§ 14.05
San Rafael Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · updated 2026-07-25 · San Rafael
14.05.010 - Specific purposes. ¶
In addition to the general purposes listed in Section 14.01.030, the specific purposes of the commercial and office districts include the following:
A.
To promote specialized commercial environments which provide appropriately located areas for retail, service and office development, and provide the city with a wide range of neighborhood, local and regional serving uses;
B.
To promote appropriately located businesses which provide local employment opportunities and/or generate tax revenue for the city;
C.
To promote commercial and office projects at appropriate building intensities and trip-generation characteristics which will maintain acceptable traffic-operating standards;
D.
To promote high-quality design in new or remodeled commercial and office development consistent with design guidelines;
E.
To promote and encourage commercial and office sites and designs which are accessible by a variety of transportation means;
F.
To promote San Rafael's downtown area as a viable commercial and financial center, and as an urban center with a mixture of civic, social, entertainment, cultural and residential uses;
G.
To retain and enhance the Northgate Shopping Center and surrounding retail area as a regional shopping center;
H.
To provide housing opportunities by encouraging a variety of housing in mixed-use districts.
The additional purposes of each commercial district follow.
I.
General Commercial District (GC). The general commercial district promotes a full range of retail and service uses in major shopping centers and certain areas of the city which have freeway or major street access and visibility. Residential use is allowed with a use permit. Offices are a conditional secondary use, for example, on portions of sites with poor retail visibility. Floor area ratio (FAR), trip allocation and design criteria vary throughout the district in response to specialized conditions recognized in the general plan.
J.
Neighborhood Commercial District (NC).
1.
The neighborhood commercial district provides convenient shopping areas within residential neighborhoods for retail items and personal services which may be needed on a frequent basis for vicinity residents. Examples of convenience goods or services include supermarkets, pharmacies, dry cleaners and personal service establishments. Within this district, a limited amount of office and residential use may be allowed, only if in mixed-use developments. Office uses shall provide a service convenience to local residents. Neighborhood commercial areas are intended to reduce trips to more distant major commercial areas.
2.
Neighborhood commercial retail uses are limited in order to ensure compatibility with residential neighborhoods and to concentrate region-serving goods and services in locations outside of neighborhoods and in proximity with one another.
3.
Neighborhood commercial development is intended to be compatible with the surrounding residential neighborhood in terms of building height (typically one to two (2) stories, with up to three stories for a retail/residential mixed-use building), setbacks and landscaping.
K.
Office District (O). The office district provides opportunities for the siting of a variety of administrative, professional, medical and general business offices. This district also allows residential use, and limited convenience retail and service uses to support office uses and serve local employees. The office district is intended to provide an attractive, landscaped environment with outdoor amenities such as courtyards, plazas, benches, seating areas and pedestrian/bicycle paths. FAR, trip allocation and design criteria vary throughout the district in response to localized conditions recognized in the general plan.
L.
Downtown Mixed Use (DMU) District. The downtown mixed use district encompasses the 265-acre downtown area, which is the commerce and employment center of the city. Allowable uses, design intent, and development standards and regulations are defined and specified in the Downtown San Rafael Precise Plan and form-base code which is adopted by separate ordinance and incorporated herein by reference.
M.
Commercial/Office District (C/O). The commercial/office district promotes retail, office, mixed retail/office/residential uses, and cultural facilities. The commercial/office district is different from the downtown zoning districts in that it provides greater opportunity for office and financial uses in first-floor locations. Residential units are promoted to provide evening and weekend activity, increase the city's supply of housing units and support downtown activities and uses.
N.
Residential/Office Districts (R/O).
1.
The residential/office district is a transitional area between the downtown zoning districts and nearby residential areas. This district promotes residential, office, and mixed-use residential/office projects. This district also provides limited retail and personal service uses which support residential and office uses, and which are compatible with such uses. Gasoline service stations are allowed along major arterials such as Second Street.
2.
This district is characterized by lower development intensity than in the downtown zoning districts. The residential/office district is also intended to be less intense in terms of evening and weekend activity than the downtown zoning districts.
