DATE: November 17, 2026
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Steven E. White, Director
Department of Public Works and Planning
SUBJECT: Amendment to Text of the Zoning Ordinance No. 394 (Applicant: County of Fresno)
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Approve Amendment to Text Application No. 394 and adopt Ordinance modifying the text of the Fresno County Zoning Ordinance to update standards for agricultural produce stands; and
2. Determine that the First Recommended Action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) per section 15061(b)(3) and direct staff to file a Notice of Exemption with the Fresno County Clerk’s Office; and
3. Designate County Counsel to prepare a fair and adequate summary of the proposed Ordinance and direct the Clerk of the Board to post and publish the required summary in accordance with California Government Code, Section 25124(b)(1).
REPORT
There is no increase in Net County Cost (NCC) associated with the recommended actions. Approval of the recommended actions will approve text amendments to the Fresno County Zoning Ordinance to refine and modernize standards for agricultural produce stands, determine that approval of the first recommended action is exempt from CEQA, and direct staff to post and publish the required Ordinance summary in accordance with Government Code. This item comes before your Board with a unanimous recommendation for approval from the Planning Commission (6 to 0 with three Commissioners absent). The proposed amendments require final approval by your Board per the Fresno County Zoning Ordinance and State planning law. A summary of the Planning Commission’s action is included as Attachment A-C. The September 17, 2026 Planning Commission Staff Report is included as Attachment B. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Your Board may choose to deny the proposed text amendments to the County Zoning Ordinance as recommended by the Planning Commission by continuing this item to another date and providing direction on any additional revisions. Alternatively, your Board may also outright reject Amendment to Text Application No. 394.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in NCC associated with the recommended actions. Cost for the preparation of the amendments and this agenda item is a NCC accounted for within the Department of Public Works and Planning Org 4360 FY 2026-27 Adopted Budget.
DISCUSSION:
Amendment to the Ordinance is a legislative action requiring final approval by your Board. If approved, the amendments would become effective 30 days after the adoption date.
On July 14, 2026, your Board approved Resolution of Intention No. 26-269 directing the Department to make the necessary investigations and studies as may be required to amend the Fresno County Zoning Ordinance as it relates to agricultural produce stands and modernize the zoning regulations governing agricultural produce stands to support local farmers and agricultural producers to reflect their operation and seasonal cycles of modern agricultural operations. This Amendment to Text Application No. 394 is a result of that action and is being brought before your Board with a unanimous recommendation for approval by the Planning Commission.
Attachment A-C to this Board Agenda Item provides background to Amendment to Text Application No. 394 and the proposed changes to the relevant sections of the Zoning Ordinance in strikethrough deletions and red-lined additions as recommended by the Planning Commission. In summary, the Planning Commission’s approved recommendation would amend Article 2, Chapter 808.2 - Allowable Uses in Agricultural Zones; Article 4, Standards for Specific Land Uses - Temporary Agricultural Produce Stands; and Article 7 - Definitions in the Fresno County Zoning Ordinance to update standards for agricultural produce stands.
As described in Attachment B, the changes would delete the words “Roadside” and “Permanent” for Agricultural Stands in Article 2 and create two categories in the agricultural zone districts for either Small or Large Agricultural Stands. Large Agricultural Stands would continue to require the approval of a discretionary land use permit while small stands under 400 square feet would be permitted by right and be permitted on private property owned or leased by the grower and seller of the produce in Fresno County. Modifications to Article 7, Definitions would also be made, and the text amendment includes limitations to produce preparation, and requirements for site access and on-site parking.
Department staff recommend that your Board approve Amendment to Text No. 394 as recommended by the Planning Commission.
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
As described by Department staff in Attachment B, the recommended actions are exempt from the CEQA per section15061(b)(3), as there is no possibility that the actions may have a significant effect on the environment.
The proposed amendments would refine existing regulations to allow property owners to sell a wider variety of produce grown from their properties but all proposed structures 400 feet or less in size would still require structural or electrical permits. The Department will file a notice of exemption as provided by 14 CCR 15062.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #28, July 14, 2026
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
Attachments A - C
Ordinance
On file with Clerk - Ordinance Summary
CAO ANALYST:
George Uc