Blythe City Zoning Code

In order to carry out the provisions of this title, the city is divided into twenty zones designated as follows:

A.

Agriculture Zone. This zone allows for the continued cultivation of land and for associated uses commonly tied to agriculture including farmworker housing and the grazing of animals. Residential units are allowed at a density of one per twenty acres. Agriculture associated commercial uses, feed lots (more than forty head), and recreational activities are allowed with a conditional use permit.

B.

Specific Plan Resort. This zone allows all the uses set out in the agriculture zone and the rural residential zone. Residential development, recreational development, resort oriented development and open space uses are allowed with the adoption of a specific plan.

C.

Rural Residential. This zone allows the cultivation of agriculture land. Residential units are allowed at a density of one per 2.5 acres without central water or central sewer, one per acre with central water and septic systems, or one per twenty thousand square feet with central water and sewer. Agriculture related or small commercial activities that do not require on signage may be allowed with a conditional use permit. Golf courses and other recreational activities including but not limited to riding stables, rodeo or roping areas may be allowed with a conditional use permit.

1.

The noncommercial keeping of horses shall be allowed on lots not less than twenty thousand square feet in area and one hundred feet in width; provided they are kept not less than one hundred feet from any street and twenty feet from any property line. A maximum of two horses per twenty thousand square feet, and in any event not more than six horses (excluding foals less than fourteen months of age) shall be kept on any lot in this zone.

2.

If the lot is one acre or more in area, poultry and rabbits may be kept for the use of the occupants of the premises only. The poultry and rabbits shall be kept in an enclosed area located not less than fifty feet from any residence and shall be maintained on the rear portion of the lot in conjunction with a residential use. If a lot is two acres or more in area, two sheep, two goats or one adult bovine and one bovine less than fourteen months old, or combination thereof may be kept in addition to the allowed horses; provided they are kept not less than one hundred feet from any street, twenty feet from any property line and fifty feet from any residence.

Exception to parcel size requirement: Parcels annexed to the city of Blythe under the rural residential (RR) zoning designation not meeting the size and service requirements of this subsection when annexed, are allowed one single-family residential dwelling unit per parcel subject to the site's ability to accommodate one potable water well and a private waste disposal system meeting all Riverside County Department of Environmental Health standards for installation/construction of a potable water well and private waste disposal system with one hundred percent expansion capability. All other development standards as set forth in Title 17 of the Blythe Municipal Code shall apply to such parcels.

D.

Mobile Home Residential. This zone allows the location of manufactured housing parks, cooperatively owned manufactured housing parks and recreational vehicle parks. Associated commercial operations and recreational facilities including golf courses may be allowed with a conditional use permit.

(Ord. 796 § 1, 2005; Ord. 693 § 1, 1993: Ord. 636 (part), 1988: Ord. 595 § 3.00, 1982)

(Ord. No. 862, §§ 2, 3, 10-8-13; Ord. No. 935, § 4, 4-8-25)

The boundaries of the zones listed in Section 17.06.010 are shown on a map attached to and made a part of the ordinance codified in this title, designated as the "Official Zoning Map." This map and all the notations, references and other information shown on it shall be considered as a part of this title.

(Ord. 595 § 3.01, 1982)

Where uncertainty exists as to the boundaries of any zone as shown on the zoning map, the following shall apply:

A.

Street, Alley or Lot Lines.

1.

Where indicated, zone boundaries are approximately street, alley or lot lines, the lines are determined to be the boundaries of the zone. Otherwise, the boundaries shall be determined by the dimensions shown on the official zoning map. In the absence of a dimension, the boundary shall be determined by use of the scale shown on the map.

2.

A street, alley, railroad or railway right-of-way, watercourse, channel or body of water included on the zoning map shall, unless otherwise indicated, be included within the zone of adjoining property on either side thereof; and where such street, alley, right-of-way, watercourse, channel or body of water serves as a boundary between two or more different zones, a line midway in such street, alley, right-of-way, etc., extending in the general direction of the long dimensions thereof, shall be considered the boundary between zones.

B.

Vacations. In the event that a vacated street, right-of-way or easement was the boundary between two zones, the new zone boundaries shall be at the new property line.

(Ord. 595 § 3.02, 1982)

The original of the official zoning map shall be kept on file with the city clerk and shall constitute the original record. A copy of the map shall also be maintained by the planning director.

(Ord. 630 § 3 (part), 1987; Ord. 595 § 3.03, 1982)

All amendments and changes in the official zoning map shall be recorded at the end of each fiscal year on a revised official zoning map. Individual amendments shall be filed with the official zoning map by the city clerk and copies sent to the planning director within forty-eight hours after the amendment becomes effective.

(Ord. 630 § 3 (part), 1987; Ord. 595 § 3.04, 1982)

The provisions for the redevelopment overlay zone are set out in Sections 17.06.061 through 17.06.064.

(Ord. 636 (part), 1988)

The D-O zone is intended to set out those areas that have been designated by the city and the redevelopment agency of the city as review areas for compliance with adopted redevelopment plans and standards.

