Corte Madera · Zoning · MX-1
Corte Madera MX-1 zoning: height, setbacks and lot size
In Corte Madera's MX-1 zone, generally buildings can be up to 25 ft (2 stories) tall and the front setback is 20 ft, with the conditions listed below (Corte Madera code, read October 2026).
Key points
- Maximum building height: 25 ft (Neighborhood Zone; or two stories, whichever is lower)
- Maximum number of stories: 2 stories (Neighborhood Zone; or 25 feet, whichever is lower)
- Minimum front setback: 20 ft (Front yards on Tamal Vista Boulevard (measured from the edge of the Streetscape Improvement Area, at most 40 ft required) and on other streets.)
- Minimum side setback: 20 ft (Adjoining the Streetscape Improvement Area on Tamal Vista Boulevard)
- Minimum rear setback: 50 ft (Where a property line adjoins the Highway 101 right of way)
- Maximum floor area ratio (FAR): 0.4 (Sites that include residential uses; minimum 0.04 FAR must include qualifying non-residential uses in the Neighborhood Zone)
- Maximum density: 15.1 units/acre (Sites with residential uses. Up to 20.0 units/acre for deed-restricted senior housing that includes at least 0.05 FAR of non-residential uses.)
MX-1 (Mixed Use Tamal Vista Corridor District) is a zoning district in Corte Madera. Every value below was read from the Corte Madera Municipal Code and links to its section (read October 2026). State laws such as the ADU and SB 9 rules can allow more on a residential lot. General information, not legal advice — read the code text and check with the city before you build.
Development standards in MX-1
The general rule for a typical lot in this zone. Zoning tables often attach notes, such as rules for corner lots, lots next to a residential zone, or new subdivisions only. Open “code text” under a value to see the table cell or sentence it was read from.
| Maximum building height | 25 ft Applies: Neighborhood Zone; or two stories, whichever is lower § 18.13.165 · code textNo structure in the Neighborhood Zone, as defined herein, shall exceed 25 feet in height or two stories, whichever is lower. |
|---|---|
| Maximum number of stories | 2 stories Applies: Neighborhood Zone; or 25 feet, whichever is lower § 18.13.165 · code textNo structure in the Neighborhood Zone, as defined herein, shall exceed 25 feet in height or two stories, whichever is lower. |
| Minimum front setback | 20 ft Applies: Front yards on Tamal Vista Boulevard (measured from the edge of the Streetscape Improvement Area, at most 40 ft required) and on other streets. § 18.13.120 · code textThe minimum required front or side yard adjoining the Streetscape Improvement Area shall be 20 feet. |
| Minimum side setback | 20 ft Applies: Adjoining the Streetscape Improvement Area on Tamal Vista Boulevard § 18.13.120 · code textThe minimum required front or side yard adjoining the Streetscape Improvement Area shall be 20 feet. |
| Minimum rear setback | 50 ft Applies: Where a property line adjoins the Highway 101 right of way § 18.13.135 · code textWhere a property line of a site adjoins the Highway 101 right of way, the minimum required rear or side yard shall be 50 feet, of which a minimum of 15 feet adjoining the property line shall be landscaped with permanently maintained plant materials, including screening elements not less than 10 feet in height at time of planting. |
| Maximum floor area ratio (FAR) | 0.4 Applies: Sites that include residential uses; minimum 0.04 FAR must include qualifying non-residential uses in the Neighborhood Zone § 18.13.145 · code textThe gross floor area for sites that include residential uses shall not exceed .4 FAR, provided that a minimum .04 FAR includes non-residential uses permitted or conditionally permitted in the MX-1 district and that such uses are located in the Neighborhood Zone, as defined herein. |
| Maximum density | 15.1 units/acre Applies: Sites with residential uses. Up to 20.0 units/acre for deed-restricted senior housing that includes at least 0.05 FAR of non-residential uses. § 18.13.150 · code textNotwithstanding the provisions of section 18.13.145, residential density may be increased to 20.0 units/acre for projects that include senior housing, as defined in California Civil Code Section 51.3 (b)(1), provided that such project include deed restrictions ensuring continued use of the site for senior housing and provided that a minimum .05 FAR includes non-residential uses permitted or conditionally permitted in the MX-1 district. |
Uses in MX-1
Uses the code's use tables allow in MX-1, or allow with a permit. Each links to its page with the code section.
- Single-family home — Needs a conditional use — see note
- Church or place of worship — Needs a conditional use permit (chapter 18.26)
- Kennel — Needs a conditional use permit (chapter 18.26) — see note
- Private school — Allowed — see note
When a different number applies
The code sets other values for particular lots, buildings or locations in MX-1:
- Maximum building height: 35 ft — Highway Zone; or three stories, whichever is lower § 18.13.165
- Maximum number of stories: 3 stories — Highway Zone; or 35 feet, whichever is lower § 18.13.165
- Minimum front setback: 10 ft — Each story above the first story in the Neighborhood Zone; additional to the front or side yard required in Section 18.13.125 § 18.13.170
- Minimum side setback: 10 ft — Planning Commission reduction where the side property line adjoins property that includes residential uses § 18.13.130
- Minimum side setback: 10 ft — Where the side property line adjoins property that does not contain residential uses § 18.13.130
- Minimum rear setback: 30 ft — Planning Commission reduction where adjoining the Highway 101 right of way § 18.13.135
- Minimum rear setback: 35 ft — Where the rear property line adjoins property with residential uses § 18.13.140
- Minimum rear setback: 25 ft — Planning Commission reduction where the rear property line adjoins property with residential uses § 18.13.140
- Minimum rear setback: 25 ft — Where the rear property line adjoins property that does not contain residential uses § 18.13.140
- Maximum floor area ratio (FAR): 0.34 — All permitted and conditionally permitted non-residential uses § 18.13.145
- Maximum floor area ratio (FAR): 0.5 — Non-residential uses except hotels/motels, with Planning Commission finding supporting the increase § 18.13.150
Not on this page
We did not find a general lot size, lot coverage limit for MX-1 in the zoning tables we read. The code may still set one elsewhere — check the Corte Madera Municipal Code.
Other Corte Madera zoning districts
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
What is the maximum building height in Corte Madera's MX-1 zone?
25 ft (neighborhood Zone; or two stories, whichever is lower) — Corte Madera Municipal Code § 18.13.165.
What is the maximum number of stories in Corte Madera's MX-1 zone?
2 stories (neighborhood Zone; or 25 feet, whichever is lower) — Corte Madera Municipal Code § 18.13.165.
What is the minimum front setback in Corte Madera's MX-1 zone?
20 ft (front yards on Tamal Vista Boulevard (measured from the edge of the Streetscape Improvement Area, at most 40 ft required) and on other streets) — Corte Madera Municipal Code § 18.13.120.
What is the minimum side setback in Corte Madera's MX-1 zone?
20 ft (adjoining the Streetscape Improvement Area on Tamal Vista Boulevard) — Corte Madera Municipal Code § 18.13.120.
What is the minimum rear setback in Corte Madera's MX-1 zone?
50 ft (where a property line adjoins the Highway 101 right of way) — Corte Madera Municipal Code § 18.13.135.
General information, not legal advice.
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