The purpose of the Recreation-Forestry (RF) district is to designate lands for the conservation and use of natural resources and for compatible recreational uses. Nonresource-related uses are limited to uses that will not adversely affect the primary resource use or uses to which the land is devoted.

(Prior code § 7090.01)

The following uses and all others determined to be similar to these uses pursuant to Sections 19.08.030 through 19.08.080 of this title are permitted in the RF district:

A.

Residential Uses.

— Accessory dwelling unit, pursuant to Chapter 19.90

— Apartment

— Condominium

— Duplex

— Manufactured home, one (1) per lot, pursuant to Section 19.20.130.D

— Quadruplex

— Residential accessory structures

— Residential facility, serving six (6) or fewer persons

— Single-family dwelling

— Triplex

B.

Agricultural Uses.

1.

Growing and Harvesting Crops

— Christmas trees

— Community garden pursuant to Section 19.42.130 of this chapter

— Growing of agricultural crops for domestic use of the resident/occupant

— Timber

2.

Breeding and raising animals:

— Beekeeping

— Poultry and rabbits pursuant to Section 19.42.130 of this title

— Horses, donkeys, mules, llamas, hogs, sheep, goats, dairy stock and beef cattle pursuant to Section 19.42.130 of this title

— Ostrich and emus pursuant to Section 19.42.130 of this title

— Birds, including show or racing pigeons, and other small fowl pursuant to Section 19.42.130 of this title

— Fish and frogs;

C.

Recreation, Entertainment and Tourist Facilities.

— Boat dock, private

— Fishing or fly casting pond

— Park or playground;

D.

Utility and Communications Facilities.

— Transmission lines and supporting towers, poles, and underground facilities for gas, water, electricity, telephone or telegraph service owned and operated by a public utility company or other company under the jurisdiction of the California Public Utilities Commission pursuant to Section 19.08.090 of this title. Microwave towers are also permitted pursuant to this section provided that there is a minimum setback of three hundred (300) feet from any dwelling

— Utility substation;

E.

Resource Extraction and Energy Development Uses.

— Mineral exploration

— Oil or gas exploration and production pursuant to Section 19.98.030 of this title

— Small wind energy system, pursuant to Section 19.08.415

— Solar energy electrical generator with a rated capacity of no greater than five (5) kilowatts for on-site consumption of the electricity;

F.

Institutional Uses.

— Charitable or public service organization

— Museum, when associated with a wildlife or nature preserve;

G.

Miscellaneous Uses.

— Drainage sump, if proposed and approved as part of a tentative subdivision map or tentative parcel map, or if accessory to a permitted use

— Flood control facilities

— Garage or yard sales pursuant to subsection (C) of Section 19.42.130 of this chapter

— Home occupation pursuant to Chapter 19.94 of this title

— Hunting or fishing club, not involving buildings or structures

— Water storage or groundwater recharge facilities

— Water system, small or large

— Wildlife or nature preserve.

(Ord. G-7012 § 38, 2003; Ord. G-6968 § 42, 2003; Ord. G-6641 § 29, 1999; Ord. G-6191 § 58, 1995; Ord. G-6077 §§ 178—180, 1994; Ord. G-5966 § 88, 1993; Ord. G-4916 § 11, 1989; Ord. G-4832 §§ 134, 135, 1988; Prior code § 7090.02)

(Ord. No. G-8226, § 64, 11-8-11; Ord. No. G-8725, § 14, 7-11-17)

The following uses and all others determined to be similar to these uses pursuant to Sections 19.08.030 through 19.08.080 of this title are all permitted in the RF district subject to securing a conditional use permit in accordance with the standards and procedures set out in Chapter 19.104 of this title:

A.

Residential Uses.

— Additional single-family dwellings, not to exceed a density of one (1) dwelling unit per five (5) gross acres. A maximum of two (2) mobilehomes may be permitted on any one (1) lot, and one (1) of the mobilehomes shall be owner occupied

— Community care facility

— Logging camp

— Manufactured home or mobilehome, pursuant to Section 19.42.130(D)(6) of this chapter

— Rest home

— Retirement home

— Single-family dwelling, with a width of sixteen (16) feet or less;

B.