(Ord. 636 (part), 1988)

All new uses and structures shall be established, all uses shall be changed, and changes or modifications to exterior of structures shall be made subject to approval of the design review committee as established in Section 17.64.060 of this code, the primary purpose of which is to provide adherence to the adopted Design Standards and Architectural Guidelines of the downtown design implementation program.

(Ord. 636 (part), 1988)

Nothing in the preceding sections shall preclude the necessity of complying with conditional use permit requirements that may be required for the primary zone designation.

(Ord. 636 (part), 1988)

The basic underlying use in the D-O zoned areas shall be the primary zoning designation. Where the D-O zone symbol is designated on the zoning map it shall be followed by a primary zone symbol. Uses shall be permitted by the primary zone and shall be subject to the provisions of the zone and all other provisions of this title.

(Ord. 636 (part), 1988)

Use types permitted in each zone shall be as shown in the following table. Note: A slash mark (/) means the use is permitted only with a conditional use permit; a cross mark (X) indicates the use is permitted by right. Explanations of use types listed in the table are provided in this chapter.

^[1] The R-L zone includes the R-L-1, R-L-1-72, and R-L-2 zones.

^[2] For provisions regarding residences in nonresidential zones, see Section 17.68.025.

^[3] This constitutes a residential use and is subject to only those restrictions that apply to other residential uses of the same type in the same zoning district when the use meets the definition of a family.

^[4] Must comply with Chapter 17.63G.

^[5] Must comply with Chapter 17.63A.

^[6] Must comply with Chapter 17.63F.

(Ord. 789 § 1 (part), 2004; Ord. 781 § 1 (part), 2003; Ord. 693 § 2, 1993; Ord. 690 § 1, 1992; Ord. 665 § 1, 1990; Ord. 638 § 3 (part), 1988; Ord. 621 § 1, 1985: Ord. 601 § 3 (part), 1984; Ord. No. 862, §§ 3, 4, 10-8-13; Ord. No. 908, § 1, 8-10-21; Ord. 595 § 3.05, 1982; Ord. No. 910, §§ 2, 3, 11-9-21; Ord. No. 911, § 1, 12-14-21; Ord. No. 918, § 2, 10-11-22; Ord. No. 935, § 6, 4-8-25; Ord. No. 943-U, § 3, 9-9-25; Ord. No. 944, § 3, 11-12-25)

Notwithstanding anything in this code to the contrary, any residential development project, including a mixed-use development project, on a site designated as HEO shall be considered a permitted use and approved if it meets the following requirements:

A.

The project provides twenty percent or more of the units as affordable to lower-income households. A recorded affordability restriction shall be required for a fifty-five year period for affordable rental housing units and for a forty-five year period for affordable for-sale units, or such other period as required by an applicable provision of law.

B.

The director has reviewed the plans to ensure that they comply with all applicable objective provisions of the underlying zone, municipal code, general plan, and any applicable specific plans or city regulations/standards. No other findings shall be required.

C.

Nothing herein exempts a project which requires any type of map from going through the procedures required under the state Subdivision Map Act and Title 16 of this code as provided for in California Government Code Section 65583.2(i).

(Ord. No. 935, § 5, 4-8-25)

Other use types which are similar to and not more obnoxious or detrimental to the health, safety or general welfare of the community than the use types permitted in any zone may be allowed in such zone by resolution of the city council.

A.

Prior to city council determination of classifications of such other use types, the planning director shall submit a report to the city council of his findings and recommendations regarding such classification.

B.

The planning director shall keep a record in his office of all use types classified in accordance with this section.

(Ord. 630 § 3 (part), 1987; Ord. 595 § 7.09, 1982)

(Ord. No. 935, § 3, 4-8-25)

Editor's note— Ord. No 935, § 3, adopted April 8, 2025, renumbered the former § 17.08.730 as § 17.08.030. The historical notation has been retained with the amended provisions for reference purposes.

Commercial cannabis dispensaries shall be permitted only as follows:

A.

In the C-C, commercial community business, C-G general commercial, and in I-G, general industry zone.

B.

The dispensary must not be located on a parcel located within a six hundred feet radius of a school (whether public, private, or charter, including pre-school, transitional kindergarten, and K-12). If any part of a parcel falls within the six hundred feet, then the entire parcel shall meet the requirements of this paragraph.

C.

No closer than six hundred feet from any portion of any parcel in the City limits containing any of the following:

1.

A youth facility;

2.

A daycare facility serving nine or more children and is licensed by the county or city;

3.

Parks and places of worship at the discretion of the city council;

4.

An adult day care facility serving nine or more adults and licenses by the state, county or city.

(Ord. No. 883, § 2, 6-13-17; Ord. No. 885, § 15, 10-10-17)

(Ord. No. 935, § 3, 4-8-25)

Editor's note— Ord. No 935, § 3, adopted April 8, 2025, renumbered the former § 17.08.740 as § 17.08.040. The historical notation has been retained with the amended provisions for reference purposes.