Where is a private school allowed in Burlingame?

Find your lot's zone on the city zoning map, then read its row. Every status below was read from the Burlingame Municipal Code use tables (read October 2026). Base zones only. General information, not legal advice — check with the city before you apply.

Zones where a private school can go

Burlingame's code calls this use “Schools, Primary and Secondary (Private)”. Each row links to the use table it comes from. A zone marked “see note” has a condition in the code, for example upper floors only or a larger lot.

Zone	Status	Code
R-1 Low Density Residential	Needs a conditional use permit	Article 2 — Zoning Districts, Allowable uses, and Development Standards
R-2 Medium Density Residential	Needs a conditional use permit	Article 2 — Zoning Districts, Allowable uses, and Development Standards
R-3 Medium/High Density Residential	Needs a conditional use permit	Article 2 — Zoning Districts, Allowable uses, and Development Standards
R-4 High Density Residential	Needs a conditional use permit	Article 2 — Zoning Districts, Allowable uses, and Development Standards
C-1 General Commercial	Needs a conditional use permit	Article 2 — Zoning Districts, Allowable uses, and Development Standards
BFC Bayfront Commercial	Needs a conditional use permit	Article 2 — Zoning Districts, Allowable uses, and Development Standards
I-I Innovation Industrial	Needs a conditional use permit	Article 2 — Zoning Districts, Allowable uses, and Development Standards
CMU California Drive Mixed-Use	Needs a conditional use permit	Article 2 — Zoning Districts, Allowable uses, and Development Standards
BAC Burlingame Avenue Commercial	Needs a minor use permit — see note Note Specific Use Regulations: Above or below ground floor only.	Article 2 — Zoning Districts, Allowable uses, and Development Standards
BMU Bayswater Mixed-Use	Needs a minor use permit — see note Note Specific Use Regulations: Above or below ground floor only.	Article 2 — Zoning Districts, Allowable uses, and Development Standards
HMU Howard Mixed-Use	Needs a minor use permit — see note Note Specific Use Regulations: Above or below ground floor only.	Article 2 — Zoning Districts, Allowable uses, and Development Standards
PI Public/Institutional	Needs a conditional use permit	Article 2 — Zoning Districts, Allowable uses, and Development Standards

Zones where it is not allowed

BRMU, CAC, CAR, DAC, MMU, PR, TPB.

What else applies

Standards for this use: R and mixed-use tables use one row 'Schools, Primary and Secondary' (public and private). SFO Safety Compatibility Zone 2, 3 or 4 (R table) / Zone 3 (C/I, public tables): schools serving preschool through grade 12 not allowed..
R zones and CMU/BRMU use the combined row 'Schools, Primary and Secondary'. C/I table: 'Schools, Primary and Secondary (Private)'. Downtown: 'Schools - Primary and Secondary, Private'. PI table: 'Schools, Private' (CUP) vs 'Schools, Public' (P).
Overlay zones and specific plans can change the answer for a lot.

Other uses in Burlingame

Who this affects

HomeownersBuyersReal estate agentsSmall developers

Frequently asked questions

Can I have a private school in the R-1 zone in Burlingame?

Only with a conditional use permit. Burlingame's use table lists it that way in R-1 (Low Density Residential) (Article 2 — Zoning Districts, Allowable uses, and Development Standards).

Can I have a private school in the BRMU zone in Burlingame?

No. Burlingame's use table does not allow it in BRMU (Broadway Mixed-Use) (Article 2 — Zoning Districts, Allowable uses, and Development Standards).

General information, not legal advice.