Siskiyou County — Land Use

Last reviewed: July 6, 2026

Overview

This page distills what the Siskiyou County Zoning Ordinance says about land uses in the unincorporated areas. The rules live in Title 10 (Planning and Zoning), chiefly Chapter 6 (Zoning). Start with the County’s zoning overview and confirm your parcel’s base district and any overlays on the official maps. Then use the district rules below together with the County’s cross‑cutting Development Standards and Parking requirements.

Most important rule: Siskiyou County’s ordinance is “permissive”—only listed uses are allowed in each district; everything else is prohibited unless approved as a conditional use. See § 10-6.303 .

In addition to base districts, parcels may carry overlays (e.g., floodplain, airport environs, hemp) that add special limits. See the Overlay Districts page for how these layers interact with base zoning.

How to read Siskiyou’s land-use framework

• Title and plan structure. The zoning plan applies within the County’s unincorporated territory and divides it into mapped districts where specified uses are lawful, and where height, yards and other limits apply (§ 10-6.201–202) .
• Permissive lists. Only “uses permitted” or “conditional uses permitted” in your district may occur; the County uses SIC categories to interpret new or analogous uses (§ 10-6.303–304) .
• Dimensional table. Setbacks, heights, coverage, and minimum site areas are in Table 10‑6.5501 (Article 55) and footnotes control a lot of the nuance (§ 10-6.5501) .
• Cross‑cutting standards. Light/glare, air quality, and related “improvement standards” apply across districts (Article 56; e.g., § 10-6.5602) .
• Overlays. Airport Environs (AE), Floodplain (F), Fault‑Rupture (FR), and Hemp (H) combining districts add use or intensity limits on top of base zoning (e.g., § 10‑1.03; § 10‑6.5401; Article 57; § 10‑6.6001) .

District-by-district land-use guide (unincorporated areas)

Below are the County’s current mapped districts (§ 10‑6.202) with plain‑English summaries of purpose, typical by‑right uses, common conditional uses, and key dimensional markers from Table 10‑6.5501 . Always verify parcel specifics with Planning.

Res-1 — Single-Family Residential

• Purpose: Low‑density detached housing (§ 10‑6.3701) .
• Typical permitted: One single‑family dwelling, accessory buildings, one guest house, limited residential storage, a “second dwelling unit” per General Provisions, small livestock by rule, small group care (≤6) (§ 10‑6.3702) .
• Common conditional: Churches/schools/parks, family day care, home occupations (§ 10‑6.3703) .
• Dimensional: Min lot 7,200 sf with public utilities; front yard 20 ft; side 5 ft; rear 20 ft; height 30 ft dwelling; coverage 40% (§ 10‑6.5501) .

Res-2 — Limited Multiple-Family Residential

• Purpose: A step up in density; duplexes allowed (§ 10‑6.3801) .
• Typical permitted: One or two single‑family dwellings or one duplex per parcel; guest house; small group care (≤6); “second dwelling unit” (§ 10‑6.3802) .
• Common conditional: Churches/schools/parks, family day care, home occupations (§ 10‑6.3803) .
• Dimensional: Min lot 7,200 sf; front 20 ft; side 5 ft; rear 20 ft; height 35 ft dwelling; coverage 50% (§ 10‑6.5501) .

Res-3 — Mixed Multiple-Family Residential

• Purpose: Mixed residential neighborhood, including higher densities and mobile home parks (§ 10‑6.3901) .
• Typical permitted: Single‑family, duplexes, multifamily, rooming/boarding, guest houses, small group care (≤6), second unit (§ 10‑6.3902) .
• Common conditional: Hotels, convalescent care, professional offices, churches/schools, mobile home or RV parks (with acreage/density caps), home occupations (§ 10‑6.3903) .
• Dimensional: Front 20 ft (avg in multifamily), side 20 ft, rear 10 ft, extra separation between buildings per footnotes (§ 10‑6.5501 & fn.6) .

Res-4 — Multiple-Family Residential

• Purpose: High‑density multifamily and mobile home parks (§ 10‑6.4001) .
• Typical permitted: Single‑family, duplexes, multifamily, guest houses, mobile home/RV parks (≥5 acres; capped densities), second unit, transitional/supportive housing, small group care (≤6) (§ 10‑6.4002) .
• Common conditional: Motels (≥8,000 sf site), hotels/boardinghouses, community/social uses, professional offices (§ 10‑6.4003) .
• Dimensional: Similar to Res‑3; see table (§ 10‑6.5501) .

