Santa Maria City Zoning Code

CHAPTER 12

5 RA RESIDENTIAL AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT

Section 12-5.01 Regulations designated.

The sections of this chapter constitute the regulations of the RA (residential agricultural) district.

(Prior Code § 10-71)

Section 12-5.02 Purpose.

The RA district is designed and intended for use in areas particularly suited for light agricultural activities and large suburban estates. Permitted uses are intended to encourage light agricultural pursuits and other uses required for or desired by the inhabitants of the community. An area so zoned may provide the land necessary to permit future low-density single-family residential development as the need arises, and for recreational and service facilities in conjunction therewith. Development standards are imposed to assure that such uses will be established and maintained so as to promote an orderly growth of the area.

(Prior Code § 10-71.1)

Section 12-5.03 Permitted uses.

The following uses shall be permitted in the RA district:

Dwellings, single-family, and accessory dwelling units;

Keeping of cattle, sheep, goats or horses on a lot or parcel of land having an area of not less than two acres; provided, that not more than two such animals per acre are permitted, including the supplementary feeding of such cattle, sheep, goats or horses; provided further, that such grazing is not a part of nor conducted in conjunction with any dairy, livestock feedyard, livestock sales yard or commercial riding academy located on the same premises. No buildings, structures, pens or corrals designed or intended to be used for the housing or concentrated feeding of such stock shall be used on the premises for such grazing other than racks for supplementary feeding, troughs for watering or incidental fencing;

Tree farming;

Home occupations subject to the home occupation regulations contained in Chapter 12-29 of this title.

Cottage food operations when in accordance with the requirements established in Chapter 12-29B of this title.

(Prior Code § 10-71.2; Ord. 90-1 § 2, eff. 3/8/90; Ord. 2014-04, eff. 8/14/2014; Ord. 2017-21, eff. 1/18/18)

Section 12-5.04 Conditional uses.

The following uses and those similar uses which the Planning Commission finds to fall within the intent and purpose of this zone, that will not be more obnoxious or detrimental to the public welfare, are found by the commission to be compatible with adjoining land uses, and which are of a comparable nature and of the same class enumerated for this zone, shall be permitted in the RA district subject to obtaining a conditional use permit according to the procedures set forth in Article 2 of Chapter 12-35 of this title:

Commercial raising of birds, chinchilla, mice, frogs, fish, earthworms and other similar animals of comparable nature, form and size including hatching, fattening, marketing and sale on a lot or parcel of land with an area of not less than five acres. Commercial raising of poultry, fowl or rabbits are not permitted uses in the RA district;

Communication equipment buildings, such as microwave stations;

Model homes erected on the same premises and used in conjunction with a new subdivision tract offered for sale for the first time, provided they are not used for sale of off-site realty;

Water reservoirs, dams, treatment plants, gauging stations, pumping stations, and any other use normal and appurtenant to the storage and distribution of water, except as otherwise permitted in Section 12-5.05;

An increase in pipeline capacity through the repair, maintenance, replacement or installation of new pipelines as defined in Section 12-2.113.1.

(Prior Code § 10-71.3; Ord. 86-32 § 2, eff. 2/19/87)

Section 12-5.05 Accessory uses.

Premises in the RA district may be used for accessory uses, provided such uses are established on the same lot or parcel of land, are incidental to, and do not substantially alter the character of any permitted principal use, including but not limited to:

Accessory buildings or structures other than for the housing, nurture or confinement of animals including but not limited to:

Private garages, carports and children's playhouses,

Toolhouses, lathhouses, greenhouses and storage buildings,

Windmills, silos, tank houses, buildings or shelters for farm equipment or machinery, water wells, water reservoirs and storage tanks;

Accessory buildings or structures required for the housing, nurture, confinement or storage of animals lawfully permitted or produced on the premises;

Building materials, storage of, used in the construction of building or building project, during construction and 30 days thereafter, including the contractor's temporary office, provided that any lot or parcel of land so used shall be a part of the building project or on property adjoining the construction site;

A caretaker's residence, where the legally established use requires the continuous supervision of a caretaker or superintendent, if occupied only by such caretaker and his family;

A guesthouse;

The keeping of household pets, aviaries and greenhouses for domestic or hobby uses.

