Chapter 24.375

OIL DRILLING (OD) OVERLAY ZONE

Sections:

• 24.375.010 Chapter description.

• 24.375.020 Applicability.

• 24.375.030 Establishment of overlay zones.

• 24.375.040 Development standards.

• 24.375.050 Drilling and production standards. 24.375.060 Violations.

This chapter establishes the oil drilling (OD) overlay zone. OD overlay zone regulations set forth in this chapter are intended to provide reasonable and uniform limitations, safeguards and controls for the future drilling for and production of oil, gas, and other hydrocarbon substances in the industrial zones of the city. Limitations, safeguards, and controls are deemed necessary in the public interest to e]ect practices which will not only provide for a more economic recovery of oil, gas and other hydrocarbon substances, but which will also take into consideration the surface uses of land, as such uses are indicated by the value and character of the existing improvements in or near districts where oil drilling or production are hereinafter permitted, the desirability of the

The San Buenaventura Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 2026-005, passed February 17, 2026.

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area for residential or other uses, or any other factor relating to the public health, comfort, safety and general welfare. It is contemplated that designated areas within the industrial zones of the city may be explored for oil by directional drilling methods by which surface drilling and production operations are limited to a few small controlled drilling sites, so located and spaced as to cause the least detriment to the community and to the public health, safety, and general welfare. (Code 1971, § 15.475.010)

The provisions of this chapter shall apply in any zoning district, or portion thereof, within the boundaries of an area designated by the city council pursuant to Chapter 24.540 as an OD overlay zone. Such areas may be designated as “OD” on the o[cial zoning district map. The provisions of this chapter shall apply and be deemed enacted and e]ective as of February 25, 1965. (Code 1971, § 15.475.020)

The boundaries of OD overlay zones may be established or amended in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and the procedures for zone changes set forth in Chapter 24.540. In addition to the requirements set forth in Chapter 24.540, each application for a zone change involving the establishment of, or amendment to the boundaries of, an OD overlay zone shall include a statement that the applicant has the proprietary or contractual authority to drill for and produce oil, gas, or other hydrocarbon substances under the surface for at least 51 percent of the property to be included in said zone. The property described in said application shall be not less than 40 acres in area, including all streets, ways and alleys within the boundaries thereof, and shall be substantially compact in area, and boundaries thereof shall follow public streets, ways, or alleys so far as may be practicable. Land located outside the boundaries of the city and contiguous with the proposed OD overlay zone within the city may be included for the purpose of calculating said 40 acres. (Code 1971, § 15.475.030)

All OD overlay zones shall comply with the following provisions:

A. Each OD overlay zone shall be not less than 40 acres in area including all streets, ways and alleys within the boundaries thereof.

B. Not more than one controlled drilling site shall be permitted for each 40 acres in any OD overlay zone and such site shall not be larger than two acres.

C. The number of wells which may be drilled from any controlled drilling site shall not exceed one well to each Yve acres in the OD overlay zone.

The San Buenaventura Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 2026-005, passed February 17, 2026.

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D. Each applicant requesting the formation or amendment of an OD overlay zone must have the proprietary or contractual authority to drill for oil under the surface of at least 51 percent of the property within the boundaries of the OD overlay zone as proposed to be explored.

E. The controlled drilling site or any part thereof shall be adequately landscaped except for those portions occupied by any required structure, appurtenance, or driveway, and all such landscaping shall be maintained in good condition at all times. Required landscaping shall be subject to design review pursuant to Chapter 24.545 (Code 1971, § 15.475.040; Ord. No. 2021-017, § 37, 12-13-21)

In the establishment or amendment of any OD overlay zone, the city council may prescribe any one or more of the following conditions under which operation shall be conducted in connection with the drilling for and production of oil, gas, or other hydrocarbon substances on a controlled drilling site:

A. Drilling, pumping, and other power operations shall at all times be carried on only by electrical power and such power shall not be generated on the controlled drilling site or elsewhere in the OD overlay zone.

B. If an internal combustion engine or steam-driven equipment is used in the drilling or pumping operation, mu\ers shall be installed on the mud pumps and engine and exhaust from the steam-driven machinery shall be expelled into one of the production tanks, if such tanks are permitted, so as to reduce noise to a minimum.

