Local jurisdiction · Los Angeles County
San Marino Zoning, Planning & Building Codes
What you can build in San Marino depends on its local zoning and planning code, layered on the California Building Standards Code. Ask GoCodebook about any San Marino address.
Key points
Last reviewed: July 3, 2026
Overview
San Marino's local zoning law is codified as the ZONING CODE OF THE CITY OF SAN MARINO (Chapter XXIII), which organizes the city's land‑use rules into zone articles, development standards, and procedural articles for permits, design review, and enforcement (short title and purpose § 23.01.02; purpose § 23.01.03) . The Code establishes the city's actual zone map and a connected set of area districts that calibrate lot‑level standards (see § 23.01.05 and yard/zone map adoption § 23.01.07) . This page explains how the San Marino code is organized, the districts that shape permitted uses, the main citywide standards you’ll see (setbacks, height, lot coverage, parking), the review/permit paths, and how state housing laws (ADUs, two‑unit/SB‑9 pathways, density bonus) are implemented locally — all tied to the controlling local code citations.
How San Marino's code is organized
- The municipal zoning ordinance is called the Zoning Code of the City of San Marino (§ 23.01.02) and opens with definitions and purpose statements (§ 23.01.01–§ 23.01.04) that orient the rest of the chapter .
- The Code is divided into zone articles (for example ARTICLE 02 R‑1 Single‑Family Dwelling Zone and ARTICLE 03 C‑1 Commercial Zone) and technical articles (e.g., development standards, design review, parking, ADU rules). The establishment of zones and area districts is at § 23.01.05 and the zone and yard maps are adopted by § 23.01.07 .
- Procedural rules (appeals, conditional use, variances, ministerial vs discretionary review) are distributed through the chapter: e.g., design review procedural and submittal requirements are in § 23.15.12–23.15.13; by‑right / ministerial plan permit processes for qualifying housing are in Article 23.23 (notably § 23.23.03–23.23.06) .
- If you want the official zoning classification for a parcel or the yard map, consult the zone and yard maps adopted pursuant to § 23.01.05 and § 23.01.07 (these maps are the controlling graphic references) .
(First mention links: San Marino Zoning, San Marino Development Standards, San Marino Parking, San Marino Design Review, San Marino Overlay Districts, San Marino ADUs, California Building Standards Code)
Zoning district families
San Marino uses named zone types (and area districts that set minimum lot/area expectations). The primary zone families shown in the Code are:
- R‑1 — Single‑Family Dwelling Zone (principal single‑family regulations and cross‑references to ADU rules) § 23.02.01 .
- RM1 — Multi‑Family Residential Zone and RIH — Religious Institution Housing Zone, each with their own permitted‑use tables and multi‑family standards (§ 23.20.02; multi‑family standards § 23.20.03) .
- C‑1 — Commercial Zone, which is where neighborhood commercial and permitted multi‑family over/adjacent uses are regulated (§ 23.03.01 and specific objective standards for multi‑family in the C‑1 at § 23.03.10) .
- MU‑1 / MU‑2 — Mixed‑Use Zones, P&R — Park & Recreational Zone, and H&C — Historical & Cultural Zone, which are explicitly listed among the zones established by the code (§ 23.01.05) .
- The Code also layers an area‑district system (IE, I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII) that sets maximum lot coverage and livable‑area percentages tied to district (see § 23.02.10 and related articles) .
All of the above are defined and cross‑referenced in the chapter’s use tables and zone articles (see § 23.01.01 definitions and § 23.01.05 establishing the zones) .
Citywide development standards (how the big numbers work)
- Lot coverage and livable‑area limits are set by the area‑district tables; the maximum gross lot coverage and livable area percentages by district are in § 23.02.10 and increased limits for larger lots are at § 23.02.11 (corner‑lot special rules in § 23.02.12) .
- Setbacks and yard rules are enforced via the official yard requirement map and the yard provisions within each article (see adoption of yard maps § 23.01.05 and yard‑related provisions throughout Article 02) . ADU‑specific setback exceptions (side/rear 4 ft for most ADUs; converted ADUs may have no additional setback) appear in the ADU rules § 23.02.25 (ADU standards subsection H) .
- Height limits are set per zone; for example the C‑1 maximum building height is 30 feet (§ 23.03.02) and separate height rules for ADUs (detached ADU typical max 16 ft, with conditional increases per state‑law allowances) live inside the ADU section § 23.02.25.H .
- Floor‑area and density: multi‑family density ceilings for C‑1 multi‑family are specified (e.g., 20 dwelling units per acre in the C‑1 multi‑family objective standards § 23.03.10.03), and the Code contains supplemental multi‑family objective design standards in § 23.20.03 and § 23.03.10 .
- Parking requirements are prescribed by use (restaurant, retail, office, etc.) with special rules for Huntington Drive and Mission Street; the baseline standards and special exceptions are located in the parking article and tables (see the parking use standards and restaurant/retail rules referencing § 23.10.03) — notable ADU parking exceptions are in the ADU article where one ADU parking space is required except in defined circumstances (e.g., within 0.5‑mile of transit, historic district, part of the primary dwelling, etc.) § 23.02.25.H.16 . (First mention link: San Marino Parking.)