(Prior Code § 10-71.4)

Section 12-5.06 Development standards.

Development, uses and structures in the RA district shall be subject to the development standards set out in the following sections of this chapter.

(Prior Code § 10-71.5)

Section 12-5.07 Building site.

Minimum building site required:

Required Area. Each lot or parcel of land in the RA district shall have a lot area of not less than 20,000 square feet when no number follows the zoning symbol on the zoning map. When a number follows the zoning symbol, each lot or parcel of land shall have a minimum lot area not less than the number following the zoning symbol. If such number is less than 100, it shall mean acres and if such number is more than 100 it shall mean square feet; provided, however, that no such lot or parcel of land shall have a minimum lot area of less than 20,000 square feet.

Lot Area per Dwelling Unit. The lot area per dwelling unit shall be the same as the lot area required in this zone.

Lot Width. Each lot or parcel of land in the RA district shall have a minimum lot width of not less than 100 feet.

(Prior Code § 10-71.5(a))

Section 12-5.08 Height.

No lot or parcel of land in the RA district shall have a building or structure used for dwelling purposes or public assembly, in excess of two stories or 25 feet in height, nor an accessory building in excess of 35 feet.

(Prior Code § 10-10.5(b))

Section 12-5.09 Setbacks.

Front Yard. Each lot or parcel of land in the RA district shall have a front yard of not less than 30 feet in depth.

Side Yard.

Each lot or parcel of land in the RA district shall have a side yard of not less than 10% of the width of the lot, but need not exceed 20 feet.

Accessory structures shall be located not closer than 20 feet to any side lot line.

Permitted structures for the housing of horses, cattle, sheep, goats or other animals shall be located no closer than 25 feet from side lot lines.

Rear Yard.

Primary structures, such as dwelling units shall be set back at least 45 feet from the rear lot line.

Accessory structures not used for housing of animals shall be set back at least 25 feet from the rear lot line, and in accordance with other requirements for this zone.

Every permitted structure for the housing of horses, cattle, sheep, goats or other animals shall be located on the rear half of the lot, but need not be located more than 100 feet from a front lot line. No structure for housing such animals shall be within 50 feet of any existing public building, park, school, street or highway, or building used for human habitation.

(Prior Code § 10-71.5(c))

Section 12-5.10 Parking.

For provisions on parking, see Chapter 12-32 of this title.

(Prior Code § 10-71.5(d))

Section 12-5.11 Signs.

For provisions on signs, see Chapter 12-34 of this title.

(Prior Code § 10-71.5(e))

Section 12-5.12 Entrada Plan.

Standards presented in the Entrada Specific Plan may apply to uses in certain locations, see Section 12-3.04 of this title.

(Prior Code § 10-71.5(f))

Section 12-5.13 Single-family architectural and aesthetic standards.

Architectural and aesthetics standards, single-family dwellings:

Roof overhang and pitch shall be equal to or compatible with roof overhangs and roof pitches in the neighborhood in which the home is to be located.

Roofing materials:

Roofing materials shall be limited to materials and textures determined by the Zoning Administrator to be compatible with the neighborhood in which the home is going to be located; i.e., tile, rock, asphalt shingles, wood shakes and shingles,

No shiny or reflective materials shall be permitted.

Siding materials:

Shall be limited to materials and textures determined by the Zoning Administrator to be compatible with the neighborhood in which the home is going to be located; i.e., stucco, wood, brick, stone or decorative concrete block, slumpstone or split-face block,

The exterior siding material shall extend to the ground,

No shiny or reflective materials shall be permitted.

(Prior Code § 10-71.5(g))

Section 12-5.14 Mobile homes: Surrender of registration.

The owner of a mobile home, on the same day the certificate of occupancy is issued, shall surrender to the City the certificate of ownership, license plates or decals, and other Department of Motor Vehicles registration indicia. If any of these items are not available, the owner shall submit to the City a "statement of facts" on Department of Motor Vehicles form reg. 256 indicating, under penalty of perjury, that these items are missing or lost (Section 18551 of the state Health and Safety Code).

When the mobile home is new and has never been registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles, the owner shall submit to the City a statement from the mobile home dealer selling the mobile home is new and has never been registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles of the state (Section 18551 of the state Health and Safety Code).

