zoneoptics
Ordinance chapter · Sonoma County Unincorporated, California

Chapter 14

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Highlighted below: 16 of 18 extracted standards. Sections and highlights carry their own anchors. The rest quote wording that differs from this rendering of the text.

Sonoma County Unincorporated, CA Zoning Ordinance | Zoneomics#

ARTICLE 01#

Applicability of Zoning Districts to General Plan Land Use Categories.#

ARTICLE 02#

In General.#

ARTICLE 04#

Glossary.#

ARTICLE 06#

Agricultural and Resource Zones.#

ARTICLE 08#

Residential Zones.#

ARTICLE 10#

Commercial Zones.#

ARTICLE 12#

Industrial Zones.#

ARTICLE 14#

Special Purpose Zones.#

ARTICLE 16#

Supplemental Development Standards.#

ARTICLE 18#

Agriculture and Resource-Based Use Standards.#

ARTICLE 20#

Industrial, Manufacturing, and Processing Use Standards.#

ARTICLE 22#

Recreation, Education and Public Assembly Use Standards.#

ARTICLE 24#

Residential Use Standards.#

ARTICLE 26#

Retail Use Standards.#

Sec. 26-26-010. Purpose of article.

Sec. 26-26-020. Alcoholic beverage sales.

Sec. 26-26-030. Bar, tavern, nightclub.

Sec. 26-26-040. Building and landscape materials sales.

Sec. 26-26-050. Farm equipment and supplies sales and rental.

Sec. 26-26-060. Firewood yard.

Sec. 26-26-070. Fuel dealers.

Sec. 26-26-080. Fuel station, retail.

Sec. 26-26-081. Fuel station, non-retail.

Sec. 26-26-090. General retail.

Sec. 26-26-100. Heavy equipment sales and rentals.

Sec. 26-26-110. Manufactured homes sales and rentals.

Sec. 26-26-120. Nursery, retail.

Sec. 26-26-130. Outdoor vendor.

Sec. 26-26-140. Restaurants.

Sec. 26-26-150. Vehicle/boat sales and rentals.

ARTICLE 28#

Service Use Standards.#

ARTICLE 30#

Transportation, Energy and Public Facilities Use Standards.#

ARTICLE 54#

S Study District.#

ARTICLE 56#

F1 Floodway Combining District.#

ARTICLE 58#

F2 Floodplain Combining District.#

ARTICLE 59#

AH Affordable Housing Combining District.#

ARTICLE 60#

RE Renewable Energy Combining Zone.#

ARTICLE 63#

LG Local Guidelines Combining District.#

ARTICLE 64#

SR Scenic Resources Combining District.#

ARTICLE 65#

RC Riparian Corridor Combining Zone.#

ARTICLE 66#

BH Biotic Habitat Combining Zone.#

ARTICLE 67#

OAK Oak Woodland Combining District and VOH Valley Oak Habitat Combining District.#

ARTICLE 68#

HD Historic Combining District.#

ARTICLE 70#

G Geologic Hazard Area Combining District.#

ARTICLE 72#

MR Mineral Resource Combining District.#

ARTICLE 75#

WH Workforce Housing Combining District.#

ARTICLE 76#

Z Accessory Dwelling Unit Exclusion Combining District.#

ARTICLE 77#

VR Visitor Residential Combining Zone.#

ARTICLE 26 - Retail Use Standards#

(Editor's note—Ord. No. 6335, § II, adopted February 9, 2021, repealed the former Art. 26, and § III(Exh. A) of the same ord. enacted a new article as set out herein. The former Art. 26 pertained to PC Planned Community District. See Ordinance List and Disposition Table for a detailed history of derivation.)

Sec. 26-26-010. - Purpose of article.#

This article provides standards for specific retail land uses in all zones.

(Ord. No. 6335, § III(Exh. A), 2-9-2021)

Sec. 26-26-020. - Alcoholic beverage sales.#

A. Definition. A retail establishment that sells alcoholic beverages for off-site consumption.

  1. Includes: Liquor stores, convenience stores, markets, and other similar establishments.
  2. Excludes: Winery tasting rooms.
  3. Small alcoholic beverage sales: Less than ten thousand (10,000) square feet of floor area.
  4. Large alcoholic beverage sales: Ten thousand (10,000) square feet or more of floor area.

