Skip to content

Local zoning · Sausalito

Sausalito — Zoning

Zoning under the Sausalito local zoning and planning code, with the controlling citations.

Ask AI what you can build See coverage

Quick answer

Most Sausalito districts cap building height at 32 ft, with special downhill limits and a hard 50 ft ceiling to grade (§ 10.40.060). Residential standards include R‑1 lots as small as 6,000 sf with FAR 0.45, while commercial FARs range from 1.3 in CC to 0.30 on the waterfront; CN splits into CN‑1 (0.50 FAR) and CN‑2 (0.35 FAR) (§ 10.22.040; § 10.24.050). Liveaboards in W are limited to 1 unit per 10 berths (§ 10.24.050).

Last reviewed: July 25, 2026 · AI-generated analysis · General information, not legal advice · details

Compiled from Sausalito's adopted code with AI research tools and grounded in the sources cited below. Verify with Sausalito planning staff before relying on it.

Overview

Sausalito’s Zoning Ordinance is Title 10 of the Sausalito Municipal Code. It divides land into base zoning districts and overlays shown on the official zoning map (§ 10.10.020; § 10.12.040). Each district sets what uses are allowed and the dimensional rules like minimum parcel size, floor area ratio (FAR), lot coverage, setbacks, and height; citywide standards for FAR, coverage, height, setbacks, and parking also apply (§ 10.40.040–§ 10.40.110). Overlays such as the -M Marinship and -H Historic can further modify what you can do on a site (§ 10.12.040(C); § 10.28.050).

The single biggest dimensional control across Sausalito is height: most districts cap buildings at 32 ft, with special downhill and waterfront measurement rules and a hard cap of 50 ft to natural grade (§ 10.40.060).

Before you plan uses, intensity, or form, confirm your site’s designation(s) on the zoning map (§ 10.10.020). See the Sausalito zoning & planning overview for context, and use the links in this page to jump to related rules on development standards, parking, design review, overlay districts, historic preservation, ADUs, and nonconforming uses.

How the Sausalito system is organized

  • The zoning map and districts are adopted and incorporated by reference (§ 10.10.020; § 10.12.010).
  • Base districts: Open Space/Public (OS, PP, PI, OA); Residential (R‑1‑6, R‑1‑8, R‑1‑20, R‑2‑2.5, R‑2‑5, R‑3, PR, H, A); Commercial (CC, CR, CN, SC, CW, W); Industrial (IM) (§ 10.12.040(B)).
  • Overlays: -H Historic, -M Marinship, -Pd Planned Development, -Sh Senior Housing, -Es Emergency Shelter (§ 10.12.040(C)); additional housing/mixed-use overlays are established in § 10.28.090.
  • General development regulations (apply citywide unless a district says otherwise): minimum parcel standards (§ 10.40.030), FAR (§ 10.40.040), coverage (§ 10.40.050), height (§ 10.40.060), setbacks/yards and exceptions (§ 10.40.070–§ 10.40.090), and parking (§ 10.40.100–§ 10.40.120).

District-by-district guide

OS — Open Space (Base district)

  • Purpose/where it applies: Open space areas shown on the zoning map (§ 10.12.040(B)).
  • Typical allowed uses: Parks and playgrounds (P); local open space and national recreation areas (P); some public facilities by permit (§ 10.20.030, Table 10.20‑1).
  • Key dimensional standards: Front setback 50 ft; side/rear 30 ft (adjacent to residential); FAR 0.10, coverage 10%, height 32 ft (§ 10.20.040, Table 10.20‑2).
  • Notes: Setbacks in open space/public districts apply only when adjacent to residential (§ 10.20.040(B)).

PP — Public Parks

  • Uses: Parks/playgrounds (P); community centers (CUP); temporary uses (P) (§ 10.20.030).
  • Dimensional: Setbacks N/A except side 5 ft and rear 15 ft where adjacent to residential; height 32 ft (§ 10.20.040, Table 10.20‑2).
  • Where: Park sites mapped PP (§ 10.12.040(B)).

PI — Public Institutional

  • Uses: Government offices/facilities (P); libraries/museums (P); schools (P/MUP) (§ 10.20.030).
  • Dimensional: Side 10 ft and rear 20 ft adjacent to residential; height 32 ft (§ 10.20.040, Table 10.20‑2).
  • Where: Public/civic facilities mapped PI (§ 10.12.040(B)).

