Yuba County Municipal Code Ch. 11.05 Agricultural Districts

11.05.010. - Purpose.¶

The specific purpose of the agricultural districts is to support, protect, and maintain a viable, long-term agricultural sector in Yuba County.

(1) Agriculture represents the single most important economic activity and most prevalent land use in Yuba County. Agriculture directly contributes to the local economy through job development, production, and exports.

(2) Agricultural zoning strives to preserve productive agricultural land and the character and quality of the rural environment by scaling roads and other public facilities to meet rural needs.

(3) Agricultural zoning districts and standards can prevent the fragmentation of farms, prevent land-use conflicts, and protect agricultural producers from nonfarm intrusion into agricultural areas. Further, they can provide a mechanism to allow for support services and uses that are necessary and/or complimentary to the long term sustainability of agricultural operations.

(4) Agricultural zoning districts include foothill as well as valley areas of the County that are intended for intensive and/or extensive agricultural uses such as but not limited to grazing lands, livestock raising, dairies, orchards, row crops, and other types of commercial agriculture and where it is desirable to retain agriculture as the primary land use.

(5) Exclusive Agricultural (AE). The purpose of the AE district is to:

a. Eliminate the encroachment of land uses that are incompatible with the long term agricultural use of land.

b. Preserve agricultural land in order to conserve the County's economic resources that are vital for a healthy agricultural economy within the County.

c. Create standards for the AE district that maintain the vitality of the agricultural sector by retaining parcel sizes necessary to sustain viable agricultural operations, protecting agricultural practices and activities by minimizing land-use conflicts, and protecting agricultural resources by regulating land uses and development intensities in agricultural areas.

d. Prevent the unnecessary conversion of agricultural land to urban or other uses.

(6) Agricultural/Rural Residential (AR). The purpose of the AR district is to:

a. Recognize parcels located within the natural resources General Plan designation that have previously been subdivided into parcels less than 20 acres in size (AR-5 and AR-10) that are predominantly utilized for very low density rural residential uses and small agricultural operations.

b. Allows for a 20-acre minimum district (AR-20) in foothill agricultural areas where smaller parcels already exist or to serve as transition between rural community boundaries and other natural resource uses.

c. Recognizes that these smaller agricultural parcels are a vital component of the County's overall agricultural economy by providing opportunities for specialty crops, boutique farming, and agritourism.

d. Prevent further encroachment of residential and other incompatible uses into agricultural and natural resource areas.

e. Serve as a transition between agricultural and natural resource lands and rural residential or urban development.

(7) Agricultural Industrial (AI). This zone district is primarily located within the natural resource areas of the County and employment village, but is also an allowed zoning designation within rural community districts consistent with the overall purposes of the AI designation. The purpose of the AI district is to:

a. Protect, maintain, promote, and enhance agriculture as a viable, long-term economic sector by accommodating agricultural uses or compatible industrial uses that directly support agricultural activities within the County.

b. Create standards intended to allow most agricultural uses allowed in the AI district while also encouraging new compatible support industries and operations, and to protect agricultural and other neighboring land uses by minimizing conflicts.

(8) Residential Estate (RE). The RE district recognizes parcels with the natural resources and rural community General Plan designations that have been subdivided into parcels less than five acres in size. The regulations pertaining to these RE designated properties is located within Chapter 11.06, Rural Communities as they have the same development requirements as RE designated properties located within rural communities.

(Ord. No. 1624)

Exceptions & meaning →

11.05.020. - Land use regulations.¶

Table 11.05.020 prescribes the land use regulations for agricultural districts. The table also notes additional use regulations that apply to various uses. Section numbers in the right hand column refer to other sections of this Code.

