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§ 5.03

5.03.355 Home Occupation Use – Conditional Use Permit Required.

Colma Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · updated 2026-07-08 · Colma

(a) Any occupant within the Town of Colma desiring to use their dwelling unit for a Home Office use or Cottage Food Operation use shall make an application to the Planning Department for a Zoning Clearance and pay the applicable processing fee. The application shall describe the business for which the home will serve as an office and the activities to be conducted at the dwelling unit. The occupant will certify in writing that the dwelling unit will not be carrying out any of the activities under Prohibited Activities for Home Offices or Cottage Food Operations enumerated above.

(b) The issuance of a Zoning Clearance shall be conditioned on the applicant obtaining a Town Business Registration within ten days and maintaining the registration in effect at all times. At the time of submission of annual Business Registration renewals, the Cottage Food Operator shall submit a copy of a valid San Mateo County Environmental County Health Department permit demonstrating permission to operate a cottage food operation. Any lapse in either Business Registration renewals or a County permit will require a new application for a Zoning Clearance once the use resumes.

(c) The Zoning Administrator may summarily suspend a Zoning Clearance for a Cottage Food Operation if the operation becomes an immediate threat to the public health or safety, or if the cottage food operator’s “Class A” registration or “Class B” permit is suspended or invalid. This suspension shall remain in effect until the condition causing the suspension has been remedied. The Cottage Food Operator may, within seven days of receipt of the notice of suspension, submit a written request to the City Clerk for an informal conference with the Zoning Administrator to provide the Operator with an opportunity to present an oral request to overturn the notice of suspension. The informal conference shall be non-evidentiary, and witnesses are generally not permitted. However, the Operator may convey all information supporting his or her case without regard for the rules of evidence.

(d) The Zoning Administrator may, after a hearing, revoke a Zoning Clearance for failure to comply with any of the provisions in this ordinance. Written notice of the revocation proceeding shall be posted on the three (3) official bulletin boards of the Town of Colma and mailed to the owner of the affected property at the address for which the Zoning Clearance was issued and, if different, at the address shown on the last tax roll of San Mateo County, at least ten (10) days before the hearing. In lieu of revocation, the Zoning Administrator may attach conditions to the Zoning Clearance.

Page 150 of 170

March 2026

(e) A decision by the Zoning Administrator to deny an application for a Zoning Clearance, to uphold a suspension of a Zoning Clearance, or to revoke a Zoning Clearance for shall be in writing, explaining the reasons therefore. The applicant may appeal the decision to the City Council in accordance with the procedures set forth in section 1.02.270 of this Code.

[History: New, ORD. 706, 3/14/12; ORD. 713, 10/10/12; ORD. 724, 6/12/13] [Authorities: Gov’t Code §§ 51035, 65850]

