Woodside — Zoning

Last reviewed: July 3, 2026

Overview

Woodside’s zoning law is codified as Chapter 153 of the Town code (commonly known as the Town’s zoning ordinance). It consists of a zoning map and district regulations that control permitted uses, densities, height, bulk, setback, and resource protection for each district. The official zoning map is incorporated by reference and kept on file with the Planning Department; where boundaries are unclear the code provides rules and an administrative procedure to resolve them. § 153.003, § 153.103, § 153.104 .

Note: links below point to related topical pages in this Woodside reference set: for site development rules see Woodside Development Standards; for design procedures see Woodside Design Review; for parking requirements see Woodside Parking; for overlay rules see Woodside Overlay Districts; for accessory units see Woodside ADUs; and the state code is the California Building Standards Code.

How Woodside organizes zoning (quick legal anchors)

• The zoning ordinance is Chapter 153 (the “Zoning Law of the Town of Woodside”). § 153.001–153.005 establish scope, purpose and key definitions (including “Accessory Dwelling Unit”). § 153.002, § 153.005 .
• The official “Zoning Map, Town of Woodside” is incorporated by reference as § 153.103 and maintained for public inspection at Town Hall. § 153.103 .
• Zoning district boundaries and how to resolve ambiguities are governed by § 153.104. § 153.104 .
• The code contains general rules that apply in every district (grading, vegetation, runoff, sight distances, and other site conditions) in § 153.203. § 153.203 .

District-by-district guide (purpose, typical uses, key standards, where it applies)

The ordinance expressly lists the Town’s district designations and then provides district-specific standards. The classifications are described in § 153.102. § 153.102 .

Below are the principal districts the code uses (each district name is shown in bold as it appears in the code). Where the code provides a district-specific standard I cite the controlling section.

SCP — Special Conservation Planning

• Purpose: Designed for lands identified in the General Plan as environmentally constrained (“problem areas”) — steep slopes, geologic hazards, poor access — to reduce human densities and implement General Plan constraints. § 153.102 .
• Typical permitted uses: Low-density residential and conservation-compatible uses (the code treats SCP as a special rural residential classification). § 153.102 .
• Key standards: Minimum lot sizes in SCP are identified as five acres, 7½ acres, or ten acres depending on constraints; slope-sensitive density rules (slope-density adjustments) reference § 153.414. § 153.102, § 153.414 .
• Where it applies: Parcels mapped to SCP on the Town zoning map; boundary questions follow § 153.104. § 153.103–153.104 .

RR — Rural Residential

• Purpose: Maintain rural character with large-lot, low-density residential uses. § 153.002, § 153.102 .
• Typical permitted uses: Single-family residences and equestrian uses; some accessory structures related to residential uses. (Detailed permitted-use lists are in district-specific subsections; the general purpose language is in § 153.002.) § 153.002 .
• Key standards: Maximum residence sizes for RR when exceptions apply are stated in the code (example: RR exceptions allow up to 8,800 sq. ft. main residence under the exception rules); setback increases for very large parcels are included in the exception rules. See § 153.206 (Table G and the exception rules). § 153.206 .
• Where it applies: RR parcels shown on the zoning map. § 153.103 .

SR — Suburban Residential

• Purpose: Preserve lower-density suburban residential character (intermediate between R-1 and RR). § 153.002, § 153.102 .
• Typical uses: Single-family homes with accessory structures; home occupations subject to special rules. § 153.111 (home occupations) .
• Key standards: Maximum residence sizing and TFA rules are governed by Table G / § 153.206 (SR exception limits in Table G). § 153.206 .
• Where it applies: SR parcels on the zoning map. § 153.103 .

