San Carlos — Variances and Exceptions

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes how the City of San Carlos handles variances, waivers (also described as exceptions or administrative relief), and related adjustments under the local zoning ordinance (commonly titled Title 18). It explains who decides, what findings must be made, the limits on administrative waivers (including the 10% dimensional cap), and how these remedies differ from use permits or design review. For a high-level entry point to the city's planning rules see the San Carlos zoning & planning overview.

(Note: this page sticks strictly to the municipal zoning ordinance text as retrieved; where the ordinance does not supply details I state "Not found in retrieved materials" and flag the gap.)

Key chapters and quick links

• Variances: § 18.32.010–.080
• Waivers / Administrative exceptions (reasonable accommodation + limited relief): § 18.33.010–.060
• Related definitions and common procedures (applications, appeals, expirations): § 18.16.x, § 18.27.x, § 18.28.x (definitions, common procedures, zoning clearance)
• For dimensional and development standards referenced in waiver/variance requests see the San Carlos Development Standards and the allowed projection table (Table 18.15.080) . For parking-specific dimensional waivers see the Parking guidance.
• Projects that also trigger design review should follow the San Carlos Design Review process.
• Where the code refers to building-code conflicts the California Building Standards Code applies.

(First natural mention links: San Carlos zoning & planning overview, San Carlos Zoning, San Carlos Development Standards, San Carlos Parking, San Carlos Design Review, San Carlos Overlay Districts, San Carlos ADUs, California Building Standards Code.)

How San Carlos treats Variances vs Waivers (exceptions)

• Variances are a discretionary, public‑hearing remedy to depart from dimensional or performance standards where unique physical circumstances of the property make strict application inequitable, but variances cannot be used to authorize a use that is not allowed by the zoning for the lot. Governing language: § 18.32.010–.020 (purpose and applicability).

• Waivers are an administrative path (Director-level) to grant limited relief from dimensional requirements (typically up to 10%) and are intended both for routine administrative flexibility and for reasonable accommodation under State/Federal disability and fair housing laws; the Director may exceed 10% only for a demonstrated reasonable‑accommodation need. Governing language: § 18.33.010–.020 (purpose and applicability).

• Review and decision authorities differ: the Planning and Transportation Commission is the decision maker for variances and holds a public hearing; the Director is the review authority for most waivers/administrative exceptions. See § 18.32.030 and § 18.33.030.

• Both variances and waivers can be conditioned; failure to comply is an enforcement violation and both permit types are subject to expiration, extension, revocation, and appeal rules in the common procedures chapters. See § 18.32.050, § 18.32.060, § 18.32.080, and § 18.33.050–.060.

District-by-district breakdown (what the ordinance shows)

Below are districts mentioned in the retrieved materials where variance/waiver rules commonly apply. I only record ordinance text or figures that were included in the retrieved materials; when permitted uses or full dimensional tables are not in the retrieved snippets I note that.

RS-3 (single-family detached, small lot)

• Purpose / typical uses: Not found in retrieved materials. Verify with the jurisdiction.
• Key dimensional standards (items found in the code): allowed building projections and balcony rules reference RS-3; balconies and certain projections have special allowances (Table 18.15.080 references RS-3) — see § 18.15.080.
• Where it applies: residential neighborhoods (verify parcel-specific zoning map). Not found in retrieved materials: complete permitted-use lists and base setbacks. Verify with the jurisdiction.

RS-6 (single-family detached)

• Purpose / typical uses: Not found in retrieved materials. Verify with the jurisdiction.
• Key dimensional standards: Table 18.15.080 contains projection rules specific to RS-6 (for example, balcony projection allowances), see § 18.15.080.

RM (multi‑family residential)

• Purpose / typical uses: Not found in retrieved materials. Verify with the jurisdiction.
• Key dimensional standards: RM appears in the list of districts subject to different design-review deviation rules and to the matrix of review authorities (e.g., deviations and design review thresholds reference RM/MU districts in the code). See the decision matrix in Chapter 18.04/18.05 and the application table.

MU-N-40 and MU-SC-120 (Mixed-Use variants)

• Purpose / typical uses: Not found in retrieved materials as a full statement; these are mixed-use districts used downtown and along major corridors. Verify with the jurisdiction.
• Key dimensional standards: The MU district signage in the building height and story tables (Figure 18.05.030-D) shows specific height and story limits and special stepback rules for MU districts including MU-N-40 and MU-SC-120 (e.g., variations in maximum stories, stepbacks along Laurel Street, allowances for parapet/tower projections). See § 18.05.030 and accompanying figures.

Notes: The ordinance contains many district-specific standards elsewhere (full permitted uses, setbacks, lot coverage, FAR) but those full district schedules were not included in the retrieved snippets. Verify parcel-specific rules with the Planning Division or the San Carlos zoning map. See the San Carlos Zoning page for district maps.