Agricultural Uses.

1.

Agricultural industries:

— Saw or planing mill;

C.

Recreation, Entertainment and Tourist Facilities.

— Bed and breakfast inn

— Camp, private

— Campground

— Community recreational facilities

— Equestrian establishments

— Golf course

— Golf driving range

— Lakes, private, for recreational skiing or boating

— Lodge

— Marina, public

— Racetrack or test track, automobile, bicycle, horse or motorcycle

— Recreational vehicle park

— Recreational vehicle, travel trailer and boat storage

— Retreat, church or nonprofit organization owned and operated

— Shooting range, gun club, simulated war games or similar activities

— Snow park and skiing facilities

— Thermal pools and hot springs

— Trade fairs and exhibitions, temporary (fourteen (14) day maximum), excluding flea markets and swap meets

— Whitewater rafting launch or landing site;

D.

Transportation Facilities.

— Airport, private

— Airport, public use

— Heliport;

E.

Utility and Communications Facilities.

— Radio, television or commercial communications transmitter, receiver or translator, including microwave towers less than three hundred (300) feet from a dwelling, except as specified in subsection (D) of Section 19.42.020 of this chapter;

F.

Resource Extraction and Energy Development Uses.

— Dam, hydro

— Mining and mineral extraction pursuant to Chapter 19.100 of this title

— Solar energy electrical generators when not accessory to a permitted or conditionally permitted use

— Wind-driven electrical generators, commercial or domestic;

G.

Waste Facilities.

— Septage disposal site

— Transfer station, small or large

— Waste-to-energy facility;

H.

Institutional Uses.

— Cemetery

— Church

— Community or regional correctional or similar involuntary detention facilities

— Museum

— Public agency or public utility buildings and facilities

— Rehabilitation facilities

— Zoo;

I.

Educational Institutions and Schools.

1.

General:

— Preschool

— Elementary school

— Junior high school

— Senior high school

— College or university;

J.

Miscellaneous Uses.

— Animal shelter

— Drainage sump

— Hunting or fishing club

— Kennel or dog training facilities

— Logging contractor

— Railroad caboose and similar accessory structures

— Wild animal keeping.

(Ord. G-7012 §§ 40—41, 2003; Ord. G-6968 § 44, 2003; Ord. G-6870 § 10, 2002; Ord. G-6641 § 31, 1999; Ord. G-6551 § 79, 1998; Ord. G-6412 § 49, 1997; Ord. G-6297 §§ 48, 49, 1996; Ord. G-6191 §§ 60, 61, 1995; Ord. G-6077 §§ 182, 183, 1994; Ord. G-5966 § 90, 1993; Ord. G-5861 § 22, 1992; Ord. G-5803 § 41, 1992; Ord. G-5346 §§ 68, 69, 1990; Ord. G-4916 § 12, 1989; Ord. G-4832 §§ 136—139, 1988; Prior code § 7090.03)

(Ord. No. G-8226, § 65, 11-8-11)

All other uses not permitted by Sections 19.42.020 and 19.42.030 of this chapter are prohibited in the RF district.

(Prior code § 7090.04)

No lot created within the RF district shall contain less than five (5) gross acres, excepting in the case of the conveyance to or from a governmental agency, public entity, public utility, community water company or mutual water company for public purposes, public utility purposes, or for rights-of-way or well sites.

(Ord. G-6864 § 43, 2002: Prior code § 7090.05)

Except as specified in Section 19.42.030, there shall be no more than one (1) principal single-family dwelling per legal lot in the RF district.

(Ord. G-6191 § 63, 1995: Prior code § 7090.06)

Yard and setback requirements in the RF district are as follows:

A.

Front Yard. The front-yard minimum setback for all buildings shall be as follows:

1.

Fifty-five (55) feet from the legal centerline of any existing or proposed local street or access easement;

2.

