The purpose of this Chapter is to provide a district to preserve and enhance the use of the prime, productive and unique farmlands in the County of Monterey while also providing opportunity to establish necessary support facilities for those agricultural uses.

The regulations of this Chapter shall apply in all "F" Districts subject to Chapter 21.62 (Height and Setback Exceptions) and Section 21.66.030 of this Title.

A.

Except for those uses requiring an Administrative Permit or Use Permit, all soil dependent agricultural uses, including crop and tree farming, dry land farming, livestock farming, greenhouses and vineyards;

B.

Single family dwellings accessory to the agricultural use of the property, not exceeding three (3) in total, for an owner, operator or employees employed on-site;

C.

All non-habitable accessory structures such as barns, stables, storage structures, and farm shops;

D.

Guesthouses meeting the development standards of Section 21.64.020;

E.

Cultivation, cutting and removal of Christmas trees;

F.

Temporary residence, pursuant to Section 21.64.070, used as living quarters during the construction of the first dwelling on a lot;

G.

Small family day care home;

H.

Small residential care facility, subject to the same standards as a single family dwelling;

I.

Water system facilities including wells and storage tanks serving four (4) or fewer service connections, pursuant to Chapter 15.04, Monterey County Code, and replacement of water tanks and wells where no increase in service connections is created. Service connections do not include livestock watering facilities;

J.

Rooming and boarding of not more than two (2) persons;

K.

Hunting and fishing;

L.

Reserved;

M.

Stands for the sale of agricultural products grown on the premises having no permanent electricity, plumbing or paving;

N.

Home occupations, pursuant to Section 21.64.090;

O.

The keeping of pets;

P.

Other uses of a similar character, density and intensity to those listed in this section;

Q.

Agricultural employee housing consisting of not more than thirty-six (36) beds in a group quarters or twelve (12) units or spaces designed for use by a single family or household.

R.

Homestays, pursuant to Section 21.64.290;

S.

Limited vacation rentals, pursuant to Section 21.64.290.

(Ord. No. 5177, § 35, 5-24-2011; Ord. No. 5422, §§ 27, 28, 8-27-2024)

A.

Repealed;

B.

Small water system facilities including wells and storage tanks of five (5) to fourteen (14) service connections;

C.

Stands for the sale of agricultural products grown on the premises having permanent electricity, plumbing or paving where adequate restroom facilities exist on premises, subject to the approval of the Director of Environmental Health;

D.

Other uses of a similar character, density and intensity to those listed in this section;

E.

Repealed;

F.

Reduction in setback requirements for main structures, provided the proposed reduction is ten (10) percent or less of the required setback;

G.

Reduction in setback requirements for accessory structures, provided the proposed reduction is eighty (80) percent or less of the proposed setback;

H.

Additions to existing approved wireless communications facilities, pursuant to Section 21.64.310.

I.

Indoor, mixed-light, or nursery cannabis cultivation pursuant to Chapter 21.67;

J.

Non-volatile cannabis manufacturing pursuant to Chapter 21.67.

(Ord. No. 5177, § 36, 5-24-2011; Ord. No. 5306, § 16, 11-6-2018)

A.

Conversion of uncultivated land to cultivated agricultural use on land with fifteen (15) percent—twenty-five (25) percent slopes (North County Area Plan, Central Salinas Valley Plan, Cachagua Area Plan, only);

B.

Public and quasi-public uses including churches, parks, playgrounds, schools, public safety facilities, schools, public utilities, but not including uses such as jails, detention facilities, rehabilitation centers or corporation yards;

C.

Legal nonconforming use of a portion of a structure extended throughout the structure (ZA);

D.

Legal nonconforming use changed to a use of a similar or more restricted nature;

E.

Commercial and noncommercial wind energy conversion systems;

F.

Development in Carmel Valley Floodplain, pursuant to Section 21.64.130 (ZA);

G.

Genetic engineering experiments, pursuant to Section 21.64.140;

H.

Ridgeline development;

I.

Agricultural support facilities (ZA);

J.

Large family day care facilities (ZA);

K.

Water system facilities including wells and storage tanks serving fifteen (15) or more service connections (ZA);

L.

Removal of minerals or natural materials for commercial purposes;

M.

Assemblages of people, such as carnivals, festivals, races and circuses, not exceeding ten (10) days, and not involving construction of permanent facilities (ZA);

N.

Agricultural processing plants (ZA);

O.

Frog farms (ZA);

P.

Commercial hog and turkey raising on a minimum of ten (10) acres (ZA);

Q.

Livestock feed yards on a minimum of twenty (20) acres (ZA);

R.

Animal sales yards on a minimum of ten (10) acres (ZA);

S.

Dairies on a minimum of forty (40) acres (ZA);

T.

Airports, heliports or landing strips for aircraft;

U.

Animal hospitals (ZA);

V.

Poultry farms on a minimum of five (5) acres (ZA);

W.

Other uses of a similar character, density and intensity to those uses listed in this section;

X.

Zoos or zoological gardens for the purpose of raising, maintaining, keeping or exhibiting any wild animal;

Y.

Commercial kennel (ZA);

Z.

Repealed;

AA.

Agricultural employee housing consisting of thirty-seven (37) or more beds in a group quarters or thirteen (13) or more units or spaces designed for use by a single family or household;

BB.

Bed and breakfast facility, pursuant to Section 21.64.100;

CC.

Cottage industries, pursuant to Section 21.64.095 (ZA);

DD.

Non-soil dependent greenhouses and nurseries (ZA);

EE.

The exploration for and the removal of oil and gas (ZA);

FF.

