Del Norte County Zoning, Planning & Building Codes

Last reviewed: July 6, 2026

Overview

Del Norte County regulates land use in its unincorporated areas through two parallel codes: a “standard” inland zoning title and a coastal zoning title certified under the California Coastal Act. Title 20 (Zoning) applies outside the California Coastal Zone; Title 21 (Coastal Zoning) applies inside it and adds coastal development-permit procedures and special coastal overlays. The district framework, allowable uses, and baseline development standards (height, yards, lot size/coverage) live in the individual district chapters, with countywide “general provisions” and parking standards referenced across districts. In the Coastal Zone, your County entitlement typically doubles as the coastal development permit, with additional coastal findings and procedures.

Key rule in plain English: In the Coastal Zone, a County entitlement generally serves as the coastal development permit, unless the Coastal Commission has jurisdiction or an exemption applies (§ 21.50.20, § 21.50.30, § 21.50.40).

How Del Norte County’s code is organized

• Title 20 — Zoning (unincorporated areas outside the Coastal Zone)
  • Districts are designated and mapped in § 20.06.10–.50; this is where the County lists every base district and explains that once a district is established, only its permitted uses and standards apply. Boundary uncertainties are resolved by the Planning Commission per § 20.06.30.
  • Title 20 also contains countywide “General Provisions” (e.g., signs, height exceptions, yards/setbacks, special lot sizes) in § 20.48.10–.140.
  • Off-street parking is governed in Chapter 20.46; multiple districts point to that chapter for stall counts (for example, § 20.24.80 in the C‑1 district).
• Title 21 — Coastal Zoning (unincorporated areas within the Coastal Zone)
  • The coastal zoning “enabling” chapter is § 21.02 (purpose and scope). Coastal permit procedures are in § 21.50 (equivalency of County entitlements, exemptions, Commission jurisdiction). General coastal provisions (signs, height exceptions, yards, special lot sizes) mirror Title 20 and live in § 21.46.
  • Where the Coastal Commission retains permit jurisdiction under § 21.50.40, the County’s zoning regulations still guide the land-use review, but any County approval is not itself a coastal permit.

Use the Del Norte County Zoning and Del Norte County Land Use pages to find your parcel’s designation and check whether you’re in the Coastal Zone.

Zoning district families

Del Norte’s base districts and combining/overlay tools are identified in § 20.06.10 (with Coastal analogs and overlays added under Title 21). Highlights:

• Residential and rural-residential
  • R-1, R-2, R-3 (single-family, low‑density multi‑family, and high‑density multi‑family). Example (inland): R‑2 allows a one‑ or two‑family dwelling and sets standards for height, lot area/width, coverage and setbacks in § 20.18.20–.80. The R‑3 chapter sets higher-intensity multi‑family standards in § 20.20.10–.110.
  • R-1A (Residential–Agricultural) permits single‑family dwellings, agriculture, ADUs/JADUs and related rural uses in § 20.13.20.
  • Coastal analog: R‑2 (Title 21) — duplex-focused district with its own height, area, coverage and setbacks in § 21.21.40–.80.
• Agricultural and resource
  • A (Agricultural) — Coastal Title 21 chapter § 21.09 covers principal farm uses, large minimum lots (A‑5 and A‑20), and rural setbacks.
  • AF (Agriculture‑Forest/prime forest) — resource protection emphasis; allows single‑family and ADUs/JADUs among resource uses per § 20.09.10.
  • F‑R (Forest‑Recreation) — transitional recreation/conservation areas; chapter § 20.34.5–.80 lists uses (including ADUs/JADUs) and applies district‑specific standards.
• Commercial
  • C‑1 (Neighborhood Commercial) — up to 100% lot coverage and no setbacks unless abutting residential; parking per Chapter 20.46 (see § 20.24.60–.80).
  • C‑2 (Light Commercial) — broad retail/service mix; standards include 45 ft height and up to 100% coverage with utilities (§ 20.26.40–.70).
  • C‑3 (General Commercial) — heavy commercial with intensities like no minimum lot area (if served), up to 100% coverage, and reduced or no front yard (§ 20.28.40–.90).
  • C‑R (Commercial‑Recreation) — visitor‑serving recreation and support uses in § 20.23.10–.20.
• Industrial
  • M (Industrial) — identified in § 20.06.10; verify site‑specific standards on the zoning map and the M chapter (not retrieved here). Not found in retrieved materials; verify with the jurisdiction.
• Special purpose
  • P‑C (Planned Community) — requires a use permit with a complete plan set; standards (height, area, coverage, yards, parking, screening) are tailored by the Planning Commission under § 20.32.30–.40.
  • T, MHP, RMPH (Trailer/Mobilehome, Mobilehome Park, Rural Mobilehome Park) — both MHP and RMPH include Planning Commission plan review before construction permits (§ 20.20A.50; § 20.20B.50).
• Combining/overlay tools
  • B and D combining districts adjust minimum lot area/standards (e.g., § 20.18.50 references combining B/D), and Title 21 includes coastal overlays for scenic, access, and hazard/resource areas.

