§ 22.30.480. Residential Uses in the Agriculture Land Use Category.

Dwellings in the Agriculture land use category, including primary housing and farm support quarters are allowed accessory uses on the same site as an agricultural use, subject to the standards of this Section. These dwellings may include mobile homes, subject also to the standards in Section 22.30.450 (Residential - Mobile Homes).

A.

Primary housing. A parcel in the Agriculture category may be used for two primary dwellings, as follows:

1.

Permit requirements. Zoning Clearance is required for each of the first two dwellings. Additional dwellings are subject to the provisions of Subsection B. (Farm Support Quarters).

2.

Density. Primary dwellings in the Agriculture category are allowable at a ratio of one primary unit for each legal parcel, as defined in Chapter 22.11 (Definitions - Parcel), and one additional primary unit on legal parcels of 20 acres or larger. On legal parcels smaller than 20 acres but at least one acre, an additional unit may be allowed subject to the provisions of Section 22.30.470. More than two dwellings per legal parcel shall satisfy all provisions of Subsections B. and C. (Farm Support Quarters).

3.

Williamson Act Land. 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.

[Added 2007, Ord. 3136]

B.

Farm support quarters - Single family dwellings and mobile homes. Includes farm or ranch housing for farm help or a caretaker employed on land in the same ownership as the housing. Farm support quarters are allowable in the Agriculture and Rural Lands categories only when the housing is in direct support of existing agricultural production activities on lands owned or leased by the farm housing owner, subject to the following standards.

1.

Permit requirements. Zoning Clearance for the first farm support unit, Site Plan Review for subsequent units, unless the number of proposed farm support quarters exceeds the number indicated in the allowable density table in Subsection B.5, or Minor Use Permit or Conditional Use Permit approval would otherwise be required by planning area standards of Article 9, or other applicable provision of this Title.

2.

Application content. The application shall include explanation and documentation of the need for farm support quarters. The magnitude of existing agricultural activities to be supported by the proposed farm support quarters must be described, as well as the number of employees necessary to conduct the agricultural operations.

3.

Criteria for approval. The applicant shall demonstrate that the number of employees for which housing is proposed is consistent with the allowable density table in Subsection B.5, or that a greater number of farm support quarters is necessary to support the existing agricultural activity. The demonstration of necessity may be in the form of documentation of the number of employees previously used by the property owner in the agricultural operation, or by citing examples of employees used by other agricultural operations of similar size and products.

4.

Status of residents. Occupancy of farm support quarters in the form of single family dwellings or mobile homes is limited to the full-time employees and the spouse and children of full-time employees of agricultural or ranching operations conducted by the owner of the farm support housing, or lessor of the housing owner's acreage. Farm support quarters are not to be rented or leased to individuals other than farm help and their families. An agreement between the property owner and the County limiting occupancy to farm workers shall be executed and recorded prior to building permit issuance.

5.

Density. The maximum allowable density of single family dwellings mobile homes used as farm support quarters shall be as follows:

Maximum Allowable Density of Single Family Dwellings or Mobile Homes Used as Farm Support Quarters, Based on Agricultural Land Use
Agricultural Land Use	Maximum Allowable Density (1)(2)
Beef and dairy feedlots	One unit per 50 dairy cows, or one unit per 100 beef cattle
Fowl and poultry ranches	One unit per 20,000 broiler chickens, or one unit per 15,000 egg-laying hens, or one unit per 3,000 turkeys
Hog ranches	One unit per 50 hogs
Horse ranches and equestrian facilities	One unit per 15 brood mares, or one unit per 30 horse boarding stalls, or one unit per riding school or exhibition facility
Kennels	One unit per 40 dog pens or cages
Animal hospitals and veterinary facilities	One unit per facility
Nurseries	One unit per acre of propagating greenhouse or 3 acres of field-grown plant materials
Irrigated row crops, specialty crops, orchards and vineyards	One unit per 20 acres in crops
Irrigated pasture, field crops, grain and hay	One unit per 30 acres in crops
Dry farm orchards, vineyards, beans and specialty field crops	One unit per 40 acres in crops
Grazing	One dwelling per 320 acres grazing land

 

Notes:

(1)

The density of farm support quarters for other agricultural uses, or combinations of uses, may be determined by the Director to be equivalent to those specified in this table.

(2)

The density of single family dwellings or mobile homes as farm support quarters is based on the amount of agricultural activities occurring on the site, and unless authorized by Minor Use Permit or Conditional Use Permit approval, the number of single family dwellings or mobile homes established as farm support quarters cannot exceed one per 20 acres of site area or a total of 4 dwellings per site.

6.

Sale of farm support quarters. The site of farm support quarters shall not be separated from contiguous property in the same ownership by sale or land division unless a Conditional Use Permit (Section 22.62.060) has been first approved, with the Review Authority making the following findings, in addition to the findings in Section 22.62.060.C.4 (Conditional Use Permit -Required Findings):

a.

The proposed reduction of the total acreage of the ownership will not affect its continuing use as a productive agricultural unit; and

b.

The proposed reduction of the ownership size will not encourage population increases in the surrounding area incompatible with continuing agricultural operations.

7.

Parking. Off-street parking must be provided at a ratio of one space per dwelling established as farm support quarters.

8.

Mobile homes. The use of a mobile home for farm support quarters shall satisfy the standards of Section 22.30.450 (Residential - Mobile Homes).

