Menlo Park · Zoning · R-1-U (LM)
Menlo Park R-1-U (LM) zoning: height, setbacks and lot size
In Menlo Park's R-1-U (LM) zone, generally buildings can be up to 28 ft tall, the front setback is 20 ft and the minimum lot size is 7,000 sq ft, with the conditions listed below (Menlo Park code, read October 2026).
Key points
- Maximum building height: 28 ft (Two-story single-family development)
- Minimum front setback: 20 ft (Above-ground portion of the building)
- Minimum side setback: 5 ft (Ground-floor above-ground interior side yard)
- Minimum rear setback: 20 ft (Above-ground portion of the building)
- Minimum lot size: 7,000 sq ft (Any lot created or subdivided after June 1, 2006)
- Maximum lot coverage: 35% (Development of two or more stories)
- Maximum floor area ratio (FAR): Floor area limit: 2,800 sq ft plus 25% of the lot area over 7,000 sq ft (Lots with an area greater than 7,000 square feet)
- Maximum density: 1 unit per 4,900 sq ft
R-1-U (LM) (SINGLE FAMILY URBAN RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT (LORELEI MANOR)) is a zoning district in Menlo Park. Every value below was read from the Menlo Park 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 R-1-U (LM)
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 | 28 ft Applies: Two-story single-family development § 16.17.030 · code textTwo-story single-family development: Twenty-eight feet (28'); |
|---|---|
| Minimum front setback | 20 ft Applies: Above-ground portion of the building § 16.17.030 · code textTwenty feet (20') front; |
| Minimum side setback | 5 ft Applies: Ground-floor above-ground interior side yard § 16.17.030 · code textFive feet (5') for ground floor interior sides, except that a ground floor interior side yard of three feet (3') for up to a maximum twenty-foot (20') length may be allowed subject to written approval of the owner(s) of contiguous property abutting the portion of the structure with the reduced yard or a use permit in accordance with Chapter 16.82; |
| Minimum rear setback | 20 ft Applies: Above-ground portion of the building § 16.17.030 · code textTwenty feet (20') rear; |
| Minimum lot size | 7,000 sq ft Applies: Any lot created or subdivided after June 1, 2006 § 16.17.030 · code textMinimum lot area: four thousand nine hundred (4,900) square feet for lots in existence prior to June 1, 2006 and a minimum of seven thousand (7,000) square feet for any lot created or subdivided after June 1, 2006; |
| Maximum lot coverage | 35% Applies: Development of two or more stories § 16.17.030 · code textDevelopment of two (2) or more stories: Thirty-five percent (35%); |
| Maximum floor area ratio (FAR) | Floor area limit: 2,800 sq ft plus 25% of the lot area over 7,000 sq ft Applies: Lots with an area greater than 7,000 square feet § 16.17.030 · code textFAL for lots with greater than seven thousand (7,000) square feet shall be two thousand eight hundred (2,800) square feet plus twenty-five percent (25%) of the difference between the lot area and seven thousand (7,000) square feet; |
| Maximum density | 1 unit per 4,900 sq ft § 16.17.030 · code textMinimum land area per dwelling unit: four thousand nine hundred (4,900) square feet; |
When a different number applies
The code sets other values for particular lots, buildings or locations in R-1-U (LM):
- Maximum building height: 20 ft — One-story single-family development § 16.17.030
- Minimum front setback: 15 ft — Below-ground portion of the building § 16.17.030
- Minimum side setback: 3 ft — Below-ground interior side yard; allowed subject to written approval of contiguous property owner(s) or a use permit § 16.17.030
- Minimum side setback: 3 ft — Ground-floor above-ground interior side yard, for up to a maximum 20-foot length; allowed subject to written approval of contiguous property owner(s) or a use permit § 16.17.030
- Minimum side setback: 10 ft — Second-floor interior sides § 16.17.030
- Minimum rear setback: 15 ft — Below-ground portion of the building § 16.17.030
- Minimum lot size: 4,900 sq ft — Lots in existence prior to June 1, 2006 § 16.17.030
- Maximum lot coverage: 40% — Single-story development; lots with an area of 7,000 square feet or less § 16.17.030
- Maximum floor area ratio (FAR): Floor area limit: 2,800 sq ft — Lots with an area between 4,900 and 7,000 square feet § 16.17.030
Not on this page
We did not find a general stories limit for R-1-U (LM) in the zoning tables we read. The code may still set one elsewhere — check the Menlo Park Municipal Code.
Other Menlo Park zoning districts
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
What is the maximum building height in Menlo Park's R-1-U (LM) zone?
28 ft (two-story single-family development) — Menlo Park Municipal Code § 16.17.030.
What is the minimum front setback in Menlo Park's R-1-U (LM) zone?
20 ft (above-ground portion of the building) — Menlo Park Municipal Code § 16.17.030.
What is the minimum side setback in Menlo Park's R-1-U (LM) zone?
5 ft (ground-floor above-ground interior side yard) — Menlo Park Municipal Code § 16.17.030.
What is the minimum rear setback in Menlo Park's R-1-U (LM) zone?
20 ft (above-ground portion of the building) — Menlo Park Municipal Code § 16.17.030.
What is the minimum lot size in Menlo Park's R-1-U (LM) zone?
7,000 sq ft (any lot created or subdivided after June 1, 2006) — Menlo Park Municipal Code § 16.17.030.
General information, not legal advice.
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