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Title 27 — ZONINGChapter 27.60 — SPECIAL DISTRICTS

Article I — Agricultural Districts

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

27.60.020 DEFINITIONS

The following definitions apply to this chapter.

(a) "Farmworker housing" means an agricultural employee housing development that satisfies all of the following:

(1) The agricultural employee housing does not contain dormitory-style housing

(2) The development consists of no more than 36 units or spaces designed for use by a single family or household

(3) Except as otherwise provided in subparagraph (2), the agricultural employee housing will be maintained and operated by a qualified affordable housing organization that has been certified pursuant to Government Code Section 17030.10 or operated by a local public housing agency or a multicounty, state, or multistate agency that has been certified as a qualified affordable housing organization

(4) An affordability covenant is recorded on the property to ensure the affordability of the proposed agricultural employee housing for agricultural employees for not less than 55 years.

27.60.030 PERMITTED USES.

Permitted uses shall be as follows:

(a) All uses commonly classed as agriculture, horticulture or forestry, including crop and tree farming, and nursery operation.

(b) Horse racetracks and related uses, including, but not limited to, veterinary facilities, feed storage facilities, stables, offices, restaurants, sleeping quarters, plant nurseries and equipment storage facilities.

(c) One-family detached dwelling and accessory buildings provided the property (or zoning plot) upon which the dwelling is located has as its principal use one of the agricultural uses permitted above.

  • (d) Accessory dwelling units, when a primary dwelling is located on the site.

  • (e) Parks, forest preserves and recreational areas, when publicly owned and operated.

(f) Golf courses, regulation size, but not including "par 3" golf courses, commercially operated driving ranges or miniature golf courses; and provided, that no clubhouse or accessory building shall be located nearer than five feet to any dwelling.

(g) Signs, advertising the sale or rental of the property upon which the sign is located.

  • (h) Public utility facilities.

(i) Farmworker housing consisting of no more than 36 beds in group quarters or 12 units or spaces designed for use by a single family or household.

27.60.040 SPECIAL USES.

The following uses may also be permitted if their site locations and proposed development plans are first approved, as provided for in Chapters 27.06 through 27.12, 27.62, 27.74, 27.78 and 27.80:

(a) Mining, dredging, loading, and hauling of sand, shells, salt, dirt, gravel or other aggregate, but not including equipment, buildings or structures for screening, refining, crushing, mixing, washing or storage.

(b) Railroad Rights-of-Way and Trackage. Airports or aircraft landing fields. Radio and television towers, commercial.

(c) Filling of lowland with noncombustible material free from refuse and food wastes.

  • (d) Sanitary land fill, when operated or supervised by the City.

  • (e) Kennels, commercial, and animal hospitals.

  • (f) Public service uses:

  • (g) Filtration plant, pumping station, and water reservoir;

  • (h) Sewage treatment plant;

  • (i) Other governmental uses.

(j) Temporary farmworker housing consisting of more than 36 beds in group quarters or more than 12 units or spaces designed for use by a single family or household.

27.60.050 CONDITIONS OF USE.

No horses, cattle, or other domestic animals shall be bred, raised, or maintained within 500 feet of any residential district as established in this zoning title.

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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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