Chapter 21.24 — RURAL RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT (R-A)

Note: Prior history: Prior Code § 9-113 and Ords. NS 988 and NS 1001.

The regulations set forth in this chapter shall apply in all R-A districts and shall be subject to the provisions of Chapter 21.08 , unless otherwise specified in this chapter. (Ord. CS 106 §3, 1984; Ord. CS 1408, 12/9/2025)

Uses permitted in R-A districts:

• A. One single-family dwelling on any one parcel;

• B. Small livestock farming, on parcels of one acre or more, but excluding hogs;

• C. On parcels containing one acre or more, there may be maintained two horses or two cows (termed "large animals"), or four sheep or four goats (termed "small animals"), or a combination of one large animal and two small animals. The maximum number of large animals per parcel shall not exceed two per acre, or the maximum number of small animals per parcel shall not exceed four per acre. In the case where large and small animals are kept in combination the total number of animals per parcel shall not exceed three per acre;

• D. Home occupations as regulated by Chapter 21.94 ;

• E. Accessory uses normally incidental to a single-family dwelling or light farming, but this shall not be construed as permitting any commercial use;

• F. One sign, not over six square feet in area and unlighted pertaining only to the sale, lease or rental of the property on which the sign is located;

• G. On parcels containing more than two acres, the storage of petroleum products for use on the premises by farm equipment, as governed by law and ordinances;

• H. Racing homing pigeons as regulated in Chapter 21.92 ;

• I. Garage sales;

• J. A mobile home in lieu of any permitted single-family dwelling as regulated by Chapter 21.72 ;

• K. Crop farming;

• L. When there is a recorded subdivision map, there may be maintained one advertising sign of not more than two hundred square feet in area illuminated but nonflashing and nonanimated, and

one temporary sales office, for a period of two years immediately following the recording date of the subdivision map; however, the time for maintaining such sign and temporary sales office may be extended for an additional two-year period provided a use permit is first secured. Such sign and office shall be subject to all yard requirements and located within the boundaries of the subdivision;

• M. Family day care homes;

• N. Repealed;

• O. Detached accessory buildings, the use of which are incidental to, and reasonably related to, a main building on the same lot or to the primary use of the property as determined by the planning director;

• P. Duplexes on corner lots of subdivisions created after January 1, 1979; provided, that each unit fronts on a separate street and that, in the opinion of the planning director, each dwelling unit has the appearance of a single-family residence. Applicants may be required to submit building elevations or other proof that the duplex will meet this requirement;

• Q. Accessory dwellings as regulated by Chapter 21.74 ;

• R. Christmas tree sales lots provided they meet the required setbacks and provide at least ten accessible and usable off-street parking spaces in addition to one space per employee on a maximum shift. Such lots shall be limited to two double-faced signs not to exceed twelve square feet each. No off-site parking shall be permitted. Such lots may not be established prior to November 15th of any year and shall be removed and the property returned to its original condition prior to January 1st;

• S. Fireworks stands provided they meet all required setbacks and provide at least five accessible and usable off-street parking spaces in addition to one space per employee on a maximum shift. Such stands shall meet all the requirements of the department of fire safety and shall be erected and removed within the time period prescribed by that department;

• T. Wayside stands for the display, sale or offering for sale of fresh agricultural produce grown on the same property or on property which is in the same ownership or lease as that on which the stands are locate. Such stands shall provide at least five accessible and usable off-street parking spaces in addition to one space per employee on a maximum shift. Such stands shall be open for a period not to exceed ninety days in any one calendar year and shall be limited to two double-faced signs not to exceed twelve square feet each. No offsite signs shall be permitted.

(Ord. CS 106 §3, 1984; Ord. CS 141 §2, 1985; Ord. CS 349 §2, 1989; Ord. CS 350 §§1, 3, 1989; Ord. CS 663 §§5, 6, 18, 1998; Ord. CS 1202 §2, 2017; Ord. CS 1290 §13, 2021; Ord. CS 1408, 12/9/2025)

Uses permitted subject to first securing a use permit in each case:

• A. Residential care homes; provided, that the use is demonstrated to be properly located without detriment to or in conflict with the agricultural or residential usage of the vicinity and will not, under the circumstances of the particular case, be detrimental to the health, safety and general welfare of persons residing or working within the use vicinity;

• B. Boarding stables, bridle paths, and private riding clubs when the parcel under one ownership contains ten acres or more; however, these uses do not include the conducting of rodeos;

• C. Country clubs, golf courses (excluding miniature golf courses), boat launching and rental facilities, summer camps and picnic grounds where the parcel of land in one ownership exceeds

ten acres, and public parks operated by public agencies;

• D. Agricultural uses specified in Sections 21.20.030 and 21.20.040 (A-2 general agriculture district), except airports of any kind; provided that the property is designated on the land use element of the general plan as estate residential and that the planning commission finds that the proposed usage is consistent with such designation and the character of the surrounding area;

• E. Churches (excluding tent and open-air churches), schools offering general academic instruction equivalent to the standards prescribed by the State Board of Education, hospitals, public buildings, facilities for public utilities, and community antenna television systems with an antenna not exceeding one hundred fifty feet in height;

• F. Drilling for, or removal of, gas, oil, or commercial removal of minerals, earth or other natural materials;

• G. Repealed;

• H. Mobile home parks; provided that all units are connected to public sanitary sewer and public water system and that the density does not exceed the maximum allowable in this district; and

• I. Family day care homes for more than fourteen persons. (Ord. CS 106 §3, 1984; Ord. CS 141 §3, 1985; Ord. CS 1290 §14, 2021; Ord. CS 1408, 12/9/2025)

Height limits in R-A districts:

• A. Maximum of thirty-five feet for all buildings;

• B. No fence, hedge or screen planting shall be constructed or permitted to grow in excess of eight feet in height within any required side or rear yard, nor in excess of three feet within any required front yard or side yard of a corner lot except fences within the side and rear yard which enclose electrical substations which may be constructed to the height required by law or unless the planning director determines that visibility will not be obstructed.

