Commercial Residential & Zoning Updates Ordinances

Commercial Residential Ordinance

The Commercial Residential Ordinance Ordinance was in response to housing bills passed by the State, such as Senate Bill 6 (SB 6), the Middle Class Housing Act of 2022, which became effective on January 1, 2023. This ordinance approved a new type of development, Commercial Residential, which allows for dwellings or a combination of dwellings and commercial uses within commercial zones to encourage housing development and infill.

The draft ordinance was brought to the Planning Commission for a workshop at their regular meeting on Thursday, April 18. The Planning Commission meeting and written staff report can be found on Legistar, the workshop starts at 1:30:04.

The draft inland and coastal versions of the ordinance were brought to the Planning Commission for a hearing at their regular meeting on Thursday, August 15. It was continued from the Thursday, July 18 Planning Commission meeting. The Planning Commission meeting and written staff report can be found on Legistar, the discussion starts at 0:05:25.

The draft inland and coastal versions of the ordinance were brought to the Board of Supervisors for a hearing at their regular meeting on Tuesday, October 1. The Board of Supervisors approved the inland and coastal versions of the Commercial Residential Ordinance 4-0. The Board of Supervisors meeting and written staff report can be found on Legistar, the discussion starts at 01:13:05.

Commercial Residential Ordinance and SB 6 Handout

The Inland version of the Commercial Residential Ordinance is effective as of October 31, 2024. 

The Coastal version of the Commercial Residential Ordinance will not be effective until it is certified by the California Coastal Commission. 

Zoning Updates Ordinance

The purpose of the Zoning Updates Ordinance is to amend and update the zoning code to be consistent with California Building Code, implement Humboldt County General Plan Implementation Measure H-IM63, and allow more housing flexibility. The following changes are proposed:

  • The definition of “structure” will be updated to exclude fences up to seven feet in height instead of six feet, to be consistent with California Building Code. 
  • A maximum fence height of three feet (3’) will be required for solid fences within the front yard setback of certain residential zones. Open fences can be up to seven feet (7’) within the front yard setback.
  • The definition of “family” will be updated as directed in Humboldt County General Plan Housing Element Implementation Measure H-IM63 and be consistent with State Law. 
  • “Mini-storage” will be defined and added to the conditionally permitted uses in certain zones.  
  • To be consistent with similar zones and encourage infill housing development in the Inland Business Park (MB) zone, residential uses subordinate to commercial uses within Housing Opportunity Zones will be principally permitted and will continue to require a Special Permit outside of Housing Opportunity Zones. 
  • To allow flexibility in housing types, the requirement to have four or fewer units per building will be removed from the Inland Residential Multiple Family (R-3) zone.

The draft inland and coastal versions of the ordinance were brought to the Planning Commission for a hearing at their regular meeting on Thursday, August 15. It was continued from the Thursday, July 18 Planning Commission meeting. The Planning Commission meeting and written staff report can be found on Legistar, the meeting starts at 1:44:25.

The draft inland and coastal versions of the ordinance were brought to the Board of Supervisors for a hearing at their regular meeting on Tuesday, October 1. The Board of Supervisors approved the inland and coastal versions of the Zoning Updates Ordinance 3-1. The Board of Supervisors meeting and written staff report can be found on Legistar, the discussion starts at 02:05:30.

The Inland version of the Zoning Updates Ordinance is effective as of Thursday, October 31, 2024.

The Coastal version of the Zoning Updates Ordinance will not be effective until it is certified by the California Coastal Commission. 

For more information, please contact Associate Planner Reanne Meighan at rmeighan@co.humboldt.ca.us or (707)268-3713.