San Anselmo — Zoning

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

San Anselmo's zoning ordinance is codified as Chapter 3 of Title 10 of the San Anselmo Municipal Code (often called the Town's "zoning ordinance") and implements the General Plan by dividing the Town into specific zoning districts, overlay zones, and standards for uses, dimensional controls, parking, and review processes. Key regulatory tools referenced throughout the ordinance are the Land Use Regulations Table (Table 3A), the Development Standards Table (Table 4A), the Slope/Density and size tables (Table 4C/4E), and the Parking Standards Table (Table 5A) — each invoked in the ordinance text and applied via the Zoning Map and administrative processes. See the ordinance adopting the map and districts at § 10-3.202 and § 10-3.203.

This page summarizes what the San Anselmo zoning ordinance actually says about zoning (districts, where they apply, the basic permitted-use / density / FAR signals, and the procedural triggers). For detailed numeric setbacks, lot-area minima, or the full use matrix consult the referenced Tables (Table 3A, Table 4A, Table 4C, Table 5A) and verify with the Town; those tables are the controlling technical tables referenced throughout the ordinance. Verify with the jurisdiction for parcel‑specific rules.

Note: When the page mentions routine related topics, it links to the Town pages you will often need: San Anselmo Land Use, San Anselmo Development Standards, San Anselmo Parking, San Anselmo Design Review, San Anselmo Overlay Districts, San Anselmo ADUs, and California Building Standards Code at their first natural mention.

District-by-district breakdown (what the ordinance actually defines)

Below are the main district names and the ordinance text that describes their purpose, typical uses/density signals, and where they are commonly applied. For full permitted-use details, the ordinance points to the Land Use Regulations Table (Table 3A) under § 10-3.302; dimensional standards live in the Development Standards Table (Table 4A) referenced throughout (see § 10-3.302, § 10-3.403).

Note: every district name below is bolded exactly as used in the ordinance.

Very Low Density Residential — R-1-H

• Purpose: Preserve primary ridges/ridge zone, limit visual and environmental impacts, and implement the Hillside Density rules. The ordinance states the district is intended to protect natural land forms and vegetation and uses a table of R-1-H parcels for parcel-level allowable units. § 10-3.201(a).
• Typical permitted uses: single‑family residential (with accessory dwelling units allowed consistent with the General Plan) and limited ancillary structures; special review requirements apply for development on ridgelines. § 10-3.201(a); see design-review triggers in § 10-3.1505.
• Key standards and process highlights: Maximum density 1 unit/acre and maximum population density 4 persons/acre; R-1‑H parcels reference a parcel-specific Table 4D for unit limits and require the R-1‑H Preliminary/Precise Development Plan processes when applicable (Article 10: § 10-3.1001 et seq.). § 10-3.201(a); § 10-3.1001.

Single-Family Residential—Conservation — R-1-C

• Purpose: Conserve hillside areas and limit densities in secondary ridgelines / higher-elevation properties while subjecting development to design review. § 10-3.201(b).
• Typical permitted uses: single‑family residential; accessory dwelling units permitted consistent with the General Plan. § 10-3.201(b).
• Key standards: Maximum density 1 unit/acre, max population 4 persons/acre; design-review and extra controls above 150 ft. MSL and on slopes (see Table 4C and Table 4E for size/lot rules and maximum adjusted floor area). § 10-3.201(b); § 10-3.409; Table references Table 4C/4E.

Single-Family Residential — R-1

• Purpose: Town’s standard single-family residential district; the ordinance treats R-1 together with R‑1‑C and R‑1‑H in many development-size and ridge rules. (See Article 2 and Article 4 cross-references). § 10-3.201; slope/lot rules in § 10-3.409.
• Typical permitted uses: single‑family homes, accessory dwelling units (subject to the ADU chapter and local ADU rules). See San Anselmo ADUs and § 10-6.303 for local ADU parking/standards.
• Key standards and constraints: R-1 lots above 150 ft MSL are subject to maximum adjusted floor area limits described in Table 4E and design-review findings; slope-density minimum lot areas are in Table 4C. § 10-3.404, § 10-3.409, Table 4E.

