Title 8 — ZONING & DEVELOPMENT CODE
Chapter 8.08 — DISTRICTS
San Mateo County Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · ingested 2026-07-06 · San Mateo County
8.08.010 - Designation Of Districts. ¶
The districts established by this Part are as follows:
DISTRICT :
| R-E | Residential Estates Districts |
|---|---|
| R-1 | One-Family Residential Districts |
| R-1/CCP | One-Family Residential/Country Club Park |
| R-2 | Two-Family Residential Districts |
| R-3 | Multiple-Family Residential Districts |
| R-3-A | Affordable Housing Districts |
| PUD | Planned Unit Development Districts |
| A-1 | Agricultural Districts |
| A-2 | Exclusive Agricultural Districts |
| A-3 | Floricultural Districts |
| COSC | Community Open Space Conservation Districts |
| EG | El Granada Districts |
| P | Parking Districts |
| H-1 | Limited Highway Frontage Districts |
| O | Office Districts |
| C-1 | Neighborhood Business Districts |
| C-1/NFO | Neighborhood Business District/North Fair Oaks |
| C-1/WMP | Neighborhood Business District/West Menlo Park |
| C-2 | General Commercial Districts |
| C-2/NFO | General Commercial District/North Fair Oaks |
| CCR | Coastside Commercial Recreation Districts |
| M-1 | Light Industrial Districts |
| M-1/EDISON/NFO | Light Industrial District/Edison Way/North Fair Oaks |
| M-1/NFO | Light Industrial District/North Fair Oaks |
| M-2 | Heavy Industrial Districts |
| W | Waterfront Districts |
I/NFO Institutional/North Fair Oaks RM Resource Management Districts PAD Planned Agricultural Districts TPZ Timberland Preserve Districts RH Residential Hillside Districts RM-CZ Resource Management-Coastal Zone Districts TPZ-CZ Timberland Preserve-Coastal Zone Districts PC Planned Colma District
(Prior Code § 6110; Ord. 2704, 12/16/80)
(Prior Code § 6110; Ord. 2862, 12/13/83) (Prior Code § 6110; Ord. 3602, 09/27/94) (Prior Code § 6110; Ord. 3918, 07/27/99)
8.08.020 - Combining Districts. ¶
In addition to the foregoing districts, there are hereby established, for combination with the districts set forth in Section 8.08.010 above, certain districts as follows:
DISTRICT :
| TRICT: | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| S-1 | Residential Density District Number | 1 | |
| S-2 | Residential Density District Number | 2 | |
| S-3 | Residential Density District Number | 3 | |
| S-4 | Residential Density District Number | 4 | |
| S-5 | Residential Density District Number | 5 | |
| S-6 | Residential Density District Number | 6 | |
| S-7 | Residential Density District Number | 7 | |
| S-8 | Residential Density District Number | 8 | |
| S-9 | Residential Density District Number | 9 | |
| S-10 | Residential Density District Number | 10 | |
| S-11 | Residential Density District Number | 11 | |
| S-12 | Residential Density District Number | 12 | |
| S-13 | Residential Density District Number | 13 | |
| S-17 | Residential Density District Number | 17 | |
| S-50 | Residential Density District Number | 50 | (North Fair Oaks) |
| S-71 | Residential Density District Number | 71 | (Devonshire) |
| S-72 | Residential Density District Number 72 (West Menlo Park) | ||
| --- | --- | ||
| S-73 | Residential Density District Number 73 (North Fair Oaks) | ||
| S-74 | Residential Density District Number 74 (Selby Neighborhood - Sequoia Tract) | ||
| S-75 | Residential Density District Number 75 (Weekend Acres) | ||
| S-81 | Residential Density District Number 81 (San Mateo Highlands) | ||
| S-82 | Residential Density District Number 82 (West Menlo Park) | ||
| S-83 | Residential Density District Number 83 (Los Trancos Woods) | ||
| S-90 | Residential Density District Number 90 (Menlo Oaks) | ||
| S-91 | Residential Density District Number 91 (Palomar Park) | ||
| S-92 | Residential Density District Number 92 (West Menlo Park) | ||
| S-93 | Residential Density District Number 93 (North Fair Oaks) | ||
| S-94 | Residential Density District Number 94 (Midcoast) | ||
| S-95 | Residential Density District Number 95 (Ladera) | ||
| S-100 | Residential Density District Number 100 (Menlo Oaks) | ||
| S-101 | Residential Density District Number 101 (Palomar Park) | ||
| S-102 | Residential Density District Number 102 (Devonshire) | ||
| S-104 | Residential Density District Number 104 (Ladera) | ||
| S-105 | Residential Density District Number 105 (Midcoast) | ||
| S-106 | Residential Density District Number 106 (Ladera) | ||
| S-108 | Residential Density District Number 108 (Los Trancos Woods) | ||
| S-110 | Residential Density District Number 110 (Ladera) | ||
| AO | Airport Overlay District | ||
| CD | Coastal Development Districts | ||
| DR | Design Review Districts | ||
| GH | Geologic Hazards District | ||
| E | Entertainment Overlay District |
(Prior Code § 6111; Ord. 1483, 10/10/61) (Prior Code § 6111; Ord. 2704, 12/16/80) (Prior Code § 6111; Ord. 2862, 12/13/83) (Prior Code § 6111; Ord. 3320, 04/29/91) (Prior Code § 6111; Ord. 3602, 09/27/94) (Prior Code § 6111; Ord. 3843, 08/04/98) (Prior Code § 6111; Ord. 3844, 08/04/98)
(Prior Code § 6111; Ord. 3918, 07/27/99) (Prior Code § 6111; Ord. 3972, 07/11/00) (Prior Code § 6111; Ord. 3973, 07/11/00) (Prior Code § 6111; Ord. 3974, 07/11/00) (Prior Code § 6111; Ord. 3975, 07/11/00) (Prior Code § 6111; Ord. 3979, 08/08/00) (Prior Code § 6111; Ord. 3980, 08/08/00) (Prior Code § 6111; Ord. 4241, 12/07/04) (Prior Code § 6111; Ord. 4384, 09/11/07) (Prior Code § 6111; Ord. 4387, 09/11/07) (Prior Code § 6111; Ord. 4591, 11/15/11)
8.08.030 - Establishment Of Districts. ¶
(a) The districts listed in Sections 8.08.010 and 8.08.020 of this Chapter are hereby established insofar as their designations, locations, and boundaries are set forth and indicated in Zoning Maps which comprise Section 8.08.060 of this Part. These Zoning Maps show the designation, locations, and boundaries of each adopted district, and the location and depth of certain setback lines.
