Title 8 — ZONING & DEVELOPMENT CODE
Chapter 8.32 — R3-A, AFFORDABLE HOUSING DISTRICT
San Mateo County Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · updated 2026-07-25 · San Mateo County
8.32.010 Regulations for R3-A Districts. ¶
The following regulations shall apply in all “R-3-A” Districts and shall be subject to all applicable provisions of Article 2 (Development Procedures) and Article 3 (General Development Standards) of Title 8.
8.32.020 Purpose. ¶
The purpose of the “R-3-A” District is to provide opportunities for low and moderate income households within new residential developments on designated sites.
8.32.030 Uses Permitted. ¶
(a) A use permit, as provided in Chapter 24 of this Part, shall be required for all uses in “R-3-A” Districts.
(b) The granting of a use permit as required in Section 8.32.030(a) shall be based on the required finding, in addition to those specified in Chapter 8.280 of Title 8, that the residential development complies with Policies 3.19, 3.28, and 3.29 of the Local Coastal Plan Housing Component.
(c) Prior to granting a use permit for any parcel, the granting authority shall require the owner of that parcel to submit for approval a development plan for that parcel. The development plan shall show: property lines; streets and parking; building sites and all proposed structures; building elevations; the number, size, location, and method of financing of affordable housing units; landscaping plans, recreation facilities; and the reserved open space.
Development shall be permitted in phases, but future development shall conform to the approved development plan.
(d) The following uses shall be permitted in the “R-3-A” District:
One-family dwellings.
Multiple-family dwellings.
Accessory buildings and accessory uses appurtenant to a residential use; provided, however, that such accessory buildings shall not be constructed until the main building shall have been constructed.
Institutional facilities including but not limited to the following:
a. Community centers.
b. Day care centers.
(Prior Code § 6182, 6183, 6184; Ord 2773 – 04/06/83)
(Prior Code § 6184(d)5; Ord 3791 – 10/21/97)
(Prior Code § 6184(d)5; Ord 4844 – 05/03/21)
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▸ Title 8 — ZONING & DEVELOPMENT CODE
Overview- Article 1 — ZONING DISTRICTS, OVERLAY, AND COMBINING DISTRICTS
- Chapter 8.04 — ZONING GENERAL PROVISIONS
- Chapter 8.08 — DISTRICTS
- Chapter 8.12 — RE, RESIDENTIAL ESTATES
- Chapter 8.16 — R1, ONE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS
- Chapter 8.20 — R1-CCP, COUNTRY CLUB PARK
- Chapter 8.24 — R2, TWO-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT
- Chapter 8.28 — R3, MULTIPLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT
- Chapter 8.32 — R3-A, AFFORDABLE HOUSING DISTRICT
- Chapter 8.34 — PUD, PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT
- Chapter 8.36 — A1, AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT
- Chapter 8.40 — A2, EXCLUSIVE AGRICULTURE DISTRICTS
- Chapter 8.44 — A3, FLORICULTURAL DISTRICTS
- Chapter 8.48 — COSC, COMMUNITY OPEN SPACE CONSERVATION DISTRICT
- Chapter 8.52 — EG, EL GRANADA GATEWAY DISTRICT
- Chapter 8.56 — P, PARKING DISTRICT
- Chapter 8.60 — H1, LIMITED HIGHWAY FRONTAGE DISTRICT
- Chapter 8.64 — O, OFFICE DISTRICTS
- Chapter 8.68 — C1, NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS DISTRICTS
- Chapter 8.70 — C1/NFO DISTRICT, NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS DISTRICT…
- Chapter 8.72 — C1/WMP District (NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL/WEST M…