The division of property to create a one acre minimum lot to accommodate housing for members of the immediate family of the property owner who earn their livelihood from the agricultural use of the family land immediately contiguous to the lot being created by the subdivision.

GG.

Agricultural employee parking facilities (ZA);

HH.

Farm equipment storage facilities (ZA);

II.

Wireless communications facilities, pursuant to Section 21.64.310.

JJ.

Commercial vacation rentals, pursuant to Section 21.64.290 (ZA).

(Ord. 3938, 1997)

(Ord. No. 5177, § 37, 5-24-2011; Ord. No. 5270, § 15, 7-12-2016; Ord. No. 5292, § 15, 12-5-2017; Ord. No. 5306, § 17, 11-6-2018; Ord. No. 5422, § 29, 8-27-2024)

A.

Minimum Building Site. The minimum building site is forty (40) acres unless otherwise shown on the Sectional District Map (e.g. "F/160" would mean a minimum building site of one hundred sixty (160) acres).

B.

Structure Height and Setback Regulations. The following structure height and setback regulations apply unless superseded by a structure height limit noted on the zoning map (e.g. "F/40 (24)" would mean a structure height limit of twenty-four (24) feet), setback requirements when combined with a "B" District or setbacks shown on a recorded final or parcel maps, or setback lines on a Sectional District Map.

1.

Main Structures.

a.

Minimum Setbacks.

Front: thirty (30) feet;

Side: twenty (20) feet;

Rear: twenty (20) feet.

Maximum Height: thirty-five (35) feet.

2.

Accessory Structures (Habitable).

a.

Minimum Setbacks.

Front: fifty (50) feet;

Side: six feet;

Rear: six feet.

Maximum Height: thirty-five (35) feet.

3.

Accessory Structures (Non-habitable).

a.

Minimum Setbacks.

Front: fifty (50) feet

Side: six feet;

Rear: six feet.

Maximum Height: thirty-five (35) feet.

4.

Wells, Pumps, Pump Houses and Associated Facilities.

a.

Minimum Setbacks.

Front: five feet;

Side: five feet;

Rear: five feet.

Maximum Height: thirty-five (35) feet.

b.

Agricultural windmills and wind machines for crop protection are exempt from the height provisions of this Chapter.

C.

Minimum Distance Between Structures.

Main Structures: ten (10) feet;

Accessory/Main Structure: six feet;

Accessory/Accessory: six feet.

D.

Building Site Coverage, Maximum. five percent, except for commercial greenhouse operations, which are permitted a coverage of fifty (50) percent. Additional coverage for greenhouses may be permitted subject to a Use Permit. All other additions to coverage shall require a variance.

E.

Parking Regulations. All parking shall be established pursuant to Chapter 21.58.

F.

Landscaping Requirements. None, except as required as a condition of approval of an Administrative Permit or Use Permit.

G.

Lighting Requirements.

1.

For any new development that includes exterior lighting, all exterior lighting shall be consistent with the Design Guidelines for Exterior Lighting adopted by the Board of Supervisors pursuant to Section 21.63.020, unless exempt under Section 21.63.020.D.

2.

Review by the Director of Planning of all exterior lighting associated with any construction permit for consistency with the Design Guidelines for Exterior Lighting and approval by the Director of Planning are required prior to issuance of the construction permit.

3.

Applications for construction permits which are subject to these lighting regulations must include the following information:

a.

Plans indicating the location of each light fixture; and

b.

Manufacturer's catalog specification sheet for each type of fixture.

c.

The Director of Planning may waive these submittal requirements or request additional information, as deemed necessary on a project by project basis.

H.

Sign Regulations. Signing for all development shall be established pursuant to Chapter 21.60.

(Ord. No. 5262, § 13, 1-26-2016)

A.

In areas designated as "special treatment" to permit on-site soil dependent agricultural operations such as greenhouses, the minimum parcel size shall be ten (10) acres. Subdivision of land in this area shall be approved only under the following conditions:

1.

That the residential development rights on lots formed through subdivision approval be dedicated by means of an agricultural conservation easement to the County or a qualified organization such as that specified in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code;

2.

That a drainage management plan to mitigate run-off to adjoining farmlands has been prepared for the entire special treatment area;

3.

That appurtenant structures such as processing, packaging supply, and boiler sheds will have concrete foundations no thicker than four inches and will be no larger than four thousand (4,000) square feet;

4.

That the allowance of one mobilehome will be only for a caretaker or security personnel and not for other residential purposes;

5.

That no uses other than agriculture will be allowed on subdivided lots.

B.

Manufactured dwelling units meeting the standards of Section 21.64.040 are permitted subject to the requirements of any conventional dwelling unit in this Chapter.

C.

The division of property to create a one acre minimum lot may be considered if the division is to accommodate housing for members of the immediate family of the property owner who earn a substantial portion of their livelihood from the agricultural use of the family land contiguous to the lot being created by the subdivision. The subdivision shall be conditioned to allow for the exclusive occupancy by immediate family members and spouses and shall require the lot to be an accessory use to the subdivided property or to adjoining property. The residence must be accessory to the agricultural use of the properties and be occupied exclusively by immediate family members and spouses of the owners or lessors.

D.

The following types of development are subject to Section 21.64.250 (Regulations for the Reduction of Vehicle Trips) of this Title:

a.

Any residential development of twenty-five (25) or more units; or

b.

Any new or expanded commercial or industrial development which will employ fifty (50) or more persons; or

c.

Any new or expanded commercial or industrial development of twenty-five thousand (25,000) gross square feet or more.