§ 8172-1. Application of definitions.

Unless the provision or context otherwise requires, the definitions of words and term as follows shall govern the construction of this Chapter. Additional definitions may be found in Appendix 7 of the LCP Land Use Plan appendices.

A-Frame Structure—A structure shaped in the configuration of the letter A, with angled exterior walls that also serve as a roof to the structure and that meet at the top ridge.

Abut—To touch physically, to border upon, or to share a common property line with. Lots that touch at corners only shall not be deemed abutting. Adjoining and contiguous shall mean the same as abutting.

Access—The place or way by which pedestrians and/or vehicles shall have safe, adequate, usable ingress and egress to a property or use as required by this Chapter.

Accessory Structure—A detached structure containing no kitchen or cooking facilities, and located upon the same lot as the building or use to which it is acces sory, and the use of which is customarily incidental, appropriate and subordinate to the use of the principal building, or to the principal use of the land.

Accessory Use—A use customarily incidental, appropriate and subordinate to the principal use of land or buildings located upon the same lot.

Agriculture—Farming, including animal husbandry and the production and management of crops (including aquatic crops) for food, fiber, fuel and ornament.

Aircraft—Includes helicopters, all fixed wing airplanes, hang-gliders and ultra-light aircraft.

Airfields and Landing Strips, Private—An aircraft landing strip or heliport for agricultural crop dusting or personal use of the property owner or tenants, not available for public use, and with no commercial operations.

Albedo—A measure of a material's ability to reflect sunlight on a scale of zero (0) to one (1), with a value of 0.0 indicating the surface absorbs all solar radiation (e.g., charcoal) and a value of 1.0 representing total reflectivity (e.g., snow).

Alley—A private way permanently reserved as a secondary means of vehicular access to adjoining property.

Alluvium—A deposit of clay, silts, sand, and gravel left by flowing streams in a river valley or delta, but may be deposited at any point where the river overflows its banks. Loose alluvial material that is deposited or cemented into a lithological unit, or lithified, is called an alluvial deposit.

Alternatives Analysis—The evaluation of a range of alternatives (e.g., strategies) with the objective of selecting the least environmentally damaging feasible alternative.

Amortize—To require the termination of (a nonconforming use or structure) at the end of a specified period of time.

Animal Caretaker—A person employed full time on the same property for activities associated with Animal Husbandry or Animal Keeping.

Animal Husbandry—A branch of agriculture for the raising or nurturing and management of animals, including breeding, pasturing or ranching for such purposes as animal sales, food production, fiber production, ornament, or beneficial use (e.g. insectaries).

Animal Keeping—The keeping of animals other than for husbandry or pet purposes, with or without compensation; including such activities as boarding, stabling, pasturing, rehabilitating, training of animals and lessons for their owners, and recreational riding by the owners of the animals; but excluding such activities as the rental use of the animals by people other than the owners, and excluding events such as organized competitions, judging and the like.

Animals, Pet—Domesticated animals such as dogs, cats, and rabbits, which are customarily kept for pleasure rather than animal husbandry or animal keeping.

Animals, Wild—Animals that are wild by nature and not customarily domesticated. This definition does not include birds, small rodents or small, nonpoisonous reptiles commonly used for educational or experimental purposes, or as pets.

Antenna—A whip (omni-directional antenna), panel (directional antenna), disc (parabolic antenna), or similar device used for transmission or reception of radio waves or microwaves. Devices used to amplify the transmission and reception of radio waves, such as remote radio units, are not included.

Antenna, Freestanding—A metallic device for transmitting or receiving radio waves that rests on or is located in the ground. Included are antennas supported by guy wires and similar mechanisms.

Apiculture—Beekeeping, which includes one or more hives or boxes, occupied by bees (hives or boxes includes colonies), but does not include honey houses, extraction houses, warehouses or appliances.

Appealable Development—A development whose approval or denial by the County of Ventura may be appealed to the Coastal Commission.

Applied Water—The portion of water supplied by the irrigation system to the landscape area.

Aquaculture—A form of agriculture devoted to the propagation, cultivation, maintenance, and harvesting of aquatic plants and animals in marine, brackish, and fresh water. "Aquaculture" does not include species of ornamental marine or freshwater plants and animals not utilized for human consumption or bait purposes that are maintained in closed systems for personal, pet industry, or hobby purposes.

Archaeological Resource—The material remains (artifacts, structures, refuse, etc.) produced purposely or accidentally by members of human cultures predating the 19th century with one or more of the following characteristics:

1.

Possessing a special quality such as oldest, best example, largest, or last surviving example of its kind;

2.

Are at least one hundred (100) years old; and possessing substantial stratigraphic integrity;

3.

Are significant to Chumash or Native American prehistory or history;

4.

Are significant to the maritime history of California including European exploration, Spanish Colonial and Mission period, Mexican period, and United States statehood.

5.

Contain sacred, burial ground, traditional ceremonial material gathering sites, or other significant artifacts;

6.

Relate to significant events or persons;

7.

Are of specific local importance;

8.

Have yielded, or may be likely to yield, information in prehistory or history;

9.

Can provide information that is of demonstrable public interest and is useful in addressing scientifically consequential and reasonable research questions; or

10.

Involve important research questions that historical research has shown can be answered only with archaeological methods.

Archaeologist, Qualified Consultant—A consultant who meets one or more of the following professional qualifications in archeology, subject to approval of the Planning Director:

1.

Holds an advanced degree from an accredited institution (M.A., M.S., Ph.D.) in Archaeology, Anthropology, or related discipline;

2.

Holds a B.A. or B.S. degree including twelve (12) semester units in supervised archaeology field work experience; or

3.

Has at least five (5) years of relevant research in field work experience or presents evidence of professional certification or listing on a Register of Professional Archaeologists (ROPA) as recognized by the Society for American Archaeology (SAA), Society of Professional Archeologists (SOPA), the Society for Historical Archaeology (SHA), and the governing board of the Archaeological Institute of America (AIA).

Areas of Special Biological Significance—Those areas designated by the State Water Resources Control Board as requiring protection of species or biological communities to the extent that alteration of natural water is undesirable.

Artificial Fill—A layer of well-graded soil material that is designed and compacted to engineered specifications in order to support a roadbed, building, or other improvement or structure.

Artificial Turf—A man-made surface manufactured from synthetic materials which simulate the appearance of live turf, grass, sod, or lawn.

Assembly Use—A building or structure where groups of individuals voluntarily meet to pursue their common social, educational, religious, or other interests. For the purpose of this definition, assembly uses include but are not limited to libraries, schools and hospitals, and do not include temporary outdoor festivals or outdoor sporting events.

Average Slope—The mean slope of an entire parcel of land before grading has commenced. Average slope is measured by the formula detailed in the Coastal Open Space (COS) or Coastal Agricultural (CA) Zones in this Chapter, and, in part, determines minimum parcel size(s) for proposed subdivisions.

Aviary—Any lot or premises on which domestic birds are kept for commercial purposes.

Backflow Prevention Device—A safety device used to prevent contamination of the drinking water supply system due to the reverse flow of water from the irrigation system.

Bathroom—A room with a sink, a toilet, and a bathtub and/or shower.

Bed rock—The relatively solid, undisturbed rock in place either at the ground surface or beneath superficial deposits of alluvium, colluvium and/or soil.

Beach Erosion—The removal and wearing away of the beach area by wave, wind or storm action.

Bed-and-Breakfast Inn—A single family dwelling with guest rooms where lodging and one (1) or more meals are offered for compensation to overnight guests.

Biologist, Qualified—A person who graduated from an accredited college or university with a bachelor or higher degree in biology, botany, wildlife biology, natural resources, ecology, conservation biology or environmental biology, and who also possesses at least four (4) years of professional experience with the preparation of biological resources assessments. The County's staff biologist serves as a qualified biologist with the authority to review permit application materials prepared by other qualified biologists.

Bioretention—A water quality best management practice that consists of a depressed area that utilizes soil and plants to slow runoff velocity, remove pollutants, and temporarily retain stormwater to increase infiltration into the ground.

Board and Care of Horses—The keeping, feeding, exercising, etc., of horses owned by others, for compensation.

Boardinghouse—A dwelling unit wherein two or more rooms are rented to residents for whom daily meals are furnished.

Boarding Schools—Schools providing lodging and meals for the pupils.

Boatel—A building or buildings containing guest rooms or dwelling units that are used wholly or in part for the accommodation of boat transients, and are located near or abutting a river, lake or ocean.

Botanic Gardens and Arboreta—An area managed by a scientific or educational institution for the purpose of advancing and diffusing knowledge and appreciation of plants, and that meets all of the following criteria:

1.

The area functions as an aesthetic display, educational display, or research site that may be open to the public;

2.

Plant records are maintained for the area. At least one staff member (paid or unpaid) experienced in horticulture that maintains and manages the area; and

3.

Visitors can identify plants at the area through labels, guide maps, or other interpretive materials.

Breeding Colony—An aggregation of breeding birds of one or more species, which may include large numbers of individual birds. Also referred to as a rookery.

Buffer Area—The area within one hundred (100) feet of the boundary of any environmentally sensitive habitat area (ESHA).

Building—Any structure having a roof supported by columns or walls, and intended for the shelter, housing or enclosure of persons, animals, or personal property of any kind.

Building Envelope—The area of a proposed parcel that contains all structures, including but not limited to: the primary residential structure, other accessory residential structures, barns, garages, swimming pools, and storage sheds. Specifically excluded are fences and walls.

Camp—A rural facility with permanent structures for overnight accommodation and accessory structures and buildings, which is used for temporary leisure, recreational or study purposes, and provides opportunities for the enjoyment or appreciation of the natural environment.

Campground—A rural facility without permanent structures for overnight accommodation, but with limited accessory structures and buildings, which is used for temporary leisure or recreational purposes and provides opportunities for the enjoyment or appreciation of the natural environment.

Caretaker—An employee who must be on the property for a substantial portion of each day for security purposes or for the vital care of people, plants, animals, equipment or other conditions of the site.

Certificate of Completion—A document provided by the Planning Division to the permittee that confirms the landscape area was planted, and irrigation was installed, as applicable, in accordance with the approved landscape documentation package.