Medium Density Residential — R-2

• Purpose and where applied: Applied adjacent to Sir Francis Drake Boulevard and near commercial areas to provide duplex/triplex/more compact residential patterns. § 10-3.201(d).
• Density guidance: 6–12 units/acre, maximum population 28 persons/acre. § 10-3.201(d).
• Typical uses: duplexes, triplexes, and single-family with ADU; development standards defer to Table 4A for setbacks, coverage, FAR, and lot area minima. § 10-3.201(d); see San Anselmo Development Standards.

High Density Residential — R-3

• Purpose: Applied near commercial areas to permit apartments/condos consistent with the Town's residential character. § 10-3.201(e).
• Density guidance: 13–30 units/acre, maximum population 42 persons/acre. § 10-3.201(e).
• Typical uses: apartment and condominium development, with ADUs allowed consistent with the General Plan; design review and parking standards apply (e.g., parking screening requirements for R-3). § 10-3.201(e); parking rules § 10-3.510.

Neighborhood Commercial — C-1

• Purpose: Small neighborhood commercial nodes that serve adjacent residential areas. § 10-3.201(h).
• Key numeric signal: Maximum FAR 1.0 (and FAR 1.25 for housing projects with 8–10 units unless historic or landmark constraints apply). § 10-3.201(h); Table 4A notes referenced in the ordinance.
• Typical uses: small groceries, personal services, small shops; residential uses encouraged above ground floor to preserve commercial character. § 10-3.201(h).

Downtown/Central Commercial — C-2

• Purpose: Town’s central business district corridor along San Anselmo Avenue and parts of Sir Francis Drake Boulevard. § 10-3.201(i).
• Key numeric signal: Maximum FAR 2.0. § 10-3.201(i).
• Typical uses: a broader mix of retail, restaurants, offices, and mixed residential above the ground floor; design review and signage rules apply. § 10-3.201(i).

General Commercial — C-3

• Purpose: Applied to commercial corridors (Redhill Ave, Sir Francis Drake, east end of San Anselmo Ave) for more general commercial uses and higher intensity. § 10-3.201(k).
• Overlay option: The Affordable Housing Overlay (AHO) can apply to R-3 and C-3 parcels to increase density/flexibility when at least 40% of units are deed‑restricted for low‑income households; applicants may use objective standards in Title 3, Chapter 20 or the standard entitlement path. § 10-3.201(f).

Professional — P

• Purpose: Buffer/transition zones near commercial cores for low-impact professional uses compatible with nearby residences. § 10-3.201(g).
• Uses: small professional offices and compatible residential uses; ADUs permitted on lots with single-family detached uses. § 10-3.201(g).

Other special districts / tools called out by the ordinance

• Planned Development (PD) — flexible approach when strict standards would not be appropriate; approved through a Conditional Use Permit and subject to the findings in Article 9 § 10-3.901—10-3.906.
• Density Bonus rules — local density bonus chapter implements State density bonus law and applies where housing is permitted; see Chapter 11 (10-11.01 et seq.).
• R-1/Hillside processes — preliminary and precise development plans for R-1‑H properties are provided in Article 10 § 10-3.1001 et seq.

Quick reference table — most decision-relevant district signals

For the full Land Use matrix of permitted / conditional uses see Table 3A as adopted under § 10-3.302; for setbacks, FAR, lot area minima, and maximum adjusted floor area see Table 4A and Table 4E as referenced throughout the ordinance (§ 10-3.403, § 10-3.412, and related provisions).

How the ordinance treats process and standards (high-level)

