§ 41.2 — VenturaCounty Municipal Code

41.2.3 may be enforced pursuant to Article 14 of this Chapter or through any other available legal means.¶

Any civil administrative penalties collected pursuant to Section 8114-3.7 of this Chapter for violations of Section 8107-41 et seq. of this Chapter, shall be deposited in a farmworker housing fund account for exclusive use by the County to fund rehabilitation and/or construction of farmworker housing.

In addition to all other available enforcement and legal remedies, the County may require the removal of a housing unit and restoration of the site (including any affected agricultural soils) based on the unpermitted or unverified use of the agricultural worker housing units, or based on other violations of Section 8107-41 et seq.

(Ord. No. 4596, § 3, 3-1-2022)

8107-41.3 - Permitting and development standards for agricultural worker housing.

All agricultural worker housing shall comply with the setback, building lot coverage, height, and other development standards applicable to the zone in which it is located and the following development standards, unless otherwise indicated in this Section 8107-41.3.

(Ord. No. 4596, § 3, 3-1-2022; Ord. No. 4618, § 4, 7-25-2023)

8107-41.3.1 - General requirements.

New agricultural worker housing shall not be located on land classified as "Prime" or "Statewide" Importance by the California Department of Conservation Important Farmland Inventory, unless no other feasible alternative location exists on-site.

Agricultural worker housing shall not be located on areas utilized for active crop production on the parcel, unless approved with a Planned Development Permit.

New agricultural worker housing shall be clustered together, if feasible, and sited near existing road and other structures to reduce grading, landform alteration, the need for construction of new roads, and potential impacts to agricultural soils and operations.

New exterior lighting for agricultural worker housing shall be of a low profile and limited to security needs only (see definition of "luminaires, essential"); all exterior lights shall be directed downward and fully shielded from streets and any off-site residences.

(Ord. No. 4596, § 3, 3-1-2022)

8107-41.3.2 - Permitting standards for farmworker and animal caretaker dwelling units.

Farmworker dwelling units and animal caretaker dwelling units are subject to the following development standards:

Farmworker and animal caretaker dwelling units may be permitted with a zoning clearance if the maximum number of allowable units does not exceed the limits listed below in Table 8107-41.1 for that lot.

No more than four (4) farmworker or animal caretaker dwelling units shall be located on any single lot.

New farmworker and animal caretaker dwelling units shall not exceed one thousand eight hundred (1,800) square feet in gross floor area. An attached accessory structure, either habitable or non-habitable, with internal access to the farmworker or animal caretaker dwelling unit shall count toward the total square footage of the dwelling unit.

Farmworker or animal caretaker dwelling units not meeting the above criteria (a, b or c) may only be approved with a Planning Director-approved Planned Development Permit.

Table 8107-41.1 Maximum Allowable Farmworker and Animal Caretaker Dwelling Units With a Zoning Clearance

Agricultural Land Use Maximum Allowable Farmworker and Animal Caretaker Dwelling Units

Irrigated row crops and field-grown plant One unit per 20 acres in crops materials

Vineyards, orchards and field crops One unit per 30 acres in crops

Dry farming irrigated pasture, grain and One unit per 80 acres in crops hay

Greenhouses One unit per 2 acres of propagating greenhouse

Nurseries One unit per acre of propagating greenhouse. In addition, the lot must have at least 3 acres of field-grown plant materials as a supportive use

Rangeland One unit per 320 acres grazing land

Fowl and poultry ranches One unit per 20,000 broiler chickens, or one unit per 15,000 egg-laying hens, or one unit per 3,000 turkeys

Horse ranches and equestrian facilities One unit per 10 brood mares, or one unit per 25 equines, where a stall exists for each animal

(Ord. No. 4596, § 3, 3-1-2022)

8107-41.3.3 - Standards for farmworker housing complexes.

Farmworker housing complexes shall be subject to the following development standards:

Minimum Parcel Size. A farmworker housing complex is allowed on a parcel with a minimum parcel size as noted below:

Zone Minimum Parcel Size for Farmworker Housing Complexes

Agricultural Exclusive (AE) 40 acres 1

Open Space (OS) 10 acres

Rural Agricultural (RA) 5 acres

1 Farmworker housing complexes may be allowed on parcels of less than the prescribed minimum parcel size on land zoned AE pursuant to Sec. 8103- 2.7.

Units in a farmworker housing complex may include studios, one-, two- or three-bedrooms.

A farmworker housing complex shall be prohibited in any location designated as a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone.

Open Space Requirements. When the development includes more than twelve (12) units, recreational facilities and open space shall be provided for the benefit and recreational use of the residents in accordance with the following standards:

The development shall be landscaped pursuant to Sections 8106-8.2.2, 8106-8.2.3, and 8106-8.2.8 of this Chapter. Section 8106-