Article 13
Redwood City Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · ingested 2026-07-06 · Redwood City
CN (NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL) DISTRICT
Sections:
| 13.1 | Purpose. | |
|---|---|---|
| 13.2 | Use Regulations. | |
| 13.3, | **13.4 ** | Reserved. |
| 13.5 | Height Regulations. | |
| 13.6 | Lot Area. | |
| 13.7 | Lot Width. | |
| 13.8 | Lot Coverage. | |
| 13.9 | Yard Requirements. | |
| 13.10 | Other Required Conditions. | |
| 13.12 | Floor Area Ratio. | |
| 13.13 | Minimum Pervious Area and Stormwater Requirements. |
13.1 Purpose. ¶
To provide centers for convenience shopping in the residential neighborhood planned and controlled to the extent that such centers will perform a vital service to the neighborhoods and become integral parts thereof. (Ord. 1130, eff. 7-10-64)
13.2 Use Regulations. ¶
A. Land Uses. Table 13.2 indicates the uses permitted (P), permitted with a conditional use permit (C), permitted as an accessory use (A) and not permitted (-) in the CN Zoning District. Any other use not explicitly addressed in Table 13.2 is prohibited, except that the Zoning Administrator may permit or conditionally permit any use not addressed in Table 13.2 if the use is determined to be a similar and/or compatible use to any use in Table 13.2 and meets the purpose and intent of the Zoning District.
B. Applicable Regulations. The last column in the table ("Specific Use Regulations") references specific requirements for the use, though other provisions in the Zoning Ordinance may also apply.
| Table 13.2 Use Regulations for the CN Zoning District | ||
| Land Use Personal Services Personal Services, General |
P | Specific Uses Regulations Chapter 18A: Regulation of Massage |
| Businesses | ||
| Personal Services, Studio Health/Fitness Club, Small Health/Fitness Club,Large |
P P C |
(Redwood City Zoning Supp. No. 29, 1-25)
65
13.2
| Table 13.2 Use Regulations for the CN Zoning District | Table 13.2 Use Regulations for the CN Zoning District | Table 13.2 Use Regulations for the CN Zoning District |
|---|---|---|
| Land Use Animal-Related Uses |
C | Specific Uses Regulations |
| CheckCashing Retail |
- | |
| FinancialServices | P | |
| Retail Sales, General | P | Chapter 15, Article III: Tobacco Re- |
| tail | ||
| RetailSales,Bulk Business, Wholesale LiquorStores Restaurant and Entertainment |
- - C |
|
| Assembly/MeetingFacilities1 Bar/Cocktail Lounge EntertainmentEstablishment |
C C C |
|
| Restaurant, Sit-Down Restaurant,FastFood Office |
P P |
|
| Ground Floor Dependent Office | P | Section 13.10.B. (Maximum Size of |
| Offices) | ||
| Office — Business, Government, and | P | Section 13.10.B. (Maximum Size of |
| Professional, | Offices) | |
| Medical Office | P | Section 13.10.B. (Maximum Size of |
| Offices) | ||
| Public or Quasi Public Uses Child Care Centers1 |
P/C | Article 39 (Child Care) |
| A Use Permit is required for more | ||
| thansixty (60) children | ||
| Public or Quasi-Public Uses | C | Except corporation yards storage and |
| repairyards, or warehouses. | ||
| Vehicle-Related Uses | ||
| Parking Lots and Garages | C | Not including garages for customer |
| and employee parking | ||
| Vehicle/Equipment Service and Re- | C | |
| pair,Minor | ||
| Vehicle/Equipment Service and Re- | - | |
| pair,Major | ||
| Service Station Vehicle/EquipmentRentaland Sales Vehicle Parts — Retail Sales and Re- |
C - C |
Article35(Service Stations) |
| pair |
66
(Redwood City Zoning Supp. No. 29, 1-25)
13.9
Footnotes:
- In accordance with applicable San Carlos ALUCP Safety Compatibility policies and State law.
(Ord. No. 1130-367, § 5, 6-13-16; Ord. No. 1130-383, § 4(Exh. A), 4-12-21; Ord. No. 1130-890, § 4(Exh. A), 8-26-24)
Editor’s note— Ord. No. 1130-367, § 5, adopted June 13, 2016, repealed and replaced § 13.2 in its entirety. Former § 13.2 pertained to "Permitted Uses," and was derived from Ord. No. 1130, eff. July 10, 1964; Ord. No. 1130.28, eff. August 23, 1965; Ord. No. 1130.41, eff. March 9, 1966; Ord. No. 1130.241, eff. July 17, 1985; Ord. No. 1130.275, eff. February 27, 1991; Ord. No. 1130.305 § 1, eff. April 12, 2000; Ord. No. 1130.310 § 22, eff. April 12, 2001 and Ord. No. 1130.327 § 8, eff. December 1, 2003.