Certification—Written documentation signed by an appropriate expert (as determined by the Planning Director) which states, in a manner consistent with this Chapter, his/her opinion that there is no reasonable and appropriate alternative to altering or removing a given tree. The term "certification" may also mean that a written statement is true or correct or that something or someone has met certain standards or requirements.

Check Valve—A valve located under a sprinkler head, or other location in the irrigation system, to hold water in the system and prevent drainage from sprinkler heads when the sprinkler is off.

Class 1 Pathway—A right-of-way which is completely separated from the paved portion of the road (i.e., travel-way, parking and shoulder) for use by bicyclists, pedestrians, and other non-motorized forms of transportation (e.g., equestrians).

Class 2 Bike Lane—A striped lane within the road right-of-way for one-way travel by bicyclists. Also includes "Bike Lane" signage.

Clear Sight Triangle—The area of unobstructed visibility at street intersections or driveways that allows a driver to see approaching vehicles.

Clubhouse—Any building or premises used by an association of persons, whether incorporated or unincorporated, organized for some common purpose, but not including a gun club or an association or group organized to render, purchase or otherwise make use of a service customarily carried on as a commercial enterprise.

Coastal Access—The ability of the public to reach, use or view the shoreline, coastal waters, coastal recreation areas, inland public recreation areas or public trails, and other significant coastal resource areas such as natural open space and habitats. Coastal access includes all such public access areas within the coastal zone and is not limited to shoreline locations.

Coastal Access Parking—Parking areas that facilitate the ability of the general public to reach, use or view coastal resource areas including, but not limited to, the shoreline, coastal waters, public open space or recreation areas, and trails. These parking areas may be dedicated for coastal access purposes or may be available for general public use.

Coastal-Dependent Development or Use—Any development or use which requires a site on, or adjacent to, the sea to be able to function at all.

Coastal Development Permit—A discretionary permit required pursuant to this Chapter or Section 30600(a) of the Coastal Act. Conditional Use Permits, Planned Development Permits and Public Works Permits are Coastal Development Permits.

Coastal-Related Development or Use—Any development or use which is dependent on a coastal-dependent development or use.

Coastal Resources—Areas that include but are not limited to: public access facilities and opportunities; recreation areas and recreational facilities and opportunities (including for recreational water-oriented activities); visitor serving opportunities; scenic resources; public views; natural landforms; marine resources; water quality; watercourses (e.g., rivers, streams, creeks, etc.) and their related corridors; water bodies (e.g., wetlands, estuaries, lakes, etc.), and uplands; ground water resources; biological resources; environmentally sensitive habitat areas; wetlands; agricultural lands; and archaeological and paleontological resources.

Coastal Zone—That portion of the land and water area of Ventura County as shown on the "Coastal Zone" maps adopted by the California Coastal Commission.

Colonial Roosts—An area used as a resting location by a group of migratory birds of one or more species. Birds may also breed in aggregations of many individuals, which is known as a breeding colony.

Commercial Vehicle—A motor vehicle designed or regularly used for the transportation of persons for hire, compensation, or profit or that is designed and maintained to carry freight or merchandise, whether loaded or empty, including buses. This definition does not include vehicles used for emergency purposes, vanpools, or recreational vehicles operating under their own power. Examples of a commercial vehicle include the following:

• Any single vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rate (GVWR) greater than 10,000 pounds.

• A vehicle designed to transport ten (10) or more passengers including the driver.

• A van or bus designed to transport fifteen (15) or more passengers including the driver.

• Any size vehicles which requires hazardous material placards or is carrying materials listed as a select agent or toxin in Title 42, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 73.

Commission—The California Coastal Commission.

Communications Facilities—Includes unstaffed uses and structures such as radio and television dishes/antennas, radar stations, and microwave towers.

Community Center—A meeting place where people living in the same community may carry on cultural, recreational, or social activities, but excluding any facility operated as a business or for commercial purposes.

Conference Center/Convention Center—An urban facility for the assembly of persons for study and discussion, which includes permanent structures for dining, assembly and overnight accommodation.

Conversion Factor—The conversion factor of 0.62 required to convert acre-inches-per-acre-per-year to gallons-per-square-foot-per-year in the calculation of the Maximum Applied Water Allowance (MAWA).

Cultural Heritage Site—An improvement, natural feature, site, or district that has completed the legally-required procedures to have it designated by the Ventura County Cultural Heritage Board or the Ventura County Board of Supervisors, as a District, Landmark, Site of Merit, or Point of Interest.

Day Care Center—Any child care facility licensed by the State of California, except for a family day care home, such as infant centers, preschools, care of the developmentally disabled, and child extended care facilities.

Decision, Discretionary—Discretionary decisions involve cases that require the exercise of judgment, deliberation, or decision on the part of the decision-making authority In the process of approving or disapproving a particular activity, as distinguished from situations where the decision-making authority merely has to determine whether there has been conformity with applicable statutes, ordinances, or regulations. Examples of cases requiring discretionary decisions to be made by the Board of Supervisors, Planning Commission and Planning Director include all those not classified as "ministerial" such as: Conditional Use Permits, Variances, Zone Changes, Planned Development Permits, Tentative Subdivision Maps and Time Extensions thereto, General Plan Amendments; and appeals, modifications and revocations, where applicable, of the above referenced decisions.

Decision, Ministerial—Ministerial decisions are approved by a decision-making authority based upon a given set of facts in a prescribed manner in obedience to the mandate of legal authority. In such cases, the authority must act upon the given facts without regard to its own judgment or opinion concerning the property or wisdom of the act although the statute, ordinance or regulation may require, in some degree, a construction of its language by the decision-making authority. In summary, a ministerial decision involves only the use of fixed standards or objective measurements without personal judgment.

Decision-Making Authority—An individual or body vested with the authority to make recommendations or act on application requests. The final decision-making authority is the one that has the authority to act on a request by approving or denying it.

Development—Shall mean, on land or in or under water, the placement or erection of any solid material or structure; discharge or disposal of any dredged material or of any gaseous, liquid, solid, or thermal waste; grading, removing, dredging, mining, or extraction of any materials; change in the density or intensity of use of land, including, but not limited to, subdivision pursuant to the Subdivision Map Act (commencing with Section 66410 of the Government Code), and any other division of land, including lot splits, except where the land division is brought about in connection with the purchase of such land by a public agency for public recreational use; change in the intensity of use of water, or of access thereto; construction, reconstruction, demolition, or alteration of the size of any structure, including any facility of any private, public, or municipal utility; and the removal or harvesting of major vegetation other than for agricultural purpose, kelp harvesting, and timber operations which are in accordance with a timber harvesting plan submitted pursuant to the provisions of the Z'berg-Nejedly Forest Act of 1973 (commencing with Section 4511).

As used in this section, "structure" includes, but is not limited to, any building, road, pipe, flume, conduit, siphon, aqueduct, telephone line, and electrical power transmission and distribution line.

Development, Upland—See "Upland Development."

Development Subject to Appeal—A development whose approval or denial by the County may be appealed to the Coastal Commission. In compliance with Public Resources Code Section 30603(a), development subject to appeal consists of the following:

(a)

Development approved by the County between the sea and the first public road paralleling the sea, or within three hundred (300) feet of the inland extent of any beach, or within three hundred (300) feet of the mean high tide line of the sea where there is no beach, whichever is the greater distance.

(b)

Development approved by the County that is not included within subsection (a) and is located on tidelands; submerged lands, public trust lands; within one hundred (100) feet of any wetland, estuary, or stream; or within three hundred (300) feet of the top of the seaward face of any coastal bluff.

(c)

Any development approved by the County that is not designated as the principally-permitted use under this Chapter.

(d)

Any development that constitutes a major public works project or a major energy facility.

Diffused Light/Illumination—Soft light reflected from an adjacent surface or projected through a semi-transparent material, such as frosted light bulbs.

Disability—For purposes of this section, "disability" shall have the same meaning as that term has in Section 12926 of the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, and Section 12012 of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, (42 U.S.C. Sec. 12012).

District—An area possessing a significant concentration, linkage, or continuity of sites, buildings, structures, or objects united historically or aesthetically by plan or physical development.

Domestic Birds—Doves, finches, mynah birds, parrots and similar birds of the psittacine family, pigeons, ravens and toucans.

Drilling, Temporary Geologic—Bona fide temporary search and sampling activities that, in the case of oil-related testing, use drilling apparatus smaller than that used in oil production.

Drip Irrigation—An irrigation method that minimizes water use through the application of water that drips slowly to the roots of plants, either onto the soil surface or directly into the root zone, through a network of valves, pipes, tubing, and emitters.

Drive Aisle—A driving area within a parking area or parking structure used by motor vehicles to maneuver, turn around, and/or access parking spaces.

Dwelling—A building or portion thereof designed for or occupied exclusively for residential purposes.

Dwelling, Animal Caretaker—A dwelling unit occupied by animal caretaker(s), and their families, employed full time and working on the same lot on which the dwelling unit is located, or on other land in the County that is under the same ownership or lease as the subject lot.

Dwelling, Caretaker—A dwelling unit occupied by a caretaker, and his or her family, employed full time and working on the same lot on which the dwelling unit is located or on other land in the County that is under the same ownership or lease as the subject lot.

Dwelling, Farm Worker—A dwelling unit used by farm worker(s) and their families, employed and working on or hired from the premises.

Dwelling, Multi-Family—A building, or portion of a building containing three or more dwelling units.

Dwelling, Farm Worker—A dwelling unit occupied by farm worker(s), and their families, employed full time and working on the same lot on which the dwelling unit is located or on other land in the County that is under the same ownership or lease as the subject lot.

Dwelling, Single-Family—A building constructed in conformance with the Uniform Building Code, or a mobilehome constructed on or after June 15, 1976, containing one (1) principal dwelling unit.

Dwelling, Two-Family—A building containing two (2) principal dwelling units.

Dwelling Unit—One (1) or more rooms in a dwelling, with internal access between all rooms, that provide complete independent living facilities for one (1) family, including permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation, but contain only one (1) kitchen.

Dwelling Unit, Second—A dwelling unit that is accessory to a principal dwelling. Second dwelling units include, but are not limited to, guest quarters, guesthouses, maid's quarters, granny flats, and sleeping rooms. Where a room or rooms have bathing facilities (i.e., a shower or bathtub) or a kitchen, or both, and no means of internal access to the principal dwelling, the room or rooms shall be a second dwelling unit.

