§ 22.10.130. Residential Density.

The number of dwelling units that may be established on a site that complies with Section 22.10.110 et seq. (Minimum Site Area), is based upon the land use category applied to the site by the Land Use Element. This Section determines the maximum number of single- or multi-family units that may be allowed. The number of caretaker and farm support units are determined instead by Sections 22.30.430 and 22.30.480.B and C., respectively.

A.

Single-family dwellings. In land use categories where Section 22.06.030 (Allowable Land Uses and Permit Requirements) identifies single-family dwellings or mobile homes as permitted or conditional uses, the number of dwellings allowed on a single lot is as follows, provided that mobile homes shall also comply with Section 22.30.450 (Residential - Mobile Homes):

1.

Rural Lands: Two for each legal parcel (parcel is defined in Chapter 22.80).

2.

Residential land use categories: One for each legal parcel, except as follows:

a.

Areas with special density standards. Where planning area standards of Chapter 22.09 (Community Planning Standards) establish density requirements, the planning area standards shall control and determine the number of allowed dwelling units.

b.

Density bonus projects. The number of dwelling units allowed in a project that proposed affordable housing in compliance with Government Code 65915 or with Section 22.12.080—Inclusionary Housing, shall be determined by Chapter 22.12 (Affordable Housing Incentives).

c.

Residential Multi-Family category. The number of dwelling units allowed on a lot in the Residential Multi-Family category shall be as allowed in Subsection B, except for workforce housing subdivisions processed pursuant to Section 22.30.477.

d.

Secondary dwellings. A secondary dwelling may be established in addition to the unit authorized by this Section, if allowed by Section 22.30.470 (Residential - Secondary Dwellings).

e.

Detached guesthouse or home office. A detached guesthouse or home office may be established accessory to the unit authorized by this Section, in compliance with Section 22.30.410.E. (Guesthouses and home offices).

f.

Workforce housing subdivisions. Residential density in workforce housing subdivisions shall be as allowed by Section 22.30.477 - Residential - Workforce Housing Subdivisions.

3.

Recreation category. The number of dwelling units allowed on a lot in the Recreation category is as follows:

a.

Rural areas: One unit per five acres where no community water or sewer service is provided; one unit per acre where community water or community sewer is provided.

b.

Urban or village areas: One unit per acre, except that one unit per 6,000 square feet is allowed where community sewer is provided. Community water is required for any residential development in a Recreation category within an urban or village reserve line.

4.

Agriculture category. Residential density on lands under Williamson Act Contracts must adhere to the County's Rules of Procedure to Implement The California Land Conservation Act of 1965 (Table 2), individual Contracts, the provisions of the Williamson Act itself and any changes that may be made to it.

Nothing in this Section shall be construed as having any effect upon a land division request.

B.

Multi-family dwellings. The number of multiple family dwellings allowed on a single lot or adjoining lots is based upon the "intensity factor" of the site. The intensity factor will be either low, medium or high, based upon the type of street serving the site, the sewer service provided, and the distance of the site from the central business district. The intensity factor determines the maximum number of units allowed, the maximum floor area for all units in the project and minimum areas for landscaping and pedestrian use. A multi-family project must satisfy the floor area and open area standards of this Section, as well as all applicable requirements for parking, setbacks and height. (Multi-Family dwellings in the Recreation Category are subject to Section 22.30.500 (Residential Uses in the Recreation Land Use Category.)

1.

Determining intensity factor. The intensity factor is the lowest obtained from any of the following criteria:

Criteria		Intensity Factor
		Low	Medium	High
Type of road access	Unpaved road	✓
	Paved local street		✓
	Paved collector or arterial (1)			✓
Sewer service	On-site septic	✓
	Community sewer			✓
Distance from CBD(2)	More than 1 mile	✓
	1 mile or less		✓
	Less than 1,000 ft			✓

 

Notes:

(1)

Site access may be from a cross street where the site abuts a collector or arterial.

(2)

Straight-line distance from central business district (CBD).

2.

Determining allowable density. The allowable density, maximum floor area and minimum open area for a multiple-family project shall be shown in the following table (all area figures are expressed as percentages of the total usable site area). A minimum of 6,000 square feet of site area is required to establish more than one dwelling unit, in compliance with Section 22.10.110.C (Minimum Site Area - Multi-Family Dwellings):

Intensity Factor	Maximum number of units per acre	Maximum floor area (1)	Minimum open area (2)
Low	15	35%	55%
Medium	26	48%	45%
High	38	65%	40%

 

Notes:

(1)

The gross floor area of all residential structures, including upper stories, but not garages and carports.

(2)

Includes required setbacks, and all areas of the site except buildings and parking spaces.

[Amended 1981, Ord. 2063; 1982, Ord. 2091; 1985, Ord. 2211, 2217; 1992, Ord. 2553; 1999, Ord. 2880; 2007, Ord. 3136; 2012, 3236; Ord. 3340]
[22.04.080, 082, 084]