TABLE 11.05.020: LAND USE REGULATIONS—AGRICULTURAL DISTRICTS

Use Classification	AE	AR	AI	Additional Regulations
Residential use classifications	Residential use classifications	Residential use classifications	Residential use classifications	Residential use classifications
Residential Housing Types (See subclassifications below)
Accessory Dwelling Unit	P	P	A	See Section 11.32.030
Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit	P	P	A	See Section 11.32.030
Single-Unit Dwelling Detached	P	P	A
Family day care (See subclassifications below)
Large	P	P	-	See Section 11.32.120
Small	P	P	P(1)
Caretaker Residence	-	-	P	See Section 11.32.080
Employee Housing	A	A	A	See Section 11.32.110
Residential Boarding Facilities	M	M	-
Residential Care and Social Service Facilities (See subclassifications below)
General (more than 10 persons)	-	C	-	See Section 11.32.250
General (7—10 persons)	-	M	-	See Section 11.32.250
Limited (6 or fewer persons)	P	P	P(1)	See Section 11.32.250
Home Occupation	P	P	P	See Section 11.32.140
Public and semi-public use classifications
Cemetery	C	C	-
Colleges/trade schools	-	C	C
Community assembly	-	C	-
Community garden/urban agriculture	P	P	M(4)
Cultural institutions	-	C	-
Outdoor and large scale cultural institutions	-	C	-
Day care centers	-	C	-
Detention facility	C	C	C
Elderly/long-term care	-	C	-
Essential/emergency service facilities	M	M	M
Government offices	M	M	M
Park and recreation facilities; public (See subclassifications below)
Passive recreation	P	P	P
Active recreation	M	M	M
Schools	-	C	-
Commercial use classifications	Commercial use classifications	Commercial use classifications	Commercial use classifications	Commercial use classifications
Adult-oriented business	-	-	-
Animal care: sales and services (See subclassifications below)
Pet sales and associated services	M	M	-
Kennels	A	A	-	See Section 11.32.050
Veterinary services	-	C	-
Entertainment and recreation (See subclassifications below)
Campground	C	C	-	See Section 11.32.070
Hunting/fishing club	A	M	-
Incidental hunting and fishing	P	P	P
Outdoor entertainment	M(2)	C(2)	-
Outdoor sports and recreation	M(2)	C(2)	-
Temporary uses and special events				See Section 11.32.310
Food and beverage sales (See subclassifications below)
Farmers Market				See Section 11.32.130
Food Preparation	-	-	A
Lodging (See subclassifications below)	Lodging (See subclassifications below)	Lodging (See subclassifications below)	Lodging (See subclassifications below)	Lodging (See subclassifications below)
Agricultural homestays	*	*	-	See Section 11.32.150
Bed and breakfast	*	*	-	See Section 11.32.150
Health resort and retreat center	C	C	-	See Section 11.32.150
Hotels and motels	-	C	-	See Section 11.32.150
Personal services (See subclassifications below)
Instructional services	-	M	-
Retail sales (See subclassifications below)
Building materials and services	-	-	M	See Section 11.32.190
Nurseries and garden centers	M(3)	M(3)	M(3)	See Section 11.32.190
Vehicle sales and services (See subclassifications below)
Repair: major	-	-	M	See Section 11.32.060
Service and repair: minor	-	-	M	See Section 11.32.060