R-R — Rural Residential Agricultural

• Purpose: Rural homes with small‑scale farming (§ 10‑6.4801) .
• Typical permitted: One single‑family dwelling (or one mobile home in lieu), small acreage farming (with listed exclusions), crop/tree farming, guest house, greenhouses, one residential storage building, amateur radio antenna (special setback‑height tradeoff), second dwelling unit, small group care (≤6) (§ 10‑6.4802) .
• Common conditional: Churches/schools/parks, in‑building agricultural uses (certain animal raising), home occupations, limited heavy‑equipment parking with screening, family day care, second unit by provisions (§ 10‑6.4803) .
• Dimensional: Min lot 7,200 sf with utilities or 1 acre with septic; front 20 ft; side 5 ft; rear 20 ft; height 35 ft dwelling; coverage 40% (§ 10‑6.5501 & fn.11) .

C-R — Rural Neighborhood Commercial

• Purpose: Small‑scale, neighborhood‑serving commercial compatible with nearby housing (§ 10‑6.4101) .
• Typical permitted: Shops and services within buildings (retail, food, barber/beauty, banks), professional offices, copying/printing, convenience stores, launderettes, retail nurseries, rooming/boarding, on/off‑sale liquor (§ 10‑6.4102) .
• Common conditional: Dwellings (SF/duplex/triplex), social halls/lodges, churches/schools/parks, theaters, convalescent care, vehicle sales, retail fuel, health clubs (§ 10‑6.4103) .
• Dimensional: Front 20 ft; side/rear 0 ft (but increase to 10 ft where abutting R districts); typical height 50 ft; coverage up to 75% (§ 10‑6.5501 & fn.8) .

C-U — Neighborhood Commercial

• Purpose: Neighborhood‑scale commercial areas (§ 10‑6.4201) .
• Typical permitted: Auto service stations/car washes/repair (enclosed), offices, convenience stores, retail nurseries, copying/printing, multifamily and rooming/boarding, on/off‑sale liquor, salons/barbers (§ 10‑6.4202) .
• Common conditional: SF/duplex/triplex, social halls, churches/schools/parks, theaters, convalescent care, vehicle sales, retail fuel, health clubs (§ 10‑6.4203) .
• Dimensional: Similar to C‑R; see table and abutting‑R yard rules (§ 10‑6.5501 & fn.8) .

C-C — Town Center

• Purpose: Core commercial districts supporting rural communities and mixed activity (§ 10‑6.4301) .
• Typical permitted: Retail stores and services within buildings, professional offices, churches/parks/schools/public uses, community/social halls, car washes, launderettes/retail nurseries, on/off‑sale liquor, health clubs, and multifamily (§ 10‑6.4302) .
• Common conditional: Animal hospitals, auto repair/service stations, cabinet shops, outdoor sales (fenced), motels/hotels, adult entertainment, truck/utility trailer rental, vehicle sales, caretaker’s residence, larger group care (§ 10‑6.4303) .
• Dimensional: Front 20 ft; side/rear 0 ft (increase to 5 ft when abutting R districts per fn.8); height 50 ft; coverage 75% (§ 10‑6.5501 & fn.8) .

C-H — Highway Commercial

• Purpose: Traveler‑serving highway nodes at selected locations (§ 10‑6.4401) .
• Typical permitted: Service stations/car washes/repairs (enclosed), restaurants, convenience stores, RV parks (≥5 acres; ≤15 spaces/acre), campgrounds, motels/hotels, public service facilities, truck service/fuel yards, theaters, health clubs, caretaker’s residence, emergency shelters (§ 10‑6.4402) .
• Conditional: General Provisions uses by permit (§ 10‑6.4403) .
• Dimensional: Front 20 ft; side/rear 0 ft (5 ft if abutting R per fn.8); height 50 ft; coverage 85% (§ 10‑6.5501 & fn.8) .

M-L — Limited Industrial

• Purpose: Clean, quiet, non‑nuisance industrial in park settings; primary production from raw materials is prohibited (§ 10‑6.4501) .
• Typical permitted: Offices in conjunction with industrial, printing/publishing, assembly/packaging from prepared materials, public uses/utilities (not disposal/treatment/power plants), labs, wholesale/ancillary retail, mini‑storage, trade/vocational schools, cabinet shops (§ 10‑6.4502) .
• Common conditional: R&D labs, electronics/pharma manufacturing, heliports, restaurants/fueling to serve industrial users, screened outdoor storage, caretaker’s residence (§ 10‑6.4503) .
• Dimensional: Front 20 ft; side 0 ft (5 ft if abutting R per fn.8); height 50 ft; coverage 75% (§ 10‑6.5501 & fn.8) .

