Article I General Provisions

Article I
General Provisions

28.01 Definitions

For the purposes of this Chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this Section:

Accessory building. A subordinate building or structure located on the same lot, the use of which is customarily incidental to that of the main building or to the principal use of the land.

Agricultural accessory building. A building, greenhouse, or other structure that is utilized in conjunction with the use of the property for commercial crop production or grazing, including the storage of agricultural products and supplies and equipment used in agricultural operations. Buildings used for other purposes, such as dwellings or residential accessory buildings, employee housing, stables, dairies or other confined animal facilities, and agricultural processing facilities are not agricultural accessory buildings.

Residential accessory building. A detached building accessory to a single-family dwelling. Examples include a detached garage, a storage shed, a guest house, and a pool house. In any R District, an accessory building other than a greenhouse on a lot that has a dwelling is classified as a residential accessory building even if the accessory building is used in conjunction with the use of the property for commercial crop production or grazing. A residential accessory building does not include a secondary dwelling or accessory dwelling unit.

Accessory use. A subordinate use which is customarily incidental to that of the main building or principal use of the land and which is located on the same lot with the main building or principal use.

Agricultural education. The provision of information, knowledge and skills pertaining to agriculture conducted concurrently with the production of agricultural crops and is accessory to the primary agricultural use of the property. Examples include demonstration gardens and interactive seminars that model best practices in farm and ranch management and resource conservation.

Agricultural education, minor facility. An agricultural education activity or event that occurs on an existing farm and does not require the construction of new permanent buildings or facilities and does not require a Building Permit for a change of occupancy of any existing buildings or structures. An agricultural education, minor facility, may include the use of temporary structures, such as portable sanitation and temporary food service facilities.

Agricultural education, major facility. Any agricultural education activity or event that occurs on an existing farm that requires the construction of new buildings or facilities, or requires a Building Permit for a change of occupancy of any existing buildings or structures.

Agricultural homestay. A dwelling, occupied by a resident family and located on and part of a farm that produces agricultural products as the family’s primary source of income, in which two or more guest rooms are offered or used for transient occupancy, with or without meals.

Agricultural processing facility. A fixed establishment performing any processing or packaging of crops after harvest, whether or not value is added, to prepare them for market on site or for further processing and packaging elsewhere, including but not limited to: alfalfa and hay cubing; corn shelling; drying of corn, rice, hay, fruits or vegetables; pre-cooling and packaging of fresh or farm-dried fruits and vegetables; grain cleaning and custom grinding; custom grist mills; custom milling of flour, feed and grain; sorting, grading and packing of fruits and vegetables; canning, freezing, slicing, juicing, or preserving fruits and vegetables; tree nut hulling and shelling; and breweries, distilleries, and alcohol fuel production. Does not include activities performed in the field with mobile equipment not involving permanent buildings; such field-processing activities are included under “Crop production.” Includes related accessory uses such as: offices and laboratories, tasting facilities with retail sales of agricultural products processed on the premises or off site by the operator and retail sales of agriculture-related promotional and/or educational items, and facility tours. Does not include wineries, slaughterhouses, or other agricultural processing operations separately defined and regulated in this chapter. Does not include sorting and packing activities conducted within a permitted roadside stand.

Agricultural processing facility, small. An agricultural processing facility which contains less than 20,000 square feet of covered and uncovered processing area and which does not include tasting facilities or retail sales.

Agricultural processing facility, medium. An agricultural processing facility, other than a small agricultural processing facility, which contains less than 40,000 square feet of covered and uncovered processing area.

Agricultural processing facility, large. An agricultural processing facility which contains more than 40,000 square feet of covered and uncovered processing area, or a brewery or distillery of any size.

Agricultural Recycling and Composting. The composting or recycling of agricultural organic materials produced on-site or off-site, including animal manures, vegetation, and food processing by-products, for beneficial off-site agricultural use.

Agricultural research facility. An establishment engaged in the study, testing, design, analysis, experimental development, demonstration, teaching, or training of products, processes, equipment, techniques, or services related to commercial agriculture. Includes facilities for the research or demonstration of agricultural processing equipment, methods, and operations used to convert raw agricultural products into food, fiber, medicine, or other commercial products, but does not include facilities used primarily for commercial production.

Agricultural research facility, small. An agricultural research facility that has less than 20,000 square feet of buildings or other structures.

Agricultural research facility, medium. An agricultural research facility that has between 20,000 and 40,000 square feet of buildings or other structures.

Agricultural research facility, large. An agricultural research facility that is more than 40,000 square feet of buildings or other structures.

Agricultural trucking services and facilities. A trucking or hauling operation that receives more than 50% of its total gross income in a 12-month period from hauling unfinished agricultural products for processing purposes.

Agricultural trucking services and facilities, small. An agricultural trucking facility that operates five or fewer trucks, and where the operator resides on the property.

Agricultural trucking services and facilities, medium. An agricultural trucking facility that operates between six and 10 trucks, and where the operator resides on the property.

Agricultural trucking services and facilities, large. An agricultural trucking facility which operates more than 11 trucks, or which operates any number of trucks and where the operator does not reside on the property.

Agricultural Warehousing and Storage. A building or structure, or portion thereof, used for the storage of agricultural products that are to be sold or distributed by someone other than the person producing the products. No retail sales are permitted on the premises.

Agriculture. The art or science of cultivating the ground, including harvesting of crops and rearing and management of livestock; tillage, husbandry, farming, horticulture and forestry; the science and art of the production of plants and animals useful to humans.

Agritourism. Commercial activities conducted at a working farm or ranch by the property owner, or on other agriculturally zoned property as permitted by this chapter, for the enjoyment of visitors to the agricultural region in which the property is located, such as outdoor recreation, educational experiences or tours, direct agricultural sales, lodging and accommodations, or entertainment. Does not include an amusement facility as defined in this section.

Agritourism event. An agritourism activity operated only as a temporary use, open to the public for not more than one season, and which does not involve the construction of new permanent structures. Any consecutive or recurrent use of the same parcel for agritourism events shall be regulated as an agritourism facility or other use specifically listed in the table of allowed agritourism uses for the agricultural zoning district in which the property is located.

Agritourism Facility. An agritourism enterprise, not specifically listed in the table of allowed agritourism uses for the agricultural zoning district in which the property is located, conducted on a working farm or ranch by the property owner that is incidental to, and compatible with, commercial agricultural operations on the property and in the vicinity.

