Chapter 10.22 — RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICTS — Sausalito Zoning Code

§ 10.22.010. Specific purposes. ¶

In addition to the general purposes listed in SMC § 10.10.030 (Title and purpose), the specific purposes of the residential zoning districts include the following:

A. To provide suitable locations for a variety of housing types and classes of dwelling accommodations needed to serve the population of the City of Sausalito;
B. To provide stability and protection for residential areas;
C. To control the density and distribution of population throughout the area in conformance with the general plan;
D. To provide for public and private facilities necessary to serve residential areas;
E. To ensure sensitive hillside residential design; and
F. To provide opportunities for religious institutions, day care facilities, residential care facilities and other uses that are compatible with and desirable for residential neighborhoods.
(Ord. 1167 § 2, 2003)

§ 10.22.020. Additional purposes. ¶

The additional purposes of each residential zoning district are as follows:

A. Single-Family Residential (R-1). The single-family residential zoning district (R-1) provides for low density, detached single-family residential land use. Densities are based on existing development and are meant to be protected and preserved. Development standards reflect the scale, character, and intensity of existing neighborhoods.

The single-family residential zoning district is a very low to low density residential district with three different minimum lot sizes ranging from one dwelling unit per 6,000 square feet of land area (lot size) to one dwelling unit per 20,000 square feet of land area (lot size), depending on the environmental constraints and neighborhood character. The district is divided into three subdistricts (as indicated in Table 10.22-2, Site Development Standards – Residential Zoning Districts) based on these densities, including R-1-6, R-1-8 and R-1-20.

B. Two-Family Residential (R-2). The two-family residential zoning district (R-2) provides for a mix of single-family and duplex dwellings. The district is intended to provide for development of single- and two-family dwellings in appropriately located areas and with the appropriate character.

The two-family residential zoning district is a medium to medium-high density residential land use category. Densities are one dwelling unit per 2,500 square feet or 5,000 square feet, depending on location. The district is divided into two subdistricts (as indicated in Table 10.22-2, Site Development Standards – Residential Zoning Districts) based on these densities, including R-2-2.5 and R-2-5.

C. Planned Residential (PR). The planned residential zoning district preserves and maintains

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City of Sausalito, CA

SAUSALITO CODE

§ 10.22.020

§ 10.22.030

existing medium-high residential density development, including townhomes and condominiums.

Planned residential is a medium-high density residential district with a residential density of one dwelling unit per 1,980 square feet.

D. Multiple-Family Residential (R-3). The multiple-family residential zoning district provides areas for residential neighborhoods of single-family dwellings, two-family dwellings, duplexes, apartments, and other multiple-family attached dwelling units, such as condominiums. The multiple-family district provides for innovative site planning, while providing on-site recreational amenities and location near major community facilities, business centers and/or major streets.

The multiple-family district is a high density residential district with a residential density of one dwelling unit per 1,500 square feet.

E. Houseboats (H). The houseboat zoning district is intended to maintain and enhance the City's diverse housing stock and to continue to allow houseboat uses on the City's waterfront.

The houseboat district is a low density residential zoning district with a residential density of one dwelling unit per 10,000 square feet.

F. Arks (A). The residential ark district promotes and encourages traditional, pre-1963 singlefamily arks. The district encourages arks' maintenance, restoration and preservation in a manner compatible with surrounding marine and commercial uses. Residential arks are a high density residential land use with a residential density of one unit per 1,500 square feet.
(Ord. 1167 § 2, 2003)

§ 10.22.030. Allowable land use. ¶

Table 10.22-1 (Land Uses Allowed in Residential Districts) outlines the land uses that are allowed in each of the residential zoning districts. As indicated in the legend, each use is either permitted (no discretionary permit required), or one of two discretionary use permits are required (minor use permit, conditional use permit), as explained in Division IV of this title (Permit Procedures), Chapters 10.50 through 10.68 SMC. Blanks indicate the use is not allowed in that particular district. The last column identifies sections of the Zoning Ordinance where additional requirements are found and apply to the land use. Additional requirements for specific uses set forth in Chapter 10.44 SMC (Specific Use Requirements) may also be applicable.