O.
Francisco Boulevard West Commercial District (FBWC).
1.
The Francisco Boulevard West commercial district provides a wide range of specialty retail uses with regional appeal, including sales of automobiles, bulk retail items, building materials and other regionserving goods. The Francisco Boulevard West district is intended to accommodate large-scale developments and shopping centers with specialty retail tenants. Assemblage of parcels shall be encouraged in this district in order to promote larger scale development projects. Residential use is also allowed in this district.
2.
This area is expected to be the focus of major redevelopment in the future. Until redevelopment occurs, it is recognized that there will be many nonconforming uses within the Francisco Boulevard West commercial district, and it is intended that existing legal nonconforming uses may remain as viable interim uses. Section 14.16.270, Nonconforming structures and uses, contains general provisions on nonconforming uses which apply in these instances. However, these types of interim uses are not permitted on any additional sites within the Francisco Boulevard West district.
(Ord. 1831 § 1 (part), 2004; Ord. 1757 § 1, 2000; Ord. 1694 § 1 (Exh. A) (part), 1996; Ord. 1625 § 1 (part), 1992).
(Ord. No. 1996, div. 2(Exh. A, 5.1), 8-16-2021)
14.05.020 - Land use regulations (GC, NC, O, C/O, R/O, FBWC).
A.
Francisco Boulevard West Commercial District (FBWC): Land use regulations for new development and/or redevelopment.
1.
New development and redevelopment within the Francisco Boulevard West commercial district shall be subject to initial use permit review by the planning
commission. Master use permits shall be required for multi-tenant shopping center developments, specifying the types of uses which may go into the center, approving an initial roster of tenants, and identifying procedures for subsequent review and approval of future tenants when changes in occupancy occur.
2.
Prerequisites for initiating the use permit review process are as follows:
a.
The proposed use is listed on the commercial matrix as requiring a conditional use permit and meets the review criteria specified in subsection (A)(3) of this section;
b.
In the event the proposed use is not listed on the commercial matrix as requiring a conditional use permit, but the proposed use meets the review criteria specified below, application for determination may be made to the planning commission. The planning commission shall determine whether the proposed use is consistent with the specified review criteria for the Francisco Boulevard West commercial district.
3.
Review criteria for evaluating proposed uses in new development and redevelopment projects in the Francisco Boulevard West commercial district are listed below. In order to initiate the use permit process as
indicated in either subsection (A)(2)(a) or (A)(2)(b) of this section, the proposed project must meet one (1) or more of the following criteria:
a.
Generates high tax revenue;
b.
Constitutes a large-scale business;
c.
Constitutes a multi-tenant center with shops which provide related services or types of goods; and/or
d.
Has a regional market base.
P: Permitted by right; C: Conditional use permit; CZ: Conditional use permit/zoning administrator; A: Administrative use permit; Blank: Not allowed.
Table 14.05.020
| Type of Land Use | Type of Land Use | GC | NC | O | C/O | R/O | FBWC* | Additional Use Regulations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial Uses | ||||||||
| Animal sales and service, excluding exterior kennels, pens or runs |
See Chapter 10.24 |
|||||||
| Animal care facilities | CZ | CZ | CZ | CZ | See Chapter 14.17 standards. |
|||
| Animal retail sales | P | P | P | |||||
| Boat sales | CZ | CZ | ||||||
| Building materials and supplies | ||||||||
| Brick, gravel, rock, concrete, lumber and tile sales |
P* | P* | C | *See Outdoor storage. |
||||
| Electrical supply stores | P* | P* | C | |||||