OA — Open Area

  • Uses: Similar to public/open area support uses (see Table 10.20‑1) (§ 10.20.030).
  • Dimensional: Minimum parcel 6,000 sf; FAR 0.10, coverage 10%, height 32 ft; standard setbacks where applicable (§ 10.20.040, Table 10.20‑2).
  • Where: Sites mapped OA (§ 10.12.040(B)).

R‑1‑6 — Single-Family Residential (6,000 sf min lot)

  • Purpose: Very low/low-density neighborhoods; protect existing character (§ 10.22.020(A)).
  • Uses: Single-family dwellings (P); ADUs/JADUs (P); see residential use table for other compatible uses (§ 10.22.030).
  • Dimensional: Min parcel 6,000 sf; FAR 0.45, coverage 35%, impervious 67.5%; side 5 ft, rear 15 ft, front setbacks may be 10 ft where mapped special line; height 32 ft (§ 10.22.040, Table 10.22‑2).
  • Where: R‑1‑6 areas on the map (§ 10.12.040(B)).

R‑1‑8 — Single-Family Residential (8,000 sf min lot)

  • Uses: Same as R‑1‑6 (§ 10.22.030).
  • Dimensional: Min parcel 8,000 sf; FAR 0.40, coverage 30%, impervious 65%; side 5 ft, rear 15 ft; height 32 ft; mapped 10 ft front setback areas apply where designated (§ 10.22.040, Table 10.22‑2).
  • Where: R‑1‑8 areas on the map.

R‑1‑20 — Single-Family Residential (20,000 sf min lot)

  • Uses: Single-family; ADUs/JADUs (P) (§ 10.22.030).
  • Dimensional: Min parcel 20,000 sf; FAR 0.35, coverage 30%, impervious 65%; side 10 ft, rear 20 ft; height 32 ft (§ 10.22.040, Table 10.22‑2).
  • Where: R‑1‑20 areas.

R‑2‑2.5 — Two-Family Residential (1 DU/2,500 sf)

  • Purpose: Medium to medium‑high density mix of single‑family and duplex; one unit per 2,500 sf (§ 10.22.020(B)).
  • Uses: Single‑family (P); two‑family/duplex (P); multifamily not listed; ADUs/JADUs (P) (§ 10.22.030).
  • Dimensional: Min parcel 5,000 sf; base FAR 0.65, coverage 50%, impervious 75%, but any single unit is capped by special R‑2/R‑3 formulas (§ 10.44.330(C)(1)–(3)); side 5 ft, rear 15 ft; height 32 ft (§ 10.22.040).
  • Where: R‑2‑2.5 areas. Design review may reduce size or increase setbacks (§ 10.22.040, note 1).

R‑2‑5 — Two-Family Residential (1 DU/5,000 sf)

  • Purpose: Same intent as R‑2; one unit per 5,000 sf (§ 10.22.020(B)).
  • Uses: Single‑family and duplex (P); ADUs/JADUs (P) (§ 10.22.030).
  • Dimensional: Min parcel 10,000 sf; FAR 0.40, coverage 35%, impervious 67.5%; side 5 ft, rear 15 ft; height 32 ft (§ 10.22.040, Table 10.22‑2).

R‑3 — Multiple-Family Residential

  • Purpose: Multiple‑family neighborhoods (supplements in § 10.22.020(D) — partial text provided).
  • Uses: Multiple‑family dwellings (P); single‑family (P); ADUs/JADUs (P) (§ 10.22.030).
  • Dimensional: Min parcel 5,000 sf; FAR 0.84, coverage 50%, impervious 75%; side 5 ft, rear 15 ft; height 32 ft; single‑unit caps per § 10.44.330 also apply in R‑3 (§ 10.22.040; § 10.44.330).

PR — Planned Residential

  • Purpose: Preserve medium‑high density condos/townhomes; density 1 DU per 1,980 sf (§ 10.22.020(C)).
  • Uses: Single‑family (P); two‑family (P) and multi‑family (P) per Table 10.22‑1; ADUs/JADUs (P) (§ 10.22.030).
  • Dimensional: Min parcel 20,000 sf; FAR 0.65, coverage 50%, impervious 75%; side 5 ft, rear 15 ft; height 32 ft (§ 10.22.040).

