Inland Countywide Z Combining District Removal, File No. PLP26-0013 (ORD26-0005 / ZCE26-0005)
Summary
SCH Number
2026100214
Public Agency
Sonoma County
Document Title
Inland Countywide Z Combining District Removal, File No. PLP26-0013 (ORD26-0005 / ZCE26-0005)
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
10/7/2026
Document Description
The ordinance includes amendments to Chapter 26 (Zoning Code) of the Sonoma County Code and updates to the Official Zoning Database to remove the Z (Accessory Dwelling Unit Exclusion) Combining District countywide from 3,997 parcels outside of the Coastal Zone.
Contact Information
Name
Isabella Wotring
Agency Name
Permit Sonoma
Job Title
Planner
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant
Phone
Location
Cities
None - unincorporated county only
Counties
Sonoma
Regions
San Francisco Bay Area, Unincorporated
Cross Streets
Unincorporated Countywide
Parcel #
Various
State Highways
US 1, US 101, SR 12, SR 37
Railways
Multiple
Airports
Sonoma County Airport
Schools
Multiple
Waterways
Multiple
Base
Diablo
Other Location Info
State Hwy: SR 121
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Other
Type, Section or Code
Statutory Exemption per Public Resources Code Section 21080.17, not subject to CEQA per CEQA section 15061(b)(3)
Reasons for Exemption
Permit Sonoma determined that the proposed amendments to Chapter 26 (Zoning Code) and parcel zoning changes are statutorily exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21080.17 which provides that the adoption of an ordinance by a city or county to implement State provisions for ADUs and JADUs is exempt from CEQA. Proposed actions would implement State ADU Law by eliminating the Z Combining District as an inconsistency between County Code and State ADU Law as directed by the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). In the alternative, these actions are not subject to CEQA pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) (the common sense exemption) which provides that CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect (substantial adverse change) on the environment. Since State-mandated ADUs must be allowed on inland parcels regardless of whether the Z Combining District remains and since purposes of the Z Combining District are evaluated on a case-by-case basis under existing County standards and procedures during permit review and/or are considered invalid under State ADU Law for the preclusion of ADUs, it can be seen with certainty that removal of the Z Combining District from inland parcels will have no possibility of a significant effect on the environment.
This Notice of Exemption
County Clerk
Sonoma
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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