San Rafael · Land use · Church or place of worship
Where is a church or other place of worship allowed in San Rafael?
In San Rafael, a church or other place of worship is needs a conditional use permit in 13 (R, DR, MR, HR, PD and 8 more, 2 with a condition) and not allowed in 2 (San Rafael use tables, read October 2026).
Key points
- Needs a permit: R, DR, MR, HR, PD, GC, NC, O and 5 more
- Not allowed: FBWC and I
Find your lot's zone on the city zoning map, then read its row. Every status below was read from the San Rafael Municipal Code use tables (read October 2026). Base zones only. General information, not legal advice — check with the city before you apply.
Zones where a church or other place of worship can go
San Rafael's code calls this use “Religious institutions”. Each row links to the use table it comes from. A zone marked “see note” has a condition in the code, for example upper floors only or a larger lot.
| Zone | Status | Code |
|---|---|---|
| R | Needs a conditional use permit — see note Note *: Prohibited in R2a, R1a and PD-hillside districts, and R20 hillside residential lots. | § 14.04.020 |
| DR | Needs a conditional use permit | § 14.04.020 |
| MR | Needs a conditional use permit | § 14.04.020 |
| HR | Needs a conditional use permit | § 14.04.020 |
| PD Planned Development | Needs a conditional use permit — see note Note *: Prohibited in R2a, R1a and PD districts, and R20 hillside residential lots. Note PD: No use other than an existing use or a temporary use is permitted in a PD district except in accord with a valid development plan (14.07.020 A). | § 14.04.020 |
| GC | Needs a conditional use permit | § 14.05.020 |
| NC | Needs a conditional use permit | § 14.05.020 |
| O | Needs a conditional use permit | § 14.05.020 |
| C/O | Needs a conditional use permit | § 14.05.020 |
| R/O | Needs a conditional use permit | § 14.05.020 |
| LI/O | Needs a conditional use permit | § 14.06.020 |
| CCI/O | Needs a conditional use permit | § 14.06.020 |
| LMU | Needs a conditional use permit | § 14.06.020 |
Zones where it is not allowed
What else applies
- State law: Federal law (RLUIPA) bars zoning rules that treat religious assembly worse than other assembly uses.
- Not covered here: DMU (Downtown Mixed Use): S3 says all land use regulations are in the Downtown San Rafael Precise Plan Form-Based Code, not in the packet.. Overlay zones and specific plans can also change the answer.
Other uses in San Rafael
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I have a church or other place of worship in the R zone in San Rafael?
Only with a conditional use permit. San Rafael's use table lists it that way in R (§ 14.04.020). The code adds a condition: “Prohibited in R2a, R1a and PD-hillside districts, and R20 hillside residential lots.”
Can I have a church or other place of worship in the FBWC zone in San Rafael?
No. San Rafael's use table does not allow it in FBWC (Francisco Boulevard West Commercial) (§ 14.05.020).
General information, not legal advice.
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