Alley. A passage or way open to public travel, affording a secondary means of vehicular access to abutting lots, and not intended for general traffic circulation.

Amusement Facilities. Bowling alley, billiard parlor, dance hall, skating rink, athletic club, gymnasium, swimming pool, theater, shooting gallery; facility for coin-operated amusement devices; auditorium, exhibition hall, sports arena, miniature golf course, amusement rides, indoor court games, drive-in theater; course for model airplanes, boats, cars or trains, and similar types of uses.

Animal Hospital or Veterinary Clinic. A facility maintained by or for the use of a licensed veterinarian in the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of animal diseases, and where the animals are not boarded or kept overnight except as necessary in the medical treatment of the animal.

Animal Hospital or Veterinary Clinic, large animal. An animal hospital or veterinary clinic primarily for large animals (horses, cattle, sheep, lambs, etc.).

Animal, small. Chicken, turkey, rabbit, duck, mink, hamster, chinchilla, pot belly pig or other animals of similar nature.

Animal units. The sum total of the units assigned to various animals pursuant to the table below:

Type of Animal	Units per Animal
Mature cattle, horses or animals of similar size	1.00
Yearling cattle, horses or animals of similar size	.75
Calves, colts or animals of similar size	.40
Hogs more than 90 days old	1.00
Two or more litters of hogs	.50 per hog
One litter of hogs	None
Mature sheep, goats or animals of similar size	.20
Lambs, kids or animals of similar size	.15

Aquaculture. The propagation, cultivation, maintenance, and harvesting of aquatic plants and animals in marine, brackish, and fresh water, not including aquariums or ponds for pets or landscaping purposes.

Aquaculture Facility, small. An aquaculture facility, including all support and incidental facilities, using less than 10 acres of land.

Aquaculture Facility, medium. An aquaculture facility, including all support and incidental facilities, using between 10 and 50 acres of land.

Aquaculture Facility, large. An aquaculture facility, including all support and incidental facilities, using more than 50 acres of land.

Automobile parking lot. Premises on which operable and duly licensed automobiles are parked by their individual owners for a period not to exceed seventy-two hours.

Bed and Breakfasts Inn. A dwelling, occupied by a resident family, in which two or more guest rooms are offered or used for transient occupancy, with or without meals.

Block. That property abutting on one side of a street and lying between the two nearest intersecting or intercepting streets, or nearest intersecting or intercepting streets and railroad right-of-way, unsubdivided acreage, watercourse or body of water.

Building. Any structure used or intended for supporting or sheltering any use or occupancy.

Building, accessory. A subordinate building located on the same lot, the use of which is customarily incidental to that of the main building or to the principal use of the land.

Building, height. Average height above the finished grade of the highest part of the building.

Building, main. A building in which is conducted the principal use of the building site on which it is situated. In any residential district, the primary dwelling shall be deemed to be a main building on the building site.

Building site. The ground area of building or buildings, exclusive of the street, together with all open space required by this Chapter and having its principal frontage on a street.

Camp grounds. Land or premises which is used or intended to be used, let, or rented for occupancy by campers traveling by automobile or otherwise, or for temporary occupancy by tents or similar quarters.

Cattery. Any enclosure, premises, building structure, lot, area or ownership where twelve (12) or more cats are kept, harbored or maintained.

Cattery, large. A cattery which contains more than 24 cats.

Cattery, small. A cattery as which contains between 12 and 24 cats.

Certified Farmers Market. A farmers market approved by the County agricultural commissioner, where certified farmers offer for sale only those certified agricultural products they grow themselves.

Certified Farmers Market, small. A certified farmers market with nine or fewer vendors.

Certified Farmers Market, medium. A certified farmers market with between 10 and 20 vendors.

Certified Farmers Market, large. A certified farmers market with more than 20 vendors.

Clinic, medical and dental. A building wherein a staff of doctors with necessary assistants and equipment conduct the examination and treatment of outpatients.

Club. All clubs, except those the chief activity of which is a service customarily carried on as a business.

Commercial coach. A vehicle, with or without motive power, designed and equipped for human occupancy for industrial, professional or commercial purposes.

Commercial Auctions and Agricultural Equipment Sales. An auction or sales event, conducted by a third party, which stores, refurbishes and conducts sales of used farming equipment, implements, vehicles and machinery, other than passenger vehicles or pick-up trucks rated at one ton or less hauling capacity.

Commercial cannabis activities. Cannabis uses that require a State license or are otherwise regulated by the State, including, but not limited to, cannabis testing laboratory, distributor, transporter, storefront retailer, non-storefront retailer, microbusiness, collective, cooperative, cultivator, nursery, manufacturer, or processer, regardless of whether for-profit or not, as defined in the Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (Business and Professions Code Sections 26000 through 26231.2) and its regulations, as they may be amended. For purposes of this definition, cannabis and cannabis products may be delivered by a commercial cannabis licensee that possesses all requisite cannabis delivery licenses to any zoning district within the jurisdiction of Solano County. For purposes of this definition, commercial cannabis activities do not include a temporary cannabis event, as defined in California Code of Regulations Title 16, Division 42, Chapter 5, Sections 5601 through 5603, as may be amended. Personal and primary caregiver cannabis cultivation, as defined in Section 28.82, shall be excluded from this definition of “commercial cannabis activities.”

Commercial Kitchen, Agricultural. A permanent food facility, as defined in the California Uniform Retail Food Facilities Law that is located on a farm and not associated with an eating establishment, catering service or mobile food vendor, used for the storage, preparation, or handling of food for dispensing or sale directly to the consumer. May be attached to a roadside stand.

Commercial Outdoor Recreation. Outdoor recreational uses, including park, picnic area, playground, athletic field, golf course, golf driving range, polo field, exhibition grounds, bowling and croquet greens, outdoor court games, and similar places of outdoor recreation as determined by the Planning Commission.

Commercial Solar Energy Facility. A solar energy conversion system and associated control or conversion electronics that converts solar energy to utility power for the primary purpose of resale or off-site use.

