Sonoma County Municipal Code Art. III Residential Use of Recreational Vehicles and Manufactured Homes

A. Recreational vehicles for reconstruction or repair of damaged dwellings. The use of recreational vehicles in any residential zoning district outside of the coastal zone during the term of this chapter shall be allowed, subject to county approval or permit as applicable, for use by persons displaced by the Sonoma Complex Fire, subject to the requirements in Sections 40-30 B and C.

B. Standards. Other than as provided in Section 40-30 A, all residential use of recreational vehicles authorized pursuant to this section shall meet the following standards.

1. The property owner or the property owner's authorized agent shall obtain a county temporary use approval or permit and all other required permits. Permits will be issued for a period up to two (2) years, but in no case will the permit expiration date extend past the effective period of this chapter. Written consent of the property owner is required in all cases. Not more than one (1) recreational vehicle may be placed on any residential lot under this subsection.

2. Residential use of recreational vehicles is limited to vehicles not on a permanent foundation and used to house displaced persons during the effective period set forth in Section 40-4.

3. Residential use of recreational vehicles shall be located outside the boundaries of any recorded easements but may be located within Chapter 26 (zoning ordinance) setback areas, other than riparian setbacks, if such placement of the recreational vehicle is necessary to allow for unobstructed reconstruction on the site.

4. The recreational vehicle shall be connected to an approved source of water meeting one (1) of the following criteria:

a. Public water supply;

b. Existing well, provided that it has been approved by the director as safe for domestic consumption; or

c. Other water source approved by the director.

5. The recreational vehicle shall be connected to an approved sewage disposal system meeting one (1) of the following criteria:

a. Public sewer system;

b. Existing on-site sewage disposal system that has been approved by the director to be intact, adequately sized, and functioning following the disaster; or

c. Other method of sewage disposal approved by the director.

6. The recreational vehicle shall be connected to an approved source of electricity meeting one (1) of the following criteria:

a. Permitted electrical service hook-up; or

b. Other power source approved by the director.

7. Residential use of recreational vehicles under this chapter shall not be allowed in an area with health and safety hazards as determined by the director.

8. Except as provided herein, no county approval or permit for residential use of a recreational vehicle shall be issued until the site is approved for reconstruction by the county, CalOES or FEMA.

C. Removal and disconnection. Every recreational vehicle and manufactured home placed on any site for residential use pursuant to this chapter shall be disconnected from sewer, septic, water and/or power connections and removed from the site on which it is located upon expiration of the permit required by Section 40-30 B.1 herein or the expiration date of this chapter provided in Section 40-4, whichever occurs first.

(Ord. No. 6501, § III(Exh. A), 12-10-2024; Ord. No. 6398, § III(Exh. A), 12-13-2022)