Sonoma County Municipal Code Art. 04 New Vineyard

Sec. 36.04.010. - Permit requirements.¶

A. Permit required. A new vineyard and orchard development permit shall be required prior to commencing any new vineyard or orchard development or related work, including preparatory land clearing, vegetation removal, or other ground disturbance, except where exempted from permit requirements by Subsection D. A separate new vineyard and orchard development permit shall be required for each site.

B. Designation and performance. New vineyard and orchard development shall be designated "Level I new development" or "Level II new development" in compliance with Table 36-1, and shall be performed as follows:

Level I new development. Level I new development shall be performed in compliance with approved plans and specifications prepared by the property owner, an authorized agent of the property owner, or a licensed professional acting within the scope of their license.
Level II new development. Level II new development shall be performed in compliance with approved plans and specifications prepared by a civil engineer.

Table 36-1 New Vineyard and Orchard Development Designation

Parameter	Threshold	Threshold
Parameter	Level I New Development	Level II New Development
Existing slope of new planting area having no highly erodible soils	Less than 15 percent	15 to 50 percent 1
Existing slope of new planting area having any highly erodible soils	Less than 10 percent	10 to 50 percent 1
New planting area on ridgetop	Ridgetop is not located above a blue-line stream or on a designated watershed or sub-watershed divide	Ridgetop is located above a blue- line stream or on a designated watershed or sub-watershed divide

Notes:

New vineyard and orchard development are prohibited on existing slopes greater than fifty percent (50%). See Section 36.22.020.A.

C. Biotic resource and focused species assessments.

Biotic resource assessment. A biotic resource assessment shall be required for all new vineyard and orchard development on uncultivated land.
Focused species assessment. A focused species assessment shall be required for all new vineyard and orchard development on cultivated land in designated critical habitat areas.

D. Exemptions from permit requirements. The following new vineyard and orchard development activities are exempt from the provisions of this section and may be conducted without obtaining a new vineyard and orchard development permit, provided that these activities shall still be subject to the standards in Article 20 and the department's best management practices for new vineyard and orchard development, vineyard and orchard replanting, and agricultural grading and drainage.

Hobby vineyards and orchards. Planting of new hobby vineyards and orchards where the hobby vineyard or orchard is less than one-half (½) acre in size. This exemption may only be used for one (1) hobby vineyard or orchard per legal parcel. This exemption shall not apply where there is an existing commercial vineyard or orchard on the parcel.

(Ord. No. 6338, § I(Exh. A), 3-16-2021)

Exceptions & meaning →