Community care facility. Any facility not otherwise defined in this chapter, excluding any facility owned and operated by the County, which is maintained and operated to provide residential care or day care to children, adults, or children and adults in need of personal services, guidance, counseling, supervision, recovery services, supportive services, or assistance essential for sustaining the activities of daily living or for the protection of the individual, including, but not limited to, the physically impaired or handicapped, mentally impaired, incompetent persons, and abused or neglected children. A community care facility may provide incidental medical services. For purposes of this definition, “residential care” means nonmedical care provided on a 24-hour basis and “day care” means nonmedical care provided on a less than 24-hour basis.

A residential care facility or day care facility that serves six or fewer persons, exclusive of the licensee, members of the licensee’s family, and persons employed as facility staff, shall be considered a residential use of property rather than a community care facility. A family day care home, licensed and operated pursuant to the California Child Day Care Facilities Act (Health and Safety Code Section 1596.70 et seq.), shall be considered a residential use of property rather than a community care facility.

Companion living unit. A temporary mobilehome subordinate to and detached from the principal residence on the same ownership providing independent living quarters including sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation facilities for one or more adult persons who are sixty years of age or over, handicapped or convalescent. Either the principal residence or companion living unit shall be owner-occupied.

Complementary Commercial Facility. A small commercial facility which complements and supports marsh oriented recreational uses, such as a bait shop, a small boat rental, or a refreshment stand.

Confined Animal Facility. Any dairy, stockyard, feedlot, or similar livestock operation for cattle, horses, sheep, or goats, where the animals are corralled, penned, tethered, or otherwise caused to remain in confinement in a restricted area for any purpose, and in which the surface of such restricted area is or will become bare of any feed growth in the normal growing season. Normal grazing activities for pastured livestock are excluded from this definition. Supplemental feeding areas, corrals, livestock working facilities, and other areas where grazing livestock may be temporarily confined incidental to grazing activities are also excluded. A Confined Animal Facility shall be classified as either Small, Medium, or Large, depending on the maximum number of animals at the facility at any time. Operations too small to meet the minimum threshold of a Small Confined Animal Facility shall not fall within this definition.

Animal Sector	Small CAF	Medium CAF	Large CAF
Cattle or cow/calf	20 to 299	300-999	1,000 or more
Mature dairy cow	14 to 199	200-699	700 or more
Veal calves	20 to 299	300-999	1,000 or more
Horses	10 to 149	150-499	500 or more
Sheep, lambs or goats	198 to 2,999	3,000-9,999	10,000 or more

Conservation bank. Privately or publicly owned land managed for its natural resource values, including the protection of threatened and endangered species and their habitat. Such management may include habitat preservation, restoration, creation, and enhancement. The resource benefits derived from this management regime may be sold as “credits” to project proponents who seek mitigation opportunities to compensate for resource impacts elsewhere. Includes mitigation bank. Does not include a conservation easement, where credits are not offered for sale, and where the existing underlying agricultural land use is allowed to continue indefinitely, or if the land use is inactive, future agricultural use of the land is allowed.

Corporation yard. Buildings and premises for storage of construction materials and machinery used by the operator of the corporation yard in the conduct the operator’s business.

Cottage Industry. A home-based business involving the limited provision or sale of goods or services, or the limited manufacturing of goods, which is accessory to, and conducted primarily by the resident family.

County boundary. The boundary of the County or the boundary of any incorporated municipality within the County.

Courts. An open, unoccupied space, other than a yard, on the same lot with a building or group of buildings, and which is bounded on two or more sides by such building or buildings.

Crop production. The commercial production of grains, field crops, vegetables, melons, fruits, grapes, tree nuts, flower fields and seed production, ornamental crops, tree and sod farms, together with associated crop preparation services and harvesting activities including but not limited to mechanical soil preparation, irrigation system construction, spraying, crop processing and sales in the field not involving a permanent structure.

Crowing Fowl. Crowing fowl means any male fowl from the order galli formes, including: roosters, drakes, turkeys, peacocks or pea fowl.

Custom Farm Services. Any use of buildings, structures, or land for the provision of custom farm services, including, but not limited to, hay baling, irrigation services, land leveling, water development and services, and farm labor contractors.

Dwelling. A single residential unit providing complete independent living facilities for one family, including permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation, that are used, intended, or designed to be used, rented, leased, or otherwise occupied for living purposes.

Accessory dwelling unit. A dwelling attached to, or detached from, an existing or proposed single-family dwelling or multifamily dwelling and located on the same lot or parcel within a residential zoning district. Also includes a new dwelling unit created by repurposing existing space within the gross floor area of an existing single-family or multifamily dwelling into an independent living unit. An accessory dwelling unit is accessory to a single-family dwelling or multifamily dwelling.

Duplex. A multifamily dwelling containing two dwelling units of approximately equal gross floor area designed for, or occupied exclusively by, two families living independently of each other, and separated by a common wall or floor. An accessory dwelling unit may also be attached to, or located within, a duplex building as provided in this chapter.

Dwelling group. A group of two or more detached or semidetached single-family or multifamily dwellings occupying a parcel or one ownership, and having any yard or court in common. Does not include a single-family dwelling or multifamily dwelling with a detached accessory dwelling unit or a primary dwelling with a detached secondary dwelling.

Dwelling unit. An individual dwelling, other than an accessory dwelling unit or a junior accessory dwelling unit, within a multifamily dwelling or within a mixed occupancy building.

Efficiency dwelling unit. A dwelling containing only one habitable room.

Junior accessory dwelling unit. An accessory dwelling unit that is no more than 500 square feet in size, measured as gross floor area, and contained entirely within an existing or proposed single-family dwelling. A junior accessory dwelling unit may include separate sanitation facilities or may share sanitation facilities with the single-family dwelling.

Manufactured dwelling. A structure certified under the National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974 and designed for, or occupied exclusively by, one family as a dwelling. A manufactured dwelling shall be installed on a foundation system as a fixture or improvement to the real property, in accordance with the Health and Safety Code and implementing regulations, unless installed as a temporary dwelling or in a mobile home park.

Multifamily dwelling. A building, or portion thereof, containing two or more dwelling units used or designed for residential use by two or more families living independently of each other, including apartment houses and flats.

Primary dwelling. If a lot is improved, or proposed to be improved, with two single-family dwellings, exclusive of employee housing, the first dwelling constructed shall be the primary dwelling unless a later constructed dwelling is larger in gross floor area than an existing dwelling, in which case the larger dwelling shall be the primary dwelling. Dwelling units within a multifamily dwelling are not classified as primary or secondary dwellings.

