Woodside — Land Use

Last reviewed: July 3, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes what the Town of Woodside's zoning ordinance (the local Title 17 / municipal zoning provisions captured in the uploaded code) actually says about permitted uses, conditional uses, and the land‑use/use‑table structure for each zoning district. It focuses strictly on land‑use rules (what uses are allowed where, what uses require a use permit, and the district-by-district development constraints that control use intensity). For administrative procedures (building code, permits, housing law) see the linked pages below — this page stays within the zoning text. See the Town's general zoning overview and code for background: Woodside zoning & planning overview and Woodside Zoning.

How the Woodside code organizes land use (short)

• Use permissions are organized by zoning district: some uses are Permitted (Principal), some are Conditional (use permit required), and some are Accessory; open‑space districts have separate B‑tables of uses. The open space tables are published as Table B‑1/B‑2/B‑3 under § 153.108.
• The ordinance also sets district‑wide rules that apply in all districts (conformity, setbacks, limits on grading/vegetation) in § 153.202 and § 153.203.
• Conditional uses and the use‑permit process and findings are in § 153.921–153.930 (purpose and application rules) and application requirements in § 153.922.

District-by-district breakdown (purpose, typical permitted uses, key dimensional/use controls, where it applies)

Note: the ordinance uses many district codes (residential, special conservation, open space, commercial, multi‑family). Below are the districts most relevant to residential land‑use decisions in Woodside, with the code location(s) shown after each major rule.

R-1 (Residential)

• Purpose: standard single‑family residential district intended to preserve low‑intensity rural/residential character and limit building scale. See the R‑1 definitions and TFA (maximum residence size) rules in § 153.206.
• Typical permitted uses: single‑family residence (principal), customary accessory uses (garages, private stables where allowed), limited agriculture and domestic animals where specifically listed; accessory dwelling units (ADUs) are regulated in § 153.211.
• Conditional uses: larger institutional or community facilities, certain commercial‑type uses, stables/kennels beyond the accessory thresholds — conditional use list and process: § 153.921–153.930.
• Key dimensional/use standards: maximum residence size formulas and exceptions in § 153.206 (e.g., TFA limits and exception process), paved area and surface coverage limits via Table J‑1 (R‑1 paved/surface coverage rules), and setbacks/height tables (see § 153.207 for setbacks and § 153.208/Table I‑1 for heights).
• Where it applies: the mapped R‑1 parcels in the Town zoning map (verify parcel zoning with the Town). Verify with the jurisdiction.

SR (Suburban Residential)

• Purpose & uses: similar to R‑1 but intended for slightly different lot sizes/density (see district maps and Table G/Tables J). Permitted and conditional uses follow the same treatment as R‑1 unless explicitly different in the tables; maximum residence sizes and paved area tables have SR rows/entries. See § 153.206 and Tables J‑series.

RR (Rural Residential)

• Purpose & uses: lower density / larger‑lot residential, often allowing equestrian and agricultural accessory uses where listed. Paved area, maximum residence sizes, and equestrian exceptions are described in the development standards (see the paved area exceptions and equestrian exception criteria in § 153.211 and related development standards).

SCP‑5, SCP‑7.5, SCP‑10 (Special Conservation Planning)

• Purpose: preserve important open space features while allowing limited residential/complementary uses; site‑specific constraints and exceptions apply. Building, paved area, and exception rules for these special conservation districts are in the development standards sections (see Tables J‑series and exception lists).

Open Space districts: OSH, OSRL, OSRM, OSN, OSM

• Purpose: preserve open space for public safety, recreation, habitat, resource production, etc. The code publishes dedicated use tables: TABLE B‑1 (Permitted Uses), TABLE B‑2 (Conditional Uses), and TABLE B‑3 (Accessory Uses) under § 153.108. Typical permitted uses include limited agricultural uses, trails (where approved), conservation easements, utility service structures where necessary. Conditional uses include larger farm operations, reservoirs, certain public utilities, and other uses determined to be consistent by the Planning Commission. See § 153.108 and the B‑tables for exact per‑district X marks.
• Key limits: open‑space districts emphasize preservation; the code limits new structures and dispersal, and grants the Planning Commission authority to restrict structures to replacements or limited new buildings (§ 153.202(I)).

CC (Community Commercial)

• Purpose: small‑scale commercial uses serving local needs. Building coverage limits (e.g., 20% maximum building coverage, Table K) and special Town Center height rules are in § 153.210 and § 153.208/Table I‑3. Design/concept rules for Planned Community Commercial District overlays are in § 153.109.

MF, MF‑20, MFRZ (Multi‑Family)

• Purpose: multi‑family housing districts; permitted uses are primarily residential apartments/multi‑unit dwellings, with accessory and limited institutional uses defined in the zoning tables. See the zoning tables and Table I height limitations for MF districts. Verify the exact permitted/conditional use matrix for the particular MF subzone on the Town's zoning map. Not all MF‑variants are identical; check the specific district table. Not found in retrieved materials: an explicit consolidated "A‑table" for all residential permitted uses in one place (the code splits uses by district/tables).