Emergency—A sudden unexpected occurrence demanding immediate action to prevent or mitigate loss or damage to life, health, property, or essential public services. This may include such occurrences as fire, flood, and earthquake or other soil or geologic movements.

Energy Facility—Any public or private processing, producing, generating, storing, transmitting, or recovering facility for electricity, natural gas, petroleum, coal, or other sources of energy (See also "Major Public Works Project and Energy Facility").

Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Area (ESHA)—Any area in which plant or animal life or their habitats are either rare or especially valuable because of their special nature or role in an ecosystem and which could be easily disturbed or harmed by human activities and development, including, but not limited to: Areas of Special Biological Significance as identified by the State Water Resource Control Board; rare and endangered species habitats identified by the State Department of Fish and Game; all coastal wetlands and lagoons; all marine, wildlife, and education and research reserves; nearshore reefs; stream corridors; lakes; tidepools; seacaves; Islets and offshore rocks; kelp beds; significant coastal dunes; indigenous dune plant habitats; and wilderness and primitive areas.

Established Landscaping—The level of plant growth or coverage specified in the approved landscape documentation package that satisfies the landscape plan performance criteria.

Estimated Total Water Use (ETWU)—The annual total amount of water estimated to keep plants in a healthy state. ETWU is calculated from the evapotranspiration rate, the size of the landscaped area, plant water demand, and the efficiency of the irrigation system within each hydrozone.

Evapotranspiration—The loss of water from a vegetated surface through the combined processes of soil evaporation and plant transpiration.

Exterior Storage—The outdoor placement or keeping of materials in an area not fully enclosed by a storage structure. (Also see Section 8175-5.1(j).)

Family—An individual, or two or more persons living together as a single housekeeping unit in a dwelling unit. Includes residents and operators of a residential facility under the Community Care Facilities Act.

Family Day Care Home—A home licensed by the State of California to provide care, protection, and supervision for periods less than twenty-four (24) hours per day for fourteen (14) or fewer children, including children under the age of ten (10) years who reside at the provider's home.

Farm Plan—A plan for new agriculture in text and map form which includes but is not limited to information on irrigated crop types, crop locations, and phased implementation.

Farm Worker—A person principally employed for agriculture or agricultural operations.

Feasible—Capable of being accomplished in a successful manner within a reasonable period of time, taking into account economic, environmental, social, and technological factors.

Fence—Any type of fence, wall, hedge or thick growth of shrubs used as screens, but not including windbreaks for the protection of orchards or crops.

Fence, See-Through—A fence, such as the chain link type, that permits at least fifty (50) percent open visibility throughout the fence.

Field, Athletic—A level, open expanse of land intended to be used for organized team sports such as baseball, football and soccer.

Fill—Earth or any other substance or material, including pilings placed for the purposes of erecting structures thereon, placed in a submerged area.

Film, Base Camp—An area where trailers, vehicles, equipment, and catering services are located during film production activities.

Film Location—Each contiguous or noncontiguous parcel used for film production activities. Each film location may contain multiple film permit areas.

Film Permit—The written authorization issued by the Planning Division that allows the permit holder to conduct film production activities. Film permits may be issued as Zoning Clearances or Planned Development Permits as provided herein.

Film Permit Area—Areas that are temporarily dedicated to film production activities. Such areas include the film base camp and film set.

Film Production Activities—All uses, structures and activities including but not limited to film production preparation, film production striking, film base camp, and aviation services, that are related to the production of motion pictures, television programming, music and corporate videos, advertisements, web production, and film still photography for sale or use for a commercial purpose. For the purposes of this definition, film production activities do not include permanent film studios.

Film Production, Preparation—Onsite work or activities preceding film production activities including but not limited to the transportation of trailers, vehicles, equipment, catering services, and film crew to the film permit area(s); the installation of equipment (lighting, audio, cameras, etc.); construction of the film set; and rigging for stunts/film special effects.

Film Production, Striking—Onsite work or activities following film production activities including but not limited to dismantling film production equipment; un-rigging stunts/film special effects; and removing trailers, vehicles and equipment from the film permit area.

Film Production, Temporary—Film production activities of limited duration which do not exceed one hundred eighty (180) days and which do not involve permanent structures.

Film Pyrotechnics—The use of explosive materials during film production activities. The term "explosive" refers to incendiary devices or ingredients that ignite by fire, friction, or detonation to cause visual and/or auditory effects. Film pyrotechnics include but are not limited to dynamite and fireworks that require a state explosives license from the California State Fire Marshall.

Film Set—The geographic areas used for filming, which include scenery and props arranged for film production activities. The film set and film base camp constitute the two (2) areas used for film production activities.

Film Special Effects—An image or sound created during film production activities. Film special effects include but are not limited to snow, rain, wind, fog, smoke, fire, firearms, blank cartridges, and bullet hits (squibs).

Film, Still Photography—Taking photographs of people or objects for sale or commercial publication with assistance from a production crew and equipment used in photography (e.g., lighting, wardrobe, makeup, etc.). Still photography also includes a person who photographs a film production for purposes related to the film production.

Fire Resistant Plants—Plants that do not readily ignite from a flame or other ignition source. These plants can be damaged or even killed by fire, but their foliage and stems do not significantly contribute to the fuel load or the fire's intensity.

Friable—A soil condition that is easily crumbled or loosely compacted down to a minimum depth per planting material requirements, whereby the root structure of newly planted material will be allowed to spread unimpeded.

Fuel Modification—A method of modifying fuel load by reducing the amount of non-fire resistive vegetation or altering the type of vegetation to reduce the fuel load.

Fuel Modification Zone—The area around a structure where the existing vegetation is altered pursuant to an approved fuel modification plan. The purpose of the fuel modification zone is to reduce fuel load for fire protection purposes.

Geotechnical and Soils Testing—Exploratory borings and excavations conducted under the direction of a Soils Engineer or Engineering Geologist, but excluding the construction of access roads or pads for exploratory excavations.

GIS—Geographic Information System; within the Coastal Zone, the digital data system that includes zoning and land use data that conforms to the zoning and land use maps officially certified by the California Coastal Commission.

Grade—Adjacent ground level. For purposes of building height measurement, grade is the average of the finished ground level along the walls of a building. In the case where walls are parallel to and within five (5) feet of a sidewalk, the finished ground level is measured at the sidewalk.

Graywater—Untreated wastewater that has not been contaminated by toilet discharge, has not been affected by infectious, contaminated, or unhealthy bodily wastes, and does not present a threat from contamination by unhealthful processing, manufacturing, or operating wastes. "Graywater" includes but is not limited to wastewater from bathtubs, showers, bathroom washbasins, clothes washing machines, and laundry tubs, but does not include wastewater from kitchen sinks or dishwashers.

Graywater System—A system of tanks, valves, filters, and pumps designed to collect and transport graywater for distribution to a landscape irrigation system.

Gross Floor Area—The area included within the surrounding exterior walls of all floors or levels of a building, exclusive of unenclosed shafts and courtyards, or, if the structure lacks walls, the area of all floors or levels included under the roofed/covered area of a structure.

Groundcover—Any low-growing plant that grows over an area of ground and is used to provide protection from erosion and to improve its aesthetic appearance by concealing bare soil. Groundcover does not include turf.

Gun Club—Any building or premises where there are facilities of any sort for the firing of handguns, rifles or other firearms.

Habitat—The natural environment of a plant or animal species.

Habitat Restoration Plan—A program whereby the site is intentionally altered to establish a defined, indigenous, historic biological community or ecosystem with the goal of returning full functions to lost or degraded native habitats.

Harbor Uses—This heading includes only the following uses: Anchorages, mooring slips, docks, outboard ramps and public landings; construction, repair, storage and sales of boats; fish-icing plants, handling bases for fish, and kelp production; private recreation areas; public buildings; public and private utility buildings; service facilities, including sport fishing; storage and transshipment facilities; water dispensing and production facilities; and accessory uses required for harbor operations.

Hardscape—Paved areas (pervious or non-pervious), patios, walls, decks, water features, walkways and other nonliving or human-made fixtures of a planned landscape. For the purpose of Section 8178-8, Water Efficient Landscaping Requirements, hardscapes do not include parking lots.

Hazard Fire Area—Private- or publicly-owned land that is covered with grass, grain, brush, or forest that is so situated or is of such inaccessible location that a fire originating upon such land would present an abnormally difficult job of suppression or would result in great and unusual damage through fire or resulting erosion. Such areas, which are designated by the fire code official, typically include any location within 500 feet of a forest, brush, grass, or grain covered land.

Hazardous Waste—A waste product, or combination of waste products, that because of its quantity, concentration, or physical, chemical or infectious characteristics may do any of the following:

(a)

Cause, or significantly contribute to, an increase in mortality.

(b)

Increase serious irreversible, or incapacitating reversible, illness.

(c)

Pose a substantial present or potential future hazard to human health or environment due to factors including, but not limited to, carcinogenicity, acute toxicity, chronic toxicity, bio-accumulative properties, or persistence in the environment when improperly treated, stored, transported, disposed of, or otherwise managed.

Unless expressly provided otherwise, the term "hazardous waste" shall be understood to also include extremely hazardous waste and acutely hazardous waste.

Hazardous Waste Facility—All contiguous land and structures, other appurtenances, and improvements on the land used for the treatment, transfer, storage, resource recovery disposal, or recycling of hazardous waste. A hazardous waste facility may consist of one or more treatment, transfer, storage, resource recovery, disposal, or recycling hazardous waste management units, or combinations of those units.

Height—The vertical distance from the adjacent grade or other datum point to the highest point of that which is being measured.

High Fire Hazard Areas—Certain areas in the unincorporated territory of the County classified by the County Fire Protection District and defined as any areas within five hundred (500) feet of uncultivated brush, grass, or forest-covered land wherein authorized representatives of said District deem a potential fire hazard to exist due to the presence of such flammable material.

Historic Resource—A resource listed in, or determined to be eligible for listing in, the California Register of Historical Resources, the Ventura County Historical Landmarks and Points of Interest, or in an adopted local historic register. A historic resource has one or more of the following characteristics:

1.

Is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of California's history and cultural heritage.

2.

Is associated with the lives of persons important in our past.