B. Standards. See Section 26-88-195 (small alcoholic beverage sales).

(Ord. No. 6335, § III(Exh. A), 2-9-2021)

Sec. 26-26-030. - Bar, tavern, nightclub.#

A. Definition. A business selling alcoholic beverages for on-site consumption where food service is subordinate to the sale of alcoholic beverages.

  1. Includes: Cocktail lounges, entertainment (e.g., live music and/or dancing, comedy, etc.) as an accessory and incidental use.
  2. Excludes: Restaurants that serve alcoholic beverages.

B. Standards. No unique use-specific standards.

(Ord. No. 6335, § III(Exh. A), 2-9-2021)

Sec. 26-26-040. - Building and landscape materials sales.#

A. Definition. A retail business selling hardware, lumber, building materials, paint, plants and landscaping products, garden supplies, and other similar merchandise. Typically requires the primary use of the site as exterior storage of lumber, equipment, stone, gravel, soil amendments, and other similar products.

  1. Includes: Heavy commercial uses for which storage, large or heavy merchandise, or commercial transportation facilities are necessary and usual to the operation.
  2. Excludes: Nurseries selling only plants and landscaping products.

B. Standards. No unique use-specific standards.

(Ord. No. 6335, § III(Exh. A), 2-9-2021)

Sec. 26-26-050. - Farm equipment and supplies sales and rental.#

A. Definition. An establishment selling, renting, and repairing agricultural machinery, equipment, and supplies for use in farming and ranching operations.

  1. Includes: Retail sale of tractors, combines, animal feed, and other farm supplies.

B. Standards.

  1. LC zone: Feed stores are a permitted use.§

(Ord. No. 6335, § III(Exh. A), 2-9-2021)

Sec. 26-26-060. - Firewood yard.#

A. Definition. A business that cuts, splits, chips, sells, stores, and/or delivers firewood.

  1. Includes: Associated large equipment and vehicle storage and retail sales.

B. Standards.

  1. TP zone: Temporary or seasonal sales and promotion, and incidental storage of fuel wood which is grown on site is permitted by-right.§ Sale of wood grown off-site requires use permit approval.§

(Ord. No. 6335, § III(Exh. A), 2-9-2021)

Sec. 26-26-070. - Fuel dealers.#

A. Definition. The retail sale of fuel oil, butane, propane, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), bottled or in bulk, as a principal use.

  1. Excludes: Fuel stations selling gasoline or other motor vehicle fuels.

B. Standards. No unique use-specific standards.

(Ord. No. 6335, § III(Exh. A), 2-9-2021)

Sec. 26-26-080. - Fuel station, retail.#

A. Definition. A retail facility that sells gasoline or diesel to the public for the purposes of fueling motor vehicles, or for fueling gasoline or diesel-powered tools or appliances; or any facility for fueling rental motor vehicles with gasoline or diesel at the Sonoma County Airport, whether or not the gasoline or diesel is sold to the public.

  1. Includes: Retail sales of motor vehicle fossil fuels; facilities for fueling rental motor vehicles with gasoline or diesel at the Sonoma County Airport.

  2. Excludes: Vehicle maintenance and repair.

B. Standards.

  1. Industrial zones: Must be appropriate to and in conjunction with industrial development permitted in the zone.§

(Ord. No. 6405, § VI(Exh. C), 3-14-2023)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 6405, § VI(Exh. C), adopted March 14, 2023, amended § 26-26-080 in its entirety to read as herein set out. Former § 26-26-080 pertained to fuel station and derived from Ord. No. 6335, § III(Exh. A), adopted Feb. 9, 2021.

Sec. 26-26-081. - Fuel station, non-retail.#

A. Definition. Fossil fuel dispensing equipment operated solely by an owner, business, or agricultural operation to support that owner, business, or agricultural operation's own legally established uses, but not including any equipment used to provide fuel for sale to the public.

  1. Includes: Fuel support for legally established Commercial, Industrial, or Agricultural uses.

  2. Excludes: Retail sales, Private Auto or Retail Clubs, Vehicle maintenance and Repair, and Fuel Stations, Fueling facilities for rental motor vehicles at the Sonoma County Airport, Retail uses defined in Section 26-26-080.