13.3, 13.4 Reserved.
Editor’s note— Ord. No. 1130-367, § 5, adopted June 13, 2016, repealed §§ 13.3, 13.4 in their entirety. Former §§ 13.3, 13.4 pertained to "Accessory Uses.," and "Conditional Uses," respectively, and were derived from Ord. No. 1130, eff. July 10, 1964; Ord. No. 1130.28, eff. August 23, 1965; Ord. No. 1130.139, eff. July 5, 1972; Ord. No. 1130.186, eff. December 6, 1978; Ord. No. 1130.189, eff. February 21, 1979; Ord. No. 1130.212, eff. July 8, 1981; Ord. No. 1130.241, eff. July 17, 1985; Ord. No. 1130.275, eff. February 17, 1991; Ord. No. 1130.305 § 2, eff. April 12, 2000; Ord. No. 1130.310 § 23, eff. April 12, 2001; Ord. No. 1130.327 §§ 13, 14, eff. December 1, 2003 and Ord. No. 1130-353, § 1(Exh. F), adopted June 27, 2011.
13.5 Height Regulations. ¶
No structure shall exceed thirty-five (35) feet in height or two (2) stories, whichever is less. (Ord. 1130, eff. 7-10-64: Ord. 1130.310 § 24, eff. 4-12-01)
13.6 Lot Area. ¶
The minimum building site area shall be five thousand (5,000) square feet. Additional minimum building site area requirements greater than those specified in this Section shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of Section 32.2, "Supplementary Lot Area Requirements for Sloping Sites," under the conditions therein specified. (Ord. 1130, eff. 7-10-64: Ord. 1130.130, eff. 5-26-71)
13.7 Lot Width. ¶
The minimum average lot width shall be fifty (50) feet. Every lot shall have a minimum of thirty-five (35) feet of frontage on a public street. (Ord. 1130, eff. 7-10-64)
13.8 Lot Coverage. ¶
No limitation. (Ord. 1130, eff. 7-10-64)
13.9 Yard Requirements. ¶
The following yards are required:
- A. Front Yards. None required; except that within fifty (50) feet of any R District, a front yard having the same minimum depth as the front yard required in such R District shall be required; excepting, further, that a minimum building setback of five (5) feet, containing permanently maintained landscaping, shall be required for properties abutting El Camino Real.
67
(Redwood City Zoning Supp. No. 29, 1-25)
13.9
B. Side Yards. None required, except that on the street side of a corner lot and the side of any interior lot abutting any R District, a side yard having a minimum width of fifteen (15) feet is required.
C. Rear Yards. Rear yards shall have a minimum depth of ten (10) feet.
(Ord. 1130, eff. 7-10-64: Ord. 1130.192, eff. 10-17-79)
13.10 Other Required Conditions. ¶
The following additional conditions shall apply to the CN District:
A. Except for automobile service stations and parking lots, all uses located within one hundred (100) feet of any R District shall be conducted within a completely enclosed building.
B. Maximum Size of Offices.
No parcel or contiguous parcels within a CN District shall contain more than twenty-five (25) percent of the combined ground floor gross floor area in office uses.
All legally permitted and conditionally permitted office uses existing as of July 1, 2000, may remain as legal nonconforming uses and shall not require a conditional use permit or be subject to termination pursuant to Article 33; provided, however, that in the case of a conflict between the provision of this Section and the provisions of Article 33, this Section shall control. Such existing uses shall be permitted to be remodeled, improved, or site improvements thereon may be replaced in accordance with applicable site development regulations; provided, that any such remodeling, improvement or replacement shall not result in increased floor area devoted to such office uses.
(Ord. 1130, eff. 7-10-64: Ord. 1130.310 § 25, eff. 4-12-01)
13.12 Floor Area Ratio. ¶
The maximum floor area ratio shall be forty percent (40%). The computation of floor area ratio shall include: commercial space, and any portion of structured parking that is at or above grade and shall exclude parking entirely below grade. Eligible projects may request an FAR bonus as described in Article 32.4: Floor Area Ratio (FAR) Bonus. (Ord. 1130.310 § 26, eff. 4-12-01)
(Ord. No. 1130-890, § 4(Exh. A), 8-26-24)
13.13 Minimum Pervious Area and Stormwater Requirements. ¶
A minimum of ten percent (10%) of each lot shall be pervious area, to be composed of landscaping, vegetated open space, or permeable paving materials, consistent with the provisions of Section 32.12 of the Zoning Ordinance, as that section may be amended from time to time. All development is also subject to the requirements of Chapter 27A (Stormwater Treatment Measures and Maintenance Program) of the Municipal Code, as that chapter may be amended from time to time. (Ord. 1130.336 § 10, eff. 1-5-06)
68
(Redwood City Zoning Supp. No. 29, 1-25)