Seventy (70) feet from the legal centerline of any existing or proposed secondary highway;

3.

Eighty (80) feet from the legal centerline of any existing or proposed major highway.

In no case shall the front-yard minimum setback be less than twenty-five (25) feet from the right-of-way established by any official or specific plan line, street or access easement.

B.

Side Yard. There shall be a side yard on each side of any building of not less than ten (10) feet.

C.

Rear Yard. There shall be a rear yard of not less than five (5) feet.

D.

In no case shall the buildings be located in any existing or future right-of-way established by any official or specific plan line, street, access easement or adopted circulation element of the applicable general or specific plan.

(Ord. G-6551 § 81, 1998: G-5966 § 92, 1993; Ord. G-4832 § 140, 1988; Prior code § 7090.07)

The following height limits apply in the RF district:

A.

Buildings shall not exceed three (3) stories or thirty-five (35) feet.

B.

Detached accessory structures shall not exceed two (2) stories or thirty-five (35) feet.

C.

Radio and television antennas, communication towers, chimneys, and other similar structures shall not exceed eighty (80) feet.

(Prior code § 7090.08)

(Ord. No. G-8226, § 66, 11-8-11)

Minimum distance between structures in the RF district shall be as follows:

A.

There shall be a minimum of ten (10) feet between residential buildings.

B.

There shall be a minimum of six (6) feet between a residential building and an accessory building or between accessory buildings.

(Prior code § 7090.09)

Off-street parking in the RF district shall be provided in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 19.82 of this title.

(Prior code § 7090.10)

A.

The following signs are permitted in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 19.84 of this title:

1.

Temporary real estate signs advertising property for sale or rent, not to exceed sixteen (16) square feet, excluding the area of any vertical and/or horizontal support members;

2.

Temporary construction signs;

3.

Agricultural signs;

4.

Institutional identification signs, when approved in conjunction with a conditional use permit.

(Ord. G-5684 § 72, 1991: Prior code § 7090.11)

Landscaping is not required in the RF district.

(Prior code § 7090.12)

The following special review procedures and development standards apply in the RF district:

A.

The breeding and raising of birds, including show or racing pigeons, poultry and rabbits shall be limited to domestic or hobby purposes only and they shall not be raised for commercial purposes.

B.

The breeding and raising of animals pursuant to Section 19.42.020 of this chapter shall be limited to one (1) horse, donkey, mule, cow, dairy stock, sheep, goat, hog, ostrich, emu or other similar animal per one-quarter (¼) acre of lot area.

C.

Garage or yard sales are permitted without special permit provided they meet the following standards:

1.

Sales last no longer than three (3) days;

2.

Sales are held no more than twice yearly;

3.

Sales are conducted on the owner's or tenant's property. Multiple-family sales are permitted if they are held on the property of one (1) of the participants;

4.

No goods purchased for resale may be offered for sale;

5.

No consignment goods may be offered for sale;

6.

Directional signs may be placed on the street right-of-way;

7.

All directional and advertising signs shall be freestanding and removed after completion of the sale;

8.

All directional and advertising signs placed on private property shall have the owner's permission;

9.

No directional or advertising signs may be larger than two (2) feet by three (3) feet.

D.

Manufactured homes shall be permitted provided that the proposed manufactured home complies with the following requirements:

1.

The manufactured home shall be certified under the National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C.—Section 5401 et seq.);

2.

The manufactured home shall be installed on a permanent foundation system pursuant to Section 18551 of the California Health and Safety Code; and

3.

The manufactured home is no older than ten (10) years from the date application is made for an installation permit; and

4.

The manufactured home has a width greater than sixteen (16) feet; and

5.

The manufactured home complies with the following architectural requirements:

a.

A minimum three-twelfths (three (3) inches vertical to twelve (12) inches horizontal) roof pitch, and

b.

Shingles customarily utilized in the construction of conventional single-family dwellings, and

c.

A minimum one (1) foot eave around the entire perimeter of the manufactured home as measured from the vertical wall surface, and

d.

