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Title 27 — ZONING

Chapter 27.32 — C2 DISTRICTS—

San Mateo Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · updated 2026-07-25 · San Mateo

27.32.005 PURPOSE.

The Regional/Community Commercial District is intended to create and maintain major commercial centers accommodating a broad range of office, retail, and personal services of community-wide or regional significance.

27.32.010 PERMITTED USES.

The following uses are permitted:

  • (a) Permitted uses in the C1 district;

  • (b) Art galleries;

  • (c) Automotive accessory stores, excluding on-site service and repair of vehicles;

  • (d) Boarding, lodging, or rooming houses;

  • (e) Catering services;

  • (f) Hotels and motels, including restaurant and meeting rooms;

  • (g) Laundries;

  • (h) Medical and dental clinics, including laboratories;

  • (i) Offices;

  • (j) Parking facilities;

(k) Printing, lithographing, or publishing establishments for newspaper, business cards, and other similar uses;

  • (l) Radio and television broadcasting stations;

  • (m) Reproduction services;

(n) Residential units, subject to R4 district "Minimum Development Standards" in Section 27.24.040 and affordable housing requirements as adopted by City Council resolution, except as otherwise specified in Chapter 27.29;

  • (o) Retail uses, including incidental rental and repair;

  • (p) Emergency Shelters ;

  • (q) Accessory uses to principle uses permitted; and

  • (r) Other compatible uses as determined by the zoning administrator.

27.32.020 SPECIAL USES.

The following uses may also be permitted, subject to approval of a special use permit:

(a) Special uses permitted in the residential and C1 districts, except increases in floor area

ratios;

  • (b) Clubs, lodges, and fraternal organizations;

  • (c) Commercial recreation uses;

  • (d) Hospitals;

  • (e) Mortuaries;

  • (f) Public transportation facilities and terminals; and other similar uses;

(g) Recreational vehicle storage, subject to the provisions of Section 27.64.267 of this Title;

  • (h) Theaters, excluding drive-in theaters; and

(i) Other compatible uses as determined by the zoning administrator subject to the granting of

a special permit.

27.32.030 CONDITIONS OF USE.

All uses, except residences, shall be subject to the following conditions;

  • (a) Manufacturing, processing, or treatment of products which is clearly incidental and

  • essential to the retail business may be conducted on the same premises;

(b) Uses shall not generate odor, dust, smoke, noise, vibration, toxic wastes or other emissions which constitute nuisances;

(c) Exterior signs shall pertain only to a use conducted within the building;

(d) Uses shall be conducted wholly within an enclosed building, except as authorized by special use permit, or as previously authorized, or if the use is legally non-conforming.

27.32.040 OFF-STREET PARKING AND LOADING.

Automobile parking and loading facilities shall be provided as required or permitted in Chapter 27.64.

27.32.050 MAXIMUM FLOOR AREA RATIO.

The maximum floor area ratio of buildings and structures on a zoning plot shall be as follows:

(a) In a C2-.5 district, the floor area ratio shall not exceed 0.5;

(b) In a C2-.62 district, the floor area ratio shall not exceed 0.62; except Fashion Island Shopping Mall property may have floor area ratios of 1.0 for office and hotel uses, and 2.0 for residential uses provided traffic generated from these uses does not exceed traffic generated from retail uses with a 0.62 floor area ratio. Covered parking for office use shall not be counted as floor area on the Fashion Island Shopping Mall site.

(c) In a C2-1 district, the floor area ratio shall not exceed 1.0;

  • (d) In a C2-2 district, the floor area ratio shall not exceed 2.0.

27.32.055 BUILDING HEIGHT.

Building height shall not exceed the standards set forth on the Building Height Plan of the General Plan.

27.32.060 BUFFERS.

In the C2 Districts, the regulations governing buffers in the C1 districts shall apply.

27.32.070 SETBACK AND BUILD-TOLINE STANDARDS FOR EL CAMINO REAL.

The regulations governing setback and build-to-line standards for El Camino Real in the C1 districts shall apply.