B. Standards.

  1. Industrial zones: Must be appropriate to and in conjunction with industrial development permitted in the zone.

(Ord. No. 6405, § VI(Exh. C), 3-14-2023)

Article 26-26. Use Regulations#

Sec. 26-26-090. - General retail.#

A. Definition.#

A retail establishment selling merchandise to the general public.

  1. Includes: neighborhood markets, grocery stores, bakeries, drug stores, hardware stores, general merchandise stores, antique stores, second hand sales, convenience shops, pet stores, department stores, pet shops, florists, vehicle accessory stores, and other similar retail establishments.

B. Standards.#

  1. C1 and LC zones: Limited to neighborhood-serving retail selling household commodities without a use permit.§
  2. C1 and LC zones: Antique stores, second hand sales, auction studios with use permit.§
  3. C3 zone: Limited to retail sales of heavy commercial goods not suited to other commercial zones, including sale of surplus goods.§
  4. K zone: Limited to visitor-oriented retail businesses which supply commodities such as groceries, prepared foods, drugs, or hardware.§
  5. Industrial zones: Limited to and in conjunction with industrial development permitted in the applicable industrial zone.§

(Ord. No. 6403, 3-7-2023; Ord. No. 6335, § III(Exh. A), 2-9-2021)

Sec. 26-26-100. - Heavy equipment sales and rentals.#

A. Definition.#

Sale and rental of construction and other heavy equipment.

  1. Includes: Sale and rental of cranes, earth moving equipment, and tractor trailers and other similar heavy trucks; outdoor sales yards, swap meets, flea markets, and auction yards.
  2. Excludes: Farm equipment and supplies sales, vehicle/boat sales.

B. Standards.#

No unique use-specific standards.

(Ord. No. 6335, § III(Exh. A), 2-9-2021)

Sec. 26-26-110. - Manufactured homes sales and rentals.#

A. Definition.#

Sale and rental of manufactured homes, mobile homes, and pre-fabricated structures.

B. Standards.#

  1. Occupancy on the premises not allowed.§

(Ord. No. 6335, § III(Exh. A), 2-9-2021)

Sec. 26-26-120. - Nursery, retail.#

A. Definition.#

An establishment engaged in the propagation of trees, shrubs and horticultural and ornamental plants grown under cover or outdoors for sale to the public. Includes commercial scale greenhouses and establishments for the sale of plant materials, lawn and garden supplies, and related items.

  1. Includes: Commercial-scale greenhouses and lawn and garden supplies.
  2. Excludes: Cannabis nurseries, wholesale nurseries.

B. Standards.#

  1. Not allowed on properties subject to a Williamson Act contract.§

(Ord. No. 6335, § III(Exh. A), 2-9-2021)

Sec. 26-26-130. - Outdoor vendor.#

A. Definition. The sale of articles and agricultural or horticultural commodities on a small scale for profit or livelihood.

  1. Excludes: The sale of lumber or other building material.

B. Standards.

  1. See Section 26-88-010(i), outdoor vendors.

  2. Use may not be conducted within a building.§

(Ord. No. 6335, § III(Exh. A), 2-9-2021)

Sec. 26-26-140. - Restaurants.#

A. Definition. A retail business selling ready-to-eat food for consumption on or off the premises.

  1. Includes: Full-service restaurants, fast-food restaurants, carry-out prepared foods for off-site consumption, coffee shops, cafes, and other similar eating establishments.

B. Standards.

  1. C1, LC, and K zones: Use permit required for restaurants serving alcohol.§

  2. M1 and M2 zones: Must be appropriate to and in conjunction with a permitted industrial development.§

  3. MP zone:

    a. Cafeterias, cafes and restaurants are permitted by-right when accessory to a primary permitted use on the site.

    b. Restaurants that are not an accessory use but are appropriate to and in conjunction with an industrial development are allowed with a use permit.

(Ord. No. 6363 § II(Exh. A), 12-14-2021; Ord. No. 6335, § III(Exh. A), 2-9-2021)

Sec. 26-26-150. - Vehicle/boat sales and rentals.#

A. Definition. Sale and rental of automobiles, light trucks, recreational vehicles, campers, boats, motorcycles, and similar vehicles.

B. Standards.

  1. C2 and LC zone: Use permit required. Automobile sales only.§

(Ord. No. 6403, 3-7-2023; Ord. No. 6335, § III(Exh. A), 2-9-2021)