• Zoning Map adoption and interpretation: the "Zoning Map of the Town of San Anselmo" is adopted by reference (see § 10-3.202 and § 10-3.203) and the ordinance provides rules for resolving ambiguous boundaries (§ 10-3.204).
• Uses: the Land Use Regulations Table (Table 3A) lists whether a use is Permitted (P), Conditionally Permitted (C), or Not Permitted (-). Uses not listed are prohibited unless the Community Development Director finds them similar to a permitted use (§ 10-3.302).
• Development standards exceptions and measurements: setback measurement rules and height measurement rules are in § 10-3.403 and § 10-3.404; exceptions to setbacks are allowed administratively when minor under § 10-3.406.
• Design review: the ordinance establishes which projects require design review by the Planning Director or Planning Commission; many exterior improvements in R‑1‑H, R‑1‑C, R‑3, and commercial zones trigger design review (Article 15: § 10-3.1504–10-3.1506). See San Anselmo Design Review.
• Parking: off-street parking minimums are enforced via Table 5A; conversions, enlargements, and ADU-associated parking rules (including exemptions) are covered in § 10-3.503–10-3.504 and the ADU chapter § 10-6.303. See San Anselmo Parking.
• Conditional Use Permits: uses that need discretionary review are governed by Article 13; findings for approval are in Article 13 and include additional special findings for certain uses or districts (e.g., gasoline stations, C-L uses). § 10-3.1301—10-3.1302; special findings in Article 13.
• Planned Development and Variances: PDs are flexible tools (Article 9 § 10-3.901 et seq.) and variances are available per Article 14 if strict standards cannot be met.

Checklist — what an applicant must review / satisfy before filing

• Confirm the parcel's zoning district on the Town's adopted Zoning Map; interpret boundaries rules in § 10-3.204 if unclear.
• Consult the Land Use Regulations Table (Table 3A) to confirm whether your proposed use is Permitted (P), Conditionally Permitted (C), or prohibited under § 10-3.302.
• Check the Development Standards Table (Table 4A) for setbacks, lot area, lot width, FAR, lot coverage and maximum adjusted floor area; read height and setback measurement rules in § 10-3.403–10-3.404. See San Anselmo Development Standards.
• Determine whether the project triggers Design Review under Article 15; if so, prepare materials to satisfy design-review findings (§ 10-3.1504–10-3.1506) and consult San Anselmo Design Review.
• Run the parking calculation against Table 5A and ADU parking rules (§ 10-3.503–10-3.504, ADU chapter § 10-6.303); if parking must be placed within setbacks, check design-review requirements. See San Anselmo Parking.
• If the property is in an overlay (for example AHO), evaluate overlay-specific eligibility and options; overlays are described under Article 2 references and the AHO text (§ 10-3.201(f)). See San Anselmo Overlay Districts.
• For hillside or ridge development (R‑1‑H, R‑1‑C, R‑1), review slope density / lot area Table 4C and maximum adjusted floor area Table 4E and the R‑1‑H procedures (Article 10). § 10-3.409, Table 4E, § 10-3.1001.
• If proposing affordable housing or seeking density bonus incentives, consult the Town’s Density Bonus Ordinance (Chapter 11, § 10-11.01 et seq.) and State density bonus law.
• Prepare for discretionary permits (CUP, PD, Variance) if your use or standard adjustment is not allowed ministerially; public notices/hearings rules are in § 10-3.1601.

Risks & Ambiguities

Information Gaps (what the retrieved materials do not confirm)

• Exact numeric values for many common development standards (front/side/rear setbacks by district, minimum lot areas for R‑2/R‑3/C districts, lot coverage, and specific FARs for every district) are in the Development Standards Table (Table 4A) and Table 4E; the snippets reference those tables but do not include the full table contents. Not found in retrieved materials; consult Table 4A/4E in the Municipal Code.
• The full Land Use Regulations Table (Table 3A) listing every use and whether P/C/- for each district was referenced but not reproduced in the retrieved snippets — therefore the exact permitted/conditional classification for some niche uses cannot be stated here. Not found in retrieved materials; see § 10-3.302 and Table 3A.
• Parcel-specific applications of overlays (e.g., which parcels currently carry the AHO or R-HO overlays on the official Zoning Map) are map data items not reproduced in the retrieved text. Verify on the official Zoning Map or Planning counter. Verify with the jurisdiction.

Plain-English Summary

San Anselmo’s zoning code assigns every parcel a named district (for example R-1, R-2, R-3, C-1, C-2, C-3, P, plus overlays like AHO) and applies a use matrix (Table 3A) and numeric development standards (Table 4A/4E) to each district; density signals and special rules (for hillsides, ridgelines, ADUs, parking, and design review) are written into the code and cross-referenced to the Zoning Map and the various tables and chapters cited above. Always confirm the parcel’s zone on the Zoning Map, then read the Land Use Table (Table 3A) and the Development Standards Table (Table 4A) and check the procedural triggers (design review, CUP, PD, etc.) in the code before designing a project. § 10-3.202–10-3.203, § 10-3.302, § 10-3.1504–10-3.1506.