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Contents — San Mateo Zoning Code
San Mateo Zoning Code
  1. Title 27 — ZONING
    Overview
    1. Chapter 27.02 — GENERAL PROVISIONS
    2. Chapter 27.04 — DEFINITIONS
    3. Chapter 27.06 — ADMINISTRATION
    4. Chapter 27.08 — RULES OF PROCEDURE
    5. Chapter 27.10 — REVIEW PROCEDURE
    6. Chapter 27.12 — FEES
    7. Chapter 27.13 — TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT FEE
    8. Chapter 27.14 — REDEVELOPMENT
    9. Chapter 27.15 — DENSITY BONUS
    10. Chapter 27.16 — RESIDENCE DISTRICTS
    11. Chapter 27.18 — R1 DISTRICTS
    12. Chapter 27.19 — ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS AND JUNIOR ACCESSORY …
    13. Chapter 27.21 — TWO-UNIT
    14. Chapter 27.24 — R4 DISTRICT—MULTIPLE FAMILY DWELLINGS (HIGH DE…
    15. Chapter 27.26 — R5 DISTRICT—MULTIPLE FAMILY DWELLINGS (HIGH DE…
    16. Chapter 27.27 — RESIDENTIAL
    17. Chapter 27.28 — DOWNTOWN
    18. Chapter 27.29 — RESIDENTIAL OVERLAY DISTRICT—MIXED USE
    19. Chapter 27.30 — C1 DISTRICTS— NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL
    20. Chapter 27.32 — C2 DISTRICTS—
    21. Chapter 27.34 — C3 DISTRICTS—
    22. Chapter 27.36 — C4 DISTRICTS
    23. Chapter 27.38 — CBD DISTRICTS— CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT
    24. Chapter 27.39 — CBD SUPPORT DISTRICT— CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRIC…
    25. Chapter 27.40 — BUILDING HEIGHT AND BULK
    26. Chapter 27.44 — E1 DISTRICTS—EXECUTIVE PARK
    27. Chapter 27.48 — E2 DISTRICTS —EXECUTIVE OFFICES
    28. Chapter 27.54 — MANUFACTURING DISTRICTS
    29. Chapter 27.56 — M1 DISTRICTS
    30. Chapter 27.59 — S DISTRICTS
    31. Chapter 27.60 — SPECIAL DISTRICTS
    32. Chapter 27.61 — SC DISTRICTS—SENIOR CITIZEN OVERLAY DISTRICT—S…
    33. Chapter 27.62 — PLANNED DEVELOPMENTS —SPECIAL USE PERMITS
    34. Chapter 27.63 — ADULT ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESSES
    35. Chapter 27.64 — OFF-STREET PARKING AND LOADING
    36. Chapter 27.65 — AMUSEMENT ARCADES AND MACHINES
    37. Chapter 27.66 — HISTORIC PRESERVATION
    38. Chapter 27.67 — OPEN AIR VENDORS
    39. Chapter 27.68 — MAINTENANCE OF PROJECT SITE
    40. Chapter 27.69 — RECYCLING FACILITIES
    41. Chapter 27.70 — ACCESSORY BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES IN REQUIRED…
    42. Chapter 27.72 — NONCONFORMING BUILDINGS AND USES
    43. Chapter 27.73 — TC DISTRICT—
    44. Chapter 27.74 — SPECIAL USE PERMITS
    45. Chapter 27.75 — MIXED USE CONVENIENCE MARKET/AUTOMOBILE SERVIC…
    46. Chapter 27.76 — PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
    47. Chapter 27.77 — DESIGN REVIEW STANDARDS FOR SERVICE STATIONS
    48. Chapter 27.78 — VARIANCES
    49. Chapter 27.79 — REASONABLE
    50. Chapter 27.80 — AMENDMENTS
    51. Chapter 27.82 — MAPS—BOUNDARY LINES
    52. Chapter 27.83 — SLOPE AND HILLSIDE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS
    53. Chapter 27.84 — FENCES, TREES AND HEDGES
    54. Chapter 27.85 — DAY CARE CENTERS
    55. Chapter 27.86 — RECYCLING COLLECTION AREAS
    56. Chapter 27.87 — OUTDOOR RESTAURANT SEATING AND MERCHANDISE DIS…
    57. Chapter 27.88 — BAY MEADOWS SPECIFIC PLAN
    58. Chapter 27.90 — TOD DISTRICT— TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT
    59. Chapter 27.92 — HILLSDALE STATION AREA PLAN
    60. Chapter 27.94 — HOUSING

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