| Equipment rental business | P* | P* | C | |||||
| Glass and window stores | P* | P* | C | |||||
| Hardware stores | P* | P* | P* | P* | C | |||
| Paint stores | P* | P* | C |
| Plumbing stores (and ancillary service) |
P* | P* | C | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business sales and service | ||||||||
| Blueprint and photocopy shops | P | P | P | P | ||||
| Computer services | P | P | P | P | ||||
| Locksmith shop | P | P | P | P | ||||
| Ofce furniture sales and rentals | P | P | P | P | C | |||
| Ofce supply and business machine shops |
P | P | P | P | C | |||
| Printing shops | P | P | P | CZ | ||||
| Cannabis Related Uses | ||||||||
| Cannabis Testing/lab | P (2) | P (2) | *Subject to additional regulations and permitting (See SRMC Chapter 10.96) |
|||||
| Cannabis Delivery | P (2) | P (2) | *Subject to additional regulations and permitting (See SRMC Chapter 10.96) |
|||||
| Cannabis Manufacturing | ||||||||
| Cannabis Distribution | ||||||||
| Card rooms | See Chapter 10.36 |
|||||||
| Cofee roasters | CZ | CZ | ||||||
| Food and beverage service establishments |
||||||||
| Brew pubs | CZ | CZ | CZ | |||||
| Catering establishments | P | CZ | P | |||||
| Cocktail lounges | C | C | ||||||
| Fast food restaurants | C | C | C | |||||
| Food service establishment, high volume |
C | C | ||||||
| Food service establishment (with or without incidental serving of beer or wine or ancillary bar), but |
| without a cocktail lounge, live entertainment as defned under Chapter 14.03,and/or dancing |
||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (1) 1,000 sq. ft. or less in size | P | P | P | P | P | C | ||
| (2) More than 1,000 sq. ft. in size | P | CZ | CZ | P | CZ | CZ | ||
| Food service establishment with a cocktail lounge, live entertainment, and/or dancing |
CZ | CZ | CZ | CZ | ||||
| Live entertainment/dancing (without food service) |
C | C | C | |||||
| Outdoor eating areas | A* | A* | A* | A* | A* | A* | For outdoor eating areas on private property see Section 14.17.110 standards. For outdoor seating areas located on city sidewalks, see Section 14.16.277 standards. For outdoor eating areas on parking spaces within the public right-of-way, see Chapter 11.70 —"Streetaries" Outdoor Eating Areas. |
|
| Food and beverage stores | ||||||||
| Bakeries, retail (and ancillary food service) |
P | P | P | P | P | C | ||
| Candy stores and confectioneries |
P | P | P | |||||
| Convenience markets | CZ | CZ | CZ | CZ | ||||
| Grocery stores and supermarkets | P* | P* | P* | C | C | *Operating between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. requires a use permit (CZ) to review lighting, noise, and compatibility with |
| surrounding residential uses. |
||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liquor stores | ||||||||
| (1) Less than 200 ft. from residential district |
CZ | CZ | CZ | CZ | CZ | |||
| (2) 200 ft. or more from residential district |
P | P | P | C | C | |||
| Fortunetelling | A | A | See Chapter 14.17 standards. *Rear ground level or 2nd foor or above. |
|||||
| Funeral interment services (including mortuaries, but excluding crematories) |
CZ | CZ | ||||||
| Kiosks | A | A | A | A | A | See Section 14.16.225 standards |
||
| Motor vehicle sales and service (including automobiles, motorcycles, trailers, trucks and recreational vehicles) |
||||||||
| Auto detailing | CZ | |||||||
| Coin-op washing | C | C | C | C | ||||
| Gasoline stations (including mini- markets, and minor repair, such as tune-ups, brakes, batteries, tires, and mufers) |
C | C | C | C | C | C | See Section 14.16.160 regulations. For repair, see Chapter 14.17 standards. |
|
| Rentals | CZ | CZ | CZ | |||||
| Repairs, major (engine work, painting, and body work) |
CZ | See Chapter 14.17 standards. |
||||||
| Repairs, minor (tune-ups, brakes, batteries, tires, mufers and upholstery) |
CZ | CZ | CZ | CZ | C | See Chapter 14.17 standards. |
||
| Sales, new or used vehicles | ||||||||
| (1) Five or fewer vehicles displayed or stored on-site |
