Overview
State law governing employee housing, including California Health and Safety Code (HSC) Sections 17021.5, 17021.6, and 17021.8, requires certain types of employee housing to be approved ministerially. These housing types include employee housing for six or fewer employees, Polanco Parks (up to 36 beds or 12 units or spaces), and agricultural employee housing developments with up to 36 units or spaces. The proposed updated to the County's Land Use Ordinance (Ordinance No. 348) incorporates provisions to streamline the permitting and development of qualifying agricultural employee housing.
The proposed update applies objective standards and locational criteria to these housing types. It requires certified operators, connection to essential infrastructure, and compliance with applicable building and health codes. Overall, the proposed update supports housing opportunities for the agricultural workforce while protecting public health, safety, and the surrounding.
Definitions
California State law (Health & Safety Code Section §§17021.5, 17021.6, and 17021.8) allow the following types of employee housing to be approved ministerially.
Employee Housing (HSC 17021.5): Employee housing accommodations for six or fewer employees shall be deemed a single-family structure within a general plan designation of residential.
Polanco Park (HSC 17021.6): Employee housing development for agricultural employees consisting of no more than 36 beds in a group quarters, or 12 units or spaces designed for use by a single family or household within a zone allowing agricultural uses.
Agricultural Employee Housing (HSC 17021.8) : Employee housing developments for agricultural employees consisting of up to 36 units or spaces for use by a single family or household within a general plan designation of agriculture.
Housing Element Implementation
This ordinance implements key Housing Element programs by updating Riverside County Ordinance No. 348 to align with State law, streamlining approval for agricultural employee housing, and supporting the development and rehabilitation of farmworker and Polanco Park housing.
H-7: Employee Housing
- Updates Ordinance No. 348 to align with State housing laws
- Clarifies how employee housing (≤6 persons) is permitted (HSC §17021.5)
- Additional H-7 updates (e.g., care facilities, parking) will be addressed separately
H-18: Farmworker Assistance Program
H-18: Farmworker Assistance Program
- Establishes ministerial process
- Updates to filing instructions checklist + application process
- Continues site identification + outreach efforts
H-19: Polanco Parks Program
- Implements Polanco permitting
- Advances REAP 2.0 – Loan Program
- Supports rehabilitation + infrastructure improvements
Polanco Park
Agricultural Employee Housing established pursuant to HSC Section 17021.6, which provides for employee housing development for agricultural employees consisting of no more than 36 beds in a group quarters, or 12 units or spaces designed for use by a single family or housing within a zone allowing agricultural uses.
Minimum Requirements
- Consists of no more than 36 beds in a group quarters, or 12 units or spaces designed for use by a single family or household.
- For agricultural employees who do not work on the property where the employee housing is located.
- Is for "employee housing" defined by HSC 17008 and the housing accommodations or property meets the following:
- Not maintained in connection with any work or workplace.
- Provided by someone other than an agricultural employer, as defined in California Labor Code (LAB) 1140.4.
- Used by five or more agricultural employees
Site Requirements
Polanco Parks may be permitted in all of the following zoning classifications: R-R, R-R-O, R-1, R-1A, R-A, R-2, R-2A, R-3, R-3A, R-T-R, M-SC, M-M, M-H, M-R, M-R-A, A-1, A-P, A-2, A-D, C/V, WC-W, WC-WE, WC-E, WC-R, W-2, R-D, N-A, W-2-M, W-1.
Click the button below to see the Agricultural Employee Housing Eligibility & Completeness Checklist and Certification Form (Draft).
Development Standards
- Utilities: Demonstrate and provide availability of adequate utilities (i.e. dry utilities, water supply, and wastewater disposal).
- Access & Public Safety: Comply with all minimum requirements for access and public safety.
- Parking: Parking shall be provided based on the type of applicable residential use (e.g. multiple family, single family, or group living).
- All Acceptable Standards: Comply with all applicable state and local public health and safety codes, laws, regulations, and standards (i.e. California Employee Housing Act, Riverside County Ord. No. 457, County's Employee Housing Mobile Home Park Construction Handbook, etc.)