3.

Embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, region, or method of construction, or represents the work of an important creative individual, or possesses high artistic values.

4.

Has yielded, or may be likely to yield, information important in prehistory or history.

Examples of a historic resource include but are not limited to an object, building, structure, site, area, place, record, or manuscript which the Ventura County Cultural Heritage Board determines is historically or archaeologically important in the architectural, engineering, scientific, economic, agricultural, educational, social, political, military, or cultural annals of California.

Home Exchange—A practice in which the owner of a dwelling allows the use of that dwelling in exchange for the use of another person's dwelling for a limited time period with no rent exchanged.

Home Occupation—Any commercial activity that is clearly incidental and secondary to the residential use of a dwelling and does not change the character thereof.

Homeshare—A dwelling which is the primary residence of an owner who possesses at least a twenty (20) percent ownership interest in the subject parcel, with any portion of the dwelling rented for a period less than thirty (30) consecutive days when said owner is physically present in the same dwelling, with no meals or food provided to the renter or renters. A homeshare is not considered a home occupation under this Chapter. Use of a dwelling for occasional home exchange is not considered a homeshare.

Hostel—Overnight sleeping accommodations that provide lodging for travelers, and that may provide kitchen and eating facilities. Occupancy is generally of a limited duration.

Hotel—A building with one (1) main entrance, or a group of buildings, containing guest rooms where lodging with or without meals is provided for compensation.

Hydromulch—A method for erosion prevention whereby water and a mixture of other ingredients (a combination of wood/cellulose fiber mulch, seed mix, and bonding agents) is sprayed through a hose onto disturbed soils.

Hydrozone—A portion of the landscaped area that contains plants with similar water needs and root depth. A hydrozone may be irrigated or non-irrigated.

Inoperative Vehicle—A vehicle that is not fully capable of movement under its own power, or is not licensed or registered to operate legally on a public right-of-way.

Interpretive Center—A site, with or without structures, that is used for the display of architecture, art or other artifacts associated with the site and which may also depict the cultural and social history and prehistory of Ventura County.

Inundation—Temporary flooding of normally dry land area caused or precipitated by an overflow or accumulation of water on or under the ground, or by the existence of unusual tidal conditions.

Invasive Plants—Species of plants not indigenous to Ventura County that can thrive and spread aggressively with potentially negative effects on native species and ecosystems.

Kennel—Any lot or premises where five or more dogs or cats (or any combination thereof) of at least four months of age are kept, boarded or trained, whether in special buildings or runways or not.

Kitchen—Any room in a dwelling designed or used as a place for food preparation and cooking, and containing two (2) or more of the following:

(a)

A counter sink;

(b)

A stove, hotplate, or conventional or microwave oven;

(c)

A refrigerator of more than four (4) cubic feet capacity.

Landmark—A building or place that has been designated by either the County Cultural Heritage Board or the Board of Supervisors and satisfies one of the following criteria:

1.

It exemplifies special elements of the County's social, aesthetic, engineering, architectural or natural history;

2.

It is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of Ventura County or its cities, regional history, or the cultural heritage of California or the United States;

3.

It is associated with the lives of persons important to Ventura County or its cities, California, or natural history;

4.

It has yielded, or has the potential to yield, information important to the prehistory or history of Ventura County or its cities, California, or the nation.

Landscape Area—Areas on a lot(s) that are required to be landscaped as part of development pursuant to Section 8178-8, Water Efficient Landscaping Requirements.

Landscape, Licensed Architect—A person who is licensed to practice landscape architecture in the State of California.

Landscape Contractor—A qualified landscape designer who holds a C-27 (landscaping contractor) license issued by the State of California to construct, maintain, repair, install, or subcontract the development of landscape systems.

Landscape Documentation Package—The complete set of documents required to be submitted to the Planning Division pursuant to Section 8178-8, Water Efficient Landscaping Requirements.

Landscape Plan—A component of the landscape documentation package that includes a plan of the project site drawn to scale and superimposed on a plan sheet that includes, but is not limited to, the location of all landscaped areas, a plant list, and a planting plan.

Landscape, Qualified Designer—An individual who, through a combination of education, training, licenses and certificates for professional proficiency, and work experience, can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Planning Director that the individual possesses the necessary skills and abilities to design a landscape screen or other minor landscape improvements.

Landscape Screen—Materials used to: 1) hide or minimize views of a development or land use to promote visual compatibility with surrounding areas; 2) provide privacy or security; 3) mitigate environmental conditions such as wind, noise, dust, and light. Screening may consist of fencing, walls, plant materials, earthen mound, or any combination thereof.

Lateral Access—A recorded dedication or easement granting to the public the right to pass and repass over dedicator's real property generally parallel to, and up to twenty-five (25) feet inland from, the mean high tide line, but in no case allowing the public the right to pass nearer than ten (10) feet to any living unit on the property.

Lattice Tower—A structure, guyed or freestanding, erected on the ground, which generally consists of metal crossed strips or bars to support antennas and equipment.

Littoral Drift—Longshore transportation of sediments by wave action.

Living Space—Any room other than a bathroom, closet, or stairwell.

Local Coastal Program (LCP)—The County's certified Coastal Land Use Plan, zoning ordinances, and zoning district maps.

Lot—An area of land.

Lot Area—The total area, measured in a horizontal plane, within the lot lines of a lot. For determining minimum lot size for subdivisions, the following areas shall be used: for lots ten (10) acres or larger, use gross area; for lots less than ten (10) acres, use net area.

Lot, Corner—A lot situated at the intersection of two or more streets or highways, which streets or highways have an angle of intersection of not more than one hundred thirty-five (135) degrees.

Lot Depth—The horizontal distance between the front and rear lot lines, measured in the mean direction of the side lot lines.

Lot, Interior—A lot other than a corner lot.

Lot, Legal—A lot which met all local, Subdivision Map Act, and California Coastal Act of 1976 requirements when it was created, and which can be lawfully conveyed as a discrete unit separate from any contiguous lot; or a lot which has been issued a coastal permit and a certificate of compliance or conditional certificate of compliance pursuant to the Subdivision Map Act and the Ventura County Subdivision Ordinance, and which can lawfully be conveyed as a discrete unit separate from any contiguous lot.

Lot Line—

Front—A line separating an interior lot from the street, or a line separating the narrower street frontage of a corner lot from the street, except for flag lots (see "setbacks").

Side—Any lot boundary line that is not a front line or a rear lot line.

Rear—A lot line that is opposite and most distant from the front lot line. For a triangular or irregular-shaped lot, the rear lot line shall mean a line ten (10) feet in length within the lot that is parallel to the front lot line, or parallel to the chord of a curved front lot line, and at the maximum distance from the front lot line.

See illustration below:

Lot, Reverse-Corner—A corner lot, the rear of which abuts the side of another lot. Interior lots adjacent to flag lots are not considered reverse-corner lots.

Lot, Through—A lot, other than a corner lot, having frontage on two (2) parallel or approximately parallel streets.

Lot Width—The horizontal distance between the side lot lines, measured at the front setback.

Major Public Works Project and Major Energy Facility—Any public works project or energy facility that costs more than one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00) with an automatic annual increase in accordance with the Engineering News Record Construction Cost Index,* except for those governed by the provisions of Sections 30610, 30610.5, 30611 or 30624 of the Public Resources Code.

In addition, a major public works project also means a publicly financed recreational facility that serves, affects, or otherwise impacts regional or statewide use of the coast by increasing or decreasing public recreational opportunities or facilities.

* Data from the Construction Cost Index is available from Coastal Commission staff or online at www.ENR.com. This definition is consistent with Code of Regulations Section 13012(a), which became effective in January 1983. Construction costs of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00) in 1983 were equal to two hundred eight thousand seven hundred seventy-one dollars and four cents ($208,771.04) as of December 2008.

Major Vegetation—Grassland, coastal scrub, riparian vegetation, and native and nonnative trees, other than landscaping with development.

Master Valve—An electrical valve that controls all water flow into the irrigation system.

Maximum Applied Water Allowance—A calculated maximum annual volume of water allowed to be applied per-acre or per-square-foot of an established landscaped area.

Mean High Tide Line—A line representing the intersection of a particular shoreline with the average height of all high waters over a 18.6-year lunar cycle. The mean high tide line may vary in location (or "ambulate") over time as a result of climatic and other influences.

Mechanical Parking Lifts—Automated or manual, indoor or outdoor, lift systems designed to stack one or more motor vehicles vertically.

Microclimate—The climate of a small, specific area that may contrast with the climate of the overall landscape area due to factors such as wind, sun exposure, plant density, or proximity to reflective surfaces.

Micro-spray Irrigation—A type of low-pressure irrigation system with outlets that include one or more openings that operate at a flow rate of less than thirty (30) gallons per hour at a pressure of thirty (30) psi. Microspray irrigation may include but is not limited to microbubblers, microspinners and micro-spray jets.

Minor Development—A development that satisfies all of the following requirements:

(a)

The development is consistent with the County Certified LCP;

(b)

The development requires no discretionary approvals other than a Public Works Permit or a Planned Development Permit; and

(c)

The development has no adverse effect either individually or cumulatively on coastal resources or public access to the shoreline or along the coast.

Mixed Use Development—A development project that includes a mixture of two or more of the following uses on the same site: residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial use.

Mobilehome—A structure, transportable in one or more sections, designed and equipped to be used as a dwelling unit, but not including a recreational vehicle, commercial coach, or factory-built housing.

Monopole—A structure composed of a single spire or pole used to support antennas and connecting appurtenances for a non-commercial antenna or a wireless communication facility.

Motel—Building(s) that provide lodging in guest rooms primarily for tourists traveling by automobile. Motel buildings typically have direct access from the rooms to the outdoors. Motels include auto courts, motor lodges, and tourist courts.

Mulch—A layer of material applied to the surface of an area of soil or mixed with the soil. Its purpose is to conserve moisture, improve the fertility and health of the soil, reduce weed growth, and enhance the visual appeal of the area. A mulch is usually but not exclusively composed of organic material such as leaves, grass clippings, weeds, yard trimmings, wood waste, branches, stumps, and whole plants or trees that are mechanically reduced in size. Mulch can be used as a ground cover or as a soil conditioner. Mulch may be permanent or temporary, and it may be applied to bare soil or around existing plants. Mulches of manure or compost will be incorporated naturally into the soil by the activity of worms and other organisms.