CZ | CZ | CZ | |||||
| (2) More than fve vehicles displayed or stored on-site |
C | C | C |
| Sales, parts and supplies | P | P | C | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sales, tires and ancillary service | CZ | CZ | CZ | |||||
| Music rehearsal/recording studios | CZ | CZ | ||||||
| Outdoor storage, including temporary or permanent storage containers |
CZ | CZ | CZ | CZ | C | |||
| Personal service establishments | ||||||||
| Artistic and photographic studios, without sale of equipment or supplies |
P | P | P | |||||
| Barber shops/beauty salons | P | P | P | P | P | C | ||
| Dry cleaning establishments, with no on-site processing |
P | P | P | P | P | |||
| Dry cleaning establishments, with on-site processing |
CZ | CZ | CZ | CZ | CZ | |||
| Laundromats (self service) | P | P | P | P | ||||
| Massage and/or bodywork ofces or establishments |
P | P | P | P | P | See Chapter 8.34 |
||
| Nail salons | P | P | P | P | P | |||
| Seamstress/tailor | P | P | P | P | P | |||
| Shoe repair | P | P | P | P | P | |||
| Recreational facilities (indoors) | ||||||||
| Bowling alleys | C | C | C | See Chapter 10.32 |
||||
| Game arcades | C | C | See Chapter 14.17 standards. |
|||||
| Fitness/recreation facility | CZ | CZ | CZ | CZ | CZ | |||
| Poolhalls/billiards | C | C | C | |||||
| Theaters | C | C | C | C | ||||
| Retail | ||||||||
| Antique stores | P | P | C | |||||
| Apparel stores | P | P | C | |||||
| Appliance stores (and ancillary repair) |
P | P | C |
| Art, craft, music and photographic supply stores |
P | P | P | C | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auctions | P | P | See Chapter 10.16 |
|||||
| Bicycle shops | P | P | P | C | ||||
| Book, gift, stationery stores | P | P | P | C | ||||
| Department stores | P | P | C | |||||
| Discount stores | P | P | C |
| Type of Land Use | Type of Land Use | GC | NC | O | C/O | R/O | FBWC* | Additional Use Regulations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drug stores and pharmacies | P* | P* | P* | C | C | *Operating between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. requires a use permit (CZ) to review lighting, noise, and compatibility with surrounding residential uses. |
||
| Electronics sales (televisions, radios, computers, etc.) |
P | P | C | |||||
| Florist shops | P | P | P | P | P | |||
| Furniture stores and upholstery shops (and ancillary repair) |
P | P | C | |||||
| Gun shops | C | C | See Chapter 14.17 standards. |
|||||
| Jewelry stores | P | P | ||||||
| Plant nurseries and garden supply |
P* | P* | P* | C | *See Outdoor storage. |
|||
| Secondhand stores and pawnshops |
CZ | CZ | See Chapter 10.20 |
|||||
| Shoe stores | P | P | C | |||||
| Shopping centers | C | C | C | C | ||||
| Sporting goods stores | P | P | C | |||||
| Stamp and coin shops | P | P | ||||||
| Swimming pool supplies | P | P | ||||||
| Tobacco retailer, signifcant | C | C | C | Shall not be located within 1,000 feet from schools (public and private elementary, |
| junior high, and high schools), public parks, public libraries, arcades, youth/teen centers, community/recreation centers, licensed day care centers for children, shopping malls, and houses of worship with organized youth programs, as measured from the property lines of each parcel. |
||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toy stores | P | P | P | C | ||||
| Variety stores | P | P | C | |||||
| Video sales and rentals | P | P | P | |||||
| Ofces and Related Uses | ||||||||
| Financial services and institutions | P | P | P | P | P | P | ||
| Medical services (medical, dental and health-related services, with sale of articles clearly incidental to the services provided) |
||||||||
| Clinics | C | C | C | C** | C | **4th Street west of D Street: Rear ground level or 2nd foor or above. |
||
| Hospitals | C | |||||||
| Major medical facilities, including extended care facilities (treatment and convalescent) and children's treatment facilities |
C | C | ||||||
