Madera County Unincorporated

Developments regulated by this chapter and within the state responsibility area (SRA)

any building or use operated by any local, state, or federal agency, or special district, or any provider of emergency services shall be permitted in any zone district by means of a conditional use permit

Except as otherwise permitted, any building or use operated by any local, state, or federal agency, or special district, or any provider of emergency services shall be permitted in any zone district by means of a conditional use permit, subject to the following: A. Location, building and site plans, and plan of operation shall be submitted to and approved by the zoning agency.

No gasoline pump, underground fuel tank or other accessory equipment shall be closer than twenty-five feet to the base setback line.

In the CRM (Commercial, Rural, Median); CRG (Commercial, Rural, General); CUM (Commercial, Urban, Median); IL (Industrial, Urban or Rural, Light); or IH (Industrial, Urban or Rural, Heavy) Districts subject to the following: A. The location, building and site plans, and plan of operation shall be submitted to and approved by the zoning agency. B. No gasoline pump, underground fuel tank or other accessory equipment shall be closer than twenty-five feet to the base setback line. C. No lighting installation shall be permitted which creates a hazard to traffic or a nuisance to surrounding property.

The building area to lot area ratio shall not apply to solar farms in agricultural and open space zone districts. Zone district height restrictions do not apply.

Where solar farms are permitted by conditional use permit, the following applies: A. The building area to lot area ratio shall not apply to solar farms in agricultural and open space zone districts. B. Zone district height restrictions do not apply. C. In the open space zone district (Chapter 18.50), consideration must first be given to the protection of parks or natural resources protected by a local, state, or federal agency.

Agritourism operations are allowed with an approved conditional use permit on all agriculturally zoned parcels over fifteen acres in size.

Agritourism operations are allowed with an approved conditional use permit on all agriculturally zoned parcels over fifteen acres in size. An agritourism operation can include a number of different elements including farm stay operation, farm tours, special events and/or u-pick operations. At the time of application submittal, the applicant must submit a plan outline for the proposed operation. All activities must comply with the California Retail Food Code (CRFC) Chapter 10.5 of Division 17 (Commencing with Section 47000) of the Food and Agricultural Code.

Farm stay operations that meet the development standards shall be allowed with an approved conditional use permit in all agricultural zone districts with a minimum of fifteen acres. 1. Development Standards for Farm Stay Operations. a. No more than five guest rooms shall be allowed. c. Food shall be served only to registered guests. d. Lodging and meals shall be incidental and not the primary function of the agricultural home stay establishment. e. All signs shall comply with the Madera County Sign Ordinance and Area Plan regulations. 2. Parking Requirements for Farm Stay Operations. b. Farm stay operations shall provide one parking space per bedroom. c. All access roads and parking must be of a dust free surface.

The sale of agricultural products grown in Madera County, sundries, prepackaged food, bottled or canned beverages and freshly prepared food and beverages is allowed only in conjunction with the sale of produce, and/or shell eggs. The sale of cut flowers shall be permitted only within the retail sales area. Limited to five hundred square feet of the structure's total floor area may be used for limited retail sales. Ten percent of the agricultural product must be grown onsite. Agricultural stores shall be allowed in all agricultural districts with an approved conditional use permit. All activities must comply with Chapter 10.5 (commencing with Section 47000) of the Food and Agricultural Code and regulations adopted and enforced pursuant to that chapter, operating within the requirements set forth in CRFC, Sections 113789 (Food facility) and 114375 (Farm stand and Community Food Production). 1. Structures. Only permanent built structures are permitted. 2. Location and Number. One large agricultural store shall be permitted per parcel in the agricultural zones. 3. Length of Operation. Large agricultural stores may operate three hundred sixty-five days a year. 4. Signs. The signage requirements for the produce sales use type shall apply pursuant to Chapter 18.90. 5. Parking. The parking surfacing requirements shall comply with Chapter 18.102, retail sales. 6. Other Permits. Large agricultural stores shall comply with all regulations administered by the community and economic development building division, the fire division, and the environmental health division, including a plan review for all proposed or remodeled food facilities. The sale of any food items except owner grown produce and shell eggs triggers this requirement. Agricultural stores shall also be required to obtain a business license.

Arena events, such as roping competitions, horse shows, rodeos and similar commercial-for-fee sporting events are specifically excluded from the allowed uses and activities in the definition of agritourism and would require a separate conditional use permit. A RV park and camping is specifically excluded from the allowed uses and facilities in the definition of agritourism.

All parcels one acre and larger, located in state responsibility fire protection areas (SRA), shall comply with the setback requirements of State of California Public Resources Code 4290, Section 1276.01(A)

Where the nearest structures or buildings on both sides of a proposed structure or building are within three hundred feet of each other and have less than the required minimum setback, the average between such existing setbacks shall apply.

Permanent mechanical equipment and architectural features of buildings and structures, including eaves overhangs, window boxes, chimneys, and bay windows, may encroach into setback areas up to thirty-six inches or thirty percent of the required setback, whichever is less.

No other buildings or disabled motor vehicles, structures of any kind, except necessary highway and traffic signs, public utility lines, fences, rural mailboxes and those signs permitted in a residential or agricultural district shall be hereafter erected, altered or planned within the area bounded by the side lot lines and the base setback lines and the setback line.

At the intersections of public streets or highways with a street, highway or railroad where the grade is not separated, vision setback lines are established as follows:

In the vision setback area, no disabled motor vehicle shall remain more than twenty-four hours and no structure of any kind shall be permitted which exceeds a height of three feet above the elevation of the center point of the intersection

On corner lots, the effect of the setback regulation shall not reduce the buildable width of such corner lot to less than thirty feet.

In the case of any lot of record created prior to this zoning ordinance which has a minimum average width less than one hundred twenty feet, the offset from a side lot line may be reduced proportionately to the ratio between the actual minimum average width and one hundred twenty feet; provided, however, that no offset shall in any case be less than six feet