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Title 27 — ZONING

Chapter 27.65 — AMUSEMENT ARCADES AND MACHINES

San Mateo Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · updated 2026-07-25 · San Mateo

27.65.001 INTENT.

The intent of this chapter is to regulate the location of all forms of amusement machines including but not limited to electronic, electrical, mechanical, games of skill or any combination thereof, such as video games, pin ball, computer games, et cetera.

27.65.010 AMUSEMENT MACHINES.

"Amusement machine" is any device, game or contrivance, including, but not limited to pin ball machines, video games, computer games and electronic games, for which a charge or payment is received for the privilege of playing, using or operating the same and which, as the result of such use, operation or playing does not entitle the person using, operating or playing such device, game or contrivance to receive the same return in market value in the form of tangible merchandise each time such device, game or contrivance is used, operated or played.

27.65.020 ARCADES.

"Arcade" is defined as any business or establishment which has located on its premises five or more amusement machines which are kept thereon for the purpose of being played, operated or used by the patrons of the arcade on a prepaid basis or for money or tokens deposited in the amusement machine played, operated or used. Arcade is also defined as any premises wherein not less than twenty-five percent of the public floor area is devoted to amusement machines whether or not said amusement machines constitute the primary use or accessory use of the premises.

27.65.030 ARCADE: PERMITTED IN COMMERCIAL ZONES.

Arcades may be permitted in any commercial zone including the CBD District.

(a) Unless a special use permit is first obtained from the City planning commission, no arcade shall be maintained or operated within fifty feet from the property line of any residential zone.

27.65.040 LIMITATION ON LOCATION OF ARCADES AND AMUSEMENT MACHINES.

(a) Unless specific approval is first obtained from the City planning commission, no arcade shall be maintained or operated within fifty feet from the property line of any residential zone.

(b) No amusement machine accessible for use by minors shall be maintained, operated, conducted or used, nor kept for such purposes, in or on the premises of any establishment whose primary business is the sale of alcoholic beverages. This subsection shall not prohibit the operation of amusement machines in a bona fide establishment with an on-sale liquor license or restaurants which are licensed to sell alcoholic beverages.

(c) No amusement machine as herein defined shall be maintained, operated, conducted or used, nor kept for such purposes, within any place which is closer than three hundred feet from any public or private school which conducts classes for any of the grades from kindergarten through twelfth grade.

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Contents — San Mateo Zoning Code
San Mateo Zoning Code
  1. Title 27 — ZONING
    Overview
    1. Chapter 27.02 — GENERAL PROVISIONS
    2. Chapter 27.04 — DEFINITIONS
    3. Chapter 27.06 — ADMINISTRATION
    4. Chapter 27.08 — RULES OF PROCEDURE
    5. Chapter 27.10 — REVIEW PROCEDURE
    6. Chapter 27.12 — FEES
    7. Chapter 27.13 — TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT FEE
    8. Chapter 27.14 — REDEVELOPMENT
    9. Chapter 27.15 — DENSITY BONUS
    10. Chapter 27.16 — RESIDENCE DISTRICTS
    11. Chapter 27.18 — R1 DISTRICTS
    12. Chapter 27.19 — ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS AND JUNIOR ACCESSORY …
    13. Chapter 27.21 — TWO-UNIT
    14. Chapter 27.24 — R4 DISTRICT—MULTIPLE FAMILY DWELLINGS (HIGH DE…
    15. Chapter 27.26 — R5 DISTRICT—MULTIPLE FAMILY DWELLINGS (HIGH DE…
    16. Chapter 27.27 — RESIDENTIAL
    17. Chapter 27.28 — DOWNTOWN
    18. Chapter 27.29 — RESIDENTIAL OVERLAY DISTRICT—MIXED USE
    19. Chapter 27.30 — C1 DISTRICTS— NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL
    20. Chapter 27.32 — C2 DISTRICTS—
    21. Chapter 27.34 — C3 DISTRICTS—
    22. Chapter 27.36 — C4 DISTRICTS
    23. Chapter 27.38 — CBD DISTRICTS— CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT
    24. Chapter 27.39 — CBD SUPPORT DISTRICT— CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRIC…
    25. Chapter 27.40 — BUILDING HEIGHT AND BULK
    26. Chapter 27.44 — E1 DISTRICTS—EXECUTIVE PARK
    27. Chapter 27.48 — E2 DISTRICTS —EXECUTIVE OFFICES
    28. Chapter 27.54 — MANUFACTURING DISTRICTS
    29. Chapter 27.56 — M1 DISTRICTS
    30. Chapter 27.59 — S DISTRICTS
    31. Chapter 27.60 — SPECIAL DISTRICTS
    32. Chapter 27.61 — SC DISTRICTS—SENIOR CITIZEN OVERLAY DISTRICT—S…
    33. Chapter 27.62 — PLANNED DEVELOPMENTS —SPECIAL USE PERMITS
    34. Chapter 27.63 — ADULT ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESSES
    35. Chapter 27.64 — OFF-STREET PARKING AND LOADING
    36. Chapter 27.65 — AMUSEMENT ARCADES AND MACHINES
    37. Chapter 27.66 — HISTORIC PRESERVATION
    38. Chapter 27.67 — OPEN AIR VENDORS
    39. Chapter 27.68 — MAINTENANCE OF PROJECT SITE
    40. Chapter 27.69 — RECYCLING FACILITIES
    41. Chapter 27.70 — ACCESSORY BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES IN REQUIRED…
    42. Chapter 27.72 — NONCONFORMING BUILDINGS AND USES
    43. Chapter 27.73 — TC DISTRICT—
    44. Chapter 27.74 — SPECIAL USE PERMITS
    45. Chapter 27.75 — MIXED USE CONVENIENCE MARKET/AUTOMOBILE SERVIC…
    46. Chapter 27.76 — PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
    47. Chapter 27.77 — DESIGN REVIEW STANDARDS FOR SERVICE STATIONS
    48. Chapter 27.78 — VARIANCES
    49. Chapter 27.79 — REASONABLE
    50. Chapter 27.80 — AMENDMENTS
    51. Chapter 27.82 — MAPS—BOUNDARY LINES
    52. Chapter 27.83 — SLOPE AND HILLSIDE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS
    53. Chapter 27.84 — FENCES, TREES AND HEDGES
    54. Chapter 27.85 — DAY CARE CENTERS
    55. Chapter 27.86 — RECYCLING COLLECTION AREAS
    56. Chapter 27.87 — OUTDOOR RESTAURANT SEATING AND MERCHANDISE DIS…
    57. Chapter 27.88 — BAY MEADOWS SPECIFIC PLAN
    58. Chapter 27.90 — TOD DISTRICT— TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT
    59. Chapter 27.92 — HILLSDALE STATION AREA PLAN
    60. Chapter 27.94 — HOUSING

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