Trucks and heavy equipment sales, service and rental	-	-	P	See Section 11.32.060
Service station	-	-	M	See Section 11.32.060
Towing and impound	-	-	M	See Section 11.32.060
Washing	-	-	M	See Section 11.32.060
Industrial use classifications	Industrial use classifications	Industrial use classifications	Industrial use classifications	Industrial use classifications
Construction and material yards	-	-	P
Custom manufacturing	-	M	M
General industrial	-	-	C
Limited industrial	-	-	M
Warehousing, storage and distribution (See subclassifications below)
Auction facilities	P(4)	-	P(4)
Chemical, mineral and explosive storage	C	-	C
Outdoor storage	P(5)	P(5)	P(5)	See Section 11.19.070
Personal storage	-	M	M	See Section 11.32.200
Transportation, communications and utilities use classifications
Airports and helicopters	C	C	C
Agricultural runways and airport facilities	P	P	P
Communications facilities				See Section 11.32.300
Freight/truck terminals and warehouses	-	-	C
Major utilities	C	C	C
Minor utilities	A	A	P
On-site biomass facility	Z 8	A 8	P 8
Renewable energy systems (See subclassifications below)
Personal hydro energy system	P	P	P
Personal solar energy system	P	P	P	See Section 11.32.270
Large solar generation facility	C	C	C	See Section 11.32.270
Small solar generation facility	M	M	M	See Section 11.32.270
Personal wind energy system	P	P	P	See Section 11.32.280
Large wind generation facility	C	C	C	See Section 11.32.280
Small wind generation facility	M	M	M	See Section 11.32.280
Agricultural and extractive use classifications
Agricultural labor housing	P	P	P	See Section 11.32.040
Agricultural processing	M	M	P
Animal raising—imported feed	P	P	P	See Section 11.32.050
Crop production	P	P	P
Custom farming	A	A	A
Dairy	P	M	P
Farm machinery and equipment, sales and service	M	M	P
Feed and farm supply store	M	M	P
Grazing (animal raising)	P	P	P
Mining	SMP	SMP	SMP	See Section 11.32.290
Agricultural packing and storage (See subclassifications below)
On-site products	P	P	P
Off-site products	M	M	P
Produce stand	P	P	P	See Section 11.32.220
Ranch marketing				See Section 11.32.230
Resource protection and restoration	P(6)	P(6)	P(6)
Sales lot, feed lot, stockyard	C	C	C
Slaughterhouse	C	C	C
Wineries and tasting rooms				See Section 11.32.330
Timber production and harvesting	P	P	P
Timber processing	M	M	P
Specific Limitations: 1. When located within an existing legally permitted single family residence. 2. Recreation and entertainment uses directly related to agricultural and natural resource uses such as but not limited to equestrian and rodeo facilities. 3. Wholesale nursery operations only. 4. Livestock and farm equipment auctions only. Limited to 2 events per year not to exceed 3 days per event. Additional events allowed through approval of a TUP. 5. Agricultural vehicles and equipment only and must be associated with on-site agricultural operation or business. 6. Copies of any easements or land development restrictions shall be submitted to the Planning Department. 7. When it will not impact on-site or adjacent agricultural operations.