C.

Farm support quarters - Group quarters. The use of group quarters facilities such as dormitories or bunkhouses and mess halls for farm support quarters is allowable in the Agriculture and Rural Lands categories only when the farm housing is in direct support of existing agricultural production activities on the site and other lands within approximately five miles of the site, subject to the following standards:

1.

Permit requirement. Site Plan Review if the proposed group quarters incorporates pre-approved floor plans and architectural elevations provided by the Planning and Building Department and complies with the site design standards in Subsections C.4 through C.7. Group quarters proposals that do not include pre-approved plans and elevations or which do not meet one or more of the site design standards in Subsections C.4 through C.7 may be authorized through Minor Use Permit approval.

2.

Application content. The application shall include explanation and documentation of the need for farm support quarters. The magnitude of existing agricultural activities on the site and within five miles of the site to be supported by the proposed farm support quarters must be described, as well as an estimate of the number of employees necessary to conduct the agricultural activities. This documentation may be in the form of letters from owners or operators of those agricultural activities.

3.

Criteria for approval. The applicant shall demonstrate that the number of employees for which housing is proposed is consistent with the allowable density table in Subsection C.4, or that more agricultural employees are necessary to support the existing agricultural activity. The demonstrations of necessity may be in the form of documentation of the number of employees previously used by the property owner in the agricultural operation, or by citing examples of employees used by other agricultural operations of similar size and products.

4.

Maximum occupant capacity. The maximum occupant capacity of a group quarters facility shall be set according to the amount of land in existing agricultural production within approximately five miles of the site, based on written statements from the owners or lessors of those lands. The maximum capacity of a group quarters facility, in terms of the number of persons potentially housed, shall not exceed the number of persons specified in the following table.

Maximum Occupant Capacity of Group Quarters Structures Used as Farm Support Quarters
Agricultural Land Use	Maximum Capacity in Persons (1) (2) (3)
Beef and dairy feedlots	One person per 50 dairy cows, or one person per 100 beef cattle
Fowl and poultry ranches	One person per 20,000 broiler chickens, or one person per 15,000 egg-laying hens, or one person per 3,000 turkeys
Hog ranches	One person per 50 hogs
Horse ranches and equestrian facilities	One person per 15 brood mares, or one person per 30 horse boarding stalls
Kennels	Not allowed
Animal hospitals and veterinary facilities	Not allowed
Nurseries	Not allowed
Irrigated row crops, specialty crops, orchards and vineyards	One person per acre in crops
Irrigated pasture, field crops, grain and hay	One person per 15 acres in crops
Dry farm orchards, vineyards, beans and specialty field crops	One person per 20 acres in crops
Grazing	One person per 320 acres grazing land

 

Notes:

(1)

The density of farm support quarters for other agricultural uses, or combinations of uses, may be determined by the Director to be equivalent to those specified in this table.

(2)

The density of group quarters facilities as farm support quarters is based on the amount of agricultural activities occurring on the site and within approximately five miles of the site, supported by letters from the owners or operators of those agricultural activities.

(3)

Unless authorized by Minor Use Permit or Conditional Use Permit approval, the maximum occupant capacity of group quarters facilities as farm support quarters is limited to 20 persons.

5.

Setbacks. No part of the group quarters farm housing shall be closer than 50 feet to any street property line, 60 feet to any other property line, 40 feet to any other structure, or 75 feet to any barns, pens or other facilities for livestock or poultry, or 100 feet from the centerline of streams shown on USGS Topographic Maps with blue lines.

6.

Parking. Off-street parking must be provided at a ratio of one space per four persons potentially housed in the group quarters. Parking areas shall be screened from public view by buildings, fences, landscaping or terrain features.

7.

Minimum site area. 20 acres.

8.

Status of residents. Occupancy of farm support group quarters is limited to the full-time or full-time seasonal employees and the spouse and children of full-time employees of agricultural or ranching operations. Farm support quarters are not to be rented to leased to individuals other than farm help and their families. An agreement between the property owner and the County limiting occupancy to farm workers shall be executed and recorded prior to building permit issuance.

9.

Federal and State requirements. Any farm support quarters accommodating five or more agricultural employees (not necessarily all employed by the owner of the farm support quarters) must also comply with applicable state and federal laws and regulations regarding construction, operation and occupants of the housing. The applicable laws and regulations include, but are not limited to, Part 20, Section 654 of the Code of Federal Regulations (20 CFR 654) and Section 17010 et seq. of the California Health and Safety Code, copies of which are available at the County Department of Planning and Building.

D.

Clustered units - Reversion to acreage required. Where an ownership of multiple, legally-created lots of record is entitled to multiple dwellings in compliance with Subsections A., B. or C., the owner may group the dwellings on a single lot of the ownership rather than on each of the various lots entitled to the dwellings, provided that an approved reversion to acreage shall be obtained within six months of the effective date of the first land use permit for new housing (and before issuance of a building permit), to consolidate with the building site all legal parcels from which housing entitlements have been transferred. In the event that such reversion to acreage is not obtained, the land use permit(s) for the housing shall become void.

[Amended 1981, Ord. 2063; 1982, Ord. 2091; 1984, Ord. 2163; 1985, Ord. 2211; 1992, Ord. 2539, 2553] [22.08.167]