- Chapter 8.76 — C2, GENERAL COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS
- Chapter 8.78 — C2, GENERAL COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS NORTH FAIR OAKS
- Chapter 8.82 — CCR, (COASTSIDE COMMERCIAL RECREATION DISTRICT)
- Chapter 8.86 — M1 (LIGHT INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS)
- Chapter 8.88 — M1/NFO DISTRICT (MIXED-USE INDUSTRIAL/NORTH FAI…
- Chapter 8.90 — M1/EDISON/NFO” DISTRICT (MIXED-USE INDUSTRIAL/E…
- Chapter 8.94 — M2, HEAVY INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS
- Chapter 8.98 — W, WATERFRONT DISTRICT
- Chapter 8.102 — I/NFO, INSTITUTIONAL/NORTH FAIR OAKS DISTRICT
- Chapter 8.106 — PAD DISTRICT, PLANNED AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT
- Chapter 8.110 — RH, RESIDENTIAL HILLSIDE DISTRICT
- Chapter 8.114 — PC DISTRICT (PLANNED COLMA DISTRICT)
- Chapter 8.118 — CMU-1 DISTRICT (COMMERCIAL MIXED USE-1 DISTRIC…
- Chapter 8.122 — CMU-2 DISTRICT (COMMERCIAL MIXED USE-2 DISTRIC…
- Chapter 8.126 — CMU-3 DISTRICT (COMMERCIAL MIXED USE-3 DISTRIC…
- Chapter 8.130 — NMU DISTRICT (NEIGHBORHOOD MIXED-USE DISTRICT,…
- Chapter 8.132 — NMU-ECR DISTRICT (NEIGHBORHOOD MIXED USE DISTR…
- Chapter 8.134 — RM DISTRICT (RESOURCE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT)
- Chapter 8.138 — RM-CZ DISTRICT (RESOURCE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT- …
- Chapter 8.142 — TPZ, TIMBERLAND PRESERVE ZONE
- Chapter 8.146 — TPZ-CZ, TIMBERLAND PRESERVE ZONE, COASTAL ZONE
- Chapter 8.150 — “S” DISTRICTS 1 to 13 (COMBINING DISTRICTS 1-13)
- Chapter 8.154 — S17 DISTRICT (COMBINING DISTRICT, MIDCOAST)
- Chapter 8.158 — S50 DISTRICT (COMBINING DISTRICT, NORTH FAIR O…
- Chapter 8.162 — S71 DISTRICT (COMBINING DISTRICT, DEVONSHIRE)
- Chapter 8.166 — S72 DISTRICT (COMBINING DISTRICT, WEST MENLO P…
- Chapter 8.170 — S73 DISTRICT (COMBINING DISTRICT, NORTH FAIR O…
- Chapter 8.174 — S74 DISTRICT (COMBINING DISTRICT, SELBY NEIGHB…
- Chapter 8.178 — S75 DISTRICT (COMBINING DISTRICT, WEEKEND ACRES)
- Chapter 8.182 — S81 DISTRICT (COMBINING DISTRICT, SAN MATEO HI…
- Chapter 8.186 — S82 DISTRICT (COMBINING DISTRICT, WEST MENLO P…
- Chapter 8.190 — S83 DISTRICT (COMBINING DISTRICT, LOS TRANCOS …
- Chapter 8.194 — S90 DISTRICT (COMBINING DISTRICT, MENLO OAKS)
- Chapter 8.198 — S91 DISTRICT (COMBINING DISTRICT, PALOMAR PARK)
- Chapter 8.202 — S92 DISTRICT (COMBINING DISTRICT, WEST MENLO P…
- Chapter 8.204 — S93 DISTRICT (COMBINING DISTRICT, NORTH FAIR O…
- Chapter 8.212 — S95 DISTRICT (COMBINING DISTRICT, LADERA)
- Chapter 8.216 — S100 DISTRICT (COMBINING DISTRICT, MENLO OAKS)
- Chapter 8.220 — S101 DISTRICT (COMBINING DISTRICT, PALOMAR PARK)
- Chapter 8.224 — S102 DISTRICT (COMBINING DISTRICT, DEVONSHIRE)
- Chapter 8.228 — S104 DISTRICT (COMBINING DIESTRICT, LADERA)
- Chapter 8.232 — S105 DISTRICT (COMBINING DISTRICT, MIDCOAST)
- Chapter 8.236 — S106 DISTRICT (COMBINING DISTRICT, LADERA)
- Chapter 8.240 — S108 DISTRICT (COMBINING DISTRICT, LOS TRANCOS…
- Chapter 8.244 — S110 DISTRICT (COMBINING DISTRICT, LADERA)
- Chapter 8.248 — AO DISTRICT (AIRPORT OVERLAY DISTRICT)
- Chapter 8.252 — CD DISTRICT (COASTAL DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT)
- Chapter 8.256 — DR DISTRICTS (DESIGN REVIEW DISTRICTS)
- Chapter 8.260 — MH DISTRICTS (MOBILE HOME PARKS)
- Chapter 8.264 — GH DISTRICT (GEOLOGIC HAZARDS DISTRICT REGULAT…
- Chapter 8.272 — E DISTRICT (ENTERTAINMENT OVERLAY DISTRICT)
- Chapter 8.276 — APPROVED SS & PUD DISTRICT REGULATIONS (SPECIA…
- Chapter 8.280 — USE PERMITS.
