Solano supervisors approve broad zoning text updates, clear new rules for farm stands; Williams dissents

The Solano County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 on Jan. 14 to adopt ordinance ZT2402, a zone-text amendment to Chapter 28 that clarifies how the county interprets mandatory versus permissive code language, refines subdivision rules and updates farm-stand (formerly "roadside stand") standards across unincorporated Solano County.

The package, presented by James Fusick, director of Resource Management, and Alan Calder, the department's planning manager, rewrites definitions for words such as "shall," "must," "should" and "may" to reduce ambiguity in permit reviews, adds a formal definition for aliquot parts used in Public Land Survey System (PLSS) subdivisions, removes an obsolete roof-pitch requirement and standardizes farm-stand rules. "Those are items that would need to be acted on per the zone, text amendments," Calder said when explaining the new mandatory language.

Why it matters: County planners said the edits eliminate years of inconsistent interpretation, shorten permit review time and create one regulatory framework for small farm-based retail across the county. Agriculture stakeholders and local supervisors spent much of the hearing debating how narrowly or broadly to define what may be sold at farm stands, how to enforce percentage limits, and how fee and permitting changes would affect small operators.

Key changes and details

- Definitions and interpretation: the code now defines "shall/must" as mandatory, "should" as non‑mandatory with alternatives acceptable when the applicant demonstrates equivalent intent, and "may" as permissive. Staff said adding those definitions makes the code easier to apply and reduces grievance…