Secondary dwelling. An independent dwelling unit that provides complete living facilities for one family and is situated on the same parcel as an existing or proposed primary dwelling. A secondary dwelling may be a detached building, attached to the primary dwelling, or located within the living area of an existing primary dwelling. For purposes of calculating dwelling unit density under zoning or the General Plan, a secondary dwelling shall not be counted as an independent dwelling unit in addition to the primary dwelling. Dwelling units within a multifamily dwelling structure are not classified as primary or secondary dwellings.

Single-family dwelling. A detached building, other than a detached accessory dwelling unit, which meets the building regulations of the County and is designed for, or occupied exclusively by, one family as a dwelling. Includes a manufactured dwelling but does not include a tent or a recreational vehicle.

Temporary dwelling. A recreational vehicle or a manufactured dwelling installed as chattel property, and used as a dwelling for a limited, fixed term.

Emergency Shelter. One or more dwelling units otherwise allowed within the zoning district, or a commercial or industrial building otherwise allowed within the zoning district that has been converted to create residential space, operated as an emergency shelter pursuant to the State Emergency Housing and Assistance Program (Health and Safety Code Section 50800 et seq.) to provide housing with minimal supportive services for homeless persons.

Erosion. Detachment and movement of soil or rock fragments by water, wind, ice and gravity.

Family. One or more persons, related or unrelated, living together as a single, nonprofit housekeeping unit as distinguished from a group occupying a hotel, club, fraternity or sorority house. A family shall be deemed to include necessary servants or domestic help.

Farm and ranch supply store. A retail business selling supplies for use in soil preparation and maintenance, the planting and harvesting of crops, the keeping and raising of farm animals, and other operations and processes pertaining to farming and ranching. Does not include the sale, rental, or repair of farm machinery and equipment, which is instead included in the definition of “Farm equipment sales” or “Farm equipment fabrication and repair.”

Farm equipment sales. A retail business engaged in selling new or used equipment, implements, vehicles and machinery used exclusively for agricultural planting, cultivation, maintenance, and harvesting, other than passenger vehicles or pick-up trucks rated at one ton or less hauling capacity.

Farm equipment fabrication and repair. A retail business engaged in fabricating and/or repairing equipment, implements, vehicles and machinery used exclusively for agricultural planting, cultivation, maintenance, and harvesting, other than passenger vehicles or pickup trucks rated at one ton or less hauling capacity.

Farm labor quarters. Rooming houses and boardinghouses and mess halls for any number of farm help customarily employed on land owned by the owner of the building site occupied by such houses or halls.

Farmers Market. A common facility or area where several farmers or growers gather on a regular, recurring basis to sell a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables and other locally-grown agricultural products directly to consumers. (See also Certified Farmers Market).

Floating home. A floating structure that is designed and built to be used, or is modified to be used, as a stationary waterborne dwelling, and which has no mode of power of its own.

Fowl and Poultry Ranch: Any animal livestock operation for fowl or poultry where the animals are caused to remain in confinement in a restricted area for any purpose, and in which the surface of such restricted area is or will become bare of any feed growth in the normal growing season, and that meets the following thresholds:

Type of Bird	Small Ranch	Large Ranch
Turkeys	50 to 1,000	More than 1,000
Chickens, ducks, or fowl of similar size	100 to 1,000	More than 1,000
Crowing Fowl	- - -	5 or more

* Does not include pastured poultry operations (See Pastured Poultry). Does not include poultry being raised by a minor for a 4H or similar type of agricultural education program if the project is registered with the Agricultural Commissioner.

Garage, private. An accessory building for the storage of private motor vehicles; an accessory use incidental to the main building.

General Manufacturing Uses. Manufacturing, processing, disassembling and assembling, and storage of products and materials, railroad, airport, and other transportation uses; provided, that such uses are not or will not be offensive by reason of the creation or emission of dust, gas, smoke, fumes, or other air pollutants, noise, vibrations, odors, liquid or solid refuse or wastes; radioactivity, glare, fire or explosives.

General Service Uses. An auto repair garage, blacksmith shop, cabinet shop, coppersmith shop, electrical repair shop, machine shop, plating works, plumbing shop, sheet metal shop, upholstering shop, welding shop, wood mill, and similar uses.

Greenhouse. A structure or thermally isolated area of a building that is covered with transparent or translucent materials for the purpose of admitting natural light and controlling the atmosphere for growing plants, including floricultural, ornamental, or other nursery and agricultural products.

Gross floor area. For dwellings, gross floor area shall be calculated as the total area of all floors of the dwelling or dwelling unit, as measured to the exterior finished surface of outside walls or to the centerline of common walls separating dwelling units, not including any carport, walkway, garage, overhang, patio, partially enclosed patio, attached or detached residential accessory structure, or similar area. For residential accessory structures, gross floor area shall be calculated as the total floor area of the structure as measured to the exterior finished surface of outside walls or to the centerline of common walls separating the accessory structure from the dwelling or from a different occupancy classification. For commercial or industrial structures, gross floor area shall be calculated as the total area of all floors of the building, including any loft or mezzanine, measured to the exterior finished surface of outside walls or to the centerline of common walls, including covered and enclosed space, but not including any exterior storage areas incidental to the principal use of the construction, including any garage, parking structure, unenclosed walkway, or utility or disposal area.

Guest house. A residential accessory building, or portion thereof, accessory to a primary dwelling, used or intended to be used for living or sleeping purposes; does not contain or have provision for a kitchen but may contain a full or half-bath and/or wet bar.

Guest room. A room used or intended to be used by one or more guests for transient occupancy.

HCD agricultural employee housing. Employee housing consisting of no more than 12 beds in a group quarters, or 12 units or spaces designed for use by a single family or household, for which the owner of such housing has qualified or intends to qualify for a permit to operate pursuant to the State Employee Housing Act.

Hog Ranch. Any animal livestock operation for swine that meet the following thresholds:

Swine (weighing over 55 lbs.)	20 or more
Swine (weighing less than 55 lbs.)	40 or more

Home occupation. A small home-based business involving the limited provision or sale of goods or services which is accessory to, and conducted primarily by, the resident family entirely within a dwelling unit or an accessory structure.

Horse show. Includes a public stable and, in addition, includes the conduct of riding exhibitions and other similar events and activities where more than twelve horses participate at one time.

