The purpose of this Chapter is to provide a district to allow development in the more remote and mountainous areas in the County of Monterey while protecting the significant and substantial resources of those areas. Of specific concern are the highly sensitive resources inherent in such areas such as viewshed, watershed, plant and wildlife habitat, streams and riparian corridors. The purpose of this Chapter is to be carried out by allowing only such development that can be achieved without adverse effect and which will be subordinate to the resources of the particular site and area.

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

A.

One single family dwelling per lot;

B.

Guesthouses meeting the development standards of Section 21.64.020;

C.

The keeping of pets;

D.

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

E.

Non-habitable accessory structures and accessory uses to any permitted use;

F.

Cultivation, cutting or removal of Christmas trees;

G.

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

H.

Small family day care facilities;

I.

Small residential care facility;

J.

Animal husbandry and small livestock farming, on lots less than ten (10) acres provided not more than one horse, mule, cow, steer or similar livestock may be kept for each twenty thousand (20,000) square feet of land area;

K.

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;

L.

On lots of ten (10) acres or more, except for those uses requiring an Administrative Permit or Use Permit, all soil dependent agricultural uses including crop and tree farming, livestock farming, greenhouses and vineyards;

M.

Home occupations, pursuant to Section 21.64.090;

N.

Stands for the sale of agricultural products grown on the premises having no permanent electricity, plumbing or paving where adequate restroom facilities exist on premises, subject to the approval of the Director of Environmental Health;

O.

Farm shops;

P.

Hunting and fishing;

Q.

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

R.

Intermittent livestock farming or animal husbandry such as "4-H" projects;

S.

Supportive housing contained within the housing types of this section;

T.

Transitional housing or transitional housing development contained within the housing types of this section;

U.

Employee housing providing accommodations for up to six (6) employees.

V.

Homestays, pursuant to Section 21.64.290;

W.

Limited vacation rentals, pursuant to Section 21.64.290.

(Ord. No. 5177, § 44, 5-24-2011; Ord. No. 5422, §§ 36, 37, 8-27-2024)

A.

[Reserved];

B.

[Reserved];

C.

Second residential unit meeting the density limit of the district;

D.

[Reserved];

E.

Small water system facilities and systems of five (5) to fourteen (14) services;

F.

Stands for the sale of agricultural products grown on the premises having permanent electricity, plumbing or paving;

G.

[Reserved];

H.

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

I.

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

J.

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

K.

Supportive housing contained within the housing types of this section;

L.

Transitional housing or transitional housing development contained within the housing types of this section.

(Ord. No. 5177, § 45, 5-24-2011; Ord. No. 5341, § 6, 9-15-2020)

A.

Additional residential units to a maximum of four (4) units per lot not exceeding the zoning density of the property;

B.

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

C.

Commercial kennel (ZA);

D.

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

E.

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

F.

Commercial and noncommercial wind energy conversion systems;

G.

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

H.

Ridgeline development;

I.

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);

J.

Agricultural support facilities (ZA);

K.

Country clubs;

L.

Keeping and raising of mink (ZA);

M.

Removal of minerals, or natural materials for commercial purposes;

N.

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

O.

Accessory structures and uses prior to establishment of main use or structure (ZA);

P.

Golf courses;

Q.

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

R.

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

S.

Sale of hay and grain not grown on the premises on a minimum of five (5) acres (ZA);

T.

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

U.

Large family day care homes (ZA);

V.

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

W.

Hunting and fishing facilities (ZA);

X.

Public or private rifle and pistol ranges, trap or skeet fields, archery ranges or other similar uses (ZA);

Y.

Public or private riding or hiking clubs with accessory structures and trails developed for such use (ZA);

Z.

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

AA.

Repealed;

BB.

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;

CC.

Bed and breakfast facility, pursuant to Section 21.64.100;

DD.

Cottage industries, pursuant to Section 21.64.095 (ZA);

EE.

Non-soil dependent nurseries and greenhouses;

FF.

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

GG.

Wireless communications facilities, pursuant to Section 21.64.310;

HH.

Supportive housing contained within the housing types of this section;

II.

Transitional housing or transitional housing development contained within the housing types of this section.

JJ.

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

(Ord. No. 5177, § 46, 5-24-2011; Ord. 3938, 1997)

(Ord. No. 5422, § 38, 8-27-2024)

A.

Minimum Building Site. The minimum building site shall be ten (10) acres unless otherwise approved as part of a clustered residential development.

B.

Development Density, Maximum. The maximum development density allowed shall not exceed the acres/unit shown for the specific "RC" District on the adopted zoning map (e.g. "RC/10" means an "RC" District with a maximum gross density of one unit/10 acres).

C.

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., "RC/10(24′)" would limit structure height to twenty-four (24) feet), setback requirements when combined with a "B" District or setbacks shown on a recorded final or parcel map, or setback lines on a Sectional District Map.

In a subdivision where a lot or lots have a designated building envelope, the dwelling unit and accessory structures shall be located wholly within the building envelope. Non-habitable accessory structures such as a garages, workshops and storage buildings may be located outside the building envelope, subject to a use permit (ZA) in each case.

1.

Main Structures.

a.

Minimum Setbacks.

Front: thirty (30) feet;

Side: twenty (20) feet;

Rear: twenty (20) feet.

b.

Height. Maximum Height: thirty (30)feet.

2.

Accessory Structures (Habitable).

a.

Minimum Setbacks.

Front: fifty (50) feet;

Side: six feet;

Rear: six feet.

b.

Height.

Maximum Height: fifteen (15) feet

3.

Accessory Structures (Non-habitable).

a.

Minimum Setbacks.

Front: fifty (50) feet;

Side: six feet on front one-half of property;

one foot on rear one-half of property.

Rear: one foot.

b.

Height. Maximum Height: thirty-five (35) feet.

4.

Accessory structures used as barns, stables or farm outbuildings shall not be less than fifty (50) feet from the front of the property or twenty (20) feet from the side or rear property line or twenty (20) feet from any residence on the property.

D.

Minimum Distance Between Structures.

Main Structures: twenty (20) feet;

Accessory/Main Structure: ten (10) feet;

Accessory/Accessory: six feet.

E.

Building Site Coverage, Maximum: twenty-five (25) percent.

F.

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

G.

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

H.

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.

I.

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

(Ord. No. 5262, § 16, 1-26-2016)

A.

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.

B.

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, industrial or tourist oriented development which will employ fifty (50) or more persons; or

c.

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