Chapter 16.60 — ENCROACHMENTS AND BALCONIES

Unless otherwise provided for a specific zoning district, encroachments permitted into yards are as follows:

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Table 1
Side yard
Setback
Encroachment Front Setback less greater than
type yard than 10 feet 10 feet Rear yard Notes
3 feet 18 inches 3 feet 3 feet Subject to
Architectural architectural control,
features (cornices, canopies over
eaves, canopies, walkways to multiple
fireplaces) dwellings may extend
to the property line
Porches, decks, Not to Within 4 feet of any side lot Not to exceed Permitted only if
landing places or exceed 6 line 6 feet open and uncovered
stairways feet
Electric equipment None Not to exceed 4 feet into any Not to exceed Enclosures proposed
enclosures (as required side yard setback and 4 feet into any for condominium
defined in Section provided enclosure shall be a required rear developments (as
16.04.296)1 minimum of 3 feet from any yard setback defined in Section
side lot line and provided 15.34.010) shall be
enclosure shall located entirely
be a minimum within the exclusive
of 3 feet from use area for the
the rear lot line dwelling utilizing the
enclosure
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Notes:

1 Unenclosed electric equipment, as defined in Section 16.04.296, and mechanical equipment (e.g. heat pump air compressor and air conditioning units) not exceeding four (4) feet in height may be located between a dwelling and the street, including within the front setback, provided it is screened with adequate landscaping or fencing to the height of the equipment and compliant with Chapter 16.64. Unenclosed equipment located in the side or rear setback must meet the same requirements as electric equipment enclosures.

(Ord. 1102 § 9, 2023)

A balcony is a platform which projects more than eighteen inches (18") from the wall of a

5. Editor's Note: See Supplemental Illustrations included as an attachment to this title.

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City of Menlo Park, CA § 16.60.020

MENLO PARK CODE

§ 16.60.020

building and which is required by law to be surrounded by a railing. In the single family residential districts, balconies and/or decks above the first floor shall be located twenty (20) feet or more from the side property lines and thirty (30) feet or more from the rear property line.

In residential districts other than single family, balconies and/or decks above the first floor may be located at the building setback line, except when abutting a single family residential district where balconies and/or decks above the first floor on any side directly abutting a single family district shall be located twenty (20) feet or more from the side property lines and thirty (30) feet or more from the rear property line; notwithstanding, subject to obtaining a use permit, balconies and/or decks may be located at the building setback lines.

In the commercial and/or industrial districts balconies and/or decks above the first floor may be located at the building setback line, except when abutting a single family residential district where balconies and/or decks above the first floor on any side directly abutting a single family district shall be located twenty (20) feet or more from the side property lines and thirty (30) feet or more from the rear property line; notwithstanding, subject to obtaining a use permit, balconies and/or decks may be located at the building setback lines.

(Ord. 791 § 2 (c), 1989; Ord. 822 § 4, 1991; Ord. 858 § 2, 1994)

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City of Menlo Park, CA

CHAPTER 16.62 YARDS

Whenever an official plan line has been established for any street, required yards shall be measured from such line, and in no case shall the provisions of this chapter be construed as permitting any encroachment upon any official plan line. (Prior code § 30.512)

Dwelling groups shall be constructed so that the following minimum distances are provided:

• (1) Minimum of ten feet between buildings;

• (2) Minimum of twelve feet between side yard line and access side of single row dwelling groups;

• (3) Minimum of twenty feet between access side of buildings in double rows.

• (Prior code § 30.518)

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City of Menlo Park, CA