Resource Management (RM)

INTENT: The “RM” designation is intended to recognize and maintain a wide variety of values in the lands outside existing communities. The RM designation indicates the land may be valuable for uses including but not limited to recreation, surface water conservation, groundwater conservation and recharge, wetlands conservation, habitat protection for special-status species, wildlife habitat, visual resources, cultural resources, geothermal or mineral resources. The land may also need special management consideration due to the presence of natural hazards in the area; e.g., avalanche-prone areas, earthquake faults, flood hazards, or landslide or rockfall hazards.

The RM designation provides for low-intensity rural uses in a manner that recognizes and maintains the resource values of the parcel.

Land subject to the land use authority of an agency other than the County may be designated RM with a reference to the appropriate plan as follows:

      Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Land & Resource Management Plan – RM/TNF

      Inyo National Forest Land & Resource Management Plan – RM/INF

      Mono Basin National Forest Scenic Area Comprehensive Management Plan – RM/MB

      Bureau of Land Management, Bishop Resource Management Plan – RM/BLM

      California Department of Fish and Game Lands – RM/DFG

      Mammoth Yosemite Airport Land Use Plan – RM/ALUP

These designations recognize the planning authority of other agencies on publicly owned lands only; the County has authority over private and LADWP (Los Angeles Department of Water and Power) lands throughout the unincorporated area.

PERMITTED USES

• Single-family dwelling
• Manufactured home used as a single-family dwelling1
• Accessory buildings and uses2
• Animals and pets (see Animal Standards Section 04.270)
• Home occupations (see Home Occupation regulations, Section 04.290)
• Resource exploratory activities that do not involve excavation, devegetation, or other potentially significant environmental effects
• Agricultural uses, provided that such uses are proposed in conjunction with a bona fide agricultural operation3, except those requiring a use permit
• Small-scale agriculture
• Accessory Dwelling Unit (as prescribed in Chapter 16, Development Standards – Accessory Dwelling Units)
• Non-commercial composting facilities where the operation does not create a nuisance problem and has less than 100 cubic yards of material on site at any given time

Uses Permitted Subject to Director Review (Director Review Processing, Ch. 31)

• Resource exploratory activities that involve excavation, devegetation, or other potentially significant environmental effects

Uses Permitted Subject to Use Permit (Use Permit Processing, Ch. 32)

• Limited-scale lodging, such as small inns, bed-and-breakfast establishments, and cabins, if found by the Commission to be compatible
• Recreation facilities, such as improved bike trails, cross country ski trails, and pedestrian trails requiring modification of the natural landscape, if found by the Commission to be compatible with the natural habitat of the area
• Construction of an accessory building prior to construction of the main building
• Airports, heliports, taxiways, and landing strips for aircraft
• Mining and geothermal exploration projects
• Commercial composting facilities

Development Standards

Minimum Parcel Size:   40 acres or 1/4 of 1/4 section

Maximum Site Disturbance:    10%   maximum lot coverage is 5%.

                  Maximum site disturbance may be increased in conformance to the specific plan process.

Minimum Setbacks:

Front:             50’                      Rear:            30’                         Side:        30’

Maximum Building Density: one du/lot and an Accessory Dwelling Unit (see Ch. 16, Development Standards – Accessory Dwelling Units).

Population Density: Maximum population density is 5.02 persons per 40 acres or approximately 0.13 persons per acre.

NOTES

1. Provided that the unit is fewer than 10 years old and meets the criteria set forth in Section 04.280. When there are two mobile homes on the same parcel, they must 1) comply with the Accessory Dwelling Unit requirements (see Ch. 16), or 2) comply with State standards for a mobile-home park and obtain a use permit from the County (see Ch. 17, Mobile-home and RV Parks).
2. Accessory buildings and uses customarily incidental to any of the permitted uses are permitted only when located on the same lot and constructed simultaneously with or subsequent to the main building.
3. "Agricultural uses" include agricultural sheds and warehouses; packing, processing, storage or sale of agricultural products and supplies, machinery, implements and equipment; transportation of agricultural products, supplies and equipment together with the necessary maintenance, repair and service of trucks and equipment used therein; the feeding and selling of livestock; aquaculture; accessory buildings and uses including barns, stables and other farm outbuildings; quarters for farm labor or other employees employed on the premises; stands for sale of agricultural products grown on the premises.
4. Large-scale projects may be subject to a Specific Plan (Ch. 36) in conformance to the General Plan.
5. Uses may have been omitted from the list of those specified, hence the Commission may find other uses to be similar and not more obnoxious or detrimental to the public health, safety and welfare. See explanation of interpreting "similar uses" Chapter 04, Uses not listed as permitted.

SEE ALSO

Land Development Regulations – 

Ch. 04             Development Standards – General

Ch. 06             Development Standards – Parking

Ch. 07             Development Standards – Signs

Table 04.010  Building Heights