Skip to content

Chapter 17.230 — SMALL LOT SUBDIVISIONS

Sebastopol Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · updated 2026-07-07 · Sebastopol

17.230.010 Purpose and intent.

Notwithstanding the requirements of the standards otherwise applicable in the residential districts (R3 through R7), in order to promote provision of affordable housing units and to help meet inclusionary housing requirements of SMC17.250, the following standards are allowed for new single-family residential subdivisions subject to the discretionary review and approval of the Planning Commission and City Council and the requirement that any project must comply with the land densities of the General Plan.

17.230.020 Lot configurations and sizes required.

Small lot subdivisions are permitted on parcels 15,000 square feet or larger in the R3 and R4 districts and on parcels 8,000 square feet or larger in the R5, R6, and R7 districts. The minimum lot size is 1,500 square feet; a reduced lot size may be allowed for attached single family development..

17.230.030 Minimum yard setback requirement.

Small lot subdivisions shall meet the setback requirements established below unless the underlying district has reduced requirements, in which case the underlying district standards for rear, front, street side, and interior side yard setbacks may be used rather than those listed in paragraphs A through E below.

A. Rear Yard Setback. The minimum rear yard setback shall be 10 feet.

B. Front Yard Setback. The front yard setback shall be not less than 15 feet, except that a covered porch may extend seven feet into the required front yard setback.

C. Interior Side Yard Setbacks. The minimum side yard setback for a single parcel shall be four feet except for structures sharing common walls.

D. Street Side Yard Setback. The minimum street side yard setback shall be 15 feet, except that a covered porch may extend seven feet into the required street side yard setback.

E. The garage or carport front, when the entrance faces the street, shall be 20 feet to the rear of the public sidewalk, or 20 feet from the property or adopted street plan line, whichever is greater.

17.230.040 Private open space requirement.

All single-family lots shall provide a minimum of 150 square feet of usable private open space as described in SMC 17.20.040.

17.230.050 Maximum building height.

The maximum building height shall be 30 feet in height.

17.230.060 Maximum lot coverage.

17.230.070 Parking requirement.

Parking shall be provided as required by SMC17.110.

Page 138

Draft Title 17: Zoning Code

17.230.080 Relationship to other development standards.

Except as specifically set forth herein, or in a development standards statement approved in conjunction with subdivision, projects approved under these small lot subdivision standards shall conform to all other requirements of the underlying district as described in this title; SMC Title 16, Subdivisions; and other City requirements.

17.230.090 Findings for approval of small lot subdivisions.

Small lot subdivisions conforming to these provisions shall only be approved if the following findings can be made in an affirmative manner:

A. The subject property is physically suitable for the type of development proposed;

B. The proposed development would be compatible with existing and permissible land uses within the district and the general area in which the proposed use is to be located;

C. The proposed development, including the density, site design, and design of units, is compatible with the existing neighborhood and nearby uses.

D. Approval of the proposed development will not be detrimental to the public health, safety, convenience, or general welfare; and

  • E. Approval of the proposed development is consistent with the General Plan.

Page 139

Draft Title 17: Zoning Code

Get a plain-English answer with a citation back to this text.

Ask AI about this code
Contents — Sebastopol Zoning Code
Sebastopol Zoning Code
  1. Chapter 17.04 — ZONING CODE
  2. Chapter 17.08 — DEFINITIONS
  3. Chapter 17.10 — ZONING DISTRICTS
  4. Chapter 17.20 — RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS
  5. Chapter 17.25 — COMMERCIAL, OFFICE, AND INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS
  6. Chapter 17.30 — COMMUNITY FACILITIES DISTRICT
  7. Chapter 17.32 — OS - OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
  8. Chapter 17.40 — PC - PLANNED COMMUNITY DISTRICT
  9. Chapter 17.44 — WETLANDS DISTRICTS (W, WS COMBINING, WF COMBIN…
  10. Chapter 17.46 — ESOS - ENVIRONMENTAL AND SCENIC OPEN SPACE COM…
  11. Chapter 17.48 — RECOVERY (REC) COMBINING DISTRICT
  12. Chapter 17.100 — GENERAL HEIGHT, YARD ENCROACHMENT, CREEK SETB…
  13. Chapter 17.110 — OFF-STREET PARKING REGULATIONS
  14. Chapter 17.120 — SIGN REGULATIONS
  15. Chapter 17.130 — GENERAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO TELECOMMUNICAT…
  16. Chapter 17.140 — WIND TURBINE TOWERS
  17. Chapter 17.150 — CULTURAL HERITAGE
  18. Chapter 17.160 — NONCONFORMING USES
  19. Chapter 17.200 — RESIDENTIAL DENSITY ALLOWANCES
  20. Chapter 17.210 — MANUFACTURED HOMES
  21. Chapter 17.220 — ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS
  22. Chapter 17.225 — TEMPORARY CARE UNIT
  23. Chapter 17.230 — SMALL LOT SUBDIVISIONS
  24. Chapter 17.240 — CONDOMINIUM CONVERSION
  25. Chapter 17.250 — INCLUSIONARY HOUSING REQUIREMENTS
  26. Chapter 17.255 — AFFORDABLE HOUSING DENSITY BONUS
  27. Chapter 17.260 — HOME-BASED BUSINESSES
  28. Chapter 17.280 — PARK AND RECREATION LAND DEDICATION AND FEES
  29. Chapter 17.290 — PROHIBITION ON RENTAL HOUSING PRICE GOUGING A…
  30. Chapter 17.295 — DISASTER RECOVERY HOUSING PROVISIONS
  31. Chapter 17.300 — OUTDOOR USES
  32. Chapter 17.310 — PUBLIC ART - REQUIRING PUBLIC ART AS PART OF …
  33. Chapter 17.320 — TRANSITIONAL SITES
  34. Chapter 17.330 — OUTDOOR MUSIC AND NOISE IN THE DOWNTOWN
  35. Chapter 17.340 — FORMULA BUSINESS REGULATIONS
  36. Chapter 17.345 — SERVICE STATIONS AND CAR WASHES
  37. Chapter 17.350 — ALCOHOL USE PERMIT CRITERIA
  38. Chapter 17.355 — MOBILE FOOD TRUCK REGULATIONS
  39. Chapter 17.360 — COMPREHENSIVE CANNABIS REGULATIONS
  40. Chapter 17.400 — PROCEDURES AND ADMINISTRATION - GENERAL PROVI…
  41. Chapter 17.405 — ADMINISTRATIVE PERMIT
  42. Chapter 17.410 — ADJUSTMENT PROCEDURE
  43. Chapter 17.415 — CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT PROCEDURE
  44. Chapter 17.420 — VARIANCE PROCEDURE
  45. Chapter 17.425 — REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION UNDER THE FAIR HOUSI…
  46. Chapter 17.430 — TEMPORARY USE PERMITS
  47. Chapter 17.435 — DOWNTOWN NOISE PERMITS
  48. Chapter 17.440 — DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS
  49. Chapter 17.445 — GENERAL PLAN AND ZONING AMENDMENT PROCEDURE
  50. Chapter 17.450 — DESIGN REVIEW PROCEDURE
  51. Chapter 17.455 — APPEAL PROCEDURE
  52. Chapter 17.460 — PUBLIC HEARING PROCEDURE
  53. Chapter 17.470 — ENFORCEMENT/PENALTIES
  54. Chapter 17.500 — CITY GROWTH MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

GoCodebook provides public access, search, citation, multilingual explanation, and practical interpretation of legally adopted building regulations. It is not a substitute for the official ICC or California code publications.