C. Drilling operations shall be carried on or conducted in connection with only one well at a time in any one OD overlay zone, and such well shall be brought in or abandoned before operations for the drilling of another well are commenced; provided, that the director may approve a director’s permit pursuant to Chapter 24.505 to authorize the drilling of more than one well at a time after the discovery well has been brought in.

D. All oil drilling and production operations shall be conducted in such a manner as to eliminate, as far as practicable, dust, noise, vibration or obnoxious odors and shall be in accordance with the best accepted practices incident to drilling for and production of oil, gas, and other hydrocarbon substances.

E. All tools, pipe and other equipment used in connection with any drilling or production operations shall be screened from view, and all drilling operations shall be conducted or carried on behind a solid fence, which shall be maintained in good condition at all times and be painted or stained so as to render such fence as unobtrusive as practicable.

F. No material, equipment, tools or pipe used for either drilling or production operations shall be delivered to or removed from the controlled drilling site except between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on any day; except in case of emergency incident to unforeseen drilling or production operations, and then only if a director’s permit has been previously approved by the director pursuant to Chapter 24.505.

• G. No earthen sumps shall be used.

The San Buenaventura Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 2026-005, passed February 17, 2026.

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H. FireYghting equipment, as required and approved by the Yre chief, shall be maintained on the premises at all times during the drilling and production operations.

I. Within 60 days after the drilling of each well has been completed, said well placed on production or abandoned, the derrick, all boilers and all other drilling equipment shall be entirely removed from the premises unless such derrick and appurtenant equipment is to be used within a reasonable time limit approved by the director pursuant to the director’s permit procedures set forth in Chapter 24.505 for the drilling of another well on the same controlled drilling site.

J. No oil, gas, or other hydrocarbon substances shall be produced from any well unless all equipment necessarily incident to such production is completely enclosed within a building.

K. No oil, gas, or other hydrocarbon substances shall be produced from any well located within, or immediately adjoining, subdivisions where 10 percent of the lots or subdivided parcels within one-half mile radius thereof are improved with residential structures unless all equipment necessarily incident to such production is countersunk below the average natural grade of the ground. The installation of all such equipment shall be carried out in accordance with Yre department requirements.

L. No tanks, or other facilities for the storage of oil, may be erected or maintained on the site. Any and all oil produced shall be transported from the drilling site by means of an underground pipeline connected directly with the producing pump without venting oil, gas, or other hydrocarbon substances, or any other liquids, gases, vapors, or emissions, into the atmosphere at the production site.

M. Not more than two production tanks shall be installed on any drilling site, neither one of which shall have a rated capacity in excess of 1,000 barrels. Plans for said tank or tanks, including the plot plan showing the location thereof on the property, shall be submitted to, and approved by, the director pursuant to the director’s permit procedures set forth in Chapter 24.505 before said tank or tanks and appurtenances are located on the premises. Said tank or tanks, and any appurtenances thereto, shall be kept painted and maintained in good condition at all times.

N. No reYnery, dehydrating or absorption plant of any kind shall be constructed, established, or maintained on the site at any time.

O. No signs shall be constructed, erected, maintained, or placed on the premises or any part thereof except those required by law, regulation, or ordinance to be displayed in connection with the drilling or maintenance of the wells.

P. Suitable and adequate sanitary toilet and washing facilities shall be installed and maintained in a clean and sanitary condition at all times.

Q. Any owner, lessee, or permittee, their successors and assigns, must at all times be insured to the extent of $5,000,000 against liability incurred from drilling or production activities, or operations incident thereto, conducted or carried on under, or by virtue of the conditions, prescribed by the city council pursuant to this chapter. The required policy of insurance shall be subject to the approval of the city attorney, and a duplicate thereof shall be Yled with the city clerk. Each such policy shall be conditioned or endorsed to cover such agents,

The San Buenaventura Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 2026-005, passed February 17, 2026.

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lessees, or representatives of the owner, lessee, or permittee as may actually conduct drilling, production or incidental operations on the subject site. (Code 1971, § 15.475.050)

The violation by any person of any condition prescribed by the city council in the adoption or amendment of an OD overlay zone under which operation shall be conducted in connection with the drilling for and production of oil, gas, or other hydrocarbon substances shall constitute a violation of the provisions of this zoning ordinance and shall be subject to the enforcement provisions of Chapter 24.580 in addition to any and all other penalties and remedies that may be provided by law. (Code 1971, § 15.475.060)