Title 27 — ZONINGChapter 27.60 — SPECIAL DISTRICTS

Article I — Agricultural Districts

San Mateo Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · ingested 2026-07-06 · San Mateo

27.60.020 DEFINITIONS

The following definitions apply to this chapter.

(a) "Farmworker housing" means an agricultural employee housing development that satisfies all of the following:

(1) The agricultural employee housing does not contain dormitory-style housing

(2) The development consists of no more than 36 units or spaces designed for use by a single family or household

(3) Except as otherwise provided in subparagraph (2), the agricultural employee housing will be maintained and operated by a qualified affordable housing organization that has been certified pursuant to Government Code Section 17030.10  or operated by a local public housing agency or a multicounty, state, or multistate agency that has been certified as a qualified affordable housing organization

(4) An affordability covenant is recorded on the property to ensure the affordability of the proposed agricultural employee housing for agricultural employees for not less than 55 years.

27.60.030 PERMITTED USES.

Permitted uses shall be as follows:

(a) All uses commonly classed as agriculture, horticulture or forestry, including crop and tree farming, and nursery operation.

(b) Horse racetracks and related uses, including, but not limited to, veterinary facilities, feed storage facilities, stables, offices, restaurants, sleeping quarters, plant nurseries and equipment storage facilities.

(c) One-family detached dwelling and accessory buildings provided the property (or zoning plot) upon which the dwelling is located has as its principal use one of the agricultural uses permitted above.

  • (d) Accessory dwelling units, when a primary dwelling is located on the site.

  • (e) Parks, forest preserves and recreational areas, when publicly owned and operated.

(f) Golf courses, regulation size, but not including "par 3" golf courses, commercially operated driving ranges or miniature golf courses; and provided, that no clubhouse or accessory building shall be located nearer than five feet to any dwelling.

(g) Signs, advertising the sale or rental of the property upon which the sign is located.

  • (h) Public utility facilities.

(i) Farmworker housing consisting of no more than 36 beds in group quarters or 12 units or spaces designed for use by a single family or household.

27.60.040 SPECIAL USES.

The following uses may also be permitted if their site locations and proposed development plans are first approved, as provided for in Chapters 27.06 through 27.12, 27.62, 27.74, 27.78 and 27.80:

(a) Mining, dredging, loading, and hauling of sand, shells, salt, dirt, gravel or other aggregate, but not including equipment, buildings or structures for screening, refining, crushing, mixing, washing or storage.

(b) Railroad Rights-of-Way and Trackage. Airports or aircraft landing fields. Radio and television towers, commercial.

(c) Filling of lowland with noncombustible material free from refuse and food wastes.

  • (d) Sanitary land fill, when operated or supervised by the City.

  • (e) Kennels, commercial, and animal hospitals.

  • (f) Public service uses:

  • (g) Filtration plant, pumping station, and water reservoir;

  • (h) Sewage treatment plant;

  • (i) Other governmental uses.

(j) Temporary farmworker housing consisting of more than 36 beds in group quarters or more than 12 units or spaces designed for use by a single family or household.

27.60.050 CONDITIONS OF USE.

No horses, cattle, or other domestic animals shall be bred, raised, or maintained within 500 feet of any residential district as established in this zoning title.