Native Vegetation—Vegetation that is indigenous to Ventura County. Native vegetation includes, but is not limited to, oak woodland, coastal sage scrub, chaparral, perennial grassland, California annual grassland, riparian woodland and riparian scrub. Native vegetation does not include ruderal vegetation and invasive plant species. In addition, native vegetation does not include ornamental, landscape or crop vegetation, including sod and lawn grasses and actively managed fallow farmland.

Nest, Active/Occupied—The nest of a bird that is under construction or that contains eggs or young. Nests which are critical to the life history of the individual (e.g., individuals of species that exhibit site fidelity, colonial nesters, and raptors) are considered an Active Nest year-round.

Nest, Inactive—An abandoned bird nest once occupied by nestlings or fledglings that are no longer dependent on the nest.

Net Area—The total land area of a lot exclusive of:

(a)

Areas within an existing or proposed public or private street, road, or easement used for ingress or egress, and

(b)

The area within an existing or proposed easement where the owner of the lot or parcel is prohibited from using the surface of the ground.

Included in the "net area" is the area lying within public utility easements (except as otherwise provided in Section 8241), sanitary sewer easements, landscaping easements, public service easements, and tree maintenance easements.

Non-Commercial Antenna—A device for transmitting or receiving radio signals. Non-commercial antennas are used to operate amateur radios, such as HAM radios and citizen band antennas, for purposes of the non-commercial exchange of messages, including emergency response training and operations.

Nonconforming Structure—A structure, or portion thereof, that was lawfully erected or altered and maintained, but that no longer conforms with development standards, including standards for lot coverage, setbacks, height, parking, and buffers for environmentally sensitive habitat areas, solely because of revisions made to development standards of this Chapter, including standards for ESHA buffers, lot coverage, lot area per structure, height, and setbacks.

Nonconforming Use—A use that was lawfully established and maintained but that, because of revisions made to this Chapter is:

(a)

No longer permitted in the zone in which it is located or,

(b)

No longer in conformance with the parking requirements of the use in the zone in which it is located.

Nonprime Agricultural Land—Agricultural lands not defined as Prime that are suitable for agriculture.

Off-Site Parking—Parking provided at a site other than the site on which the use served by such parking is located.

Official Zoning Data—The approved zoning classifications for all parcels in unincorporated Ventura County, maintained technologically in GIS format.

Oil and Gas Exploration and Production—The drilling, extraction and transportation or subterranean fossil gas and petroleum, and necessary attendant uses and structures, but excluding refining, processing or manufacturing thereof.

Ornithologist—A type of zoologist who studies ornithology, the branch of science devoted to birds.

Outdoor Festivals—Events such as amusement rides, animal and art shows, concerts, craft fairs, itinerant shows and religious revival meetings.

Outdoor Sporting Events—Recreational events or activities, other than spectator-type animal events, that require a natural environment, are carried on by one (1) or more groups of people, and do not involve structures, motorized vehicles, aircraft or firearms.

Overspray—Irrigation water that is delivered outside of the landscape area.

Oversized Vehicle—An oversized vehicle is defined as one of the following:

• Any single vehicle that exceeds twenty-five (25) feet in length, six (6) feet eight (8) inches in width, or six (6) feet ten (10) inches in height, exclusive of projecting lights or devices.

• Boat and cargo trailers.

• Recreational vehicles including but not limited to fifth-wheel travel trailers and travel coaches.

Paleontological Resource, Important—The fossilized remains or indications of once-living plant or animal life that are found in geologic formations and have one or more of the following characteristics:

1.

The fossils are well preserved;

2.

The fossils are identifiable;

3.

The fossils are type/topotypic specimens;

4.

The fossils are age diagnostic, or can be used as index fossils in a biostratigraphic context;

5.

The fossils are useful in environmental reconstruction;

6.

The fossils represent rare and/or endemic taxa;

7.

The fossils represent a diverse assemblage;

8.

The fossils represent associated marine and non-marine taxa.

Paleontological Resources, Significant Fossils—Identified sites or geologic deposits containing individual fossils or assemblages of fossils that are unique or unusual, diagnostically or stratigraphically important, and add to the existing body of knowledge in specific areas, stratigraphically, taxonomically, or regionally.

Paleontologist, Qualified Consultant—A professional geologist licensed by the State of California or other person determined by the Planning Director to be qualified. An unlicensed person may be considered to be a qualified paleontologist consultant by the Planning Director if he or she meets all of the following standards:

1.

Holds a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in paleontology, geology, or related discipline;

2.

Has a minimum of five (5) years of experience performing paleontological, geological, or related studies;

3.

Can demonstrate expertise in local and regional vertebrate and invertebrate paleontology;

4.

Has experience in fossil collection, curation and report preparation; and

5.

Can demonstrate professional experience and competency with paleontological resource mitigation procedures and techniques.

Parcel—For the purposes of this Chapter, the word "parcel" shall have the same meaning as the word "lot."

Parking Lot—An improved, off street parking facility containing four (4) or more parking spaces and that is designed and used primarily for the parking of operable motor vehicles and bicycles. Parking lots may be located at grade, above-ground, or below-ground. Parking lots include parking spaces, drive aisles, loading areas, and required landscaping and screening. Parking lots do not include individual residential garages, parking spaces/areas for single-family or two-family dwelling units, including those used for caretaker or farmworker housing.

Parkway—The portion of a public road right-of-way that is typically reserved for public utility facilities, street trees or landscaping, and pedestrian access facilities (e.g., sidewalks or trails). The parkway is located between the outside edge of the road right-of-way and the road pavement (i.e., shoulder and travel-way), a boundary that is often defined by a curb and gutter.

Performance Criteria—An expectation of interim or final results, stated in the landscape documentation package or other plan requiring County approval, that identifies benchmarks for vegetative growth and coverage against which performance is measured.

Perimeter Landscaping—The area located within the required setbacks of a lot when such setbacks must be set aside and used primarily for landscaping.

Periodic Outdoor Sporting Events—Recreational events or activities, other than spectator-type animal events, which require a natural environment, are carried on by one or more groups of people, and do not involve structures, motorized vehicles, aircraft or firearms.

Permitted Use—A use listed in Section 8174-5 as a permitted use, which may be allowed subject to obtaining the necessary permits and compliance with all applicable provisions of the LCP.

Person—Any individual, organization, partnership, or other business association or corporation, including any utility and any federal, state, or local government or special district, or any agency thereof.

Pervious Pavement—A porous surface that allows the passage of water through the material and into the underlying soil. Pervious pavement is used to decrease the volume of stormwater runoff and to increase the infiltration of water into the ground.

Planning Director—The Deputy Director, Ventura County Resource Management Agency, for the Planning Division, or his or her designee.

Plant Factor—A factor used in the water budget calculation to estimate the amount of water needed for plants. Plant factors range from 0.1 to 0.9 and are divided into four (4) categories: very low < 0.1; low 0.1—0.3; moderate 0.4—0.6; and high 0.7—0.9.

Planter, Finger—A landscape planter located at the end of a parking aisle that defines parking lot circulation aisles and that provides a place to plant trees within the parking lot.

Examples of Finger Planters

Planter, Landscape—An area devoted to plants that is defined with a raised curb or other material that separates the landscape area from adjacent uses.

Examples of Landscape Planters

Planter, Landscape Strip—A long, narrow landscape planter located in front of or between rows of parking spaces or adjacent to a property line that borders a public sidewalk or street.

Landscape strip planters are typically used to reduce storm-water runoff or to visually screen parking lots from public walkways or streets.

Examples of Landscape Strip Planters

Point of Interest—The location of, or site of, a former improvement or natural feature or of an event possessing historical or cultural characteristics.

Pony—A small or young horse under fifty-eight (58) inches high at the shoulders.

Preliminary Processing—Basic activities and operations instrumental to the preparation of agricultural goods for shipment to market, excluding canning or bottling.

Prime Agricultural Land—Means any of the following:

• All land which qualifies for rating as Class I or Class II in the Natural Resource Conservation Service land use capability classifications.

• Land which qualifies for rating eighty (80) through one hundred (100) in the Storie Index Rating.

• Land which supports livestock used for the production of food and fiber and which has an annual carrying capacity equivalent to at least one (1) animal unit per acre as defined by the United States Department of Agriculture.

• Land planted with fruit- or nut-bearing trees, vines, bushes or crops which have a nonbearing period of less than five (5) years and which will normally return during the commercial bearing period on an annual basis from the production of unprocessed agricultural plant production not less than two hundred dollars ($200.00) per acre.

Principal Use/Principal Structure—The primary use(s) or primary structure(s) on a lot to which other uses and structures are accessory. This term is unrelated to the definition of "principally-permitted use," which indicates development that is not appealable to the Coastal Commission, unless located within an appealable area (see definition of "Principally-Permitted Use").

Principally-Permitted Use—The primary use of land that clearly carries out the land use intent and purpose of a particular zone, as specified in Section 8174-5. Where a land use is identified as a principally-permitted use, the County's approval of a Coastal Development Permit for that development is not appealable to the Coastal Commission unless it otherwise meets the definition of "Development Subject to Appeal." See definition of "principal use/principal structure" for development that is the primary use or primary structure on a lot.

Produce Stand—A structure used to sell raw, unprocessed fruits, nuts and seeds, and vegetables, flowers and ornamental plants.

Public Art—Art that is located in publicly-accessible places (e.g., government buildings, schools, public parks and waterfront areas), not including temporary arts activities or events such as street theatre, open-air music, or pavement artists.

Public Road or Street—Any road or street or thoroughfare of whatever nature, publicly maintained and open to the use of the public for the purpose of vehicular travel.

Public Viewing Areas—Public areas that afford views of scenic resources. Such views may be fleeting or expansive as experienced from individual locations or along transportation corridors. Public viewing areas include, but are not limited to, beaches, coastal streams and waters used for recreational purposes, coastal trails and accessways, highways, public parklands, public roads, public sidewalks or trails, scenic overlooks, vistas and vista points.

Public Viewshed—A geographical area that is visible from a public viewing area.