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Table 10.22-1
LAND USES ALLOWED IN RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS*
Residential Zoning Districts
Land Use R-1 R-2 PR R-3 H A See SMC
Recreation, Education, and Public Assembly Uses
Community centers CUP CUP CUP CUP
Piers and wharves P SMC § 10.44.070
(Piers, docks, floats and
Piers, docks and floats for P P
wharves in residential
private pleasure craft
districts)
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City of Sausalito, CA

ZONING

§ 10.22.030

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Table 10.22-1
LAND USES ALLOWED IN RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS*
Residential Zoning Districts
Land Use R-1 R-2 PR R-3 H A See SMC
Private club or recreation CUP CUP CUP CUP
facility
Parks, playgrounds P P P P P
Religious institutions CUP CUP CUP CUP SMC § 10.44.110
(Religious institutions,
private clubs and
fraternal organizations
in residential zoning
districts)
Schools – elementary CUP CUP CUP
Temporary uses and MUP MUP MUP MUP MUP SMC § 10.44.310
events (Temporary uses and
events)
Residential Uses
Accessory dwelling units P P P P P P SMC § 10.44.080
(Accessory dwelling
unit regulations)
Employee housing1 P P P P P P See footnote 1; SMC
§ 10.44.360 (Employee
housing)
Employee housing, P SMC § 10.44.370
agricultural (Employee housing,
agricultural)
Home occupations P P P P P P SMC § 10.44.030
(Home occupations)
Houseboat P SMC § 10.44.160
(Houseboats)
Junior accessory dwelling P3 P3 P3 P3 P3 P3 SMC § 10.44.080
units (Junior accessory
dwelling unit
regulations)
Low barrier navigation P P P SMC § 10.44.380 (Low
center barrier navigation
centers)
Multiple-unit houseboat CUP SMC § 10.44.160(I)
(Multiple Units, H
District Only)
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City of Sausalito, CA § 10.22.030

SAUSALITO CODE

§ 10.22.030

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Table 10.22-1
LAND USES ALLOWED IN RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS*
Residential Zoning Districts
Land Use R-1 R-2 PR R-3 H A See SMC
Mobile homes/ P P P P P P SMC § 10.44.060
manufactured homes (Mobile home/
manufactured housing
standards)
Multiple-family P P
dwellings
Residential accessory P P P P P SMC § 10.44.020
uses (Accessory uses and
structures)
Residential care homes, 6 P P P P P P
or fewer clients
Residential care homes, 7 CUP CUP CUP
or more clients
Senior housing projects CUP SMC § 10.44.120
(Senior housing
projects)
Single-family dwellings P P P P P P SMC § 10.44.090
(Detached dwelling
units)
Single-family ark P SMC § 10.44.130
dwelling (Arks)
Single-family ark P
dwelling group
Supportive housing2 P P P P P P SMC § 10.88.040
(Specialized terms and
land use definitions);
SMC § 10.44.390
(Supportive housing)
Transitional housing2 P P P P P P SMC § 10.88.040
(Specialized terms and
land use definitions)
Two-family (duplex) P P P
dwelling
Housing and mixed use P-PC P-PC P-PC P-PC SMC § 10.28.090
projects subject to SMC
§ 10.28.090 and on a site
specified in SMC
§ 10.28.090
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City of Sausalito, CA

ZONING

§ 10.22.030

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Table 10.22-1
LAND USES ALLOWED IN RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS*
Residential Zoning Districts
Land Use R-1 R-2 PR R-3 H A See SMC
Resource and Open Space Uses
Agricultural accessory P SMC § 10.44.020
structures (Accessory uses and
structures)
Animal raising and P
keeping
Service Uses
Child day care SMC § 10.44.100
(Child day care)
Centers CUP CUP
Large family care MUP MUP MUP MUP
homes
Small family care P P P P P
homes
Offices, temporary MUP MUP MUP MUP SMC § 10.44.280
(Offices, temporary)
Public utility facilities, MUP MUP MUP MUP MUP
minor
Public utility facilities, CUP CUP CUP CUP CUP
major
Storage, accessory P P P P SMC § 10.44.050
(Storage, accessory)
Transportation and Communications Uses
Wireless communication See Chapter 10.45 SMC (Standards and Criteria Chapter 10.45 SMC
facilities for Wireless Communications Facilities)
Pipelines and P P P P P P
transmission lines
* Zoning permit required for all allowed uses Chapter 10.52 SMC
P Permitted use
P-PC Permitted use subject to Planning Commission review of zoning permit Chapter 10.52 SMC
MUP Minor use permit required Chapter 10.58 SMC
CUP Conditional use permit required Chapter 10.60 SMC
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Notes:

1 Employee housing serving six or fewer employees shall be deemed a single family structure and shall be treated subject to the standards for a single family dwelling in the same zone.

2 Supportive housing and transitional housing shall be subject to those restrictions that apply to other residential dwellings of the same type in the same zoning district, except that supportive housing is allowed by right in all multifamily and mixed use zones.

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City of Sausalito, CA § 10.22.030

SAUSALITO CODE

§ 10.22.040

Notes:

3 Per Government Code Section 66333, junior accessory dwelling units are permitted only on lots with a single-family residence, and within the walls of a single-family residence. Enclosed uses within the residence, such as attached garages, are considered a part of the proposed or existing single-family residence.

(Ord. 1167 § 2, 2003; Ord. 1209 § 3, 2012; Ord. 1223 § 3, 2014; Ord. 1267 § 2, 2019; Ord. 1268 § 2, 2019; Ord. 1281 § 1, 2020; Ord. 05-2023 § 1, 2023; Ord. 06-2025-A, 12/2/2025; Ord. 04-2026, 4/7/2026)

§ 10.22.040. Site development requirements. ¶

Minimum requirements are established for parcel size, lot width, and setbacks. Requirements for density, floor area ratio, coverage and building height are maximum amounts allowed.

A. Parcel Size. Each parcel proposed for development or a new land use, and each new parcel proposed in a subdivision, shall comply with the provisions that follow, or the applicable provisions of SMC § 10.40.030 (Minimum parcel standards). New parcels proposed in a subdivision shall also comply with all applicable provisions of SMC Title 9 (Subdivisions). Existing parcels that do not meet the minimum lot area or width requirements specified by this section as set forth in Table 10.22-2 may be developed in accordance with the development standards listed below; provided, that the subject parcel has been legally created.
B. Lot Width. Additional lot width requirements may be established or allowed by an applicable -Pd overlay district. (See SMC § 10.28.060, Planned development (-Pd).)
C. Setbacks. Different setbacks may also apply where a zoning district is combined with an overlay zoning district. Ten-foot front yard setbacks are required where designated on the zoning map. Minimum side yard setbacks may be increased in other situations as outlined in Chapter 10.40 SMC (General Development Regulations).
D. Density. Density is based on net parcel area. Maximum density for single-family dwellings in the single-family residential (R-1) district may be increased where additional units are approved as provided by SMC § 10.44.080 (Accessory dwelling unit regulations).
E. Building Height. Building height is measured from the natural average grade. Maximum building height may vary depending on parcel topography and may vary for other specific features of the site.
F. Additional Requirements. Land uses shall comply with the additional requirements established by Chapter 10.40 SMC (General Development Requirements) and Chapter 10.44 SMC (Specific Use Requirements).

Table 10.22-2 (Site Development Standards – Residential Zoning Districts) outlines minimum site development standards for the residential zoning districts. Additional requirements may also apply where noted.