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▸ Contents — Colma Zoning Code
Colma Zoning Code
  1. ▸ § 5.03
    Overview
    1. 5.03.020 Purpose.
    2. 5.03.030 Definitions generally.
    3. 5.03.040 General Prohibition.
    4. 5.03.050 Zones and Boundaries Thereof.
    5. 5.03.060 Zone Boundaries.
    6. 5.03.070 “G” Zone - Regulations Established.
    7. 5.03.071 “G” Zone - Permitted Uses.
    8. 5.03.072 “G” – Golf and Cemetery Zone – Development Standards.
    9. 5.03.080 Regulations Established.
    10. 5.03.081 Permitted Uses.
    11. 5.03.082 “R” - Residential Zone Development Standards.
    12. 5.03.090 Regulations Established.
    13. 5.03.091 “R-S” Zone - Permitted Uses.
    14. 5.03.092 “R-S” Zone Development Standards.
    15. 5.03.100 Purpose and Intent.
    16. 5.03.101 Definitions.
    17. 5.03.102 Permit Required.
    18. 5.03.103 ADU Density and Consistency.
    19. 5.03.104 ADU Process Time and Submittal Requirements.
    20. 5.03.105 ADU General Development and Operational Standards.
    21. 5.03.106 ADU Rental and Sale Limitations.
    22. 5.03.107 ADU Fee Requirements.
    23. 5.03.108 Conditions for Nonconforming Uses and Structures.
    24. 5.03.109 State Exempt ADUs and JADUs.
    25. 5.03.110 Number and Combination of State Exempt ADUs and JADUs…
    26. 5.03.111 State ADU Standards.
    27. 5.03.112 Non-State Exempt ADU Objective Design Standards.
    28. 5.03.113 Junior Accessory Dwelling Units.
    29. 5.03.110 Purpose.
    30. 5.03.111 Standards for Permitting Large Family Day Care Homes.
    31. 5.03.120 Purpose.
    32. 5.03.121 Prohibition of Boarding Houses or Rooming Houses in S…
    33. 5.03.130 Regulations Established.
    34. 5.03.131 Purpose.
    35. 5.03.132 Permitted Uses.
    36. 5.03.133 “C” - Commercial Zone Development Standards.
    37. 5.03.140 Regulations Established.
    38. 5.03.141 Purpose.
    39. 5.03.150 Regulations Established.
    40. 5.03.151 Purpose.
    41. 5.03.152 "DR" - Design Review Combining Zone Design Standards …
    42. 5.03.153 Restrictions and Procedures Applicable to the "DR" - …
    43. 5.03.154 Objective Design Standards (ODDS) for Planned Develop…
    44. 5.03.155 Manufactured Single-Family Residential Objective Desi…
    45. 5.03.156. ADU (ODDS)
    46. 5.03.160 Regulations Established.
    47. 5.03.161 Purpose.
    48. 5.03.162 Permitted Uses.
    49. 5.03.163 "P" – Public Zone Development Standards
    50. 5.03.170 Regulations Established.
    51. 5.03.171 Permitted Uses.
    52. 5.03.172 "E" – Executive, Administrative Zone Development Stan…
    53. 5.03.180 Regulations Established.
    54. 5.03.181 Purpose.
    55. 5.03.182 Permitted Uses.
    56. 5.03.183 Establishment of PD – Planned Development Districts.
    57. 5.03.184 Conceptual Development Plan Required.
    58. 5.03.185 Conditional Uses.
    59. 5.03.186 Detailed Development Plan Required.
    60. 5.03.187 PD – Planned Development Design Standards.
    61. 5.03.188 Open Space and Density.
    62. 5.03.189 Amendment of Development Plan.
    63. 5.03.190 Development Schedule.
    64. 5.03.191 Revocation of Use Permit.
    65. 5.03.195 Purpose.
    66. 5.03.196 No Parking Standards Required for Housing Element Ove…
    67. 5.03.197 Purpose.
    68. 5.03.198 Density Bonus and Affordable Housing Incentives.
    69. 5.03.199 In-Lieu Fees and Impact Fees.
    70. 5.03.200 Housing Fund.
    71. 5.03.201 Purposes and Use of Housing Fund.
    72. 5.03.202 Affordability Requirement for Residential Development.
    73. 5.03.203 Exemptions.
    74. 5.03.204 Basic Requirements for Inclusionary Units.
    75. 5.03.205 Alternative Equivalent Actions.
    76. 5.03.206 Compliance Procedures.
    77. 5.03.207 Eligibility for Inclusionary Units.
    78. 5.03.208 Owner-Occupied Units.
    79. 5.03.209 Rental Units.
    80. 5.03.210 Delegation of Authority.
    81. 5.03.211 Minimum Requirements.
    82. 5.03.212 Adjustments, Waivers.
    83. 5.03.213 Enforcement Provisions.