Public Works—Means the following:

(1)

All production, storage, transmission, and recovery facilities for water, sewerage, telephone, and other similar utilities owned or operated by any public agency or by a utility subject to the jurisdiction of the Public Utilities Commission, except for energy facilities.

(2)

All public transportation facilities, including streets, roads, highways, public parking lots and structures, ports, harbors, airports, railroads, and mass transit facilities and stations, bridges, trolley wires, and other related facilities.

(3)

All publicly-financed recreational facilities, all projects of the State Coastal Conservancy, and any development by a special district.

(4)

All community college facilities.

See also "Major Public Works Project and Major Energy Facility."

Rain Garden—A planted area that captures stormwater runoff. A rain garden is designed to withstand moisture and concentrations such as nitrogen and phosphorus found in rainwater runoff from impervious urban areas like roofs, driveways, walkways, and parking lots.

Raptor—Birds in the biological order called Falconiformes, which includes eagles, hawks, falcons, and ospreys and any bird dependent on consumption of other animals for food, including scavengers such as vultures and condors.

Rebuild—A rebuild or reconstruction occurs when extensive changes or repairs are made to the exterior envelope of any structure.

Reclaimed Water—Treated or recycled waste water of a quality suitable for non-potable uses such as landscape irrigation and water features. This water is not intended for human consumption and must be appropriately identified with colored pipes and signage, if appropriate.

Recreational Area—Areas designed for active play, amusement or public assembly such as parks, sports fields, picnic grounds, amphitheaters or golf courses. Does not include private single-family residential areas.

Recreational Vehicle—A vehicle of any size that:

(a)

Is self-propelled or is towed by another vehicle,

(b)

Is not designed to be used as a permanent dwelling,

(c)

Has self-contained plumbing, heating and electrical systems that may be operated without connection to outside utilities and,

(d)

Does not meet the definition of a structure. Recreational vehicles do not fall within the definition of mobilehomes.

Recreational Vehicle Park—Any area of land developed primarily for temporary use by recreational vehicles for which utility connections (sewer, water, electricity) are provided.

Rehabilitated Landscape—Any re-landscaping or landscaping modification project that would change fifty (50) percent or more of the total landscape area, and that requires the issuance of a new or modified discretionary permit.

Remodel—A remodel is an interior alteration to an existing approved, permitted and inspected structure where the foundation, exterior walls and roof structure remain in place without modification.

Rent—The terms rent, rented and rental mean allowing use of a dwelling or property, or any portion thereof, in exchange for consideration in any form.

Residential Care Facility—A nonmedical facility providing any of the following services on a twenty-four (24) hour basis: care for the mentally ill, handicapped, physically disabled, elderly, dependent or neglected children, wards of the Juvenile Court, and other persons in need of personal services, supervision, or assistance essential for sustaining the activities of everyday living or for protection of the individual. Included within this definition are "intermediate care facilities/developmentally disabled-nursing" and "intermediate care facilities/developmentally disabled-habilitative" with six (6) or fewer beds, and congregate living health facilities, pursuant to the Health and Safety Code. A facility is considered nonmedical if the only medication given or provided is the kind that can normally be self-administered.

Residential (or "R") Zone—A base zone classification under this Chapter that contains the letter "R" in its abbreviation.

Rest Home—A licensed facility where lodging and meals, and nursing, dietary and other personal services are rendered for nonpsychiatric convalescents, invalids, and aged persons for compensation. Excludes cases of contagious or communicable diseases, and surgery or primary treatments such as are customarily provided in sanitariums and hospitals.

Retail Trade—Businesses engaged in retailing merchandise, generally without transformation, and rendering services incidental to the sale of merchandise. Examples of retail trade businesses are: bakeries, delicatessens, grocery stores and meat markets; retail stores for the sale of books, cameras, clothing, flowers, hardware, jewelry, pets, shoes, sporting goods and toys; bait and fishing tackle rental; drug stores; gift shops, hobby shops and music stores.

Riding Stable—A facility where there are stables for horses that are rented to members of the public for recreational purposes, including riding lessons, whether or not the facility is advertised or promoted as such, and whether or not the riding occurs on the property on which the horses are kept.

Riparian Habitat—An area adjacent to a natural watercourse, such as a perennial or intermittent stream, lake or other body of fresh water, where related vegetation and associated animal species live or are located.

Roof Structures—Structures located on the roof of a building for the housing of elevators, stairways, tanks, ventilating fans and similar equipment required to operate and maintain the building; fire or parapet walls, safety rails, skylights, towers, flagpoles, chimneys, smokestacks, solar collectors, residential satellite, and digital TV dishes less than one meter in diameter, TV antennas and similar structures. A wireless communication facility is not included in the definition of roof structures.

Rooming House—A dwelling unit with one family in permanent residence wherein two to five bedrooms, without meals, are offered for compensation.

Runoff—Water that flows across the earth's surface rather than being infiltrated into the ground or transpired by plants.

Sandy Beach Area—A public or privately-owned sandy area fronting on coastal waters, regardless of the existence of potential prescriptive rights or a public trust interest.

Scenic Highway—A route or byway that is officially designated as a scenic highway pursuant to state law which travels through an area comprised primarily of scenic and natural features.

Scenic Highway Corridor—The visible area outside the right-of-way of an eligible or designated scenic highway comprised primarily of scenic and natural features.

Scenic Resources—The landscape patterns and features which are visually or aesthetically pleasing and which are visible from a public viewing area, including but not limited to the beach or ocean, coastline, mountains, canyons, ridgelines, significant hillsides and open space, estuaries, wetlands and lagoons, other unique natural or manmade features such as the Channel Islands Harbor.

Season, Breeding/Nesting—January 1 through September 15 of each calendar year.

Season, Non-Breeding/Non-Nesting—September 16 through December 31 of each calendar year.

Second Dwelling—See Dwelling, Second.

Setback—The distance on an individual lot that is intended to provide an open area measured from a property line or other boundary line to a structure or use, and includes front (F), rear (R) and side (S) setbacks.

_____

In the case of "flag" lots, the setbacks shall be measured from the applicable front, rear and sides of the lot as designated in the following diagram:

If a = b, applicant designates C or D as front.

_____

Setback, Front—An open area that extends between side lot lines across the front of a lot, the depth of which is the required minimum horizontal distance between the front lot line and a line parallel thereto on the lot.

Setback, Rear—An open area that extends across the rear of the lot between the inner side lot lines that is the required minimum horizontal distance between the rear lot line and a line parallel thereto on the lot.

Setback, Side—An open area that extends from the front setback, or the front lot line where no front setback is required, to the rear yard; the width of the required side setback shall be measured horizontally from the nearest part of the side lot line.

Shall and May—"Shall" is mandatory; "May" is permissive.

Shared Parking—Shared parking is a means by which adjacent property owners share their parking areas and thereby reduce the number of parking spaces that each would provide on their individual properties. Shared parking is commonly applied when land uses have different parking demand patterns and are able to use the same parking spaces/areas throughout the day.

Shoreline Protective Devices—Seawalls, revetments, breakwaters, and other such construction that alter natural shoreline processes.

Short-Term Rental—A dwelling, any portion of which is rented for a period less than thirty (30) consecutive days when the owner is not physically present, with no meals or food provided to the renter or renters. A short-term rental is not considered a home occupation under this Chapter. Use of a dwelling for occasional home exchange is not considered a short-term rental.

Sign—A communication device using words or symbols, illuminated or non-illuminated, that is visible from any public place or is located on private property and exposed to the public and that directs attention to a product, service, place, activity, person, institution, business or solicitation, including any permanently installed or situated merchandise; or any emblem, painting, banner, pennant, placard or temporary display designed to advertise, identify or convey information.

Sign Area—The total area within the physical or visual frame of the sign, or the sum of the total area of graphical elements where there is no frame. For double-faced signs, the sign area is the total area of a single side of the sign. Time and temperature devices without advertising copy are not included in the sign area. See Section 8175-5.13.9.1 Number and Dimension of Signs, to determine maximum sign area.

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Sign, Attached—Any sign posted, painted on, or constructed or otherwise attached to the wall, façade, canopy, marquee, or other architectural part of a building.

Sign, Canopy—Any sign attached to, or constructed in or on, a canopy or marquee.

Sign or Message/Content, Commercial—A sign or message that relates primarily to economic interests such as the exchange of goods and services. Different types of commercial signs are more particularly defined in this Article.

Sign, Construction—A temporary, on-site sign directly related to a construction project.

Sign Copy—The words and/or graphics printed on a sign.

Sign, Directional—Any on-site sign that serves solely to designate entrances or exits, or the location or direction of any onsite area.

Sign, Double-faced—A sign structure with messages on both sides of a sign board or panel; or a sign structure with two (2) attached parallel faces.

Sign, Freestanding—Any sign that is anchored directly to the ground or is supported from the ground and detached from any building or structure.

Sign, Incidental—An on-site sign providing non-advertising information about a location or business such as hours of operation, contact information, and whether or not the location or business is open or has vacancy.

Sign, Identification—An on-site sign that only indicates the name of the occupant, business and/or address.

Sign, Illuminated—A sign that is illuminated by a light source that is contained inside the sign.

Sign, Interpretive—A sign that explains the meaning, origin, or purpose of an historical, natural, or cultural resource or site.

Sign, Legal Nonconforming—A sign that does not conform to the current applicable development standards of this Chapter but was lawfully in existence and in use prior to and at the time the provisions of this Chapter with which it does not conform became effective. (see Section 8175-5.13.11).

Sign, Light Emitting Diodes (LED)—An internally illuminated sign that utilizes light-emitting diodes, or similar technology, and colored lens assembled in single and tri-color matrixes instead of incandescent light bulbs, neon, or fluorescent tubes. Does not include electronic variable message signs that would allow for images that appear to move with video-like quality such as but not limited to electronic message boards and marquee signs.

Sign, Locational—A sign that informs the public about the location of noncommercial destinations such as coastal access points, trailheads, parks and campgrounds, government facilities and other points of interest, and that is maintained by a public agency.

Sign, Monument—A freestanding sign detached from a building sitting directly on the ground or near ground level and having a solid support structure as opposed to being supported by poles or similar support structures.

Sign, Mural—A painting or other work of art executed directly on a wall.

Sign Message/Content, Noncommercial—A sign or message which is not of a commercial nature. Such signs or messages typically relate to politics or public policy, civics, art, science, public service, social issues, religion, or spirituality.

