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Planning and Building Department, Planning Division, recommending the Board receive a presentation on Agricultural Lodging options and provide direction to staff.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
In this Agricultural Lodging (Ag Lodging) item, staff will summarize what has been heard from key stakeholders, provide examples of what is currently being done by other California local jurisdictions, and outline three options for the Board to consider and provide direction on.
Prior Board Engagement
On April 12, 2017 (Legistar file 17-0154) the Board discussed options that would provide enhanced agritourism opportunities to properties with Agricultural (Ag) zoning.
On September 24, 2024 (Legistar file 24-1534) the Ag Commissioner and Planning & Building Department were directed to work with the agricultural community on an Ag Lodging model.
On August 26, 2025 (Legistar file 25-1433) the Chief Administrative Office, in coordination with the Budget Ad Hoc Committee, provided the Board information regarding revenue generating options. Agricultural Homestays/Ag Lodging was one of the potential options. An increase in lodging options on agricultural properties could increase Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) revenues.
Community Engagement
Staff engaged with key stakeholders from the County’s Agricultural community on July 25, 2025. At that meeting the current Ag Lodging options in the Zoning Ordinance (ZO) were discussed. Staff’s California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) analysis was also presented, which essentially creates the ‘side boards’ in which we must operate without further analysis. Potential Modifications to the County’s ZO were then discussed. These included providing a potential pathway for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) to be used for Ag Lodging, providing a pathway for unpermitted structures to become legal through a program similar to the County’s Amnesty Program. The following questions were also discussed:
o What outcomes do we wan...
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