M-M — Light Industrial

• Purpose: General light industry; details not fully retrieved here. Not found in retrieved materials (purpose section).
• Typical permitted: Not comprehensively retrieved. One example listed in code excerpts is “bottling works” (verify full list in § 10‑6.4602). Not found in retrieved materials for § number anchor .
• Common conditional: Caretaker’s residence; airstrips/heliports; truck terminals; storage elevators; power generation; wood planing; pharma manufacturing; restaurants/fueling to serve industry; limited temporary disabled‑vehicle storage; micro‑breweries/wineries/distilleries (§ 10‑6.4603) .
• Dimensional: Front 20 ft; side 5 ft; rear 10 ft; height 50 ft; coverage 75% (§ 10‑6.5501) .

M-H — Heavy Industrial

• Purpose: Accommodates most industries, with use‑permit filtering for higher‑impact uses (§ 10‑6.4701) .
• Typical permitted: Any M‑L or M‑M permitted use (not confined indoors), canneries/ag processing, creameries/bottling, storage elevators, truck terminals/storage, ice manufacturing/cold storage, heavy manufacturing (aircraft, vehicles, engines, etc.), recycling plants, fertilizer production (§ 10‑6.4702) .
• Common conditional: Junk/wrecking yards; rendering; foundries/smelting; manufacture of acids, asphalt, plastics, rubber, cement, explosives, hazardous chemicals; resource extraction; oil/gas; solid waste disposal; airstrips/heliports; feed yards; flammables storage; batch plants; tanneries; racetracks; power generation; sawmills/paper mills; slaughterhouses; caretaker residence; ancillary retail (§ 10‑6.4703) .
• Dimensional: Front 20 ft; side 5 ft; rear 10 ft; height 50 ft; coverage 75% (§ 10‑6.5501) .

AG-1 — Prime Agricultural

• Purpose: Intensive agriculture on “Prime” lands designated by the General Plan (§ 10‑6.5001) .
• Typical permitted: Caretaker/ag‑incidental single‑family or mobile home; agricultural uses (tree/vine/row/field crops; livestock/animal husbandry; growing/harvesting of trees), farm labor housing, wholesale nurseries/greenhouses/fish/frog farms; roadside stands; one second unit (§ 10‑6.5002) .
• Common conditional: Private airports; dairies/poultry/feed lots/hog farms; public utility buildings; home occupations (§ 10‑6.5003) .
• Dimensional: Typically large minimum parcel sizes (by utilities/septic) and 35 ft max height for dwellings per table (§ 10‑6.5501) .

AG-2 — Non-Prime Agricultural

• Purpose: General agricultural areas; minimum parcel size varies by local conditions (§ 10‑6.4901) .
• Typical permitted: Farm labor housing; ag uses; accessory ag uses; wholesale nurseries/greenhouses/fish/frog farms; roadside stands; guest house; one second unit (§ 10‑6.4902) .
• Common conditional: Churches/schools/parks/public and quasi‑public uses; private airports; dairies/poultry/feed lots/hog farms; golf courses; kennels/animal hospitals; guest ranches/public stables; ag processing/storage/supply and equipment service; home occupations; Yreka Landfill operations (§ 10‑6.4903) .
• Dimensional: AG‑2 min parcel 10 acres (septic) in the table; 35 ft height for dwellings (§ 10‑6.5501) .

TPZ — Timberland Production Zone

• Purpose: Long‑term timber production lands.
• Typical permitted: Growing/harvesting timber; compatible state‑defined uses; recreation/education that don’t interfere; grazing; one single‑family or mobile home with a Timber Management Plan (§ 10‑6.5102) .
• Common conditional: Portable timber processing; wood processing/manufacturing; mineral exploration/extraction; energy exploration/development; labor camps/dwellings for forestry workers; utility lines; aircraft landing facilities/heliports (§ 10‑6.5103) .
• Other: Qualification and minimum term rules; parcel division limits including the state 40‑acre minimum and special <160‑acre split pathway (§ 10‑6.5104–5108) .
• Dimensional: See table (min 40 acres, 35 ft height) (§ 10‑6.5501) .

O — Open Space

• Purpose: Long‑range preservation of open space on public/quasi‑public/private lands (§ 10‑6.5201) .
• Typical permitted: Crop/tree farming; grazing; accessory buildings; trails; wildlife refuges; scientific study sites (§ 10‑6.5202) .
• Common conditional: Golf courses/clubhouses/public parks; nonprofit recreation; private facilities set aside as open space; General Provisions uses (§ 10‑6.5203) .
• Dimensional: See table (§ 10‑6.5501) .