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City of Sausalito, CA

ZONING

§ 10.22.040

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Table 10.22-2
Site Development Standards – Residential Zoning Districts1
R-1 R-2
Development Requirement R-1-6 R-1-8 R-1-20 R-2-2.5 R-2-5 R-3 PR H A See SMC
Minimum parcel size2 6,000 sf 8,000 sf 20,000 sf 5,000 sf 10,000 sf 5,000 sf 20,000 sf 10,000 sf 1,500 sf SMC § 10.40.030
(Minimum parcel
standards) and SMC
Title 9
Minimum lot width2 50 feet 50 feet 50 feet 50 feet 50 feet 50 feet 50 feet 50 feet 30 feet
Maximum density 1 du/parcel 1 du/parcel 1 du/parcel 1 du/2,500 sf2, 1 du/5,000 sf2, 1 du/1,500 sf2, 1 du/1980 sf 1 du/10,000 1 du/1,500 sf SMC § 10.44.080
3 3 3 sf (Accessory dwelling
unit regulations)
Maximum floor area ratio13 .45 .40 .35 .654 .40 .84 .65 .25 .30 SMC § 10.44.330
(Development
Maximum building coverage 35% 30% 30% 50%4 35% 50%4 50% 25% 30% standards for units in
Maximum impervious surface5 67.5% 65% 65% 75%4 67.5% 75%4 75% 62.5% 65% two-family and
multiple-family
residential zoning
districts)
Minimum setbacks6, 7 SMC § 10.40.080
(Exceptions to required
Front8 0 feet 0 feet 0 feet 0 feet 0 feet 0 feet 0 feet 0 feet 0 feet setbacks) and Chapter
Side9 5 feet 5 feet 10 feet 5 feet 5 feet 5 feet 5 feet 10 0 feet 10.44 SMC (Specific
Use Requirements)
Rear10 15 feet 15 feet 20 feet 15 feet 15 feet 15 feet 15 feet 15 feet 0 feet
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City of Sausalito, CA

§ 10.22.040

SAUSALITO CODE

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Table 10.22-2
Site Development Standards – Residential Zoning Districts1
R-1 R-2
Development Requirement R-1-6 R-1-8 R-1-20 R-2-2.5 R-2-5 R-3 PR H A See SMC
Maximum building height11 32 feet 32 feet 32 feet 32 feet 32 feet 32 feet 32 feet 18 feet 12 feet12 SMC § 10.40.060
(Height requirements)
and Chapter 10.44
SMC (Specific Use
Requirements)
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Notes:

1 These standards are not entitlements; the approved size, setbacks or other physical conditions of a proposed new dwelling or expansion of an existing dwelling subject to design review shall be in the discretion of the Planning Commission. In order to meet the standards of design review, the Planning Commission may approve a dwelling smaller, or with greater setbacks, or otherwise impose requirements that are more restrictive than the limits set forth in this chapter.

2 See SMC § 10.40.030 (Minimum parcel standards).

3 For two or more detached single-family dwellings, see SMC § 10.44.090 (Detached dwelling units).

4 Units in the R-2-2.5 and R-3 zoning districts are subject to the restrictions in SMC § 10.44.330.

5 Per SMC § 10.40.050C, impervious surface includes decks, paved surfaces, hardscape, and gravel.

6 Different setbacks may also apply if district is combined with other zoning districts.

7 Per SMC § 10.40.080E, a multifamily rental project that is located on a single site composed of multiple contiguous lots shall only be subject to setback requirements along the exterior lot lines for projects that include a lot merger.

8 Ten-foot front yard setbacks are required where designated on the zoning map. See SMC § 10.40.070E.4 (Special Setback Lines).

9 Minimum side yard setbacks may be increased in other situations.

10 See SMC § 10.44.160E regarding additional separation requirements in addition to setback.

11 Maximum building height may vary depending on parcel topography and may vary for other specific features of the site. Building height is measured from natural average grade.

12 Measured from a point six feet above NGVD, or average grade, whichever is higher.

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City of Sausalito, CA

ZONING

§ 10.22.040

Notes: 13 Pursuant to Cal. Gov’t. Code § 65913.11(b), a housing development project consisting of three to seven units shall be allowed to have a floor area ratio of up to 1.0, and for a housing development project consisting of eight to 10 units, the project shall be allowed a floor area ratio of up to 1.25, except for projects within a historic district or property included on the State Historic Resources Inventory, as defined in Cal. Pub. Res. Code § 5020.1, or within a site that is designated or listed as a city or county landmark or historic property or district pursuant to a city or county ordinance.

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City of Sausalito, CA

SAUSALITO CODE

§ 10.22.040

(Ord. 1167 § 2, 2003; Ord. 1217 § 1, 2014; Ord. 06-2025-A, 12/2/2025)

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City of Sausalito, CA