(b) An index map to the Zoning Maps constitutes Section 8.08.050 of this Chapter, and all notations, references, data, and other information shown thereon are made a part of this Part.
(Prior Code § 6112; Ord. 2862, 12/13/83)
8.08.040 - DISTRICT BOUNDARIES . ¶
Where uncertainty exists as to the boundaries of any of the aforesaid districts as described as aforesaid or as shown on said sectional district maps, the following rules shall apply:
(a) Where such boundaries are indicated as following streets and alleys, the centerlines of such streets and alleys shall be construed to be such boundaries.
(b) Where such boundaries are indicated as approximately following lot lines, such lot lines shall be construed to be such boundaries.
(c) In unsubdivided property or where a district boundary divides a lot, the location of any such boundary, unless the same is indicated by dimensions shown upon said sectional district maps, shall be determined by the use of the scale appearing on such sectional district maps.
(d) In case further uncertainty exists, the Planning Commission upon written application or upon its own motion shall determine the exact location of such boundaries.
8.08.050 - Index Map. ¶
This section incorporates the Index Map for the series of maps making up the Zoning Maps which delineate the County’s Zoning Districts established in Section 8.08.060.
(Prior Code § 6114, Ord. 2862, 12/13/83)
8.08.060 - Sectional District Maps. ¶
A series of Zoning Maps is established by this section which delineate the County’s Zoning Districts established by Section 8.08.030 and named in Sections 8.08.010 and 8.08.020. These maps are separately published.
(Prior Code § 6115; Ord. 2862, 12/13/83)
(Prior Code § 6115; Ord. 3845, 08/04/98) (Prior Code § 6115; Ord. 3899, 04/20/99) (Prior Code § 6115; Ord. 4156, 02/04/03) (Prior Code § 6115; Ord. 4242, 12/07/04) (Prior Code § 6115; Ord. 4252, 02/08/05) (Prior Code § 6115; Ord. 4282, 11/08/05) (Prior Code § 6115; Ord. 4296, 03/07/06) (Prior Code § 6115; Ord. 4344, 11/14/06) (Prior Code § 6115; Ord. 4347, 11/14/06 (Prior Code § 6115; Ord. 4358, 01/23/07 (Prior Code § 6115; Ord. 4385, 09/11/07 (Prior Code § 6115; Ord. 4386, 09/11/07 (Prior Code § 6115; Ord. 4395, 10/2/07, CC 11/16/07) (Prior Code § 6115; Ord. 4407, 02/05/08) (Prior Code § 6115; Ord. 4481, 10/06/09) (Prior Code § 6115; Ord. 4497, 04/27/10) (Prior Code § 6115; Ord. 4529, 11/30/10) (Prior Code § 6115; Ord. 4543, 03/15/11)
(Prior Code § 6115; Ord. 4562, 05/24/11), CC 08/08/12, effective CZ 09/07/12 (Prior Code § 6115; Ord. 4565, 05/24/11, CC 08/08/12 and effective in CZ 09/07/12 (Prior Code § 6115; Ord. 4569, 05/24/11, CC 08/08/12 and effective in CZ 09/07/12
8.08.070 - Effect Of Establishment Of Districts. ¶
Except as hereinafter otherwise provided:
(a) No building or structure shall be erected and no existing building or structure shall be moved, altered, added to or enlarged nor shall any land, building or structure, or premises be used, designed or intended to be used for any purpose or in any manner other than those included among the uses thereinafter listed as permitted in the district in which such building or structure, land, or premises is located.
(b) No building or structure shall be erected, reconstructed, or structurally altered to exceed in height the limit hereinafter designated for the district in which such building or structure is located.
(c) No building or structure shall be erected, nor shall any existing building or structure be altered, enlarged, or rebuilt except in conformity to the lot area, yard, court, and building or structure location regulations hereinafter set forth for the district in which such building or structure is located.
(d) No yard or other open space provided about any building for the purpose of complying with the provisions of this Part shall be considered as providing a yard or open space for any other building, and no yard or other open space on one lot shall be considered as providing a yard or open space for a building on any other lot.
(e) No parking area or garage space provided on a lot for the purpose of complying with provisions of this Part shall be reduced in area or capacity or be considered as providing parking area or garage space, or yard, court, or other open space required for any building or use on any other lot except as hereinafter provided.
(f) No lot or other premises shall be divided, subdivided or otherwise reduced to result in an area less than the minimum lot area specified by this Part for the district in which such lot is situated. Any division of property made in violation of this provision or in violation of the provisions of San Mateo County Ordinance No. 595 or the Subdivision Map Act shall not be recognized for the purposes of determining lots, parcels or building sites in the application of this Part.