A. 
Purpose and Intent. The purpose of the agricultural exclusive (AE) district is to provide for the preservation and protection of important agricultural lands that are being used for the commercial production of agricultural commodities, and that constitute economic units. For the purposes of this section, an economic unit shall mean land that is capable of sustaining agricultural operations under normal management by generating agricultural income sufficient to cover all expenses, and that is large enough to make efficient use of all required labor and equipment. It is intended that the AE district shall:
1. 
Restrict the use of land within the AE district to crop production, the raising of livestock, poultry and other animals, and to incidental uses that are customarily and necessarily related to agricultural operations, and incidental non-agricultural uses that are necessary for the health, safety, welfare and convenience of residents living and working in rural agricultural areas.
2. 
Prohibit land uses that are incompatible with commercial agricultural operations, including, but not limited to, certain residential, commercial, industrial and recreational uses.
3. 
Once applied to a specific property, not be changed to another zoning classification unless the Board of Supervisors determines that such a change would not adversely affect the continuation of commercial agricultural operations on adjoining parcels and in the site vicinity.
B. 
Allowable Land Uses and Permit Requirements. The following land uses are allowed in the AE zone as provided by Section 17.06.050 (Land use and permit tables), subject to the land use permit shown for each use, any applicable specific standards, and all other applicable provisions of this chapter.
ALLOWABLE LAND USES
LAND USE PERMIT
SPECIFIC STANDARDS IN SECTION:
Agricultural, Resource and Open Space Uses
Agricultural accessory structures
C
17.56.020(B)
Agricultural processing
MUP
Animal raising and keeping
See Section 17.56.050
Animal sales yards, feed lots, stockyards
CUP
Chicken, turkey and hog ranches
CUP
Crop production
A
Equestrian facilities
A
17.56.050
Fisheries and game preserves
A
Forestry
A
Grazing
A
17.04.030
Mining, surface and subsurface
CUP
17.56.270
Oil and gas wells
CUP
Plant nurseries, retail
MUP
Plant production nurseries
See Section 17.56.165
Water extraction and storage (commercial)
CUP
Winery
See Section 17.56.330
Manufacturing Uses
Explosives, manufacturing and storage
CUP
17.56.110
Food products
CUP
Slaughterhouses and rendering plants
CUP
Recreation, Education and Public Assembly Uses
Rural recreation
MUP
Shooting ranges, (commercial)
MUP
Temporary events
MUP
17.56.300
Residential Uses
Accessory and junior accessory dwelling units
C
17.56.200
Caretaker and employee housing
C
17.56.090
Farmworker dwelling unit
A
17.56.095
Farmworker housing complex
A
17.56.095
Home occupations
C
17.56.120
Mobile homes
C
17.56.150
Residential accessory uses
C
17.56.180
Single-family dwellings
C
17.56.230
Temporary dwelling
C
17.56.280
Retail Trade
Outdoor retail sales
See Section 17.56.160
Roadside stands for agricultural products
C
17.56.160
Service Uses
Offices, temporary
C
17.56.300
Public utility facilities
MUP
Storage, accessory
A
17.56.250
Storage of petroleum products, on-site use
C
17.56.250
Transportation and Communications
Airfields and landing strips
CUP
17.56.040
Antennas, communication facilities
See Section 17.56.160
Pipelines and transmission lines
A
KEY TO PERMIT REQUIREMENTS
Allowed use, zoning compliance required (17.06.050)
A
Zoning clearance required (17.06.050)
C
Minor use permit required (17.06.050)
MUP
Conditional use permit required (17.06.050)
CUP
Administrative review permit (17.06.050)
ARP
C. 
Minimum Parcel Size. Each parcel proposed for development or a new land use, and each new parcel proposed in a subdivision shall comply with the following provisions and Section 17.54.040 (Minimum parcel size). New parcels proposed in a subdivision shall also satisfy all applicable provisions of Chapter 16 of this code (Subdivisions).
1. 
Minimum Lot Area. Twenty acres, unless a -B combining district (Section 17.52.040) applies to the site, or a greater area is required by the health department or the provisions of Article 17.56 (Specific Use Requirements) for a particular land use.
2. 
Minimum Lot Width. Two hundred feet.
D. 
Residential Density. The maximum density for single-family dwellings in the AE zone shall be one unit per parcel of the minimum lot area required by subsection C of this section (Minimum Parcel Size), except where additional units are approved pursuant to Sections 17.56.230 (Single-family dwellings, density), or 17.56.200 (Secondary dwellings).
E. 
Site Development Standards. The following requirements shall apply to all new development in the AE zone, except where otherwise provided by Articles 17.54 (General Development Standards) or 17.56 (Specific Use Requirements) for a particular use or situation. Proposed buildings and structures shall be designed and constructed to satisfy the following setback, site coverage, and height limit requirements:
Development feature
Requirement
Setbacks (1) (2) (4)
Front
50 feet minimum
Street-side
30 feet minimum
Side
30 feet minimum
Rear
30 feet minimum
Site coverage (3)
10 percent maximum
Height limit (4)
36 feet maximum
Notes:
(1)
Additional requirements for setbacks from watercourses and all roads identified in the highway deficiency report and countywide capital improvement program, setbacks between structures on the same site, and setbacks in other situations are established by Section 17.54.140 (Exceptions to front, street-side, side and rear setbacks) and by Article 17.56 for certain specific land uses.
(2)
As required by the California Board of Forestry Fire Safe regulations, Section 1276.01, Title 14, California Code of Regulations, if lot size is one acre or larger.
(3)
The percentage of total site area that may be covered by buildings or structures.
(4)
Except as otherwise provided by Section 17.54.020 (Height limits and exceptions), or by Article 17.56 for a specific use.
(Ord. 5126-B, 2001; Ord. 5304-B Exh. 1, 2004; Ord. 5459-B Exh. A, 2007; Ord. 5526-B § 3, 2008; Ord. 5692-B § 3, 2012; Ord. 6022-B § 3, 2020; Ord. 6048-B § 5, 2020; Ord. 6144-B § 3, 2022)