Farmworker/Animal Caretaker Dwelling Units

The County defines a Farmworker Dwelling Unit as a dwelling occupied by a farmworker, and his or her family, employed full time and working on the same lot on which the dwelling unit is located or on other land that is under the same ownership or lease as the subject lot. Verification of employment of the farmworker or animal caretaker is required. Please note that there is no code provision for a property caretaker.

To determine the type of planning permit required for a proposed farmworker dwelling unit, you must determine if your project site is located in a coastal or non-coastal area.

For project sites located in non-coastal areas, farmworker dwellings must conform to sections 8105-4 and 8107-26 of the Non-Coastal Zoning Ordinance to be permissible on the appropriately zoned parcels. Should a farmworker dwelling unit not meet the conditions of Section 8107-26, a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) can be applied for. For project sites located in the coastal zone, farmworker dwelling units are permissible on condition of conformity to sections 8175.35 and 8176-2 (m) of the Coastal Zoning Ordinance.

• Farmworker Dwelling Units, which are located in the non-coastal zone and meet the requirements in the Non-Coastal Zoning Ordinance, may require the issuance of a Zoning Clearance. Please fill out a Zoning Clearance Application and bring this with a set of site plans (include one set of 8.5”x11” reductions), floor plans, and elevation drawings to the Planning Public Counter at the County Government Center. To obtain the exact fee for a Farmworker Dwelling Unit at your project site, please contact a planner at the Planning Public Counter at (805) 654-2488.

•  Farmworker Dwelling Units, which are located in the coastal zone and meet the requirements in the Coastal Zoning Ordinance, require the issuance of a Coastal Planned Development Permit (or a Planning Commission approved Conditional Use Permit) by the Planning Director, following environmental review and notification to neighbors. To obtain the necessary application materials and information about the approval process and fees for Coastal farmworker dwelling units, please contact a planner at the Planning Public Counter at (805) 654-2488.