Use the Del Norte County Overlay Districts page to see which combining or coastal overlays may apply to a site.

Citywide development standards

Most dimensional rules live in the district chapter, with countywide exceptions and definitions in the “General Provisions” chapters of each title.

• Where to look:
  • District‑specific height, lot area/width, coverage, and yards in each chapter (e.g., R‑2 (Title 20): § 20.18.40–.80; R‑2 (Title 21): § 21.21.40–.80; C‑2: § 20.26.40–.80).
  • Countywide development standards and exceptions in § 20.48.10–.140 and Coastal § 21.46.10–.130 (signs, height exceptions, yards and setbacks, special lot sizes).
  • Off‑street parking is in Chapter 20.46; districts such as C‑1 explicitly defer to it (see § 20.24.80).

Selected baseline metrics (examples):

• The inland R‑2 district sets a 35 ft main‑building height (20 ft accessory), 7,200 sf minimum lot, 60 ft minimum width, 35% lot coverage, and 25 ft/5 ft/20 ft front/side/rear setbacks (main), with 5 ft rear for accessory (§ 20.18.40–.80).
• The coastal R‑2 (Title 21) sets 30 ft for primary dwellings and 16 ft for detached accessory buildings (including ADUs), with a 7,200 sf lot, 60 ft width, 35% coverage, and 25 ft/5 ft/20 ft setbacks (main), 5 ft rear for accessory (§ 21.21.40–.80).
• The inland R‑3 district allows up to 60% coverage on lots over 12,000 sf (otherwise 35%), with 20 ft front, 5 ft side, and 15 ft rear setbacks for main buildings (§ 20.20.70–.100).
• The C‑2 district allows 45 ft height, may have no minimum lot area where served by public utilities, 25 ft minimum width, and up to 100% coverage with utilities; front yards are generally none except as adjusted by § 20.48.90 (§ 20.26.40–.80).
• The C‑1 district allows up to 100% coverage, with no setbacks unless abutting a residential zone; parking per Chapter 20.46 (§ 20.24.60–.80).

Note: Floor Area Ratio (FAR) is not stated in the retrieved materials. Not found in retrieved materials; verify with the jurisdiction.

Specific plans & overlays

• Coastal scenic/design overlays: Title 21 authorizes designation of “highly scenic” areas and an Architectural Review Committee to review design, massing, and signage; coastal‑specific design guidelines are adopted into the code for these areas (§ 21.35.50). Coastal “special development pattern areas” impose site‑specific conditions (e.g., Ocean View Drive, Smith River, Lake Earl) per § 21.35.60. See Del Norte County Design Review.
• Floodplain districts: FP‑1, FP‑2, FP‑3 are listed in § 20.06.10 and function as hazard zoning; flood variances require recorded risk notices (floodplain board), per the general flood provisions excerpted in Title 20. See Del Norte County Overlay Districts.
• Combining districts: “B” and “D” combining districts modify base standards or density (e.g., § 20.18.50 references B/D; Title 21 uses similar combining districts for coastal overlays).

