 10
Setbacks(2)
Attached
Detached
Front
Side (each)(3)
Rear
Minimum setbacks required. See Section 28-93 for setback measurement,
allowed projections into setbacks, and exceptions. See also: Section 28-
72.10B1 (Regulations for accessory buildings)
An accessory building attached to the main building shall comply with the
setback requirements for the main building.
60 feet or on the rear 50% of the lot, 60 feet for private stables
10 feet, 20 feet for private stables
10 feet, 20 feet for private stables
Between structures(4) 10 feet from any dwelling or other main building on the same lot Stables: 20
feet from any dwelling or other main building on the same lot
Height limit Maximum allowed height of structures. See also: Sect. 28-93 (height
exceptions), and Sect. 28.99 (Airport Flight Obstruction Areas)
35 feet, and as allowed by 28-93 Special regulations
Parking As required by Section 28-94 (“Parking Requirements”) and Section 28-102
(“Architectural Approval”)
Signs See Section 28.96 (“Signs”)

Notes:

  • (1) Does not include an accessory dwelling unit as defined in Section 28.01.

  • (2) Other setbacks may be required for specific uses listed in Table 28-31A, as referenced.

  • (3) Reserved.

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  • (4) Other separation between structures may be required by County Building Code.

    • (Ord. No. 1793, §2; Ord. No. 1817, §§10 – 12; Ord. No. 1840, §§13, 14)
Exceptions & meaning →

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