Jackson – The Amador Resources Conservation District (ARCD) announced last week that Amador County may soon have an ordinance that exempts agricultural buildings from the building permit process. The ARCD, along with farmers and ranchers, have pushed for the exemption in order to avoid complicated building permit processes. “After a year of hard work and the support of (Supervisors) John Plasse and Louis Boitano…Amador County is on the verge of having an ordinance,” said ARCD Director Steve Cannon in a release. “There are some requirements, but they are tolerable,” he added. The agreement would bypass restrictions placed on other types of buildings and allow property owners to build structures to house “farm implements, hay, grain, poultry, livestock or horticultural products.” The Agreement to Limit Uses of Agricultural Structures, as drafted on October 15, would apply to owners of “certain real property situated in the unincorporated area of the County of Amador.” Among the restrictions Cannon refers to, owners must agree that the structure “shall not be a place of human habitation or a place of employment” and will “not be a place used by the public.” The proposed agreement also includes a Covenant Running with the Land wherein the owner agrees that the exemption will “be perpetual and run with the land, binding future owners” unless the building is permitted or removed. Cannon claims there is another stipulation not included with the draft that limits unpermitted agricultural structures to 3000 square feet and one story. “The ARCD would like to see that limitation removed to allow for the construction of larger hay barns, though there is some argument that most barns that are larger come with engineered plans,” he said. Whether the building permit exemption is approved now depends on the county’s Land Use and Development Subcommittee, who will consider recommendation of the ordinance to the Board of Supervisors during their December meeting. Cannon encouraged interested parties to contact Kristen Bengyel, Deputy County Administrative Officer and Interim Public Works Director, for more information. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.