Decision‑relevant standards (quick reference table)

Checklist — what an applicant must show (minimum items)

• Complete variance application form and fee; include plans and narrative per Common Procedures § 18.27.x. Not found in retrieved materials: full application form. Verify with the Planning Division.
• For a variance: evidence and data demonstrating the required findings in § 18.32.040 (exceptional circumstances, not a special privilege, no harm to public health/safety, consistency with General Plan/title).
• For a waiver: demonstrate the relief requested is dimensional, identify the precise standard(s) (setbacks, parking dimensions, fences, lot coverage, height, landscaping, etc.) and whether relief exceeds 10%; if so, document the reasonable accommodation basis. See § 18.33.020 and § 18.33.040.
• Site plans and elevations showing existing and proposed conditions and quantifying the requested deviation from the standard (setbacks, height, coverage, parking stalls/aisle widths, etc.). Common Procedures require supporting evidence. See § 18.32.030(C) and § 18.27.x.
• If relying on reasonable accommodation (disability/fair housing), include documentation about the protected person/needs and why the accommodation is necessary; the Director must make additional findings per § 18.33.040(E).
• If a waiver is requested to alter parking geometry, reference the parking standards and explain impacts; waivers may cover parking dimensional standards per § 18.33.020(C). Link the first mention to the city's Parking guidance.
• Expect conditions of approval and the possibility of appeal under § 18.27.150.

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain-English Summary

If your property’s shape, slope, or other physical feature makes the city's dimensional rules unfair, you can request a variance (public hearing before the Planning & Transportation Commission) if you meet the findings in § 18.32.040, or you can ask the Director for a limited waiver (usually up to 10%) under § 18.33.020 — waivers may be larger only for verified reasonable‑accommodation needs. Both tools are meant to fix dimensional issues, not to allow uses the zone forbids.

Source References

• San Carlos Municipal Code — Chapter 18.32 (Variances): § 18.32.010–.080.
• San Carlos Municipal Code — Chapter 18.33 (Waivers): § 18.33.010–.060.
• San Carlos Municipal Code — Common Procedures, Applications, Appeals, and Zoning Clearance (§ 18.27.x, § 18.28.x) — application and appeal routing referenced in variance/waiver chapters.
• San Carlos Municipal Code — Definitions including “Variance” (§ 18.16.x).
• Table 18.15.080: Allowed Building Projections into Required Yards (references RS-3, RS-6, projections): § 18.15.080.
• MU district figures and height/stepback notes (Figure 18.05.030-D, § 18.05.030).
• Unconstitutional-taking reductions/waivers language (affordable housing waivers and Council authority): § 18.16.130(B).
• California Building Code (referred to in projections/conflicts): 2025 California Building Code excerpt (for code interplay and floodplain variance principles; referenced by San Carlos code where applicable).

Retrieved passages

• San Carlos Zoning Code (chapter requires) High relevance show source text
• San Carlos Zoning Code (title subject) High relevance show source text
• San Carlos Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance show source text
• San Carlos Zoning Code (chapter would) High relevance show source text
• San Carlos Zoning Code (Chapter 18.32) High relevance show source text
• CBC § G107 (SECTION G107) Medium relevance show source text
• San Carlos Zoning Code (§ 4) Medium relevance show source text
• San Carlos Zoning Code (title or) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• San Carlos Municipal Code — Chapter **18.32** (Variances): **§ 18.32.010–.080**. (§ 18.32.010)
• San Carlos Municipal Code — Chapter **18.33** (Waivers): **§ 18.33.010–.060**. (§ 18.33.010)
• San Carlos Municipal Code — Common Procedures, Applications, Appeals, and Zoning Clearance (**§ 18.27.x**, **§ 18.28.x**) — application and appeal routing referenced in variance/waiver chapters. (§ 18.27.x)
• San Carlos Municipal Code — Definitions including “Variance” (**§ 18.16.x**). (§ 18.16.x)
• Table 18.15.080: Allowed Building Projections into Required Yards (references **RS-3**, **RS-6**, projections): **§ 18.15.080**. (§ 18.15.080)
• MU district figures and height/stepback notes (Figure **18.05.030-D**, **§ 18.05.030**). (§ 18.05.030)
• Unconstitutional-taking reductions/waivers language (affordable housing waivers and Council authority): **§ 18.16.130(B)**. (§ 18.16.130)
• California Building Code (referred to in projections/conflicts): 2025 California Building Code excerpt (for code interplay and floodplain variance principles; referenced by San Carlos code where applicable).
• SanCarlos_ZoningCode.md
• 2025 California Building Code.md

• Official San Carlos code library