Overlays that affect land use

• Airport Environs (AE). Applies within mapped airport influence areas, adding density, height, and compatibility limits. Residential density caps range from “no dwellings” (Zone A) to “no airport‑related limits” (Zone D) (§ 10‑1.06) . See purpose/applicability and maps (§ 10‑1.02–1.05) .
• Floodplain (F). Adds flood hazard controls; certain ag/open‑space uses are permitted; most structures and intensive uses require a use permit and must meet F‑district standards (§ 10‑6.5401–5404) .
• Fault‑Rupture (FR). Implements the Alquist‑Priolo Act; sets what qualifies as a “project,” exemptions, and geologic report rules (§ 10‑6.5704–5707) .
• Hemp Combining (H). In Scott Valley AG‑1/AG‑2 areas ≥40 acres, the H overlay adds hemp‑specific acreage thresholds and cross‑references Chapter 16; if conflicts arise, H controls (§ 10‑6.6001–6006) .
• Vacation Rentals (Article 61). Allowed only in specified districts (Res‑1/2/3/4, C‑R/C‑U/C‑C/C‑H, R‑R, AG‑1/2) with additional siting limits (e.g., 2.5‑acre minimum in mapped subareas) and a County Activity Permit (§ 10‑6.6101–6104) .

Fast-reference table: common districts and “can I do X?”

Notes

• Where a commercial/industrial site abuts a residential district, side/rear yards often increase per Table 10‑6.5501 footnote 8 (§ 10‑6.5501 fn.8) .
• Signs may deviate from front setbacks with a sign permit—see Signage—per Table 10‑6.5501 footnote 12 (§ 10‑6.5501 fn.12) .
• Countywide performance standards for light/glare, air quality and similar apply in addition to your district rules (§ 10‑6.5602 et seq.) .

Special topics you’re likely to run into

• Vacation rentals. Only allowed in listed districts and with a Vacation Rental Activity Permit; some subareas require a 2.5‑acre minimum (§ 10‑6.6101–6104) .
• ADUs/“second units.” Districts often mention “one second dwelling unit per legal lot”; current state California ADU law also governs. Verify local General Provisions applicability on your parcel (§ 10‑6.3702; § 10‑6.3802; § 10‑6.3902; § 10‑6.4002; § 10‑6.4802; § 10‑6.5002) .
• Airport overlay. Check AE maps before adding dwellings or tall structures; density and height can be capped by zone (e.g., no new dwellings in AE Zone A) (§ 10‑1.05–1.06) .
• Flood/Fault overlays. F and FR can limit structural uses and trigger studies or permits (§ 10‑6.5401–5404; § 10‑6.5704–5707) .

If your project triggers aesthetics or site design review, see Design Review. For previously lawful sites or structures that don’t match today’s rules, see Nonconforming Uses. Relief from standards may be possible—see Variances and Exceptions. Building safety rules are separate—see the California Building Standards Code.

Checklist

• Confirm your parcel’s base zoning and any overlays (AE, F, FR, H) on the County zoning maps (§ 10‑6.201–202; § 10‑1.05) .
• Identify whether your proposed activity is “permitted” or needs a Use Permit in your district (§ 10‑6.303–304) .
• Check Table 10‑6.5501 for setbacks, heights, and lot sizes; apply the footnotes (§ 10‑6.5501) .
• Verify cross‑cutting standards (light/glare, air quality, screening) and any Parking ratios (§ 10‑6.5602; Article 56; parking table excerpt) .
• If near an airport, confirm density/height compatibility (AE zones) (§ 10‑1.06) .
• If in flood or fault areas, confirm allowable uses and study requirements (§ 10‑6.5401–5404; § 10‑6.5704–5707) .
• For vacation rental or second unit plans, confirm the specific district allowances and any special siting conditions (§ 10‑6.6104; district “second unit” allowances) .

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain-English Summary

In unincorporated Siskiyou County, what you can do on your land depends first on your base zoning (Res, C, M, AG, TPZ, O), then on any overlays (Airport, Floodplain, Fault‑Rupture, Hemp). Only listed uses are allowed; anything else needs a Use Permit. After confirming your use fits, apply the dimensional table for setbacks/height/lot size and the general standards. Special cases—like vacation rentals and “second units”—have district‑specific and countywide rules, so verify both the district list and any overlay or state law that also applies.