    84. 5.03.215 Regulations Established.
    85. 5.03.216 Purpose.
    86. 5.03.217 Restriction Applicable to "F" Zone.
    87. 5.03.218 Regulations Established.
    88. 5.03.219 “T" – Transit Zone Development Standards.
    89. 5.03.220 Development Standards Applicable to All Zones
    90. 5.03.230 Purpose.
    91. 5.03.231 Applicability.
    92. 5.03.232 Parking Standards.
    93. 5.03.233 Calculation of Parking
    94. 5.03.234 Location of Required Parking.
    95. 5.03.240 Purpose.
    96. 5.03.241 Application for Use Permit.
    97. 5.03.242 Standards for Granting Use Permit.
    98. 5.03.243 Effective Date of Decision to Grant or Deny Use Permi…
    99. 5.03.244 Lapse of Use Permit; Extension.
    100. 5.03.245 Duration of Use Permit.
    101. 5.03.246 Revocation of Use Permit.
    102. 5.03.250 Purpose.
    103. 5.03.252 Application Process; No Public Hearing.
    104. 5.03.253 Tier 1 Temporary Uses.
    105. 5.03.254 Tier 2 Temporary Uses.
    106. 5.03.255 Required Findings.
    107. 5.03.256 Conditions of Approval.
    108. 5.03.257 Term; Extension.
    109. 5.03.258 Revocation.
    110. 5.03.259 Appeal.
    111. 5.03.260 Posting.
    112. 5.03.270 Purpose
    113. 5.03.271 Application for Variance.
    114. 5.03.272 Standards for Granting a Variance.
    115. 5.03.273 Effective Date of Variance.
    116. 5.03.280 Purpose
    117. 5.03.281 Application for Amendment.
    118. 5.03.282 Standards for Adopting Amendments to Zoning Ordinance.
    119. 5.03.283 Compliance.
    120. 5.03.290 Administrative Permits.
    121. 5.03.300 Purpose.
    122. 5.03.310 Purpose.
    123. 5.03.350 Minor, Short-term, and Temporary Uses.
    124. 5.03.351 Home Office Use – Purpose and Recitals.
    125. 5.03.352 Home Office Use – Scope; Prohibition.
    126. 5.03.353 Home Office Use – Zoning Clearance; Prohibited Activi…
    127. 5.03.354 Home Office Use – Zoning Clearance Process.
    128. 5.03.355 Home Occupation Use – Conditional Use Permit Required.
    129. 5.03.356 Home Occupation Use or Cottage Food Operation – Condi…
    130. 5.03.357 No Net Reduction in Housing Units.
    131. 5.03.358 Regulation of the Use of Personal, Medical, and Comme…
    132. 5.03.359 Restrictions and Landscaping Along El Camino Real.
    133. 5.03.360 Restrictions Applicable to Recreational Vehicles and …
    134. 5.03.361 Restrictions Applicable to Dumps.
    135. 5.03.362 Regulations Applicable to RMU Vendors.
    136. 5.03.420 Applicability and Purpose.
    137. 5.03.421 Definitions.
    138. 5.03.422 Basic Requirements.
    139. 5.03.423 Applicant Obligations.
    140. 5.03.424 Electronic Processing.
    141. 5.03.425 Application Review.
    142. 5.03.426 Administrative Use Permit.
    143. 5.03.427 Inspections.
    144. 5.03.428 Exemptions.
    145. 5.03.430 Purpose.
    146. 5.03.431 Applicability of Historic Design Review.
    147. 5.03.432 Definitions.
    148. 5.03.433 Historic Design Review Procedures.
    149. 5.03.434 Findings and Decision.
    150. 5.03.435 Conformance to Plans.
    151. 5.03.500.1 Purpose and Findings.
    152. 5.03.500.2 Definitions.
    153. 5.03.502 Removal or Alteration of Trees Without a Permit Prohi…
    154. 5.03.503 Decision Making Body.
    155. 5.03.504 Permit Procedures.
    156. 5.03.505 Exceptions.
    157. 5.03.506 Appeal .
    158. 5.03.600 Purpose.
    159. 5.03.601 Definitions.
    160. 5.03.602 Administration.
    161. 5.03.603 Interference with town employees, contractors or repr…
    162. 5.03.604 Public Tree Care.
    163. 5.03.605 Destruction of Public Trees Unlawful.
    164. 5.03.606 Exceptions.
    165. 5.03.608 Town Tree Master Plan.
    166. 5.03.608 Master Tree List.
    167. 5.03.609 Prohibited Trees.
    168. 5.03.700 Purpose.
    169. 5.03.701 Applicability.
    170. 5.03.702 Application Requirements.
    171. 5.03.703 Consideration of Request.
    172. 5.03.704 Notice of Decision.

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