H — Houseboats

  • Purpose/where: Floating residential districts as shown on map (§ 10.12.040(B)).
  • Uses: Houseboats (P); multiple‑unit houseboat by CUP; ADUs/JADUs (P) where applicable in Table 10.22‑1 (§ 10.22.030; § 10.44.160(I)).
  • Dimensional: Min parcel 10,000 sf; FAR 0.25, coverage 25%, impervious 62.5%; side 10 ft, rear 15 ft; height 18 ft (§ 10.22.040, Table 10.22‑2; § 10.40.060(2) measurement over water).

A — Residential Arks

  • Purpose/where: Ark districts on map (§ 10.12.040(B)).
  • Uses: Single‑family ark dwelling (P); ark dwelling group (P); ADUs/JADUs (P) (§ 10.22.030; § 10.44.130).
  • Dimensional: Min parcel 1,500 sf; FAR 0.30, coverage 30%, impervious 65%; side 0 ft, rear 0 ft; height 12 ft measured from 6 ft above NGVD or average grade, whichever higher (§ 10.22.040, Table 10.22‑2 & note 12; § 10.40.060(2)).

CC — Central Commercial

  • Uses: Not listed in source materials (see § 10.24.030 in code — Not found in source materials).
  • Dimensional: Min parcel 5,000 sf; FAR 1.3; coverage 100%; side 10 ft, rear 15 ft when adjacent to residential; height 32 ft (§ 10.24.050, Table 10.24‑2; notes (2)–(3)).
  • Where: Mapped CC (§ 10.12.040(B)).
  • Notes: Front setbacks typically N/A; setbacks required only when abutting residential (§ 10.24.050(B)).

CR — Mixed Commercial and Residential

  • Special rule: Residential uses existing on 12/1/1984 may not be converted to other uses (§ 10.40.020(5)).
  • Dimensional: Min parcel 5,000 sf; FAR 1.00; coverage 70%; side 10 ft, rear 15 ft if adjacent to residential; height 32 ft (§ 10.24.050, Table 10.24‑2; notes).
  • Where: Mapped CR.

CN — Neighborhood Commercial (with CN‑1 and CN‑2 subdistricts)

  • Uses: Not listed in source materials (see § 10.24.030 — Not found in source materials).
  • Dimensional: Min parcel 5,000 sf; FAR 0.50 (CN‑1) or 0.35 (CN‑2); coverage 70%; side 10 ft, rear 15 ft if adjacent to residential; height 32 ft (§ 10.24.050 and Table 10.24‑2).
  • Where: CN areas; confirm whether your site is CN‑1 or CN‑2 for FAR/coverage (§ 10.24.050).

SC — Shopping Center

  • Uses: Not listed in source materials (see § 10.24.030 — Not found in source materials).
  • Dimensional: Min parcel 10,000 sf; FAR 0.20; coverage 50%; side setback may scale to one‑half building height (min 5 ft) per note (4); rear 20 ft if adjacent to residential; height 32 ft (§ 10.24.050, Table 10.24‑2 & notes).

CW — Commercial Waterfront

  • Uses: Not listed in source materials (see § 10.24.030 — Not found in source materials).
  • Dimensional: Min parcel 5,000 sf; FAR 0.30; coverage 50%; rear 20 ft if adjacent to residential; height 25 ft (§ 10.24.050, Table 10.24‑2 & notes).

W — Waterfront

  • Uses/density: Liveaboard residential density limited to 1 unit per 10 berths (10% of berths) (§ 10.24.050(C); Table 10.24‑2 note (1)).
  • Dimensional: Min parcel 25,000 sf; FAR 0.30; coverage 30%; rear 15 ft if adjacent to residential; height 32 ft (§ 10.24.050, Table 10.24‑2 & notes).

IM — Industrial Marinship (base district)

  • Uses: A broad range of marine/industrial/arts/logistics uses, with many permitted and CUP/MUP triggers; existing pre‑1988 office/restaurants may remain; new commercial offices limited to accessory only (§ 10.26.020; § 10.28.050(D)(2)).
  • Dimensional: FAR 0.40 (with a cap that limits commercial share and imposes “industrial‑equivalent FAR” in Marinship); coverage 50%; setbacks generally 0 ft, but required when adjacent to residential/public; special shoreline/view corridor setbacks; height 32 ft (shoreline may be lower) (§ 10.26.040, Table 10.26‑2; § 10.28.050(E)(4)–(5)).
  • Special Marinship overlay controls also apply within the Marinship specific plan area (§ 10.28.050).