Design and discretionary review
- Design review is a central procedural control for building additions and new residences; submittal content and timelines are in § 23.15.13 and the effective/appeal timing for decisions is in § 23.15.12 (DRC/Planning Commission actions become effective 15 days after decision unless appealed) .
- The Code requires objective design standards for certain ministerial projects and refers to design standards in multiple places: for housing by‑right review the director must find compliance with objective design standards (see § 23.23.06 referencing § 23.15.16 standards) . (First mention link: San Marino Design Review.)
- Documentation lists and required plan contents for design review are explicit (plot plans, elevations, landscape plans, materials) in § 23.15.13 so applicants can prepare a complete submission and avoid delays .
Specific plans & overlays
- The Code includes a Historical & Cultural (H&C) zone for properties with historic/cultural significance (zone listed in § 23.01.05 and used elsewhere for ADU/parking exceptions) but a formal “specific plan” or named area plan was not located in the retrieved materials. The existence of a distinct H&C zone and references to historic districts (e.g., ADU parking exceptions for historic districts) are in the Code (§ 23.01.05; ADU exceptions § 23.02.25.H.16.c) .
- For local overlay district descriptions beyond the H&C label, the retrieved materials do not present a separate “overlay districts” article with unique titles; confirm with the City for any adopted specific plans or overlays not found in the retrieved code (Not found in retrieved materials — verify with the jurisdiction). (First mention link: San Marino Overlay Districts; San Marino Historic Preservation.)
Building permits & review path — practical orientation
- Small‑scale work that meets objective standards is processed ministerially: the Community Development Director may issue ministerial plan permits without hearing when an application meets the Code’s objective standards (§ 23.23.01–23.23.06). Eligible by‑right housing projects listed by the Code can receive a ministerial plan permit and are exempt from CEQA per the local ministerial article (§ 23.23.03–23.23.06) .
- Typical path for most home projects: prepare plans per the design‑review submittal list (§ 23.15.13), file with Planning and Building as required, obtain design review approval if the project is discretionary, then obtain building permits (the Code requires building permits for many regulated features; e.g., recreational courts require a CUP and building permit § 23.02.05) .
- ADUs: the ADU rules require concurrent submittal to Planning and Building and set a ministerial approval timeline (ADU applications that meet the section’s standards must be approved ministerially and within 60 days after a complete application) § 23.02.25.D–C; some small ADUs are exempt from planning review and may proceed directly to building permits per § 23.02.25.G . (First mention link: San Marino ADUs; First mention link for state building code: California Building Standards Code.)
- Applications not meeting objective standards will trigger discretionary review: design review, conditional use permit, or variance as applicable (see cross references in the ADU section and in the procedural articles — e.g., application that does not conform to ADU specific standards must go through design review/CUP/variance § 23.02.25.D.3) .
State housing law in San Marino — summary and local implementation
San Marino’s code integrates—and defers to—California housing statutes in several places. Key local implementations:
- ADUs / JADUs: The City’s ADU article implements state ADU law: many ADUs are ministerial; certain ADU types are exempt from planning review per Government Code § 66323; concrete ADU size, setback, height, parking, and approval timelines are codified in § 23.02.25 (see subsections G (process), H (development standards), and related subsections) . (First mention link: California ADU law.)
- Two‑unit / SB‑9 / duplex pathways: the Code contains a two‑unit residential development process and specific requirements for two‑unit approvals (see references to two‑unit residential development and the requirements at § 23.02.33 and related two‑unit covenant requirement before building permit issuance) — the code also addresses urban lot splits in Chapter 22 (see cross‑references) § 23.02.33 and Chapter 22 Article 02 .
- Density bonus and incentives: Requests under State Density Bonus Law must be processed concurrently with the planning application and follow the state timelines; the City’s density bonus procedures and required findings are set out in the density bonus article (§ 23.22.03) and the City requires the staff report to address density bonus eligibility and documentation (§ 23.22.03.A–B) .
- By‑right housing approvals / state site inventory: The Code creates a local by‑right review path for housing projects meeting state criteria (Article 23.23); eligibility, ministerial permit requirements, and findings for by‑right approvals are in § 23.23.01–23.23.06 (including required affordability set‑asides and site inventory APN references) .
- Local rent control / eviction limits: no general rent‑control ordinance or citywide tenant protection provision was found in the retrieved zoning chapter; verify with the City Clerk or Municipal Code if you need rent‑control / eviction ordinance text (Not found in retrieved materials — verify with the jurisdiction).
Information gaps you should confirm with the City
- Specific named "specific plans" or area plans (beyond zone definitions and H&C) were not present in the retrieved zoning chapter — confirm whether the City has separate adopted specific plans or neighborhood plans outside Chapter XXIII (Not found in retrieved materials) .
- A consolidated, printable zone & yard map as adopted by the City (the Code requires adoption § 23.01.07) should be requested from the Planning Division for parcel‑specific verification § 23.01.07 .
