Zoning by Area

The zoning by area dataset represents the detailed countywide distribution, location and extent of land development by base zoning districts, density and parcel specific combining districts (P, TS, Z) as specified in Sonoma County Code Zoning Regulations Chapter 26.

Chapter 26 has been adopted to promote and protect the public health, safety, peace, comfort, convenience and general welfare. It is also adopted for the following specified purposes:
(a) To provide for the orderly and beneficial land use of the county;
(b) To protect the character and social and economic stability of agricultural, residential, commercial, industrial and other communities within the county;
(c) To protect the public safety and welfare by regulating the location and uses of all structures and land;
(d) To protect and conserve the scenic, recreational and natural resource characteristics of the county; (Ord. No. 2392,  4)
(e) To provide for the orderly and timely processing of development projects as anticipated by the California Permit Streamlining Act. Development projects do not include rezoning, plan amendments or other applications accompanied by a request for a rezoning or plan amendment. (Ord. No. 4643, 1993.)

Chapter 26 specifies the applicability of base zoning districts to general plan land use categories (designations).  Therefore, base zoning districts and the general plan land uses are interdependent.  While the general plan land use specifies broader land use development policies, guidelines, and standards, each base zoning district is specific in stating purpose, permitted uses, uses permitted with a use permit and permitted residential density and development criteria.

Related Resources:
Sonoma County Zoning Regulations
http://www.sonoma-county.org/prmd/docs/zoning/index.htm

Sonoma County General Plan 2020 Index
http://www.sonoma-county.org/prmd/gp2020/adopted/index.htm

Since the GIS data was developed for planning purposes and use in publication of maps and/or database creation, the data is for illustrative purpose only and is not suitable for parcel specific decision making. 
 
Therefore, the GIS data presented herein are approximations and further land development determination is at the discretion of the PRMD planning staff which may require a parcel specific site review (to draw parcel specific conclusions).

Creation methodology & resources:
1) refer to Data Quality - Attribute Accuracy tab for historical dataset modifications by ActiveMap version release number
2) when incorporated (e.g. City) annexations are recorded with the County's Recorder, boundary data is modified to reflect current city boundary data - this dataset takes into account ALL RECORDED ANNEXATIONS as of 04/30/2010.
3) dataset includes Rezone Ordinances through 11/02/2010
4) for ActiveMap Data Capture December 2010 [ver. 2.1], rectified dataset to AM_PARCEL 10/22/2010 (modified to the borders of changed parcels & validated topology)

TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS:
This is the official zoning database also known as the electronic zoning. The base zoning was drawn from current zoning books, compared wtith Land Use maps and reviewed by planners. Corrections were made when errors were discovered by planners. Therefore, TECH_RVW and CORRECTION fields were added with the Potential Technical Corrections currently being reviewed by Planning Staff.

Note:
The Official Zoning Database (OZD) was adopted by the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors on June 12, 2007 and became official on July 12, 2007 (30 days from date of adoption).