(Prior Code § 10-71.5(h))

Santa Maria City Zoning Code

CHAPTER 12

5 RA RESIDENTIAL AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT

Section 12-5.01 Regulations designated.

The sections of this chapter constitute the regulations of the RA (residential agricultural) district.

(Prior Code § 10-71)

Section 12-5.02 Purpose.

The RA district is designed and intended for use in areas particularly suited for light agricultural activities and large suburban estates. Permitted uses are intended to encourage light agricultural pursuits and other uses required for or desired by the inhabitants of the community. An area so zoned may provide the land necessary to permit future low-density single-family residential development as the need arises, and for recreational and service facilities in conjunction therewith. Development standards are imposed to assure that such uses will be established and maintained so as to promote an orderly growth of the area.

(Prior Code § 10-71.1)

Section 12-5.03 Permitted uses.

The following uses shall be permitted in the RA district:

Dwellings, single-family, and accessory dwelling units;

Keeping of cattle, sheep, goats or horses on a lot or parcel of land having an area of not less than two acres; provided, that not more than two such animals per acre are permitted, including the supplementary feeding of such cattle, sheep, goats or horses; provided further, that such grazing is not a part of nor conducted in conjunction with any dairy, livestock feedyard, livestock sales yard or commercial riding academy located on the same premises. No buildings, structures, pens or corrals designed or intended to be used for the housing or concentrated feeding of such stock shall be used on the premises for such grazing other than racks for supplementary feeding, troughs for watering or incidental fencing;

Tree farming;

Home occupations subject to the home occupation regulations contained in Chapter 12-29 of this title.

Cottage food operations when in accordance with the requirements established in Chapter 12-29B of this title.

(Prior Code § 10-71.2; Ord. 90-1 § 2, eff. 3/8/90; Ord. 2014-04, eff. 8/14/2014; Ord. 2017-21, eff. 1/18/18)

Section 12-5.04 Conditional uses.

The following uses and those similar uses which the Planning Commission finds to fall within the intent and purpose of this zone, that will not be more obnoxious or detrimental to the public welfare, are found by the commission to be compatible with adjoining land uses, and which are of a comparable nature and of the same class enumerated for this zone, shall be permitted in the RA district subject to obtaining a conditional use permit according to the procedures set forth in Article 2 of Chapter 12-35 of this title:

Commercial raising of birds, chinchilla, mice, frogs, fish, earthworms and other similar animals of comparable nature, form and size including hatching, fattening, marketing and sale on a lot or parcel of land with an area of not less than five acres. Commercial raising of poultry, fowl or rabbits are not permitted uses in the RA district;

Communication equipment buildings, such as microwave stations;

Model homes erected on the same premises and used in conjunction with a new subdivision tract offered for sale for the first time, provided they are not used for sale of off-site realty;

Water reservoirs, dams, treatment plants, gauging stations, pumping stations, and any other use normal and appurtenant to the storage and distribution of water, except as otherwise permitted in Section 12-5.05;

An increase in pipeline capacity through the repair, maintenance, replacement or installation of new pipelines as defined in Section 12-2.113.1.

(Prior Code § 10-71.3; Ord. 86-32 § 2, eff. 2/19/87)

Section 12-5.05 Accessory uses.

Premises in the RA district may be used for accessory uses, provided such uses are established on the same lot or parcel of land, are incidental to, and do not substantially alter the character of any permitted principal use, including but not limited to:

Accessory buildings or structures other than for the housing, nurture or confinement of animals including but not limited to:

Private garages, carports and children's playhouses,

Toolhouses, lathhouses, greenhouses and storage buildings,

Windmills, silos, tank houses, buildings or shelters for farm equipment or machinery, water wells, water reservoirs and storage tanks;

Accessory buildings or structures required for the housing, nurture, confinement or storage of animals lawfully permitted or produced on the premises;

Building materials, storage of, used in the construction of building or building project, during construction and 30 days thereafter, including the contractor's temporary office, provided that any lot or parcel of land so used shall be a part of the building project or on property adjoining the construction site;

A caretaker's residence, where the legally established use requires the continuous supervision of a caretaker or superintendent, if occupied only by such caretaker and his family;

A guesthouse;

The keeping of household pets, aviaries and greenhouses for domestic or hobby uses.