Hosted Rental. A dwelling, occupied by a resident family, in which a single guest room is offered or used for transient occupancy, with or without meals; a single-room bed and breakfast inn.

Hotel. A building, portion of a building, or group of buildings containing six or more guest rooms designed, used, or intended to be used for transient occupancy. A hotel may include accessory uses, such as a commercial kitchen or dining facilities open to the public.

Hunting and fishing club. A facility, place or building licensed as a commercial hunting club under State Fish and Game Code 3240.5 or licensed as a game bird club under State Fish and Game Code 3270 including approved incidental uses to the licensed facilities. Hunting and fishing clubs may include cooking facilities and sleeping quarters or bunkhouses for limited stays of not more than six months. Facilities must be connected to an approved sewage disposal system.

Injection well. A Class II well which injects fluids which are brought to the surface in connection with conventional oil or natural gas production and may be commingled with wastewater from gas plants which are an integral part of production operations, unless these waters are classified as a hazardous waste at the time of injection.

Junkyard. The use of more than 200 square feet of area of any parcel, lot, or contiguous lots, for the storage of junk or salvable material, including junk metals or other scrap materials; and for the storage, dismantling or “wrecking” of automobiles or other vehicles or machinery.

Kennel. Any enclosure, premises, building, structure, lot, area or one ownership where six or more dogs are kept, harbored or maintained.

Kennel, large. A kennel that contains more than 12 dogs or where boarding services, classes and training, the sale of dogs and grooming services are offered to the public.

Kennel, small. A kennel where the dogs are kept for the private enjoyment of the occupants of the premises, provided that no more than 12 dogs are kept, harbored or maintained.

Kitchen. A room, space, or interior area with equipment for the preparation and cooking of food, including a sink, a refrigerator, and either a stove, range, grill, or oven; does not include a wet bar.

Labor supply employee housing. Any place, area, or piece of land where housing is provided, or an area to accommodate portable housing is provided, for five or more employees or prospective employees of another. Includes labor supply employee housing as defined and regulated by the Employee Housing Act (Health and Safety Code Section 17000 et seq.).

Livestock Auction Yard. A facility for the auction of livestock, including facilities for the temporary keeping of livestock.

Local Products Store. A store that primarily sells food, beverages, textiles and crafts that are related to agritourism.

Lot or parcel. An area of land under one ownership and having fixed boundaries depicted on a final map or parcel map or described by an instrument of conveyance defining land held in fee title as a discrete unit. Excludes condominium units consisting of airspace, and mere easements.

Lot area. The total area of a lot or parcel, exclusive of adjacent right-of-way unless otherwise specified for the applicable zoning district.

Lot, key. The first lot to the rear of a corner lot, the front line of which is a continuation of the side line of the corner lot, exclusive of the width of any alley, and fronting on the street which intersects or intercepts the street upon which the corner lot fronts.

Main building. A building in which is conducted the principal use of the building site on which it is situated. In any residential district, the primary dwelling shall be deemed to be a main building on the building site.

Marsh Oriented recreation. Recreational use and incidental commercial activity focused on the marsh environment, including park, interpretive center, day-use facility, lodge, club or resort for swimming, boating, sailing, fishing, hunting or shooting, and raising of game, fishing pier and boat ramp, docking and storage incidental to a craft docking facility; commercial recreation use, including bait shop and refreshment stand.

Meteorological Towers. A structure used for the collection of wind energy resource data, and includes the tower, base plate, anchors, guy cables and hardware, anemometers (wind speed indicators), wind direction vanes, booms to hold equipment anemometers and vanes, data logger, instrument wiring, and any telemetry devices that are used to monitor or transmit wind speed and wind flow characteristics over a period of time for either instantaneous wind information or to characterize the wind resource at a given location.

Mobilehome. A manufactured dwelling.

Mobilehome Park. Any area or tract of land where one or more mobilehome lots are rented or leased or held out for rent or lease to accommodate mobilehomes used for human habitation. The rental paid for any such mobilehome shall be deemed to include rental for the lot it occupies.

Museum or library. A building, place, or institution, generally of a noncommercial nature, devoted to the acquisition, conservation, study, exhibition, and educational interpretation of objects having scientific, historical, literary, or artistic value. Includes an aquarium, botanical garden, or arboretum, but does not include a zoo or petting zoo. A museum may include the incidental retail sales of books, gifts, souvenirs, and other items only if they are related to the items being exhibited.

Neighborhood Commercial Use. A retail store or professional office providing goods or services primarily to a residential neighborhood or rural community, conducted entirely within a building or buildings on one ownership.

Nonconforming Lots, Buildings, Structures, Uses of Land. Any lots, buildings, structures and uses which were legally established prior to the effective date of the provisions of this chapter, or future amendments thereof, but which would be prohibited, regulated or restricted by the terms of this chapter or future amendments.

Nursery. A commercial establishment engaged in the propagation and sale of horticultural and ornamental plants and related products. Products may be grown under cover or outdoors. A nursery with public sales shall be subject to sales and display area restrictions as may be specified by the applicable zoning district.

Office, business. An office which has as its main function the arrangement of business transactions, the holding of sales meetings and administrative conferences, the receiving of client payments, and the keeping of records and accounts pertaining to the particular business.

Office, professional. An office from which a doctor, lawyer, engineer, or architect, etc., may offer services.

One ownership. Ownership of property or possession thereof, under lease for a term of not less than 10 years, by a person, individually, jointly, in common, or in any other manner, whereby such property is under single or unified control. An ownership may include multiple contiguous parcels.

Owner. The person exercising one ownership as herein defined. A buyer under a contract to purchase property may submit an application as an owner if title will transfer to the buyer prior to the County taking final action on the application.

Parking space. A usable and accessible space for parking of a standard-sized motor vehicle off the street.

Pastured Livestock: Any livestock grazing operation that is not a confined animal facility, as defined herein. Includes supplemental feeding areas, pens, working facilities, and other areas where grazing livestock may be temporarily confined incidental to grazing activities.

Pastured Poultry: A fowl or poultry operation that is not a poultry ranch, as defined herein, where the number of animals meets any of the following thresholds. Includes supplemental feeding areas, pens, working facilities, and other areas where grazing animals may be temporarily confined incidental to grazing activities.