- Chapter 8.284 — LEGAL LOT REQUIREMENT, ZONING & BUILDING VIOLA…
- Chapter 8.288 — MAJOR DEVELOPMENT PRE-APPLICATION PROCEDURES.
- Chapter 8.292 — RM DEVELOPMENT REVIEW CRITERIA
- Chapter 8.294 — RM-CZ DEVELOPMENT REVIEW CRITERIA
- Chapter 8.296 — DEVELOPMENT REVIEW PROCEDURE
- Chapter 8.300 — FLOOD HAZARD AREAS
- Chapter 8.304 — ARCHITECTURAL SUPERVISION
- Chapter 8.308 — NORTH FAIR OAKS DESIGN REVIEW AND SITE DEVELOP…
- Chapter 8.312 — ZONING, REZONING, LAND DIVISION, IN THE TIMBER…
- Chapter 8.314 — LAND MANAGEMENT PLANNING REQUIREMENTS FOR USES…
- Chapter 8.316 — ZONING, REZONING, LAND DIVISION IN THE TIMBERL…
- Chapter 8.318 — LAND MANAGEMENT PLANNING REQUIREMENTS FOR USES…
- Chapter 8.320 — VARIANCES AND HOME IMPROVEMENT EXCEPTIONS
- Chapter 8.324 — ACCESSORY USES PERMITTED IN ANY “R” DISTRICT.
- Chapter 8.328 — STANDARDS FOR INDUSTRIAL USES IN THE C-1,C-2,M…
- Chapter 8.332 — FENCES, HEDGES, WALLS, HEIGHT & EXCEPTIONS
- Chapter 8.336 — HEIGHT: GENERAL PROVISIONS AND EXCEPTIONS.
- Chapter 8.340 — YARDS: GENERAL PROVISIONS AND EXCEPTIONS
- Chapter 8.344 — OFF-STREET PARKING STANDARDS
- Chapter 8.348 — ACCESSORY BUILDINGS
- Chapter 8.352 — SPECIAL SETBACK LINES
- Chapter 8.356 — HEIGHT OF STRUCTURES AND USES OF AIRSPACE NEAR…
- Chapter 8.358 — HEIGHT OF STRUCTURES AND USE AIRSPACE NEAR SAN…
- Chapter 8.360 — DEVELOPMENT ON LANDS CONTIGUOUS TO RM, RM-CZ, …
- Chapter 8.364 — ROAD IMPROVEMENT REQUIREMENTS IN THE SKYLINE A…
- Chapter 8.368 — SHORT-TERM RENTALS (COASTAL ZONE)
- Chapter 8.372 — CHILD CARE CENTERS
- Chapter 8.376 — WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATION FACILITIES
- Chapter 8.380 — KEEPING OF ANIMALS & DOMESTIC POULTRY IN
- Chapter 8.384 — CONFINED ANIMAL REGULATIONS
- Chapter 8.388 — ZONING NONCONFORMITIES
- Chapter 8.392 — ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS
- Chapter 8.396 — ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS, COASTAL ZONE
- Chapter 8.400 — SIGNIFICANT TREE REGULATIONS
- Chapter 8.404 — HERITAGE TREE REGULATIONS
- Chapter 8.408 — REGULATION OF TIMBER HARVESTING
- Chapter 8.412 — TOPSOIL SITE REGULATIONS
- Chapter 8.416 — SURFACE MINING AND RECLAMATION
- Chapter 8.420 — QUARRIES
- Chapter 8.424 — OIL AND GAS WELL REGULATIONS
- Chapter 8.428 — HISTORIC PRESERVATION PERMITS AND PROCEDURES.
- Chapter 8.432 — INCLUSIONARY REQUIREMENTS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING
- Chapter 8.436 — DENSITY BONUS
- Chapter 8.440 — ESTABLISHMENT OF FEES
- Chapter 8.444 — AMENDMENTS
- Chapter 8.448 — FORM OF PETITION, APPLICATIONS, AND APPEALS.
- Chapter 8.452 — ENFORCEMENT, LEGAL PROCEDURES, PENALTIES.