Earlier editions: 2026-09
Title 14 — ZONING›Chapter 14-16 — DISTRICT REGULATIONS
Watsonville Municipal Code Part 18 EM-A-2—Interim Agricultural District
Watsonville Municipal Code · 2026-10 edition · updated 2026-10-05 · Watsonville
Cite as: Watsonville Municipal Code Part 18 · Text as of 2026-10-05
14-16.1800 Purpose.¶
The purpose of the Interim Agricultural District is to preserve land in interim agricultural use and protect against premature urban development, which are presently unneeded, and for which it may be uneconomic to provide urban services.
(Ord. 506-80 C-M, eff. September 11, 1980)
14-16.1801 Principal permitted uses.¶
All principal permitted and accessory uses shall be subject to the approval of an Administrative Review Permit issued without a public hearing by the Zoning Administrator.
| 115 | Barns, stables |
|---|---|
| 1982 | Fruit packing, drying, and storage sheds |
| 9130 | Greenhouses of 500 square feet or less |
| 846 | Aviaries and apiaries |
| 94 | Domesticated wild animals, i.e., bison, etc. |
| Home occupation | |
| 6915 | Offices incidental and necessary to conduct a permitted use |
| 5499 | Stands limited to the display and sales of agricultural commodities produced on the premises. Stands shall not exceed 1,000 square feet of gross floor area and shall be set back twenty (20') feet from all street or lot lines |
| 152 | Storage tanks and pumps for fuel |
| 01 | One-family dwelling of the owner or lessee of the land or any employee or an employee of the owner or lessee of the land upon which the use or permitted use is carried on |
| 07 | Foster home |
| 724 | Pre-school day care for less than six (6) children |
| 8611 | Facilities for fish and wildlife enhancement and preservation |
| 872 | Pool, swimming, nonprofit |
| 05 | Farmworker dwelling unit |
(Ord. 506-80 C-M, eff. September 11, 1980, as amended by § 2(3) (Exh. A), Ord. 1481-25 (CM), eff. October 9, 2025)
14-16.1802 Conditional uses.¶
The following uses shall be subject to the approval of a Special Use Permit issued through the public hearing process by the Commission:
| Minimum Required Acreage | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| DLU | 9130 | Agriculture within structures, e.g., nurseries, mushrooms (over 500 square feet) | 2 |
| 081 | Temporary (not more than three (3) years) use of a mobile home or travel trailer for caretaker or watchman in isolated areas | 5 | |
| 01 | Servants’ quarters | 1 | |
| 59161 | Commercial feed lot | 1 | |
| 05 | Farmworker housing | 10 | |
| 01 | Caretaker’s quarters (permanent structure) | 1 | |
| 473 | Flood control works, including channel rectification and alteration, streets, highways, dams, canals, and aqueducts of any public water project | ||
| 724 | Child care homes up to fourteen (14) children | ||
| 197 | Kennels | 2 | |
| 05 | Labor camp | 10 | |
| 242 | Lumber mill | 20 | |
| 1244 | Poultry and other Fowl in excess of 100 acres | 2 1/2 | |
| 4 | Public utility facilities, structures, and uses | - | |
| 855 | Riding academies, public stables, guest ranch | 2 | |
| 9425 | Small animals in excess of 100 acres (e.g., rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, chinchilla, mink) | 2 1/2 | |
| 197 | Small animal hospital | 1/2 | |
| 197 | Veterinary office | 1/2 | |
| 843 | Zoo and natural science museum | 2 1/2 | |
| 20 | Processing of products produced on the premises | 5 | |
| 85 | Outdoor recreation areas, uses, and facilities, including country clubs, swimming pools, and golf courses | ||
| 90 | Mines, quarries, and gravel pits | ||
| 4582 | Private airports and landing strips | ||
| 7 | Public and quasi-public buildings or structures and uses of an administrative, cultural, or public service type |
(Ord. 506-80 C-M, eff. September 11, 1980, as amended by § 2(3) (Exh. A), Ord. 1481-25 (CM), eff. October 9, 2025, § 2, Ord. 1488-26 (CM), eff. June 25, 2026)
14-16.1803 District regulations.¶
The following regulations shall be observed in the Interim Agricultural District for the use proposed, except as otherwise provided in this title or as modified by Conditional Use Permit:
Height Regulations: No structure shall exceed thirty-five (35') feet in height.
| Site and Building Requirements | Each S.F.D.U. | Accessory Buildings | Site |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lot Area, Minimum | 1 Acre | - | 5 Acres, unless exception granted |
| Lot Width, Minimum | - | - | 330 feet, unless exception granted |
| Distance to any street | 20 feet | 20 feet | - |
| Distance between structures | As allowed by Uniform Building Code | As allowed by Uniform Building Code | - |
| Front Yard | 20 feet | 20 feet | - |
| Interior Side Yard | 5 feet | 5 feet | - |
| Rear Yard | 20 feet | *See Note |
* Note: Accessory buildings shall not occupy more than fifty (50%) percent of the area of the required yard.
(Ord. 506-80 C-M, eff. September 11, 1980, as amended by § 2(3) (Exh. A), Ord. 1481-25 (CM), eff. October 9, 2025)
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