Turkeys	50 or more
Chickens, ducks, or fowl of similar size	100 or more
Crowing Fowl	5 or more

Does not include poultry being raised by a minor for a 4H or similar type of agricultural education program if the project is registered with the Agricultural Commissioner.

Planning Commission. The Solano County Planning Commission.

Pool house. Includes bathhouse. An accessory building adjacent to a pool or spa for dressing by bathers, which may include a bathroom and incidental storage area. A pool house shall not include indoor cooking or sleeping facilities, HVAC equipment, or greater than a 110-volt electrical connection except for a dedicated service for pool equipment.

Principal Street. A public thoroughfare that is currently developed or will be improved as part of a proposed project with a minimum roadway improvement of 40 feet or more of paved width.

Public nuisance. Public nuisance shall mean a public nuisance as defined under California Civil Code, as now in effect, or as may be amended.

Public open space area. Public recreation and education uses, including related access facilities, incidental to agricultural and open space resource preservation and conservation, limited to low-intensity uses that include, but are not limited to, the following: non-motorized public trails for hiking, biking, and equestrians; picnicking; organized nature walks; walk-in tent camping; vehicle parking lot with no greater than 75 parking spaces inclusive of parking for any horse trailers; and, buildings not exceeding 400 square feet of floor area, individually or combined.

Public service facility. Any use of land by a governmental or public utility agency which has the power of eminent domain, or any land use of a public or quasi-public nature which is found by the Planning Commission to be necessary for the public health, safety, convenience or welfare.

Recreational vehicle. A vehicle which is a motor home, travel trailer, truck camper, or camping trailer with or without motive power, designed for human habitation, for recreation, travel accommodation purposes, or emergency occupancy, and which is not defined herein as a mobilehome or commercial coach.

Recreational vehicle park. Any area or tract of land within an area zoned for recreational use where one or more lots are rented or leased or held out for rent or lease to owners or users of recreational vehicles, and which is occupied for temporary periods of time.

Remnant parcel. Area under one or more ownerships of four acres or less in aggregate area which has been isolated by public right-of-way, or publicly acquired land, or both.

Resident Family. The family who occupies a dwelling as its principal place of residence.

Resort Hotel. A hotel that also provides interrelated visitor services intended to serve the needs of the community and tourists visiting the area. Typical uses may include but are not limited to recreation activities/facilities, spa or other therapeutic facilities, meeting rooms, banquet facilities, and restaurant and retail uses intended for use by both guests and non-guests.

Riparian habitat. The waterside environment where various plant and animal populations are endemic, existing as a result of the existence of the watercourse, or where such populations can be established due to the existence of the watercourse.

Road. See street.

Roadside Stand: An area of an agricultural property set aside for the sale of processed and unprocessed crops, that are grown primarily on the property (“on-site”). Crops that have been grown or produced off the property (“off-site”) may only be sold in conjunction with the sale of crops grown on-site or off-site on land owned or leased by the operator within Solano County and in compliance with applicable laws or regulations governing the construction, operation and maintenance of the stand. Nonagricultural products may also be sold, but only in conjunction with the sale of crops, as regulated by the applicable zoning district. A roadside stand shall not include the sale of nursery stock or winery products, or any processing of agricultural products or “food preparation” unless conducted in compliance with the California Health and Safety Code and approved by the Department of Resource Management, Environmental Health Services Division.

Note: Sorting and packing activities may be conducted within a permitted roadside stand and are not considered agricultural processing facilities.

Rooming or boarding house. A dwelling, other than a hotel, residential hotel, vacation house rental, bed and breakfast inn, agricultural homestay, or hosted rental, where transient lodging, with or without meals, is provided for compensation, or where non-transient lodging for four or more persons is provided for compensation.

Rural resident enterprise. A small home business, exclusive of agriculture, on the same parcel as the resident family in a rural area which does not change the residential or agricultural character of the property or surrounding area.

Seasonal sales lot. Pumpkin patch, Christmas tree lot and other similar sales venue, where the sale of agriculturally related products is seasonal and/or tied to an annual holiday event.

Secondary living unit. A secondary dwelling.

Sedimentation. The process by which mineral or organic matter is removed from its site of origin, transported and deposited by water, wind or gravity.

Setback. See yard.

Sign. Anything whatsoever placed, erected, constructed, posted, painted, printed, tacked, nailed, glued, stuck, carved or otherwise, fastened, affixed, or made visible for out-of-door advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever, on the ground or on any tree, wall, bush, rock, post, fence, building, structure, or thing whatsoever.

The two sides of a double-faced sign shall be counted as only one sign. Wedge-shaped or V-shaped signs where messages are not carried back-to-back shall be counted as two signs even though they may be attached.

This definition shall not include official notices issued by a court or public body or officer, or directional warning or information sign or structures required by or authorized by law or by Federal, State, County, or city authority.

Sign area. The area of a sign or other advertising device shall be measured to the outside of the sign frame, or where there is no sign frame, to a simple boundary perimeter around the outer limits of the sign elements, including any voids within such perimeter. The two sides of a double-faced sign shall be counted as one sign. Wedge-shaped or V-shaped signs where messages are not carried back-to-back shall be counted as two signs, even though they may be attached.

Sign, general advertising. A sign which directs attention to a business, profession, organization, commodity, service, or entertainment conducted, sold or offered elsewhere than upon the same lot or parcel on which such sign is located.

Sign, on-site. A sign which directs attention to a business, profession, organization, commodity, service, or entertainment conducted, sold, or offered upon the lot or parcel on which the sign is placed.

Single room occupancy hotel or residential hotel. A building, portion of a building, or group of buildings containing six or more guest rooms or efficiency units, intended or designed to be used, rented, or hired out, to be occupied, or which are occupied, for sleeping purposes by guests, which is also the primary residence of those guests. A single room occupancy hotel may include accessory uses, such as a commercial kitchen or common dining facilities for residents.

Slaughterhouse. Any building or premises used for the killing or dressing of animals, including cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, or poultry, and the storage, freezing, and curing of meat and preparation of meat products.

Slaughterhouse, small. A slaughterhouse that processes less than 1,000 head of livestock or less than 5,000 birds per year.

Slaughterhouse, large. A slaughterhouse that processes 1,000 head or more of livestock or 5,000 or more birds per year.