| Laboratories | CZ | CZ | CZ | CZ** | CZ | **4th Street west of D Street: Rear ground level or 2nd foor or above. |
||
| Medical ofces | CZ | CZ | P | P* | P | *4th Street west of D Street: Rear ground |
| level or 2nd foor or above. |
||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ofces, general | CZ | P* | P | P** | P | *Rear ground level or 2nd foor or above. **4th Street west of D Street: Rear ground level or 2nd foor or above. |
||
| Public, Quasi-Public and Community Uses |
||||||||
| Clubs and lodges, including youth groups |
C | C | C | |||||
| Community gardens | P | P | P | P | P | P | Subject to performance standards outlined in Chapter 14.17. |
|
| Public facilities | ||||||||
| Administrative ofces | C | P | P* | P | *Rear ground level or 2nd foor or above. |
|||
| Day services center | C | C | C | C | C | |||
| Job center | C | |||||||
| Libraries, museums and other cultural facilities |
C | C | C | C | C | |||
| Public and utility facilities (corporation, maintenance or storage yards, utility distribution facilities, etc.) |
C | |||||||
| Public facilities, other (police, fre, paramedic, post ofce, etc.) |
C | C | C | C | C | C | ||
| Public parks, playgrounds, and recreation facilities |
P | P | P | P | P | |||
| Religious institutions | C | C | C | C | C | |||
| Schools | ||||||||
| Parochial, private | C | C | C* | C | *Rear ground level or 2nd foor or above. |
|||
| Public | P | P | P | P | P |
| Specialized education and training |
CZ | CZ | CZ | CZ | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential Uses | * | * | * | *See Chapter 14.17 standards. |
||||
| Single-family residential | C | C | ||||||
| Duplex residential | C | |||||||
| Multifamily residential | A(3) | A(3) | P | A(3) | P | A(3) | ||
| Accessory dwelling units | P | P | P | P | P | P | See standards, Section 14.16.285 |
|
| Junior accessory dwelling units | P | P | P | P | P | P | See standards, Section 14.16.285 |
|
| Animal keeping | CZ | CZ | CZ | CZ | CZ | CZ | See Chapter 14.17 standards. |
|
| Caretaker's residence | CZ | CZ | CZ | CZ | CZ | C | ||
| Emergency shelters for the homeless |
||||||||
| Permanent | P/C | C | C | See Section 14.16.115. |
||||
| Temporary or rotating | C | C | C | C | C | C | ||
| Home occupations | P | P | P | P | P | P | See Chapter 14.16 regulations. |
|
| Live/work quarters | A | A | A | A | A | A | See Chapter 14.17 standards. |
|
| Mobile home park | C | |||||||
| Residential care facilities for the handicapped |
||||||||
| Small (0—6 residents) | P | P | P | P | P | P | ||
| Large (7 or more residents) | P | P | P | P | P | P | ||
| Residential care facilities, other | ||||||||
| Small (0—6 residents) | P | P | P | P | P | P | ||
| Large (7 or more residents) | C | C | C | C | C | C | ||
| Rooming or boarding houses | A | C | A | A | A | A | See Chapter 14.17 standards. |
|
| Day Care |
| Day care facility, child or adult | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Family day care | ||||||||
| Small (0—8 children or adults) | P | P | P | |||||
| Large (9—14 children) | CZ | CZ | A | See Chapter 14.17 standards. |
||||
| Large (9—14 adults) | CZ | CZ | CZ | |||||
| Day care center (15 or more children or adults) |
CZ | CZ | CZ | CZ | CZ | C | ||
| Visitor Accommodations | ||||||||
| Hotels, motels, or bed and breakfast inns |
C | C | C | C | ||||
| Transportation Facilities | ||||||||
| Bus stations | C | C | C | |||||
| "Park and ride" facilities | CZ | CZ | CZ | C | ||||
| Parking facilities, commercial or municipal |
CZ | CZ | CZ | CZ | C | |||
| Taxi stations | C | C | C | |||||
| Transit stations or transitways | C | C | C | See Chapter 10.60 |
||||
| Temporary Uses | ||||||||
| Temporary uses | A | A | A | A | CZ | A | See Chapter 14.17 standards. |
|
| Accessory Structures and Uses | ||||||||
| Accessory structures and uses customarily incidental to a permitted use and contained on the same site |
P | P | P | P | P | P | See Chapter 14.16 regulations. |
(1) Reserved.