Sign, Off-site—A sign that displays content related to property, goods, activities, or services not found on, or related to, the lot on which the sign is located.

Sign, On-site—A sign located on the same site as the occupant, business, trade or profession to which it relates.

Sign, Open House—A temporary, off-site sign providing direction to residential real property during the period it is on public display for sale or lease.

Sign, Permanent—A sign intended to be displayed and maintained for a period of more than sixty (60) consecutive days.

Sign Permit—The written authorization issued by the Planning Division that allows the permit holder to place, erect, modify, alter, repaint or maintain a sign. Sign permits may be issued as Zoning Clearances or Planned Development Permits as provided herein.

Sign, Political—A temporary sign with noncommercial content pertaining to an election for public office or to a ballot measure to be placed before voters in a federal, state, or local election.

Sign, Portable—A temporary sign that can be moved from one location to another. The term portable sign includes signs mounted on a trailer or other moveable object and towed by a motor vehicle. Such signs do not include a sign that is attached or magnetically affixed to the body or other integral part of the vehicle.

Sign Program—A plan that includes a range of sign types and styles that support the overall continuity of the design of the signs that will serve multiple buildings or tenants leasing space in a building(s) on one or more parcels.

Sign, Projecting—An attached sign that projects outward perpendicularly or at an angle from a wall or building face.

Sign, Promotional Temporary—A temporary on-site sign such as a banner, pennant, or inflatable object located, attached, or tethered to the ground, site, merchandise, or structure.

Sign, Real Estate—A temporary, on-site sign advertising the sale, rental or lease of the property on which it is maintained.

Sign, Residential Subdivision—A temporary sign advertising the sale of two or more lots located within the same subdivision.

Sign, Road—A sign that provides information to control the flow of traffic, warns of hazards ahead, future destinations, or roadway services, and that is maintained by the State Department of Transportation or local agency.

Sign, Roof—Any sign erected upon, against or directly above a roof or on top of or above the parapet of a building.

Sign, Symbol—A permanent on-site sign with a graphic representation of goods or services sold or rendered on the premises, or a traditional emblem associated with a trade, and that contains no written content, pictures or symbols such as business logos or trademarks.

Sign, Temporary—A sign displayed for a limited period of time not exceeding sixty (60) consecutive days or such other duration as specified for a particular sign in this Chapter.

Sign, Wall—A sign attached to or erected against the wall of a building or structure with the exposed face of the sign parallel to the plane of such wall.

Sign, Window—A sign attached to, suspended behind, placed or painted upon the window or glass door of a building and is intended for viewing from the exterior of such building. Does not include merchandise offered for sale onsite, when on display in a window.

Single Room Occupancy (SRO)—Housing units that are restricted to occupancy by no more than two (2) persons and may include a kitchen and/or a bathroom, in addition to a bed. These units are typically comprised of one or two (2) rooms.

Site of Merit—Sites of historical, cultural, architectural or aesthetic merit which have not been officially otherwise designated and have been surveyed according to Federal standards and assigned a National Register Status Code of 1 through 5.

Slope—The relationship between the change in elevation (rise) of land and the horizontal distance (run) over which that change in elevation occurs, measured along a straight line. The percent of any given slope is determined by dividing the rise by the run on the natural slope, and multiplying by one hundred (100).

Slope/Density Formula—An engineering formula based on the average slope of an existing lot that is used to determine the minimum lot area of all proposed lots of a land division in the COS zone, and in the CA zone when not prime agricultural land.

Soils Report—A report prepared by a geotechnical engineer or soils engineer licensed by the State of California for one or more of the following purposes: identifying the nature and distribution of existing soils; stating conclusions and recommendations for grading procedures; stating soil design criteria for structures, embankments or landscaping; and, where necessary, setting forth slope stability studies.

Special Landscape Area—An area of the project site designated principally for one of the following purposes: (a) the production of food crops such as vegetable gardens or orchards; (b) irrigation with recycled water (i.e., water features); and (c) use for active recreation such as golf courses, sports fields, school yards, picnic grounds, or other areas where turf provides a playing surface or serves other high-use recreational purposes.

Stable, Private—An accessory building or structure used for the keeping of horses owned by the occupants of the premises and not kept for remuneration, hire or sale.

Store—An enclosed building housing an establishment offering a specified line of goods or services for retail sale.

Stormwater Management Landscaping—Landscape features that make use of vegetation, land forms, soil, or filtering media to provide retention, treatment, evapotranspiration, or infiltration of stormwater. Examples include bioretention areas, rain gardens, vegetated drainage swales, vegetated buffers, landscape strip planters, tree box filters, infiltration trenches, and dry swales.

Stream—A perennial or intermittent watercourse mapped by the U.S. Geologic Survey or identified in the LCP.

Structural Alterations—Any change in roof lines or exterior walls, or in the supporting members of a building such as foundations, bearing walls, columns, beams, girders, floor joists, roof joists, or rafters. This includes any physical change that could affect the integrity of a wall, including partial or total removal, moving a wall to another location or expanding the wall in terms of height or length. Minor actions such as adding a doorway, walkway, passage or window, or attaching architectural features or adornments, are not considered to be structural alterations.

Structure—Anything constructed or erected on the ground, or that requires location on the ground, or is attached to something having a location on or in the ground. the ground. Also see "Development."

Subsurface Irrigation—An irrigation system that uses perforated underground pipe to provide water to the plants' root zones.

Supportive Housing—A residential care facility with no limit on length of stay that is occupied by the target population as defined in California Health and Safety Code Sectio 50675.14 and that is linked to onsite or offsite services that assist the supportive housing resident in retaining housing, improving his or her health status, and maximizing his or her ability to live and, when possible, work in the community.

Tandem Parking—The placement of parking spaces one behind the other, so that the space nearest the driveway or street access serves as the only means of access to the other space.

Through Lot—See "Lot, Through."

Tidelands—All lands that are located between the lines of mean high tide and mean low tide.

Topotypic—A specimen from the locality at which the type was first collected.

Townhouse Development—A subdivision consisting of attached dwelling units in conjunction with a separate lot or lots of common ownership, wherein each dwelling unit has at least one vertical wall extending from ground to roof dividing it from adjoining units, and each unit is separately owned, with the owner of such unit having title to the land on which it sits.

Transitional Housing—Dwellings utilized as rental housing used to facilitate the movement of homeless individuals and families to permanent housing. A homeless person(s) may live in a transitional dwelling for up to two (2) years. Transitional housing can include single or multifamily dwellings, residential care facilities, or boarding houses. Any dwelling used for transitional housing is subject to the zone and use standards applicable to the zone in which it is located.

Trash Enclosure—An area where trash or recyclable material containers or any other type of waste or refuse containers are stored and which may include fences or walls to secure the area.

Tree—A perennial palm or plant that includes at least one well-defined stem or trunk that may, at maturity, be kept clear of leaves and branches at least six (6) feet above grade.

Tree, Alter—To prune, cut, trim, poison, over-water, trench within a tree's roots, or otherwise transform or damage a tree.

Tree Canopy—The horizontal projection of a tree's limbs, branches, twigs, leaves and buds.

Tree, Certified Arborist—An individual who specializes in the care and maintenance of trees and is certified by the International Society of Arboriculture.

Tree, Diameter Measurements—The diameter of a tree trunk measured in inches at a height of four and one-half (4.5) feet above the ground while standing on level ground or from the uphill side of a tree. If a tree splits into multiple trunks below four and one-half (4.5) feet, the trunk is measured at its most narrow point beneath the split. Where an elevated root crown is encountered which enlarges the trunk at four and one-half (4.5) feet above grade, the trunk shall be measured above the crown swell where the normal trunk resumes. The diameter of limbs shall be measured just beyond the swell of the branch where the limb attaches to the main trunk or their supporting limbs.

Tree, Dripline—The area created by extending a vertical line from the outermost portion of the limb canopy to the ground.

Tree, Emergency—A natural occurrence, disaster, or disease that would jeopardize public health or safety due to a hazardous tree.

Tree, Encroachment—The direct or indirect invasion of the tree protected zone which may damage or transform any part of a protected tree or its root system including but not limited to such activities as: trenching; digging; placement of heavy equipment; paving; storing vehicles and other materials; irrigation and landscaping; grading; or placement of structures.

Tree, Fell—See tree removal.

Tree, Hazardous—A tree that has succumbed to disease or pests or a tree with one or more structural defects that predispose it to failure. To be defined as hazardous, the tree must be located in an area where personal injury or damage to private property (e.g., a structure such as a house, garage, fence, carport, or access leading to such areas) could occur if the tree, or a portion of the tree, fails.

Tree, Heritage—A non-native, non-invasive tree or group/grove of trees that has unique value or is considered irreplaceable because of its rarity, distinctive features (e.g., size, form, shape color), or prominent location with a community or landscape.

Tree, Historic—Any tree or group of trees identified by the County as having historic value to Ventura County, the State or the nation. The County may designate an historic tree as a landmark, or it may be identified on the Federal or California Historic Resources Inventory to be of historic or cultural significance, or otherwise identified as contributing to a site or structure of historical or cultural significance.

Tree, Invasive—Any non-native tree or group of trees that spread into an area where they displace native plants or native trees or bring about changes in species composition, community structure, or ecosystem function.

Tree, ISA Standards—Pruning standards promulgated by the International Society of Arboriculture.

Tree, Multiple Trunk—A tree which has two (2) or more trunks forking below four and one-half (4.5) feet above the uphill side of the root crown.

Tree, Native—Any tree indigenous to Ventura County not planted for commercial agriculture.

Tree, Non-Native—Any tree not indigenous to Ventura County.

Tree Permit—A ministerial Zoning Clearance, discretionary Planned Development Permit, or Emergency Coastal Development Permit, issued by the Planning Division authorizing the alteration or removal of a protected tree.

Tree, Protected—Any tree that meets the criteria set forth in Section 8178-7.3.

Tree, Protected Zone—The surface and subsurface area in which the loss, disturbance, or damage to any roots may adversely affect the tree's long-term health and structural stability. See Section 8178-7.4.3 to calculate Tree, Protected Zone.

Tree, Protected Zone Buffer—A distance measured from the edge of the tree protected zone which allows for future growth. See Section 8178-7.4.3.

