Zoning Definitions
If you'd like to see the full "Zone Districts and Allowable Uses of Land" section for each of the zone districts below, highlight, then copy (Ctrl+C) the section number, then navigate to the Placer County Zoning Ordinance. In the heading for the Placer County Code, click on "Search" and paste (Ctrl+V) in the section number you'd like to review. Click that link to the section.
General Zoning Definitions
| District | District Definition | Category of Permitted Uses | Section |
|---|---|---|---|
AE | Agricultural Exclusive | Agricultural operations | 17.08.010 |
AP | Airport | Land uses that are compatible with, support and enhance airport sites | 17.36.010 |
BP | Business Park | Light industrial, office and commercial, manufacturing and processing uses, services uses | 17.38.010 |
C1 | Neighborhood Commercial | Small-scale, day-to-day convenience shopping and services for residents of the immediate neighborhood | 17.30.010 |
C2 | General Commercial | Retail, personal service, entertainment, office and related commercial uses | 17.22.010 |
C3 | Heavy Commercial | Intensive service commercial uses (non-retail), limited retail and office uses | 17.24.010 |
CPD | Commercial Planned Development | Mixed-use community shopping centers, office parks, and other similar developments | 17.20.010 |
F | Farm | Agricultural and residential uses | 17.10.010 |
FOR | Forestry | Growing and harvesting of forest products, public and commercial recreational uses | 17.12.010 |
HS | Highway Service | Commercial uses and services oriented toward the traveling public | 17.26.010 |
IN | Industrial | Manufacturing, assembly, wholesale distribution, and storage | 17.40.010 |
INP | Industrial Park | Light industrial, manufacturing, assembly, research and development, limited commercial and office uses | 17.42.010 |
O | Open Space | Low intensity agricultural and public recreational uses, protect open space | 17.14.010 |
OP | Office and Professional | Professional and administrative offices and personal services rather than retail trade | 17.32.010 |
RA | Residential-Agricultural | Single-family residential and agricultural type uses, service uses, roadside stands for ag products | 17.44.010 |
RES | Resort | Agricultural, residential, recreational, retail and service uses | 17.34.010 |
RF | Residential-Forest | Single-family residential and agricultural/forestry-type uses; recreational, public uses; and service uses | 17.46.010 |
RM | Residential-Multi-Family | Single-family, multi-family uses, recreational and education uses, and service uses | 17.48.010 |
RS | Residential-Single Family | Single-family, multi-family uses, recreational and education uses, and service uses | 17.48.010 |
| SPL | Specific Plan District | All land uses permitted within this district shall be subject to the development standards and other regulations required by the specific plan | 17.51.010 |
TPZ | Timberland Production | Growing and harvesting of timber. Land use restricted for minimum of 10 years | 17.16.010 |
W | Water Influence | Water-oriented, public and private recreational and commercial uses and facilities | 17.18.010 |
Combining Districts Definitions
These definitions are used in combination with the base zone district to address special needs or characteristics of the areas of Placer County to which they are applied, including but not limited to potential hazards and/or land use conflicts created by aircraft overflight, flooding, unique community character or visual quality. In the event of any conflict between these combining district regulations and the base zone district regulations, the combining district regulations shall control.
| District | District Definition | Category of Permitted Uses | Section |
|---|---|---|---|
| -AG | Combining Agriculture | Provides for agricultural-type uses in addition to the base zone district with which this -AG district is combined | 17.52.020 |
-AO | Combining Airport Overflight | Land uses that are compatible with, support and enhance airport sites | 17.52.030 |
-B | Minimum Building Site Size (Parcel Size) | Provides for different parcel sizes than would otherwise be required by an applicable zone district. Can also designate special setbacks. | 17.52.040 |
-DC | Combining Design Scenic Corridor | Provides special regulations to protect and enhance the aesthetic character of lands and buildings within public view | 17.52.070 |
-DH | Combining Design Historic | Provides special regulations to protect historic buildings and areas that have unique aesthetic characteristics | 17.52.070 |
-DL | Combining Density Limitation | Provides special minimum lot size and density standards where residential development may occur | 17.52.060 |
-DR | Combining Development Reserve | Provide for the future development of limited residential, commercial or industrial uses in areas that are identified by the general or community plan for such uses, but which may not be prepared at the time the district is adopted to accommodate the planned levels of full development until additional infrastructure or resources have been provided | 17.52.080 |
-DS | Combining Design Sierra | Provides special regulations to protect and enhance the aesthetic character of lands and buildings within public view | 17.52.070 |
-FH | Combining Flood Hazard | Identifies areas where hazards to life or property exist because of the potential for a 100-year flood. | 17.52.090 |
-GH | Combining Geological Hazard | Identifies areas where geological and soil conditions may present hazards to life or property from potential earthquakes, landslides, avalanches or soil liquefaction. | 17.52.100 |
-MR | Combining Mineral Reserve | Identifies lands that may contain valuable mineral resources, and protect the opportunity for the extraction and use of such resources from other incompatible land uses. | 17.52.110 |
-PD | Combining Planned Residential Development | Identifies areas where development can occur within the context of a planned development and where a residential density for the planned development must be determined by the County | 17.52.120 |
-SP | Combining Special Purpose | Identify specific areas in the vicinity of mineral extraction operations, airports, sewage treatment plants, waste disposal facilities, and require a discretionary review of the proposed use | 17.52.130 |
-UP | Combining Use Permit | Identify sensitive areas of the County where any proposed use or development will raise significant land use policy issues and or community concerns and therefore should be reviewed at a public level | 17.52.050 |