Source References

• Zoning ordinance adoption & purpose: § 10-3.101, § 10-3.102.
• Zoning Map and boundary rules: § 10-3.202, § 10-3.203, § 10-3.204.
• District descriptions (R-1-H, R-1-C, R-1, R-2, R-3, C-1, C-2, C-3, P, AHO): § 10-3.201 (subsections (a)–(k)).
• Land Use Regulations Table reference: § 10-3.302 (Table 3A).
• Development standards references, measurement rules, and exceptions: § 10-3.403, § 10-3.404, § 10-3.406, § 10-3.407, § 10-3.408.
• Slope density / lot area and maximum dwelling sizes: § 10-3.409, Table 4C, and Table 4E (maximum adjusted floor area rules).
• Design review rules & triggers: § 10-3.1504, § 10-3.1505, § 10-3.1506 (Article 15).
• Parking, ADU parking rules, and parking standards (Table 5A): § 10-3.503–10-3.511, ADU chapter § 10-6.303.
• Conditional Use Permit and findings: Article 13 § 10-3.1301–10-3.1302 (findings for CUPs and special findings).
• Planned Development procedures/flexibility: Article 9 § 10-3.901—10-3.906.
• Density bonus chapter and state law consistency: Chapter 11 § 10-11.01 et seq.

Retrieved passages

• San Anselmo Zoning Code (Title 3) High relevance show source text
• San Anselmo Zoning Code (title across) High relevance show source text
• San Anselmo Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• San Anselmo Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance show source text
• San Anselmo Zoning Code (§ 3) High relevance show source text
• San Anselmo Zoning Code (Section 10-3.1404) High relevance show source text
• San Anselmo Zoning Code (Article 8) High relevance show source text
• San Anselmo Zoning Code (chapter shall) High relevance show source text
• San Anselmo Zoning Code (Chapter 4) High relevance show source text
• CBC § 2 (§ 2) High relevance show source text
• San Anselmo Zoning Code (Section 5020.1) High relevance show source text
• San Anselmo Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance show source text
• San Anselmo Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance show source text
• San Anselmo Zoning Code (Section 10-3.504) Medium relevance show source text
• San Anselmo Zoning Code (Title 3) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Zoning ordinance adoption & purpose: **§ 10-3.101**, **§ 10-3.102**. (§ 10-3.101)
• Zoning Map and boundary rules: **§ 10-3.202**, **§ 10-3.203**, **§ 10-3.204**. (§ 10-3.202)
• District descriptions (R-1-H, R-1-C, R-1, R-2, R-3, C-1, C-2, C-3, P, AHO): **§ 10-3.201** (subsections (a)–(k)). (§ 10-3.201)
• Land Use Regulations Table reference: **§ 10-3.302** (Table 3A). (§ 10-3.302)
• Development standards references, measurement rules, and exceptions: **§ 10-3.403**, **§ 10-3.404**, **§ 10-3.406**, **§ 10-3.407**, **§ 10-3.408**. (§ 10-3.403)
• Slope density / lot area and maximum dwelling sizes: **§ 10-3.409**, Table 4C, and Table 4E (maximum adjusted floor area rules). (§ 10-3.409)
• Design review rules & triggers: **§ 10-3.1504**, **§ 10-3.1505**, **§ 10-3.1506** (Article 15). (§ 10-3.1504)
• Parking, ADU parking rules, and parking standards (Table 5A): **§ 10-3.503–10-3.511**, ADU chapter **§ 10-6.303**. (§ 10-3.503)
• Conditional Use Permit and findings: Article 13 **§ 10-3.1301–10-3.1302** (findings for CUPs and special findings). (Article 13)
• Planned Development procedures/flexibility: Article 9 **§ 10-3.901—10-3.906**. (Article 9)
• Density bonus chapter and state law consistency: Chapter 11 **§ 10-11.01** et seq. (chapter and)
• SanAnselmo_ZoningCode.md

• Official San Anselmo code library