(Prior Code § 10-71.4)

Section 12-5.06 Development standards.

Development, uses and structures in the RA district shall be subject to the development standards set out in the following sections of this chapter.

(Prior Code § 10-71.5)

Section 12-5.07 Building site.

Minimum building site required:

Required Area. Each lot or parcel of land in the RA district shall have a lot area of not less than 20,000 square feet when no number follows the zoning symbol on the zoning map. When a number follows the zoning symbol, each lot or parcel of land shall have a minimum lot area not less than the number following the zoning symbol. If such number is less than 100, it shall mean acres and if such number is more than 100 it shall mean square feet; provided, however, that no such lot or parcel of land shall have a minimum lot area of less than 20,000 square feet.

Lot Area per Dwelling Unit. The lot area per dwelling unit shall be the same as the lot area required in this zone.

Lot Width. Each lot or parcel of land in the RA district shall have a minimum lot width of not less than 100 feet.

(Prior Code § 10-71.5(a))

Section 12-5.08 Height.

No lot or parcel of land in the RA district shall have a building or structure used for dwelling purposes or public assembly, in excess of two stories or 25 feet in height, nor an accessory building in excess of 35 feet.

(Prior Code § 10-10.5(b))

Section 12-5.09 Setbacks.

Front Yard. Each lot or parcel of land in the RA district shall have a front yard of not less than 30 feet in depth.

Side Yard.

Each lot or parcel of land in the RA district shall have a side yard of not less than 10% of the width of the lot, but need not exceed 20 feet.

Accessory structures shall be located not closer than 20 feet to any side lot line.

Permitted structures for the housing of horses, cattle, sheep, goats or other animals shall be located no closer than 25 feet from side lot lines.

Rear Yard.

Primary structures, such as dwelling units shall be set back at least 45 feet from the rear lot line.

Accessory structures not used for housing of animals shall be set back at least 25 feet from the rear lot line, and in accordance with other requirements for this zone.

Every permitted structure for the housing of horses, cattle, sheep, goats or other animals shall be located on the rear half of the lot, but need not be located more than 100 feet from a front lot line. No structure for housing such animals shall be within 50 feet of any existing public building, park, school, street or highway, or building used for human habitation.

(Prior Code § 10-71.5(c))

Section 12-5.10 Parking.

For provisions on parking, see Chapter 12-32 of this title.

(Prior Code § 10-71.5(d))

Section 12-5.11 Signs.

For provisions on signs, see Chapter 12-34 of this title.

(Prior Code § 10-71.5(e))

Section 12-5.12 Entrada Plan.

Standards presented in the Entrada Specific Plan may apply to uses in certain locations, see Section 12-3.04 of this title.

(Prior Code § 10-71.5(f))

Section 12-5.13 Single-family architectural and aesthetic standards.

Architectural and aesthetics standards, single-family dwellings:

Roof overhang and pitch shall be equal to or compatible with roof overhangs and roof pitches in the neighborhood in which the home is to be located.

Roofing materials:

Roofing materials shall be limited to materials and textures determined by the Zoning Administrator to be compatible with the neighborhood in which the home is going to be located; i.e., tile, rock, asphalt shingles, wood shakes and shingles,

No shiny or reflective materials shall be permitted.

Siding materials:

Shall be limited to materials and textures determined by the Zoning Administrator to be compatible with the neighborhood in which the home is going to be located; i.e., stucco, wood, brick, stone or decorative concrete block, slumpstone or split-face block,

The exterior siding material shall extend to the ground,

No shiny or reflective materials shall be permitted.

(Prior Code § 10-71.5(g))

Section 12-5.14 Mobile homes: Surrender of registration.

The owner of a mobile home, on the same day the certificate of occupancy is issued, shall surrender to the City the certificate of ownership, license plates or decals, and other Department of Motor Vehicles registration indicia. If any of these items are not available, the owner shall submit to the City a "statement of facts" on Department of Motor Vehicles form reg. 256 indicating, under penalty of perjury, that these items are missing or lost (Section 18551 of the state Health and Safety Code).

When the mobile home is new and has never been registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles, the owner shall submit to the City a statement from the mobile home dealer selling the mobile home is new and has never been registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles of the state (Section 18551 of the state Health and Safety Code).

(Prior Code § 10-71.5(h))