Solano County Municipal Code § 28.31 Rural Residential (R-R) Districts

This Section includes regulations for the RR-2.5, RR-5 and RR-10 zoning districts.

This Section lists the uses of land that may be allowed within rural residential areas of the County represented by the Rural Residential (R-R) zoning districts. It also determines the type of land use approval required for each use within each district, and provides general standards for site development.

Rural Residential zoning is applied to areas appropriate for rural, low density, single-family homes, where agriculture is not the sole land use and commercial agricultural production capability is low, where self-sufficiency and privacy are desirable and only minimal essential public services and facilities are available. Homesites are to be self-sufficient, with individual wells and individual septic systems. Water may be supplied by a public water system, operated by a public agency, in areas where water from individual wells may be of marginal quantity or quality. Rural Residential is to be applied in a manner that preserves rural character and scenic qualities and protects sensitive resources including agricultural lands, creeks, native trees, open spaces and views. Rural Residential zoning shall not be applied to agricultural lands, or to areas with a high risk of wild fires, landslides, or flooding. Rural Residential zoning is consistent with and implements the Rural Residential land use designation of the General Plan. The three Rural Residential zoning districts are differentiated primarily by density classifications that correspond to potential agricultural productivity and the types of public services required for each district, as follows:

A. Allowed Uses and Permit Requirements:

Table 28-31A identifies the land uses allowed by this Zoning Ordinance in each rural residential district and the land use permit required to establish each use. In addition to the land use permit required by Table 28-31A, special requirements may apply to certain uses.

B. Architectural Review:

Architectural Approval may be required for certain uses in compliance with Section 28.102 (Architectural Approval).

C. Building Permits:

A building permit shall be required prior to any construction.

D. Special Use Regulations:

Where the last column in Table 28.31A (“Land Use Regulations”) includes a section number, e.g. 28.70.10, the zoning regulations in the referenced section apply to the use. Where the last column includes a chapter number, e.g. Chapter 13.6, the regulations in the referenced Solano County Code apply to the use. Provisions in other sections of this Zoning Ordinance may also apply.

TABLE 28.31A TABLE OF ALLOWED USES

A = Allowed by right, AP = Administrative Permit, MUP = Minor Use Permit, UP = Use Permit, E = Exempt, - - - = Prohibited

Notes:

(1) Residential accessory building:

a) Does not include a guest house.

b) May not be established prior to construction or installation of a primary dwelling on the same property.

(2) Use permit approval is required by the Zoning Administrator only, unless otherwise referred to the Planning Commission by the Zoning Administrator. Aggregate square footage shall include all accessory buildings, except as follows:

a) Any structure used for the keeping of animals, such as a stable or corral, or for crop storage, which is unenclosed with an open side and no flooring, shall not require a use permit and shall not be counted as part of the aggregate total for accessory buildings.

b) Any structure 120 square feet in size or less and exempt from the permit requirements of County Building Code shall not be counted as part of the aggregate total for accessory buildings.

(3) Allowed only when the primary dwelling is under construction, and the temporary dwelling is installed on a temporary foundation.

(4) These land uses are subject to the same restrictions on residential uses contained in the same type of structure.

(Ord. No. 1757, §3 (Exh. A); Ord. No. 1764, §6 (Exh. D); Ord. No. 1788, §2 (Att. A); Ord. No. 1794, §6; Ord. No. 1798, §4; Ord. No. 1817, §9; Ord. No. 1821, §5; Ord. No. 1840, §12; Ord. No. 1845, §§19, 20; Ord. No. 1860, §5; Ord. No. 1864, §5; Ord. No. 1867, §4)

A. General site and building standards. Subdivisions, new land uses, main buildings inclusive of primary dwellings, accessory dwelling units, and alterations to existing land uses and buildings shall be designed, constructed, and/or established in compliance with the applicable development standards delineated or referenced in Table 28.23B.

TABLE 28.31 B Development Standards for Main Building (1) and Accessory Dwelling Unit

Notes:

(1) In any R District, the primary dwelling shall be deemed the main building on the building site.

(2) The following may be used to determine acceptable lot area:

a) The actual number of lots allowed is determined through the applicable subdivision process, based on specific site characteristics and potential environmental impacts, and there is no guarantee that the maximum possible number may be achieved.

b) The area bounded by the centerline of the right-of-way on which the lot fronts, and the lot sidelines extended to such right-of-way centerline may be included in the computation of the minimum lot area requirement.

c) Reduced lot area may be allowed for specific uses with a use permit, see Section 28.92(C)(6).

(3) For flag lot requirements, see Subdivision Ordinance Section 26-72.2. The required minimum lot frontage for a flag lot shall be measured along the access strip frontage, and no flag lot shall have an access strip less than 30 feet or more than 40 feet in width at any point.

(4) Other setbacks may be required for specific uses listed in Table 28-31A, as referenced.

(5) Other separation between structures may be required by County Building Code.

B. Accessory buildings and structures. New accessory buildings and other structures, including alterations to existing accessory buildings and other structures, shall be designed, constructed, and/or established in compliance with the applicable development standards in Table 28-23C.

TABLE 28-31 C Development Standards for Accessory Buildings(1)

Notes:

(1) Does not include an accessory dwelling unit as defined in Section 28.01.

(2) Other setbacks may be required for specific uses listed in Table 28-31A, as referenced.

(3) Reserved.

(4) Other separation between structures may be required by County Building Code.

(Ord. No. 1793, §2; Ord. No. 1817, §§10 – 12; Ord. No. 1840, §§13, 14)