3 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in San Mateo County, California.
Verified from official government sources
In unincorporated San Mateo County, residential side yards are generally at least 5 feet and rear yards at least 20 feet, while the required front yard is set by the combining 'S' (site) district shown on the Zoning Maps. Setbacks vary significantly by district.
Residential building height limits in unincorporated San Mateo County are set by district. The Planned Agricultural District caps structures at 3 stories or 36 feet, with a 28-foot limit in the Midcoast area. Public and institutional buildings may reach 75 feet with increased yards.
Lot coverage and floor-area limits in unincorporated San Mateo County are district-specific. Several residential districts cap building site coverage at 25 percent and floor-area ratio around 30 percent (or a minimum square-foot allowance), with stricter standards in some areas.
1 cities in San Mateo County have their own building setbacks & zoning rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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San Mateo County Ordinance Hub →