Solar Energy System. Any solar energy collector, together with any associated equipment and structural design features of a building, whose primary purpose is to provide for the collection of solar energy for on-site space heating, cooling, or water heating, or for electric generation that is used solely to meet or offset on-site electric load. A solar energy system is incidental to the land use of the property and is subject to the requirements of Chapter 6.3. A ground mounted solar energy system shall comply with the development standards of the zoning district for accessory structures.

Special events facility. An event venue or facility offered for use by third-party individuals or nonprofit entities for the conduct of noncommercial events, such as weddings, parties, or other similar private social gatherings, or for charitable or political fundraisers. A special events facility may include food preparation facilities and limited overnight lodging facilities for event attendees. A special events facility may be either a single-purpose facility or a secondary use of another type of facility that does not typically include an assembly group occupancy, such as an agricultural processing facility or a winery. Marketing or promotional events conducted by the business operator to promote the goods or services offered by the business, such as wine club events at a winery, are not special events for purposes of this definition but are subject to regulations applicable to the business operation.

Special events facility, small. A special events facility at which events are conducted not more than six times per calendar year and with not more than 150 people at any event, including hosts, guests, and supporting staff.

Special events facility, medium. A special events facility at which events are conducted more than six but not more than 12 times per calendar year and with not more than 150 people at any event, including hosts, guests, and supporting staff.

Special events facility, large. A special events facility at which events are conducted more than 12 times per calendar year or with more than 150 people at any event.

Stable, private. A structure for the shelter, care or feeding of horses, used primarily by the resident family and not used for commercial purposes.

Stable, public. Any premises on which horses are boarded, trained, or rented for commercial purposes, or upon which a horse-riding school or club is conducted; provided, that not more than twelve horses participate in a training exercise or riding exhibition at one time.

Street. A street, road, highway, thoroughfare, drive, lane, or way affording the principal means of access to abutting property and dedicated to or maintained by city, County, or State government; or a private street, road, highway, thoroughfare, drive, lane, or way affording the principal means of access to abutting property.

Structural alterations. Any change in the supporting members of a building, such as bearing walls, columns, beams or girders.

Structure. Anything constructed or erected, except fences, the use of which requires location on the ground at least 30 inches in height, or attachment to something having location on the ground at least 30 inches in height, but not including any recreational vehicle or tent.

Supportive housing. A dwelling, including a dwelling unit within a duplex or a multifamily dwelling, offered for lease or rent to, or leased or rented by, one or more persons with low incomes who have one or more disabilities, including mental illness, HIV or AIDS, substance abuse, or other chronic health condition, or individuals eligible for services provided pursuant to the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act, in which the lease or rental agreement imposes no limit on length of stay and links the housing to a service that assists the resident in retaining the housing, improving his or her health status, and maximizing his or her ability to live and, when possible, work in the community. Does not include any facility used to provide services to residents of supportive housing.

Tasting Facility: A facility in which agricultural products may be tasted and sold, such as gift/retail sales, assembly areas, and meeting rooms, as permitted within the applicable zone district.

Temporary commercial coach site. Premises which are used for temporary occupancy and upon which one or more occupied commercial coaches are located for temporary pre-determined periods.

Temporary mobilehome site. Premises which are used for temporary occupancy and upon which one or more inhabited mobile-homes or manufactured dwellings are located for temporary predetermined periods.

Transient Occupancy. Temporary occupancy of a lodging facility or dwelling by any person other than the resident family by concession, permit, right of access, license, gift, or other agreement for a period of 30 consecutive calendar days or less, counting portions of calendar days as full days. Does not include an occasional home exchange of a dwelling used as the property owner’s primary residence, but does includes temporary occupancy of a dwelling used pursuant to a time share plan or form of co-ownership if any time share period or other entitlement to occupancy of the dwelling is limited to periods of 30 consecutive days or less.

Transitional Commercial. The temporary use of land or structures, within a Municipal Service Area and indicated as Urban Commercial by a city’s general plan, as shown on the General Plan Land Use Diagram and pending annexation to a city, for construction services, food services, general services, professional services, or vehicle services.

Transitional housing. A group of five or more dwelling units, in one or more residential structures otherwise allowed within the zoning district and located on one or more parcels, with common financing, ownership, and management, operated under program requirements that require the termination of assistance and recirculating of the assisted unit to another eligible program recipient at a predetermined future point in time that shall be no less than six months from the beginning of the assistance. No more than one of the dwelling units may be occupied as a primary residence by a person or household who is the owner.

Transitional Industrial. The temporary use of land or structures, within a Municipal Service Area and indicated as Urban Industrial by a city’s general plan, as shown on the General Plan Land Use Diagram and pending annexation to a city, for general manufacturing uses or wholesale uses.

Use. The purpose for which land or premises or a building thereon is designed, arranged, or intended; or for which it is or may be occupied or maintained.

Vacation house rental. A dwelling that is offered or used for transient occupancy without a resident family present within the dwelling.

Watercourse. Any natural or manmade channel for transporting water, including the stream bed and the banks, whether continuously flowing or intermittent.

Wet Bar. A single, bar-sized sink with minimal cabinets and counters. A wet bar shall not contain or have provision for a gas or electric range, cook top, or oven (not including a counter-top microwave oven); a refrigerator with a capacity in excess of six cubic feet; a standard-sized kitchen sink; or a dishwasher.

Wind turbine generator, commercial. A wind-driven machine that converts wind energy into production of electrical power for the primary purpose of resale or off-site use.

Wind turbine generator, noncommercial. A wind-driven machine that converts wind energy into production of electrical power for the primary purpose of on-site use and not for resale.

Winery. An agricultural processing facility used for the commercial purpose of processing grapes, berries, or other fruit products, to produce wine or similar wine products. Processing includes wholesale sales, crushing, fermentation and refermentation, blending, bottling, packaging, storage, aging, handling, shipping, and receiving of such products. Includes related accessory uses such as: office, laboratory, wine tasting facilities, retail sales of wine and other agricultural products produced on the premises or off-site by the winery operator, retail sales of wine and agricultural-related promotional and/or educational items, and winery tours.

Winery, small. A winery with annual production not exceeding 20,000 gallons, in bulk and bottles combined.

Winery, medium: A winery with annual production between 20,000 and 100,000 gallons per year, in bulk and bottles combined.

Winery, large. A winery with annual production greater than 100,000 gallons, in bulk and bottles combined.