Nonreflective siding material customarily utilized in the construction of conventional single-family dwellings which shall extend to ground level, and

e.

Siding material utilized as skirting shall be the same in construction materials, composition and color as the siding material utilized on the exterior wall surface of the manufactured home;

6.

Manufactured homes or mobilehomes not meeting all of the installation and architectural requirements specified in this section shall be permitted only upon approval of a conditional use permit, pursuant to Chapter 19.104.

E.

Community gardens are permitted subject to the issuance of a permit as provided for in Section 19.102.070 of this title and subject to following the requirements:

1.

The lot or lots used for the garden are owned or leased by a property owner's association, homeowner's association, tenant's association, non-profit organization or public agency which has established an organizational entity and framework for administration of the garden.

2.

The organizational entity that administers the garden shall establish and enforce rules pertaining to the use of the property and rights of membership. A copy of the adopted rules shall be filed with the Kern County Planning and Community Development Department, together with name and contact information of an individual who oversees the program. The adopted rules shall contain provisions requiring the removal of all structures and materials in the event of the dissolution of the administering entity.

3.

A maximum of five (5) acres shall be used in conjunction with any community garden site established pursuant to this chapter. Larger garden sites may be accommodated through the conditional use permit provisions contained in Chapter 19.104 of this title.

4.

Each community garden site shall be posted with a sign not exceeding sixteen (16) square feet and not exceeding a height of six (6) feet that identifies the site as a community garden and provides essential contact information.

5.

No permanent buildings shall be permitted; however, temporary structures not exceeding one hundred twenty (120) square feet each may be placed on-site for the storage of tools, materials, and equipment used for on-site gardening, if authorized under the rules adopted by the organizational entity that administers the garden. The combined area of all such storage structures shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of the overall garden site area. Benches or picnic tables, composting bins, trash containers, garden art, and designated play areas for children may be provided for the benefit of community garden members, if provided for in the adopted rules governing the use of the site and rights of membership and if determined by the planning director to be clearly accessory and incidental to the community garden. Perimeter and individual plot fencing is permitted and shall not exceed a height of six (6) feet.

6.

The community garden shall be operated and maintained in such a manner so that irrigation water is retained on-site and there are no off-site erosion or sedimentation impacts.

7.

There shall be no on-site sales except for produce grown on-site. One (1) temporary produce stand not exceeding an area of six hundred (600) square feet may be permitted for each community garden site, if provided for in the adopted rules governing the use of the site and rights of membership and considered by the planning director pursuant to Section 19.102.070. Up to two (2) temporary on-site signs not exceeding a combined total of forty-eight (48) square feet to advertise the sale of produce may be authorized in conjunction with a request for a temporary produce stand, as determined by the planning director.

8.

The planning director may impose reasonable conditions in conjunction with approval of a community garden permit that are deemed necessary to safeguard public health, safety, and general welfare.

9.

If public complaints arise from the operations of a community garden authorized by this title or if any such garden creates nuisance impacts on surrounding roads or properties, the planning director may serve written notice upon the community garden property owner and the responsible organizational entity to abate the problem. If the problem continues beyond a reasonable time period as set forth in the planning director's written order, the planning director may schedule a public hearing pursuant to Sections 19.102.020 and 19.102.090 of this title. The planning director shall consider whether or not the community garden may continue to operate and may modify conditions or impose additional conditions deemed necessary to safeguard the public health, safety, and general welfare. If the planning director orders the closure of the community garden, all structures, material, and produce shall be removed from the site within sixty (60) days of the effective date of said order. Any decision of the planning director may be appealed to the board of supervisors, subject to payment of the required filing fee and the applicable provisions specified in Section 19.102.110 of this title.

F.

Development in the RF district shall also comply with the interpretations and provisions of Chapter 19.08 of this title.

(Ord. G-6077 § 185, 1994; Ord. G-5966 § 93, 1993; Ord. G-4916 § 13, 1989; Prior code § 7090.13)

(Ord. No. G-8226, §§ 67, 68, 11-8-11)