Operational Standards
Polanco Parks shall be operated and maintained in compliance with applicable state law, including California Health & Safety Code & California Employee Housing Act.
Approval Process
- Administrative Review: No conditional use permit, zoning variance, or discretionary zoning clearance shall be required. Polanco Parks are ministerial and not a project pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
- Application: Polanco Park applications shall be made to the Riverside County Building & Safety Department (B&S) and accompanied by the feeds set for in County Ordinances. Polanco Parks applications may utilize any applicable standard plans adopted by B&S.
- Permit Process: A Polanco Park application may receive a permit to operate if it meets all of the following requirements:
- Minimum requirements, site requirements, development standards, and operational requirements of the Agricultural Employee Housing Ordinance;
- Any submittal document checklist(s); and
- All applicable state and local building, health and safety laws or requirements.
Fees
- Prohibited Fees - Polanco Parks that meet the requirements set out by the Ordinance shall not be subject to any business taxes, local registration fees, use permit fees, or other fees to which other agricultural activities in the same zone are not likewise subject.
- Neither the State Fire Marshal nor any local public entity shall charge any fee to the owner, operator, or any resident for enforcing fire inspection regulation pursuant to state law or regulations or local ordinance.
- Permitted Fees - This Ordinance does not forbid the imposition of local property taxes, fees for water services and garbage collection, fees for normal inspections, local bond assessments, and other fees, charges, and assessments to which other agricultural activities in the same zone are likewise subject.
- Transportation Uniform Mitigation Fee (TUMF) Exception - An Agricultural Employee Housing development shall not be subject to the Western Riverside County TUMF Program or Coachella Valley TUMF Program, if the development qualifies for an exemption under Ord. No. 824 or Ord. No. 673, respectively.
Agricultural Employee Housing
Agricultural Employee Housing (AEH) established pursuant to HSC Section 17021.8, provides for a streamlined, ministerial approval process for agricultural employee housing developments for agricultural employees consisting of up to 36 units or spaces for use by a single family or household within a general plan designation of agriculture.
Minimum Requirements
- Development - AEH shall satisfy all of the following:
- The development is for agricultural employees as defined in HSC 17008 and 17021 and LAB 1140.4.
- Does not contain dormitory-style housing.
- Consists no more than 36 units or spaces designed for use by a single family or household.
- Not ineligible for state funding pursuant to HSC Section 50205, paragraph (1) of subdivision (b).
- Certified Operator - AEH shall be maintained and operated by one of the following certified operator models:
- Housing and Community Development (HCD) - Certified Operator:
- Certification Process - The type of operator must fit one of the following:
- A qualified affordable housing organization that has been certified by HCD, pursuant to HSC Section 17030.10.
- A local public housing agency or multicounty, state, or multistate agency. The agency may either directly maintain and operate the agricultural employee housing or contract with another qualified affordable housing organization, certified pursuant to HSC 17030.10.
- Certification Requirements - The applicant shall submit proof of issuance of the qualified affordable housing organization.
- Affordability Commitment - The applicant commits to recording an affordability covenant on the property prior to certificate of occupancy to ensure the affordability for no less than 55 years.
- Certification Process - The type of operator must fit one of the following:
- Housing and Community Development (HCD) - Certified Operator:
3. County-Certified Operator
- Certification Process - This type of operator must be certified by the County Housing Authority with more than (10) years of verified experience operating a Polanco Park or other similar equivalent development.
- The operator shall have no active Code violations and no documented pattern of recurring Code violations within the previous (5) years.
- Certification Requirements - The operator shall make available to any tenant contact information to submit complaints to the County.
- The operator shall maintain their certification in good standing with the County, and provide information on rent charged, resident, or tenant complaints, or other operational data as requested.
- Affordability Commitment - The applicant commits to recording an affordability covenant on the property prior to certificate of occupancy to ensure the affordability for no less than 55 years.
Site Requirements
- General Plan: The development shall be located on a property with a General Plan Land Use designation of Agricultural (AG:AG).