(2) Shall not be located within six hundred feet (600′) from schools (public and private), as measured from the property lines of each parcel.
(3) See Section 14.17.100 (Residential uses in commercial districts).
(Ord. 1838 § 21, 2005; Ord. 1831 § 1 (part), 2004; Ord. 1815 § 1, 2004; Ord. 1797 § 3, 2003; Ord. 1765 § 1 (part) (Exh. B (part)), 2001; Ord. 1751 § 2, 2000; Ord. 1742 § 2, 1999; Ord. 1694 § 1 (Exh. A) (part), 1996; Ord. 1693 § 1, 1996; Ord. 1689 § 1, 1995; Ord. 1663 § 1 (part), 1994; Ord. 1641 § 1 (part), 1993; Ord. 1625 § 1 (part), 1992).
(Ord. No. 1882, Exh. A, § 12, 6-21-2010; Ord. No. 1923, § 2(Exh. A), 6-16-2014; Ord. No. 1924, § 1, 9-152014; Ord. No. 1955, (Exh. A, §§ 3, 4), 3-19-2018; Ord. No. 1964, § 2(Exh. B) §§ 3, 4, 11-19-2018; Ord. No. 1996, div. 2(Exh. C, 2.1), 8-16-2021; Ord. No. 2002, div. 7, 12-6-2021; Ord. No. 2015, § 2, 9-6-2022; Ord. No. 2016, § 3, 10-3-2022)
14.05.022 - Land use regulations (DMU).
All land use regulations applicable to the DMU district are contained within the Downtown San Rafael Precise Plan Form-Based Code, which is adopted by separate ordinance and incorporated herein by reference.
(Ord. 1838 § 22, 2005; Ord. 1831 § 1 (part), 2004; Ord. 1815 § 2, 2004; Ord. 1797 § 4, 2003; Ord. 1765 § 1 (Exh. B (part)), 2001; Ord. 1763 § 1 (part), 2001; Ord. 1757 § 2 (Exh. Z-1), 2000: Ord. 1751 § 2, 2000; Ord. 1742 § 2, 1999; Ord. 1725 § 1 (Exh. A), 1998; Ord. 1694 § 1 (Exh. A) (part), 1996).
(Ord. No. 1882, Exh. A, § 13, 6-21-2010; Ord. No. 1923, § 2(Exh. A), 6-16-2014; Ord. No. 1924, § 1, 9-152014; Ord. No. 1996, div. 2(Exh. A, 5.2), 8-16-2021; Ord. No. 2002, div. 8, 12-6-2021)
14.05.030 - Property development standards (GC, NC, O, C/O, R/O, FBWC).
NR: Not required unless otherwise noted in additional standards. NA: Not applicable.
Note: See Chapter 14.16, Site and Use Regulations, for additional regulations pertaining to floor area ratio, and site development standards. See Chapter 14.23, Variances, and Chapter 14.24, Exceptions, for allowable adjustments to these standards, and Chapter 14.25, Environmental and Design Review Permits, for a listing of improvements subject to review and design guidelines and criteria for development.
Table 14.05.030
| Table 14.05.030 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GC | NC | O | C/O | R/O | FBWC | Additional Standards |
|
| Minimum lot area (sq. ft.) |
6,000 | 6,000 | 7,500 | 2,000/ building |
6,000 | 6,000 | |
| Minimum lot area/dwelling unit (sf) (Max. residential intensity) |
1,000 | 1,800 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | (A), (O) |
| Floor area ratio (Max. nonresidential intensity) |
* | * | * | * | * | * | * See Section 14.16.150 |
| Minimum lot width (ft.) | 60 | 60 | 60 | NR | 60 | 60 | |
| Minimum yards: | |||||||
| Front (ft.) | NR | NR | 20 | NR | NR | NR | (B) |
| Side (ft.) | NR | NR | 6 | NR | NR | NR | (B) |
| Street side (ft.) | NR | NR | 10 | NR | NR | NR | (B) |
| Rear (ft.) | NR | NR | 20 | NR | NR | NR | (B) |
| Maximum height of structure (ft.) |
36 | 36 feet; 30 feet for a residential- only building |
36 | 36 | 36 | 36 | (C), (D), (E), (F), (G), (H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum lot coverage | NR | NR | 40% | NR | NR | NR | (P) |
| Minimum landscaping | 15% | 10% | 25% | NR | 10% | 15% | (I), (J), (K), (L) |
| Usable outdoor area | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | (M) |
| Parking | * | * | * | * | * | * | * Based on use. See Section 14.18.040 |
(A)
There is no minimum lot area requirement for a boarding house.