Tree, Pruning—Removal of all, or portions of, a tree's shoots, branches, limbs or roots.

Tree, Qualified Consultant—An individual who is a certified arborist or an individual who can demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the Planning Director, that he or she possesses the necessary certifications, experience, and skills to provide competent advice as required by the applicable provisions of this Chapter.

Tree, Qualified Service Company—A tree service company that has a qualified tree consultant on staff, holds a California C-61 Limited Specialty D-49 Tree Service License, and maintains current certificates of liability insurance.

Tree, Qualified Trimmer—A qualified tree trimmer shall have a minimum of three (3) years of full-time, practical work experience managing the establishment and maintenance of trees and shall be licensed to conduct business in Ventura County.

Tree Removal—The destruction or displacement of a tree by cutting, bulldozing, or using a mechanical or chemical method to physically destroy or otherwise cause the death of the tree, including transporting the tree from its site without ensuring the health and survivability of the tree.

Tree, Root Crown—The area of a tree where the trunk(s) meet the roots, sometimes called the collar of the tree.

Tree, Root System—The non-leaf, non-nodes bearing part of the tree that typically lies below the surface of the soil. The root system is responsible for absorbing and storing water and nutrients and anchoring the tree to the ground.

Tree Row—A row of trees planted and presently used for the purpose of providing shelter from wind for commercial agriculture; also known as a windbreak or windrow.

Tree, Sapling—A young tree that is typically no more than three (3) inches in diameter at existing grade.

Tree Seedling—A tree that is grown from seed and is less than three (3) feet in height.

Tree, Street—A tree whose trunk (all or part) is located within the County road right-of-way. The canopy of a street tree may extend beyond the County road right-of-way.

Tree Survey—A report that describes the general condition and health of all onsite protected tree(s) and includes but is not limited to identifying tree species, location, trunk diameter, extent of tree protected zone, proposed tree maintenance and alteration, and any necessary tree protection measures for trees that are to remain.

Tree Topping—Pruning the top of a tree, also known as the tree crown, for the purpose of providing safe and reliable utility service.

Tree, Transplant—The moving of living trees from one place to another.

Tree Well—The area around the trunk of a tree that creates a visual boundary between a tree and landscaped area or improved surface.

Examples of Tree Wells

Turf—An area planted with grass.

TV Antenna—An antenna designed to receive only television broadcast signals.

Unique Vegetation—Plants found in the Santa Monica Mountains and elsewhere in the coastal zone, which are considered either rare and endangered, rare but not endangered, or rare in California but not elsewhere.

Upland Development—All development found in the valleys and mountain areas beyond the coastal shelf.

Use—The purpose for which land or a building or structure is arranged, designed or intended to be used, or for which it is or may be used, occupied or maintained.

Vegetated Swale—A form of bioretention designed as a broad, shallow channel densely planted with a variety of trees, shrubs and/or grasses that attenuate and infiltrate runoff volume from adjacent impervious surfaces.

Vegetation, Major—See "Major Vegetation."

Vertical Access—A recorded dedication or easement granting to the public the privilege and right to pass and repass over dedicator's real property from a public road to the mean high tide line.

Visual Qualities—The distinctive visual characteristics or attributes of natural or man-made areas that are visible to the public.

Waste Treatment and Disposal—Public or private disposal facilities or transfer stations, operated for the purpose of recycling, reclaiming, treating or disposal of garbage, sewage, rubbish, offal, dead animals, oilfield wastes, hazardous waste, or other waste material originating on or off the premises.

Water Budget—An estimate of the annual volume of water required to irrigate a specific landscape area. Water budget calculations require measured areas of each irrigated hydrozone and reference evapotranspiration for the landscape area.

Water Feature—A design element within a landscape area that performs an aesthetic or recreational function in which water is supplied by plumbing fixtures. Water features include but are not limited to manufactured ponds, lakes, waterfalls, fountains, and streams.

Water Harvesting—A method for inducing, collecting, storing and conserving local surface runoff for reuse.

Water Quality Best Management Practices—A program, siting criteria, operational method, or engineered system, to prevent or reduce the discharge of pollutants and sedimentation to the County storm drain system and receiving waters.

Water Use Classification of Landscape Species—A publication of the California Department of Water Resources which lists common landscape plants and their water requirements by region, using the categories high, moderate, low, and very low.

Wet Bar—A bar or counter used for mixing drinks that is located in an area separate from the kitchen and includes a sink with running water.

Wetland—Land which may be covered periodically or permanently with shallow water. Included are saltwater marshes, freshwater marshes, open or closed brackish water marshes, swamps, mudflats, and fens.

Wireless Communication Facility (or Facilities)—A facility that transmits or receives signals for television, satellites, wireless phones and data, personal communication services, pagers, wireless internet, specialized mobile radio services, or other similar services. The facility may include, but is not limited to, antennas, radio transmitters, equipment shelters or cabinets, air vents, towers, masts, air conditioning units, fire suppression systems, emergency back-up generators with fuel storage, fences, and structures primarily designed to support antennas.

Wireless Communication Facility, Building-Concealed—A stealth wireless communication facility designed and constructed as an architectural feature of an existing building in a manner where the wireless communication facility is not discernible from the remainder of the building. Standard building architectural features used to conceal a wireless communication facility include, but are not limited to, parapet walls, windows, cupolas, clock towers, and steeples.

Examples of Building-Concealed Wireless Communication Facilities

Wireless Communication Facility, Collocation—The placement or installation of one (1) or more wireless communication facilities on a single tower, mast/pole, structure, or building with one (1) or more existing wireless communication facilities. Collocated wireless communication facilities may be separately owned and used by more than one (1) public or private entity.

Wireless Communication Facility, Data Collection Unit—A wireless communication facility used by utility companies to collect data from gas, water or electricity meters. Data collection units typically consist of a telemetry device, solar panel, and whip antennas.

Wireless communication facilities operated by a telephone corporation or a commercial mobile telecommunications phone service provider are excluded from this definition.

Wireless Communication Facility, Faux Tree—A stealth, ground-mounted wireless communication facility camouflaged to resemble a tree, including mono-broadleafs, mono-pines, and mono-palms.

Examples of Faux Trees (Wireless Communication Facilities)

Wireless Communication Facility. Flush-Mounted—A stealth wireless communication facility antenna that is attached directly to the exterior of a structure or building and that remains close and is generally parallel to the exterior surface of the structure or building.

Examples of Flush-Mounted Wireless Communication Facilities

Wireless Communication Facility, Ground-Mounted—A wireless communication facility that is placed on the ground, which consists of a monopole, lattice tower, or any other freestanding structure that supports an antenna.

Wireless Communication Facility, Modification—Any physical change to a wireless communication facility or a change to operational characteristics for that facility that are subject to existing permit conditions. Modifications do not include repair and maintenance.

Wireless Communication Facility, Non-Stealth—A wireless communication facility that is not disguised or concealed or does not meet the definition of a stealth facility or building-concealed facility. For the purpose of this Chapter, any facility that exceeds eighty (80) feet in height is defined as a non-stealth facility.

Examples of Non-Stealth Wireless Communication Facilities

Wireless Communication Facility, Prominently Visible—A wireless communication facility is considered to be prominently visible if it stands out as an obvious or noticeable feature within its setting when seen from a public viewing area without the aid of any magnifying equipment such as cameras, binoculars, etc.

Wireless Communication Facility, Propagation Diagrams—A set of maps showing the location of the service provider's existing wireless communication facilities, existing service coverage area, and the proposed service coverage area at varied antenna heights for the proposed facility. A propagation diagram also includes a narrative description summarizing how service coverage area changes with height in layman's terms.

Wireless Communication Facility, Roof-Mounted—A stealth wireless communication facility that is mounted directly on the roof of a building.

Examples of Roof-Mounted Wireless Communication Facilities

Wireless Communication Facility, Section 6409(a) Modification—A modification of an existing wireless tower or base station that involves the collocation, removal or replacement of transmission equipment that does not substantially change the physical dimensions of such wireless tower or base station. Such modifications qualify for approval pursuant to Section 6409(a) of the federal 2012 Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act (now codified at 47 U.S.C. §1455(a)).

Wireless Communication Facility, Slim-Line Pole—A ground-mounted, stealth wireless communication facility where the antenna is flush-mounted on a pole. This type of facility generally does not include a faux design, but rather utilizes distance from public viewing areas, location (e.g., facility is hidden by existing buildings or trees), coloration, low height, and slim structural profile to blend with the surrounding environment.

Examples of Slim-Line Poles

Wireless Communication Facility, Stealth—A wireless communication facility that blends into the surrounding visual setting. A stealth facility utilizes concealment elements such as design (size, height, color material, and antenna type) or siting techniques to camouflage, partially conceal, or integrate the wireless communication facility into the design of an existing facility, structure or its surrounding visual setting. Examples of stealth facilities include but are not limited to the following:

1.

Facilities disguised as other objects typically found within a setting, such as faux trees, monorocks, and water tanks (photos 1 and 2);

2.

Panel antennas flush-mounted on existing utility facilities, water tanks, and integrated with building facades (see photos under flush-mounted);

3.

Facilities that are camouflaged or partially concealed by objects within an existing setting, such as a cluster of trees or utility poles (photo 3); or,

4.

Whip antennas and slim-line poles that use simple camouflage techniques, such as size and color, to render them virtually unnoticeable from public viewing areas (photo 4).

Examples of Stealth Wireless Communication Facilities

Zoning Clearance—A permit that certifies that a proposed development and/or use of land meets all requirements of the County Zoning Code and, if applicable, the conditions of any previously approved permit.

(Add. Ord. 3787—8/26/86; Am. Ord. 3788—8/26/86; Am. Ord. 3881—12/20/88; Am./Add. Ord. 3882—12/20/88; Add. Ord. 3946—7/10/90; Ord. 4219 § 1, 2001; Am. Ord. 4249—11/20/01; Am. Ord. 4378—1/29/08; Ord. No. 4435, § 1, 6-28-2011; Ord. No. 4451, § 2, 12-11-2012; Ord. No. 4492, § 1, 6-21-2016; Ord. No. 4498, § 1, 12-6-2016; Ord. No. 4522, § 2, 6-12-2018)