Wrecking yard. See junkyard.

Yard. An open space, other than a court, on the same building site with a building, but not including any portion of any street or alley or road right-of-way. Includes setback, as may be required by this chapter in relation to buildings, structures, property lines, or natural or manmade features.

Yard, front. A yard extending across the front of the lot between the side lot lines and to a depth required by the district in which the lot is situated.

Yard, rear. A yard extending across the back of the lot between the side lot lines and to a depth required by the district in which the lot is situated.

Yard, side. A yard between the side line of the lot and the building to a width required by the district in which the lot is situated, and extending from the front yard to the rear yard.

(Ord. No. 1732, §1; Ord. No. 1735, §1; Ord. No. 1736, §3; Ord. No. 1749, §1; Ord. No. 1757, §§1, 2; Ord. No. 1764, §2; Ord. No. 1793, §1; Ord. No. 1794, §1; Ord. No. 1798, §1; Ord. No. 1799, §2; Ord. No. 1803, §2; Ord. No. 1817, §1; Ord. No. 1821, §1; Ord. No. 1831, §§1, 2; Ord. No. 1845, §§1, 2)

28.02 Purpose of Zoning Plan

A zoning plan is adopted to provide a precise plan for residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, public, and other land uses in the County in order to:

A. Protect the established character and social and economic values of agricultural, residential, commercial, industrial, recreational, and other areas within the County which have developed in a healthy and orderly manner;

B. Encourage beneficial development of those areas which have grown with conflicting or uneconomic patterns of use; and

C. Assist in providing a definite and publicly approved plan of development to guide, control and stimulate the future growth of the County in accordance with the need of the County and in proper relation to other land use areas in the region.

28.03 Interpretation of Chapter

In their interpretation and application, provisions of this chapter shall be held to be minimum requirements, except where they are expressly stated to be maximum requirements.

If an owner proposes a type of land use which is not described or identified in this chapter, the Zoning Administrator may determine that the proposed use is substantially similar to another type of land use which is described or identified in this chapter, and the permit application shall be accepted and processed for proposed use as if it were functionally equivalent to the substantially similar land use. If a Use Permit or other discretionary approval of the Planning Commission is required by this chapter for the substantially similar land use, the Planning Commission is not bound by the Zoning Administrator’s determination.

(Ord. No. 1840, §1)

28.04 Public Notice Requirements

When a public hearing is required by this chapter, public notice shall be given as provided by this section. Failure to receive notice shall not invalidate the permit or decision.

A. Content of notice. Notice of a public hearing shall include: the date, time and place of the hearing; the name of the hearing body; a general explanation of the matter to be considered; a general description, in text or by diagram, of the location of the real property that is the subject of the hearing; and indicate whether a negative declaration or an environmental impact report has been prepared and will be considered for the project pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act.

B. Method of notice distribution. Notice of a public hearing required by this chapter, as required by Government Code Sections 65090 and 65091, shall be given as follows:

1. Notice shall be published at least once in a newspaper of general circulation in the County at least 15 days before the hearing; and

2. Notice shall be mailed or delivered at least 15 days before the hearing to:

a. The owner(s) of the property being considered, the owner’s agent, and the applicant.

b. Each local agency expected to provide water, sewage, streets, roads, schools, or other essential facilities or services to the project, whose ability to provide such facilities and services may be significantly affected.

c. All owners of real property as shown on the latest equalized assessment roll within 500 feet of the property that is the subject of the hearing, unless otherwise required in subsection (B)(2)(d) of this section.

d. All owners of real property as shown on the latest equalized assessment roll within one-half mile of the property that is the subject of the hearing if the property is located in any A or R-R District.

e. All persons and organizations requesting notice of the public hearing.

3. If the number of property owners to whom notice would be mailed as provided by subsections (B)(2)(a) and (B)(2)(c) of this section is more than 1,000, the Director of the Department of Resource Management may choose to place a display advertisement of at least one-eighth page in a newspaper of general circulation in the County at least 15 days before the hearing.

C. Additional notice. In addition to the notice required by this section, any other notice or form of distribution may be provided as may be determined necessary or desirable. Planning commission or Zoning Administrator agendas shall be provided to all persons and organizations who, within the calendar year, have requested said agendas, in writing, and paid such fee as may be set by the Board of Supervisors to cover the cost of such mailing.

D. Scheduling of hearing. After the completion of any environmental documents required by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and planning division review or staff report, the matter shall be scheduled for public hearing on the Zoning Administrator, Planning Commission, or Board of Supervisors agenda (as applicable) reserved for such matters. At the discretion of the hearing body, a public hearing may be continued from its scheduled date to a future date as provided by subsection (E) of this section.

E. Notice of County action when hearing continued. Any noticed public hearing conducted under this chapter may be continued from time to time, but not to exceed 35 days from the date specified in the notice, without new or additional public notice being provided. If a hearing is continued to a date and time which is more than 35 days from the date specified in the notice, or which is not announced when the hearing is continued, the County shall provide notice of the continued hearing in the same manner and within the same time limits as provided in subsections (A), (B) and (C) of this section.

F. Notice for waivers. To grant a waiver of any requirement authorized pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, notification of intent to grant a waiver shall be sent to owners, as shown on the latest equalized assessment roll, of real property contiguous to that property for which a request for waiver has been received, 10 days in advance of a decision on said request.

(Ord. No. 1840, §2)

28.05 Compliance with Chapter

Except as hereinafter otherwise provided:

A. No building shall be erected and no existing building shall be moved, altered, added to or enlarged; nor shall any land, building or premises to be used, designated or intended to be used for any purpose or in any manner other than is included among the uses listed in this Chapter as permitted in the district in which such building, land or premises is located.

B. No building shall be erected, reconstructed, or structurally altered to exceed in height the limit designated in this Chapter for the districts in which such building is located.

C. No building shall be erected, nor shall any existing building be altered, enlarged or rebuilt; nor shall any open space be encroached upon or reduced in any manner except in conformity to the yard, building site area, and building location regulations designated in this Chapter for the district in which such building or open space is located.

D. No yard or other open space provided about any building for the purpose of complying with the provisions of this Chapter shall be considered as providing a yard or open space for any other building, and no yard or other open space on one building site shall be considered as providing a yard or open space for a building on any other building site.

(Ord. No. 1726, §2)