(B)
Where the frontage of a block is partially in an R district, the front yard shall be the same as required for that R district, and when the side and/or rear of the lot(s) abuts an R district, the respective side and/or rear yard shall be ten feet (10′). Parking or maneuvering shall be permitted within the required side and rear yards provided that a minimum six-foot (6′) wide landscape buffer area, excluding curbs, is provided adjacent to the side and rear property lines.
(C)
Exceptions may be granted for a height above thirty-six feet (36′), subject to the provisions of Chapter 14.24, Exceptions.
(D)
Hotels have a four (4) story fifty-four-foot (54′) height limit. A one-story twelve-foot (12′) height bonus may be approved as part of a design review permit by the planning commission if it finds that the hotel will provide a significant community benefit, and the design is consistent with this title.
(E)
Repealed 3/18/96.
(F)
Buildings existing or approved as of January 1, 1987 which are more than three (3) stories in height shall not be considered nonconforming, and are listed in Section 14.16.040, Buildings over three (3) stories.
(G)
See general plan downtown height map for lot-specific height limits.
(H)
A height bonus may be permitted in residential development as provided for in Section 14.16.190, Height bonus.
(I)
Where the frontage of the lot(s) is adjacent to or across from an R district, fifty percent (50%) of the front yard shall be landscaped. Where the side yard abuts an R district, a minimum three feet (3′) of buffer landscaping must be provided. Where the rear of the lot abuts an R district, ten feet (10′) of buffer landscaping must be provided.
(J)
In the GC district, a minimum fifteen feet (15′) of the front setback must be landscaped. Landscaped portions of the public right-of-way may be included, subject to approval by the hearing body.
(K)
For parking lot landscaping, see Section 14.18.160, Parking lot screening and landscaping.
(L)
A landscaped amenity area for employees and the public is encouraged in office and commercial projects.
(M)
Provision of usable outdoor area is encouraged in residential development as part of a mixed-use project.
(N)
Intentionally not used.
(O)
A density bonus may be granted, as provided for in Section 14.16.030.
(P)
The maximum lot coverage restriction established for the office (O) district shall not apply to solar panels installed over existing paved parking spaces; consistent with Section 14.16.307.
(Ord. 1838 § 23, 2005; Ord. 1831 § 1 (part), 2004; Ord. 1782 Exh. A (part), 2002; Ord. 1694 § 1 (Exh. A) (part), 1996; Ord. 1625 § 1 (part), 1992).
(Ord. No. 1882, Exh. A, §§ 14, 15, 6-21-2010; Ord. No. 1923, § 2(Exh. A), 6-16-2014; Ord. No. 1964, § 2(Exh. B) § 5, 11-19-2018; Ord. No. 1990, div. 1.2, 3-1-2021)
14.05.032 - Property development standards (DMU). ¶
All property development standards applicable to the DMU district are contained within the Downtown San Rafael Precise Plan Form-Based Code, which is adopted by separate ordinance and incorporated herein by reference.
(Ord. 1838 § 24, 2005; Ord. 1782 Exh. A (part), 2002; Ord. 1694 § 1 (Exh. A) (part), 1996).
(Ord. No. 1882, Exh. A, §§ 16, 17, 6-21-2010; Ord. No. 1996, div. 2(Exh. A, 5.3), 8-16-2021)
Chapter 14.06 - INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS (I, LI/O, CCI/O, LMU)
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