Indio Fairgrounds Water and Electrical Improvements at the Recreational Vehicle (RV) Parking Lot, Indio

2026010927

Riverside County

NOE - Notice of Exemption

1/28/2026

1/28/2026

Mike Sullivan

Riverside County

Senior Environmental Planner/Facilities Operations Manager

Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant / Parties Undertaking Project

3450 14th Street, Third Floor
Riverside, CA 92501

(951) 955-8009

msullivan@rivco.org

82503 Highway 111, east of Arabia Street

92201

614-040-002

CA HWY 111

Categorical Exemption

Section 15301 Class 1 Existing Facilities

This Class 1 categorical exemption includes the operation, repair, maintenance, leasing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures or facilities, provided the exemption only involves negligible or no expansion of the previous site’s use. The existing facility consists of the Indio Desert Expo/Riverside County Fairgrounds that is located on developed County-owned land and is not located on environmentally sensitive land. The water and electrical improvements to the site would be within the existing facility footprint and would be consistent with the existing land use. No new substantial capacity would be created by the project. The project includes the provision of electrical and water hookups to the RV parking lot. The utility infrastructure currently exists adjacent to the site and no new increase in capacity of the infrastructure would be required to accommodate the hookups. Therefore, the project is exempt as it meets the scope and intent of the Categorical Exemption identified in Section 15301, Article 19, Categorical Exemptions of the CEQA Guidelines.

Categorical Exemption

Section 15311 Class 11 Accessory Structures

This Class 11 categorical exemption includes the construction, or placement of minor structures accessory to (appurtenant to) existing commercial, industrial, or institutional facilities. The project, as proposed, includes water and electrical improvements to the RV parking lot at the Indio Fairgrounds. These improvements would be appurtenant to the existing Fairgrounds and will not substantially increase or expand the use of the site; therefore, the project is exempt as the project meets the scope and intent of the Class 11 Exemption identified in Section 15311, Article 19, Categorical Exemptions of the CEQA Guidelines.

Other

Section 15061 (b)(3) Common Sense

In accordance with CEQA, the use of the Common Sense Exemption is based on the “general rule that CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment.” State CEQA Guidelines, Section 15061(b) (3). The use of this exemption is appropriate if “it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment.” Ibid. This determination is an issue of fact and if sufficient evidence exists in the record that the activity cannot have a significant effect on the environment, then the exemption applies and no further evaluation under CEQA is required. See No Oil, Inc. v. City of Los Angeles (1974) 13 Cal. 3d 68. The ruling in this case stated that if a project falls within a category exempt by administrative regulation or 'it can be seen with certainty that the activity in question will not have a significant effect on the environment', no further agency evaluation is required. The proposed improvements to the existing facility will not result in any direct or indirect physical environmental impacts. The utility improvements would require limited construction activity within the existing site and would not alter the function or use of the site, have any external physical effects, or result in a substantial increase in capacity. The improvements are limited to the provision of electrical and eater hookups to RVs in the existing parking lot. The site improvements would improve the function of the facility and the use and operation of the facility will be substantially similar to the existing use and will not create any new environmental impacts. Therefore, in no way, would the project as proposed have the potential to cause a significant environmental impact and the project is exempt from further CEQA analysis.