R-1 — Residential (Single-Family)

• Purpose: Preserve primarily single-family character and limit inharmonious intrusions. § 153.002 .
• Typical uses: Single-family dwellings, accessory buildings, accessory dwelling units (ADUs). ADUs are defined and regulated (see § 153.005 and the ADU chapter § 153.211). § 153.005, § 153.211 .
• Key standards: Maximum main-residence floor area (TFA) calculations and exception rules for R-1 are in Table G and § 153.206 (e.g., for lots under 20,000 sq. ft. up to ~3,000 sq. ft. TFA; larger lots up to 4,200 sq. ft. with formula limits). § 153.206 . Height and setback rules are set in the development standards portion of the code (see § 153.208 for height and Table H referenced for setbacks — Table H text not located in the retrieved excerpt). § 153.208 .
• Where it applies: R-1 parcels on the Town zoning map. § 153.103 .

MF, MF-20, and MFRZ — Multi-Family Residential and Multi-Family Rezoned Sites

• Purpose: Provide district rules for multi-family development, including several special multi-family site overlays (MFRZ applies to Cañada College sites and other specific parcels). § 153.110 (MF development standards) .
• Typical uses: Multi-family housing, subject to MF development standards and objective design standards for certain sites. § 153.110 .
• Key standards: Density is defined by § 153.102; MF and MFRZ developments must meet the MF development standards in § 153.110 (landscape buffers adjacent to single-family zones, garbage enclosures, lighting, utility screening, driveway limits, slope exceptions, and fire safety/evacuation plans). Notably, multi-family development may occur on slopes over 35% without a variance, and 10-foot landscape buffers are required next to single-family zones. § 153.110 .
• Where it applies: MF, MF-20, and specific MFRZ parcels as shown on the zoning map; some MFRZ/MF sites have additional objective design standards adopted by Council. § 153.110 .

CC — Community Commercial and PCCD — Planned Community Commercial

• Purpose: Allow community-level commercial uses while controlling scale and preserving character; PCCD provides a mechanism for site-specific planned commercial projects under Council review. § 153.102, § 153.109 (PCCD details) .
• Typical uses: Retail, offices, and services appropriate to community center settings; PCCD allows negotiated design and public benefits for larger projects. § 153.109 .
• Key standards: Height and building coverage carry special rules for the CCD (Community Commercial): building coverage limit of 20% in the CC (Table K in § 153.210) and detailed height limits for locations near Woodside Road and Highway 35 in § 153.208 (Table I-3 and CCD Map references). In the Town Center, buildings facing Woodside Road are restricted to one story in many cases. § 153.210, § 153.208 .
• Where it applies: Parcels mapped CC or PCCD on the zoning map; PCCD requires project-specific rules and public hearings. § 153.103, § 153.961–153.963 (rezoning/amendment procedures) .

Open Space Series — OSH, OSRL, OSRM, OSN, OSM

• Purpose: Protect open-space lands for health/safety, low- to medium-intensity recreation, natural-resource preservation, or managed production. See the Open Space district list and definitions. § 153.102, Open space definitions in § 153.005. § 153.102, § 153.005 .
• Typical uses: Trails, low-intensity recreation, resource management, limited structures as allowed by each OS subtype. § 153.005 .
• Key standards: Open-space district height limits are specifically tabulated (Table I-2) and allow different plate/overall heights and special allowances for barns, stables and equestrian arenas; accessory-structure plate height and ADU-over-garage exceptions are spelled out. § 153.208, Table I-2 and related notes (open-space height tables). § 153.208, § 153.211 .
• Where it applies: Parcels labeled OS* on the zoning map. § 153.103 .

Decision-relevant quick reference table

This table pulls together the most commonly checked rules an applicant will need early in project planning. Each row cites the controlling code provision.

Checklist

An applicant should confirm and provide the following before pursuing design or building permits:

• Verify the parcel’s zoning district on the Town’s official zoning map (on file with Planning). § 153.103 .
• Confirm exact zoning district boundary rules and, if the boundary is unclear, request the Planning Commission determination per § 153.104. § 153.104 .
• Check district‑specific development standards: maximum residence size (Table G / § 153.206), height (§ 153.208), and building coverage (§ 153.210). § 153.206, § 153.208, § 153.210 .
• For multi‑family proposals, review MF/MFRZ objective design standards and MF development requirements (landscape buffers, trash enclosures, lighting, slopes, emergency plan). § 153.110 .
• Confirm whether your site sits inside any overlay district (MFOZ/MFRZ, CCD, PCCD, or open‑space overlays) and consult the overlay rules. § 153.102, MFRZ/MFOZ references . See also the local overlays page.
• Determine whether design review or discretionary approvals are triggered (many MF/CC/PCCD projects are discretionary—see the design review page). § 153.110 .
• Cross-check all building and fire‑safety requirements against the state code and local building regulations; follow the California Building Standards Code as applicable. § 153.110 (fire & evacuation) .
• If proposing an ADU, follow ADU-specific rules and state ADU law (see our ADU page). § 153.005, § 153.211 .

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain-English Summary

Woodside’s zoning law is a map-plus-rules system: find your parcel on the Town’s official zoning map (on file with Planning), then follow the district’s numeric rules (size, height, coverage, buffers) and the Town’s all‑district rules (grading, runoff, vegetation). For many residential topics (maximum house size, ADUs, multi‑family buffers, and CCD height limits) the controlling provisions are in Chapter 153—especially § 153.103, § 153.104, § 153.206, § 153.208, § 153.210, and § 153.110—so verify those for your parcel and ask Planning for any map or boundary clarification. § 153.103, § 153.104, § 153.206, § 153.208, § 153.210, § 153.110 .

Information Gaps

• The retrieved excerpts repeatedly reference development-standards tables (Table H for setbacks, Table G for maximum residence size formulas, Table K for building coverage) but the full text for Table H (specific setback numbers by district) was not present in the retrieved materials. Not found in retrieved materials.
• Complete, parcel‑level lists of permitted and conditional uses by district (use tables) were not present in the excerpts available. Not found in retrieved materials.
• The specific CCD building‑height map graphics and the full PCCD project rules (maps and project‑specific PCCD “rules”) are referenced but were not included in the retrieved text excerpts; those live on maps/files on record. Not found in retrieved materials.
  For all of the above, Verify with the jurisdiction and request the full Chapter 153 print/pdfs and zoning map layers.

Source References

• Town of Woodside, Chapter 153 — Zoning (Town code print/export). Relevant: § 153.001–153.005, § 153.002, § 153.003, § 153.102, § 153.103, § 153.104, § 153.110, § 153.203, § 153.206, § 153.208, § 153.210, § 153.211. .
• Zoning district list and SCP description: § 153.102. .
• Zoning Map incorporation and rules for district boundary interpretation: § 153.103, § 153.104. .
• Multi‑family development standards (buffers, utilities, driveways, slopes, emergency plan): § 153.110. .
• Building coverage (Table K) and CC rules: § 153.210. .

Retrieved passages

• Woodside Zoning Code (Section 153.103.) High relevance show source text
• Woodside Zoning Code (§ 65910) High relevance show source text
• Woodside Zoning Code (§ 4) High relevance show source text
• Woodside Zoning Code (§ 153.999.) High relevance show source text
• Woodside Zoning Code (§ 9-2.106) High relevance show source text
• Woodside Zoning Code (CHAPTER 153) High relevance show source text
• Woodside Zoning Code (§ 9-2.1302) High relevance show source text
• Woodside Zoning Code (section and) High relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Town of Woodside, Chapter 153 — Zoning (Town code print/export). Relevant: **§ 153.001–153.005**, **§ 153.002**, **§ 153.003**, **§ 153.102**, **§ 153.103**, **§ 153.104**, **§ 153.110**, **§ 153.203**, **§ 153.206**, **§ 153.208**, **§ 153.210**, **§ 153.211**. . (Chapter 153)
• Zoning district list and SCP description: **§ 153.102**. . (§ 153.102)
• Zoning Map incorporation and rules for district boundary interpretation: **§ 153.103**, **§ 153.104**. . (§ 153.103)
• Multi‑family development standards (buffers, utilities, driveways, slopes, emergency plan): **§ 153.110**. . (§ 153.110)
• Building coverage (Table K) and CC rules: **§ 153.210**. . (§ 153.210)
• Woodside_ZoningCode.md

• Official Woodside code library