- Prohibited Locations: Wetlands, high fire severity zone, hazardous waste site, fault zone, flood plain, floodway, conservation, conservation easements, and lands with groundwater levels within five (5) feet of the soil service and for which the development would be served by an onsite wastewater disposal system serving more than six housing units.
Click the button below to see the Agricultural Employee Housing Eligibility & Completeness Checklist and Certification Form (Draft).
Development Standards
- Utilities: Demonstrate and provide availability of adequate utilities (i.e. dry utilities, water supply, and wastewater disposal).
- Access & Public Safety: Comply with all minimum requirements for access and public safety.
- Parking: Parking shall be provided based on the type of applicable residential use (e.g. multiple family, single family, or group living).
- Significant Hazards: If a potential for exposure to significant hazards from surrounding properties or activities is found to exist, the effects of the potential exposure shall be mitigated.
- All Applicable Standards: Comply with all applicable state and local public health and safety codes, laws, regulations, and standards (i.e. California Employee Housing Act, Riverside County Ord. No. 457, County's Employee Housing Mobile Home Park Construction Handbook, etc.)
Approval Process
- Administrative Review - No conditional use permit, zoning variance, or other discretionary zoning clearance shall be required of this employee housing that is not required of any other agricultural activity in the same zone.
- Action taken on AEH applications shall be ministerial and not a project pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
- Application - An application for AEH shall be made to the Building and Safety Department on the forms provided and shall be accompanied by the fees set forth County Ordinances.
- Permit Process - An AEH site may receive a permit to operate if it meets all of the following:
- Within 30 days of submission of a complete application, the County will review if it meets the Minimum Requirements and Site Requirements and provide written documentation of which requirement(s) the development does not satisfy.
- Within 90 days of submission of a complete application, the County will review if it meets the Development Standards and Operational Requirements and provide written documentation of which requirement(s) the development does not satisfy.
Operational Standards
AEH shall be maintained and operated as follows:
- In compliance with applicable County and state law, including California HSC and California Employee Housing Act.
- Provide onsite management.
- Record an affordability covenant on the property prior to certificate of occupancy.
Fees
AEH shall be subject to fees, including development impact fees, and exactions authorized by law that are essential to provide public services and facilities to the development, unless other exempt.
- Transportation Uniform Mitigation Fee (TUMF) Exemption - An AEH development shall not be subject to the Western Riverside County TUMF Program or Coachella Valley TUMF Program, if the development qualifies for an exemption under Ord. No. 824 or Ord. No. 673, respectfully.
Upcoming
Board of Supervisors
Agenda
Date/Time: Tuesday, July 14, 2026 | 9:30 a.m.
Location: 4080 Lemon St, Riverside, CA 92501 | 1st Floor Board Chambers
Previous Meetings & Hearings
Date | Outreach/Hearing | Group | Location | Materials |
May 6, 2026 (05/06/26) | Hearing | La Quinta City Hall (78-495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, CA 92253 | ||
May 4, 2026 (05/04/26) | Outreach | Mecca Boys and Girls Club (91391 66th Ave, Mecca, CA 92254) | ||
October 28, 2024 (10/28/24) | Outreach | Mecca Boys and Girls Club (91391 66th Ave, Mecca, CA 92254) | Flyer (English & Español |
Agricultural Employee Housing Ordinance Survey
The County is currently establishing the Agricultural Employee Housing Ordinance and would like to hear your thoughts. Please click the link below to complete the survey!
El Condado está implementando la Ordenanza de Vivienda para Empleados Agrícolas y nos gustaría conocer su opinión. ¡Haga clic en el enlace a continuación para completar nuestra encuesta!
Contact Us
Jordan Leffew | Assistant Planner
Chad Brown | Senior Planner
Phayvanh Nanthavongdouangsy | Principal Planner
[email protected]
(951) 955-2525
County Administrative Center
12th Floor - Planning Department
4080 Lemon Street, 12th floor
Riverside, CA 92502
(951) 955-2004
