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Zoning Clearances

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Overview

A Zoning Clearance (ZC) is an administrative, ministerial review conducted by Zoning staff to certify that an existing or proposed use or development conforms with the applicable requirements of the Santa Cruz County zoning ordinance, and that a discretionary permit is not required. Zoning Clearances include the review of terms and conditions of any previously approved discretionary approvals on a parcel. Zoning Clearance reviews shall not include routing to other agencies for review.

Zoning Clearances are required for a variety of purposes, ranging from commercial changes of use to the review of small signs for home occupations. Some Zoning Clearances involve very little staff time and are processed for free, while others involve an investment in staff resources and a formal application with a fee. For the latter, application fee is $199. Additional charges may be imposed (based on hourly rates) if extra work is involved. Some projects requiring Zoning Clearances may also require a building permit, Environmental Health permit or other County approval, and some require additional actions by the applicant to comply with County Code.

Free Zoning Clearances

ZCs for the following uses do not require an intake and are processed free of charge:

  1. Dwelling group of two single-family dwellings
  2. Container crops grown on one acre or less
  3. Fuel tanks in the Commercial Agricultural (CA) zone
  4. Greenhouse in an Agricultural (A) or Commercial Agricultural (CA) zone
  5. Sign on the site of a nondiscretionary use in a Residential or Agricultural zoning district
  6. Water wells storage tanks and distribution lines, well covers and small pump houses for agricultural purposes

Fee-Based Zoning Clearances

ZCs for the uses listed below require an intake and fee payment. The application fee is $199. Additional charges may be imposed (based on hourly rates) if extra work is involved.

  1. Commercial change of use
  2. Hosted Rental
  3. Cannabis enterprise in the Rodeo Gulch overlay area
  4. Community event without amplified music
  5. Dining Establishment in VA (ancillary), C-1, C-2 or C-T
  6. Flood control works, including channel rectification and alteration, for agricultural uses
  7. Seasonal sales such as Halloween pumpkins or Christmas trees
  8. Storage of agricultural equipment and supplies, indoor or outdoor
  9. Wireless Communication Facilities (WCF) in the following locations:
    • Co-located on existing structure and not within public r.o.w.,
    • Mounted on a commercial, industrial or public facility within the PF, C-1, C-2, C-4, M-1, M-2, or M-3 zone districts

Process

Email your request for a Zoning Clearance to planning.zoninginfo@santacruzcountyca.gov. The staff will contact you for any additional information required, and work with you to create a formal application if necessary or to provide you with a free Zoning Clearance if applicable. Staff will also assist you in identifying any related permits that may be required, or additional actions required to comply with County Code requirements for the proposed project.

Additional Information

Please contact Zoning staff by email: planning.zoninginfo@santacruzcountyca.gov if you have any additional questions.

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