Building permits & review

• Use permits and discretionary review:
  • Countywide “uses permitted with a use permit in any district” are listed in § 20.48.20 (e.g., public/quasi‑public utilities, temporary batch plants, certain signs).
  • Planned Community (P‑C) projects file a use‑permit application with detailed plans and maps; the Planning Commission sets project‑specific standards under § 20.32.30–.40.
  • Mobilehome Park projects (both MHP and RMPH) must present construction/improvement plans for Planning Commission review before any construction permit is issued (§ 20.20A.50; § 20.20B.50).
• Coastal development permits:
  • In the Coastal Zone, County entitlements serve as coastal development permits if processed consistent with Title 21 (§ 21.50.20). There are defined exemptions (§ 21.50.30) and cases where the Coastal Commission retains jurisdiction (§ 21.50.40).
  • Additional coastal design scrutiny may apply, including a “visual resources analysis” for residential projects over 25 ft in designated view corridors (§ 21.50.80).
• Amendments and hearings: Title 21 details hearing/notice procedures for General Plan and zoning amendments in § 21.50A and § 21.50B (application contents, ERC review, notices, hearings, and LCP consistency).
• Building permits and codes: Several chapters reference the County Building Official as the issuing authority for construction permits after discretionary approvals (e.g., § 20.20A.50; § 20.20B.50). Building work must also meet the California Building Standards Code.

State housing law in Del Norte County

• Accessory dwelling units and JADUs: Multiple districts explicitly permit ADUs and JADUs (e.g., A/AF/FR‑2, R‑1A, R‑2, C‑1/C‑2/C‑3, P‑C, C‑R), reflecting compliance with statewide ADU mandates (e.g., § 20.09.10, § 20.13.20, § 20.18.20, § 20.24.20–.70, § 20.26.20, § 20.28.20–.30, § 20.32.40, § 20.23.20). For Coastal R‑2, Title 21 caps detached accessory height at 16 ft (§ 21.21.40). See California ADU law.
• Transitional/supportive housing and SROs: The R‑3 district (and some commercial districts) list transitional and supportive housing, and single‑room occupancy as permitted uses (§ 20.20.20; § 20.26.30; § 20.28.30). See California housing laws.
• Density bonus/SB 9/rent regulation: Not found in retrieved materials. Verify with the jurisdiction and current state law applicability for unincorporated areas.

Information Gaps

• Specific “M” (Industrial) chapter standards and any explicit County density‑bonus/SB 9 implementation were not surfaced in the retrieved excerpts. Verify with the Planning Department for the latest adopted text. Not found in retrieved materials.

Source References

• Title 20 Zoning — districts, maps, and applicability: § 20.06.10–.50.
• Title 20 General Provisions — signs, height exceptions, yards/setbacks: § 20.48.10–.140.
• Title 20 samples: R‑2 standards (§ 20.18.20–.80) and R‑3 standards (§ 20.20.10–.110); C‑1 (§ 20.24.60–.80), C‑2 (§ 20.26.40–.80), C‑3 (§ 20.28.40–.90), C‑R (§ 20.23.10–.20).
• Title 21 Coastal Zoning — enabling, general provisions, and CDP procedures: § 21.02, § 21.46, § 21.50.10–.80 (incl. Equivalency, Exemptions, Commission jurisdiction).
• Coastal scenic/design and special-area policies: § 21.35.50–.60.
• Planned Community procedures: § 20.32.30–.40.
• Mobilehome park reviews before building permits: § 20.20A.50 and § 20.20B.50.