- For up‑to‑date local amendments, recent ordinances cited in the code show many updates through 2024 (see ordinance history footers for each section); always confirm with the City’s Planning Division that you have the latest consolidated code § 23.01.01 (definitions and ordinance amendment notes) .
Source References
- San Marino Zoning Code (Chapter XXIII, Zoning and Development): key short title, purpose, and zone list (§ 23.01.01–23.01.07) — /us/california/san-marino/zoning
- R‑1 zone and ADU cross references (Accessory dwelling units governed by § 23.02.25) — /us/california/san-marino/land-use
- Lot coverage, area district tables (§ 23.02.10–23.02.12) and other development limits — /us/california/san-marino/development-standards
- C‑1 zone uses and C‑1 multi‑family objective standards (§ 23.03.01, § 23.03.10) — /us/california/san-marino/land-use
- ADU rules (process, development standards, parking exceptions) (§ 23.02.25, subsections G & H) — /us/california/san-marino/adu
- Parking use standards and special Huntington/Mission District rules (references to § 23.10.03) — /us/california/san-marino/parking
- Design review submittal and decision timing (§ 23.15.12–23.15.13) — /us/california/san-marino/design-review
- By‑right / ministerial plan permit and housing‑by‑right eligibility (§ 23.23.01–23.23.06) — /us/california/san-marino/land-use
- Density bonus application and process (§ 23.22.03) — /us/california/housing-laws
- For state code context referenced repeatedly in the ADU rules, consult the California Building Standards Code and state ADU law (see local ADU cross‑references to Government Code sections) — /us/california/building-codes
Where to read the San Marino code
The San Marino municipal and zoning code is published on American Legal Publishing — view the official San Marino code library. That lets you read the ordinance section by section.
GoCodebook goes beyond browsing American Legal Publishing (see how they compare): it reads the San Marino ordinance together with the California Building Standards Code and answers your question — zoning, setbacks, FAR, height, ADUs, permits — with the controlling citation for your parcel.
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
What zoning districts does San Marino use?
San Marino establishes several named zones: R‑1 (Single‑Family Dwelling), C‑1 (Commercial), RM1 (Multi‑Family Residential), RIH (Religious Institution Housing), MU‑1/MU‑2 (Mixed‑Use 1/2), P&R (Park & Recreational), and H&C (Historical & Cultural); those zone types and the area‑district system (IE, I–VII) are established in § 23.01.05 of the Code .
Where are the city’s lot coverage, livable area and area‑district rules?
Lot coverage and livable‑area percentage tables by area district are in § 23.02.10; increased limits for larger lots are in § 23.02.11, and corner‑lot special rules appear in § 23.02.12 .
Do ADUs require planning approval in San Marino?
ADU approvals are largely ministerial when applications meet the standards of the ADU article (§ 23.02.25). Some ADUs are exempt from a Planning ADU Application and may proceed to building permit (see subsection G(1) for exempt types); otherwise the Director reviews ministerially and must act within the state timeline (the Code ties to the 60‑day timeline) § 23.02.25.G–D .
What parking requirement applies to an ADU?
The ADU article requires one off‑street parking space per ADU except where an exception applies (e.g., within one‑half mile of public transit, within a historic district, part of the primary dwelling, or other enumerated exceptions) — see § 23.02.25.H.16 for the full list of parking exceptions and conditions .
Does San Marino have a ministerial/by‑right housing path?
Yes: the City added a by‑right / ministerial plan permit article for qualifying housing projects (Article 23.23). Eligibility rules and ministerial permit processing (including required findings) are in § 23.23.03–23.23.06, and those provisions explicitly defer to state law when there is a conflict § 23.23.02 .
Where are design review rules and what do I submit?
Design review submittal requirements and required documentation (plot plan, elevations, materials, landscape) are set out in § 23.15.13; decision effective/appeal timing is in § 23.15.12 (decisions become effective 15 days after action if no appeal) .
Can I build a multi‑family project in the C‑1 zone and what limits apply?
Multi‑family development is permitted in C‑1 under the C‑1 multi‑family objective standards; the Code sets maximum density (20 units/acre), a 30‑ft height limit, and 60% lot coverage for multi‑family in the C‑1 in the multi‑family objective standards (§ 23.03.10.03–.06) .
Are there special parking rules along Huntington Drive and Mission Street?
Yes. The Code treats properties on Huntington Drive and Mission Street differently for parking requirements for restaurants, retail and other uses — see the parking tables and Huntington/Mission exceptions and conditional‑use triggers in the parking article (referencing § 23.10.03 and zone articles) .
Does San Marino have rent control in the zoning code?
A citywide rent‑control ordinance or tenant‑protection provisions were not found in the retrieved Chapter XXIII zoning materials; the zoning chapter does not substitute for separate municipal regulations on rent control or eviction protections (Not found in retrieved materials — verify with the City) .
How does the state density bonus work here?
San Marino requires that density‑bonus requests be applied for and reviewed concurrently with the planning application; the City staff report must document compliance and the processing follows state timelines and procedures as set out in § 23.22.03 (the Code cross‑references Government Code density‑bonus provisions) .
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