• (Ord. CS 106 §3, 1984; Ord. CS 1408, 12/9/2025)

Minimum lot width requirements in R-A districts, for the creation of new parcels, shall be as specified in Title 20, Subdivision Ordinance, of the County Code.

(Ord. CS 106 §3, 1984; Ord. CS 1408, 12/9/2025)

Building site area requirements in R-A districts:

• A. No new building site shall be approved without prior approval of sanitary and water facilities by the county health department;

• B. For areas designated as low density residential on the land use element of the general plan, the minimum building site areas shall be as follows:

  1. Sites serviced by public sewer and water facilities, eight thousand square feet,

  2. Sites serviced by public water and septic tank facilities or private well and public sewer facilities, twenty thousand square feet,

  3. Sites serviced by private well and septic tank facilities, one acre;

• C. For areas designated as estate residential on the land use element of the general plan, the minimum building site areas shall be three acres. Minimum building site areas may be determined by including internal area occupied by irrigation canals, laterals and other facilities and area up to the centerline of public roads and irrigation facilities which are located at a boundary of a parcel;

• D. For parcels located wholly within the boundaries of an urbanized area or urban cluster, as designated by the United States Census Bureau, the minimum building site area shall be as specified in Section 21.24.100 of this chapter.

• (Ord. CS 106 §3, 1984; Ord. CS 344 §6, 1989; Ord. CS 1408, 12/9/2025)

Lot coverage permitted in R-A districts:

For aggregate building coverage, maximum of forty percent of lot area except as allowed in Section 21.24.100 of this chapter.

(Ord. CS 106 §3, 1984; Ord. CS 1408, 12/9/2025)

Yards and open space required in R-A districts:

• A. Front Yard.

  1. Not less than seventy feet from the existing centerline of the street, nor less than fifteen feet from the planned street line on a major street or expressway, whichever is the greater. The vehicle opening of any building shall be no closer than twenty feet to the property line toward which the opening faces;

  2. Not less than forty-five feet from the existing centerline of the street on a collector street (sixty feet wide) nor less than fifteen feet from the planned street line where a specific plan has been adopted. The vehicle opening of any building shall be no closer than twenty feet to the property line toward which the opening faces;

  3. Not less than forty feet from the existing centerline of the street on a minor street (fifty feet wide), nor less than fifteen feet from the planned street line where a specific plan has been adopted. The vehicle opening of any building shall be no closer than twenty feet to the property line toward which the opening faces;

• B. Side Yard. Interior lot line and rear yard. Five feet;

• C. Side Yard. Corner lot. The main building, and garages or accessory building not having direct vehicular access to the street, may be located five feet closer to the planned street line than at the front yard;

• D. Buildings for Keeping Livestock or Poultry. Not less than fifty feet from any public street, measured from edge of pavement, nor less than forty feet from any adjacent property.

• (Ord. CS 106 §3, 1984; Ord. CS 663 §40, 1998; Ord. CS 1202 §3, 2017)

§ 21.24.090. Off-street parking.

See Chapter 21.76 for all parking requirements. (Ord. CS 106 §3, 1984)

In accordance with the California Housing Opportunity and More Efficiency (HOME) Act, the following standards shall be applicable to parcels located wholly within the boundaries of an urbanized area or urban cluster, as designated by the United States Census Bureau:

• A. Parcel Splits. Parcels may be split provided the following standards are met:

  1. Building Site Area. The minimum building site area for parcels served with public sewer and water shall be 1,200 square feet for the purpose of the creation of new parcels in accordance with the HOME Act. Building site area standards for parcels not served by water and sewer shall be subject to the building site area standards set forth in Section 21.24.060 :

  2. A parcel may be split into no more than two parcels;

  3. Each resulting parcel shall be approximately equal in size and no smaller than forty percent of the original parcel being split;

  4. The original parcel being split shall not have been created as a result of the provisions of the HOME Act;

  5. The original parcel being split shall not be adjacent to a parcel previously split by the same property owner; and

  6. All resulting parcels shall have approved access as defined by Title 20, Subdivision Ordinance, of the County Code.

• B. Exceptions. The creation of a parcel under this Section shall not be permitted if one of the following applies:

  1. The county building official makes a written finding, based upon a preponderance of the evidence, that the proposed housing development project would have a specific, adverse impact, as defined and determined in Section 65589.5(d)(2) of the California Government Code, upon public health and safety for which there is no feasible method to satisfactorily mitigate or avoid the specific, adverse impact;

  2. The parcel is located within a High- or Very-High Fire Hazard Severity zone; or

  3. The parcel is located within the Federal Emergency Management Act adopted floodway.

• C. Other Development Standards. Except where otherwise allowed by California Government Code Sections 65852.21 and 66411.7 , the provisions of County Code shall be applicable to any development on a parcel split in accordance with the HOME Act.

• (Ord. CS 1408, 12/9/2025)