Quick decision‑relevant table (sample of permitted uses & standards)

How permitted vs conditional uses work (practical guidance)

• If a use is marked as Permitted in the district table you may pursue it subject to development standards and required permits (e.g., building permit). See the district tables and § 153.202 for the requirement that land uses conform to the district.
• If a use is listed as Conditional, you must obtain a use permit (Planning Commission review). The ordinance explains purposes and the application/details for use permits in § 153.921–153.922 and the supporting application requirements in § 153.922.
• Accessory uses (garages, private stables within stated limits, private signage subject to sign rules) are allowed only when the district table or accessory rules specifically allow them — see the accessory tables (e.g., TABLE B‑3) and accessory dwelling unit rules in § 153.211.

Intersecting rules you must check before assuming a use is allowed

• Conformity and cross‑district limits: § 153.202(A–I) requires conformity with district regulations, and accessory uses cannot convert a principal permitted use into an unpermitted use.
• Vegetation, grading, and natural‑state restrictions apply before establishing a principal or conditional use (§ 153.203(B)) — you cannot clear vegetation or grade prior to permits or authorizations.
• ADU-specific waivers and parking rules are handled in § 153.211 (including a one‑space per ADU rule and listed parking waivers) — check § 153.211 before relying on parking assumptions. For parking rules generally see the Town's parking chapter and Woodside Parking.

First mention links in this paragraph: Woodside Development Standards, Woodside Design Review, Woodside Overlay Districts, Woodside ADUs, and California Building Standards Code.

Checklist (what an applicant must satisfy before pursuing a new use or change of use)

• Confirm the parcel's zoning district on the Town zoning map and review the relevant district table (R‑1, SR, RR, SCP, OS*, CC, MF). Verify with the jurisdiction.
• Verify whether the desired activity is Permitted, Conditional, or Accessory in that district (consult TABLE B‑1/B‑2/B‑3 for open space; consult the district tables and definitions for others).
• If Conditional, prepare a use permit application per § 153.922 (site plans, findings, fees).
• Check dimensional standards: setbacks (§ 153.207), heights (Table I / § 153.208), building coverage (Table K / § 153.210), paved area and surface coverage (Tables J‑series).
• Confirm ADU parking or waiver rules in § 153.211 if the project involves an accessory dwelling. Also coordinate parking calculations with Woodside Parking.
• Expect design or site review for many residential and commercial projects; follow the Town's design review standards and process (Woodside Design Review).
• Check overlays (scenic corridors, Town Center PCCD rules, historic overlays) that may further limit uses or dimensions (Woodside Overlay Districts).

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain-English Summary

Woodside's zoning ordinance spells out, by district, what you can and cannot do: many rural/residential districts (like R‑1, SR, RR, SCP variants) allow single‑family homes and modest accessory uses by right, open‑space districts (like OSH, OSRL, OSRM, OSN, OSM) are tightly limited with use matrices in § 153.108, and anything listed as "conditional" requires a use permit and Planning Commission review under § 153.921–153.922. Always check the district tables, the TFA / coverage / paved area tables, and the ADU/parking rules before assuming a use is allowed.

Source References

• Woodside municipal zoning/development standards (uploaded code file): see general development rules § 153.200–153.210 and related tables (development standards, building coverage Table K):
• Open Space districts and use tables (TABLE B‑1/B‑2/B‑3) and § 153.108:
• Conformity and required conditions for all zoning districts (§ 153.202, § 153.203):
• Maximum residence size / Table G / exception rules (§ 153.206):
• Conditional use purposes and application requirements (§ 153.921–153.922):
• ADU rules and parking waivers (§ 153.211):
• Height tables and district height rules (Table I‑1/I‑2/I‑3; reference to § 153.208):
• Paved area / surface coverage limits (Table J‑series, Table J‑1 for R‑1):

(If you need hyperlinks to the original ordinance pages online or the Town map, request them and I’ll retrieve URLs; verify parcel zoning and any recent amendments with Town planning staff — code citations above refer to the uploaded municipal code excerpts provided.)

Retrieved passages

• Woodside Zoning Code (§ 9-2.801) High relevance show source text
• Woodside Zoning Code (§ 9-2.803) High relevance show source text
• Woodside Zoning Code (§ 9-2.201) High relevance show source text
• Woodside Zoning Code (§ 153.501) High relevance show source text
• Woodside Zoning Code (chapter for) High relevance show source text
• Woodside Zoning Code (chapter only) Medium relevance show source text
• Woodside Zoning Code (Section 115.12.) Medium relevance show source text
• Woodside Zoning Code (§ 153.501) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Woodside municipal zoning/development standards (uploaded code file): see general development rules **§ 153.200–153.210** and related tables (development standards, building coverage Table K): (§ 153.200)
• Open Space districts and use tables (TABLE B‑1/B‑2/B‑3) and **§ 153.108**: (§ 153.108)
• Conformity and required conditions for all zoning districts (**§ 153.202**, **§ 153.203**): (§ 153.202)
• Maximum residence size / Table G / exception rules (**§ 153.206**): (§ 153.206)
• Conditional use purposes and application requirements (**§ 153.921–153.922**): (§ 153.921)
• ADU rules and parking waivers (**§ 153.211**): (§ 153.211)
• Height tables and district height rules (Table I‑1/I‑2/I‑3; reference to **§ 153.208**): (§ 153.208)
• Paved area / surface coverage limits (Table J‑series, Table J‑1 for **R‑1**):
• Woodside_ZoningCode.md

• Official Woodside code library