Source References

• Title 10, Chapter 6 (Zoning) framework and districts: § 10‑6.201–202; § 10‑6.303–304; § 10‑6.5501 (Table)
• Residential districts: Res‑1 § 10‑6.3701–3703 ; Res‑2 § 10‑6.3801–3803 ; Res‑3 § 10‑6.3901–3903 ; Res‑4 § 10‑6.4001–4003
• Rural Residential Agricultural: § 10‑6.4801–4803
• Commercial districts: C‑R § 10‑6.4101–4103 ; C‑U § 10‑6.4201–4203 ; C‑C § 10‑6.4301–4303 ; C‑H § 10‑6.4401–4403
• Industrial districts: M‑L § 10‑6.4501–4503 ; M‑M § 10‑6.4603 (conditional uses) ; M‑H § 10‑6.4701–4703
• Agricultural districts: AG‑2 § 10‑6.4901–4903 ; AG‑1 § 10‑6.5001–5003
• TPZ: § 10‑6.5102–5107; parcel division notes § 10‑6.5108
• Open Space: § 10‑6.5201–5203
• Combining/Overlay: Floodplain § 10‑6.5401–5404 ; Airport Environs § 10‑1.02–1.06 ; Fault‑Rupture Article 57 (e.g., § 10‑6.5704–5707) ; Hemp Combining § 10‑6.6001–6006
• Vacation Rentals: Article 61, § 10‑6.6101–6104
• Improvement Standards: Article 56 (e.g., § 10‑6.5602)

Retrieved passages

• Siskiyou County Zoning Code (article are) High relevance show source text
• Siskiyou County Zoning Code (Section 51100) High relevance show source text
• Siskiyou County Zoning Code (Section 10-6.1516) High relevance show source text
• Siskiyou County Zoning Code (Article 15) High relevance show source text
• Siskiyou County Zoning Code (§ I) High relevance show source text
• Siskiyou County Zoning Code (chapter is) High relevance show source text
• Siskiyou County Zoning Code (§ III) High relevance show source text
• Siskiyou County Zoning Code (chapter classifies) High relevance show source text
• Siskiyou County Zoning Code (§ III) High relevance show source text
• Siskiyou County Zoning Code (Article 47.) High relevance show source text
• Siskiyou County Zoning Code (§ I) High relevance show source text
• Siskiyou County Zoning Code (section of) High relevance show source text
• Siskiyou County Zoning Code (Section 51119.5) High relevance show source text
• Siskiyou County Zoning Code (Article 15) Medium relevance show source text
• Siskiyou County Zoning Code (section of) Medium relevance show source text
• Siskiyou County Zoning Code (§ I) Medium relevance show source text
• Siskiyou County Zoning Code (§ I) Medium relevance show source text
• Siskiyou County Zoning Code (§ II) Medium relevance show source text
• Siskiyou County Zoning Code (Article 15) Medium relevance show source text
• Siskiyou County Zoning Code (§ I) Medium relevance show source text
• Siskiyou County Zoning Code (Article 15) High relevance show source text
• Siskiyou County Zoning Code (Article 15) Medium relevance show source text
• Siskiyou County Zoning Code (section 81003.) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Title 10, Chapter 6 (Zoning) framework and districts: § 10‑6.201–202; § 10‑6.303–304; § 10‑6.5501 (Table) (Title 10)
• Residential districts: Res‑1 § 10‑6.3701–3703 ; Res‑2 § 10‑6.3801–3803 ; Res‑3 § 10‑6.3901–3903 ; Res‑4 § 10‑6.4001–4003 (§ 10)
• Rural Residential Agricultural: § 10‑6.4801–4803 (§ 10)
• Commercial districts: C‑R § 10‑6.4101–4103 ; C‑U § 10‑6.4201–4203 ; C‑C § 10‑6.4301–4303 ; C‑H § 10‑6.4401–4403 (§ 10)
• Industrial districts: M‑L § 10‑6.4501–4503 ; M‑M § 10‑6.4603 (conditional uses) ; M‑H § 10‑6.4701–4703 (§ 10)
• Agricultural districts: AG‑2 § 10‑6.4901–4903 ; AG‑1 § 10‑6.5001–5003 (§ 10)
• TPZ: § 10‑6.5102–5107; parcel division notes § 10‑6.5108 (§ 10)
• Open Space: § 10‑6.5201–5203 (§ 10)
• Combining/Overlay: Floodplain § 10‑6.5401–5404 ; Airport Environs § 10‑1.02–1.06 ; Fault‑Rupture Article 57 (e.g., § 10‑6.5704–5707) ; Hemp Combining § 10‑6.6001–6006 (§ 10)
• Vacation Rentals: Article 61, § 10‑6.6101–6104 (Article 61)
• Improvement Standards: Article 56 (e.g., § 10‑6.5602) (Article 56)
• SiskiyouCounty_ZoningCode.md

• Official Siskiyou County code library