Key To Permit Requirements

Principally permitted use	P	Conditional use permit required	C
Zoning clearance required	Z	Surface mining permit required	SMP
Administrative use permit required	A	See numbered footnote for additional limitations	(#)
Minor conditional use permit required	M	As outlined in additional regulations section	*
		Use is not allowed	-

(Ord. No. 1624)

Exceptions & meaning →

11.05.030. - Development regulations.¶

Table 11.05.030, Development Regulations—Agricultural Districts, prescribes the development standards for agricultural districts. Additional regulations are denoted in the right hand column. Section numbers in this column refer to other sections of this Code, while individual letters refer to subsections that directly follow the table. The numbers in the "#" column refer to the numbers in Figure 11.05.030: Development Regulations—Agricultural Districts.

Figure 11.05.030: Development Regulations—Agricultural Districts [Figure: Figure 11.05.030: Development Regulations—Agricultural Districts]

TABLE 11.05.030: DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS—AGRICULTURAL DISTRICTS

Standard	AE	AE	AE	AR	AR	AR	AI	Additional Regulations	#
Standard		40	80	5	10	20	AI	Additional Regulations	#
Lot and Density Standards	Lot and Density Standards	Lot and Density Standards	Lot and Density Standards	Lot and Density Standards	Lot and Density Standards	Lot and Density Standards	Lot and Density Standards	Lot and Density Standards	Lot and Density Standards
Minimum lot area (acres)		40	80	5	10	20	5	(A)
Minimum lot width		120	120	120	120	120	120
Maximum density	1 unit/parcel (agricultural labor housing does not count towards density) (B)	1 unit/parcel (agricultural labor housing does not count towards density) (B)	1 unit/parcel (agricultural labor housing does not count towards density) (B)	1 unit/parcel (agricultural labor housing does not count towards density) (B)	1 unit/parcel (agricultural labor housing does not count towards density) (B)	1 unit/parcel (agricultural labor housing does not count towards density) (B)	No new primary residences allowed (agricultural labor housing and caretaker units do not count towards density)
Building form and location standards	Building form and location standards	Building form and location standards	Building form and location standards	Building form and location standards	Building form and location standards	Building form and location standards	Building form and location standards	Building form and location standards	Building form and location standards
Maximum height (ft.)	35 for residential structures, 50 otherwise	35 for residential structures, 50 otherwise	35 for residential structures, 50 otherwise	35 for residential structures, 50 otherwise	35 for residential structures, 50 otherwise	35 for residential structures, 50 otherwise	35 for residential structures, 50 otherwise	11.19.050 Height Exceptions
Minimum setbacks (ft.)	Measured from PL or ROW whichever distance is greater from center line of road	Measured from PL or ROW whichever distance is greater from center line of road	Measured from PL or ROW whichever distance is greater from center line of road	Measured from PL or ROW whichever distance is greater from center line of road	Measured from PL or ROW whichever distance is greater from center line of road	Measured from PL or ROW whichever distance is greater from center line of road	Measured from PL or ROW whichever distance is greater from center line of road	Measured from PL or ROW whichever distance is greater from center line of road	Measured from PL or ROW whichever distance is greater from center line of road
Front	30	30	30	30	30	30	30	11.19.090 Setbacks and Yards
Side	Lots less than 1 acre: 25 or 10 percent of lot width, whichever is less, but not less than 5 Lots 1 acre or larger: 30	Lots less than 1 acre: 25 or 10 percent of lot width, whichever is less, but not less than 5 Lots 1 acre or larger: 30	Lots less than 1 acre: 25 or 10 percent of lot width, whichever is less, but not less than 5 Lots 1 acre or larger: 30	Lots less than 1 acre: 25 or 10 percent of lot width, whichever is less, but not less than 5 Lots 1 acre or larger: 30	Lots less than 1 acre: 25 or 10 percent of lot width, whichever is less, but not less than 5 Lots 1 acre or larger: 30	Lots less than 1 acre: 25 or 10 percent of lot width, whichever is less, but not less than 5 Lots 1 acre or larger: 30	Lots less than 1 acre: 25 or 10 percent of lot width, whichever is less, but not less than 5 Lots 1 acre or larger: 30	11.19.090 Setbacks and Yards
Rear	30	30	30	30	30	30	30	11.19.090 Setbacks and Yards
Parking and Loading								11.25 Parking and Loading

Additional development regulations.

(a) Reduced lot area. Reduced lot area is allowed in the agricultural districts as follows:

(1) Lot area in the AE-40 and AE-80 districts may be reduced from the required minimum lot area to allow lot lines to correspond to natural or manmade features if the Review Authority, based on information from the Agricultural Commissioner finds that the proposed parcel sizes are of adequate size and design to ensure the long term protection of agricultural resources.

(2) To allow separation of commercial or industrial uses (i.e. creation of an agricultural industrial park) and agricultural homesteads (subject to development deed restrictions), parcel sizes of less than five acres may be created providing the resulting parcels comply with all other applicable provisions of the Yuba County Ordinance Code.

(3) As allowed by Chapter 11.21, Clustered Development.

(b) Density. Approved accessory dwelling units do not count towards the maximum density restrictions.

(Ord. No. 1624)

Exceptions & meaning →

11.05.010. - Purpose.¶

11.05.020. - Land use regulations.¶

11.05.030. - Development regulations.¶

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