Overlay districts you’re likely to encounter

  • -H Historic: Applies where designated; see Sausalito Historic Preservation and § 10.46 SMC (listed in § 10.12.010(C)(4); § 10.12.040(C)).
  • -M Marinship: Preserves maritime/industrial character; restricts new office, limits restaurant size, caps enlargement of marinas, and uses industrial‑equivalent FAR; adds shoreline/public access standards (§ 10.28.050(D)–(E)).
  • -Pd Planned Development: Site‑specific standards adopted via rezoning/permit for flexible solutions (§ 10.28.060).
  • Housing/Mixed‑Use Overlays: H‑29, MU‑29, H‑49, MU‑49, H‑70, MU‑70 establish minimum/maximum residential densities and residential share on specified sites pursuant to the Housing Element (§ 10.28.090).

Citywide rules that interact with districts

  • Minimum parcel standards: New/changed parcels must meet 30 ft minimum absolute width, 50 ft average width, and 30 ft street frontage; legally created substandard lots can be developed if at least 1,500 sf and average 30 ft wide (§ 10.40.030(B), (D)).
  • Height measurement: Special methods for uphill, level, downhill, and over‑water sites; downhill parcels face a 24 ft centerline height within first 15 ft; absolute max 50 ft to natural grade (§ 10.40.060(B)–(C)).
  • Front yard lines: Some mapped areas impose a 10 ft front setback (check zoning map) (§ 10.22.040(C), note 8; § 10.40.070(E)(4)).
  • Setbacks in nonresidential districts: Often only required when abutting residential; check your adjacency (§ 10.20.040(B); § 10.24.050(B); § 10.26.040(B)).
  • Residential uses in R‑2/R‑3: Any single unit is capped by special FAR/coverage/impervious formulas, reserving development capacity for additional units (§ 10.44.330(C)).
  • State FAR for small housing projects: Housing with 3–7 units may reach FAR 1.0, and 8–10 units FAR 1.25, except on designated historic resources/districts (notes in § 10.22.040 and § 10.24.050).
  • ADUs/JADUs: Permitted in all residential districts (and listed for H and A) subject to § 10.44.080; see Sausalito ADUs.
  • Parking: Provide spaces per land use; mixed sites sum by use unless a shared parking approval applies (§ 10.40.110). See Sausalito Parking.
  • Design Review: Many projects require Planning Commission design review (e.g., height exceptions, major remodels); see Sausalito Design Review and triggers in § 10.54.050.

Selected standards at a glance

Topic District(s) Key standard Code Reference
Max height (most districts) Most base districts 32 ft; downhill constraint 24 ft within first 15 ft from centerline; max any point to grade 50 ft § 10.40.060
Front setback (residential) R‑districts Base “0 ft,” but 10 ft mapped lines apply where designated § 10.22.040(C), Table 10.22‑2 note 8
R‑1 min parcel sizes R‑1‑6 / R‑1‑8 / R‑1‑20 6,000 / 8,000 / 20,000 sf § 10.22.040, Table 10.22‑2
R‑2 densities R‑2‑2.5 / R‑2‑5 1 DU/2,500 sf; 1 DU/5,000 sf § 10.22.020(B); § 10.22.040 Table 10.22‑2
R‑2/R‑3 single‑unit cap R‑2‑2.5, R‑3 Max FAR/coverage/impervious for any one unit by parcel‑size formula § 10.44.330(C)
CN FAR CN‑1 / CN‑2 0.50 (CN‑1); 0.35 (CN‑2) § 10.24.050, Table 10.24‑2
CC FAR/coverage CC FAR 1.3, coverage 100%, side 10 ft, rear 15 ft adjacent to residential § 10.24.050, Table 10.24‑2
CW height CW 25 ft max building height § 10.24.050, Table 10.24‑2
W liveaboard density W 1 residential unit per 10 berths (10%) § 10.24.050(C); Table 10.24‑2 note (1)
IM development IM FAR 0.40, commercial share limits, shoreline/view setbacks § 10.26.040; § 10.28.050(E)
Small housing FAR (state) Any base district FAR 1.0 (3–7 units) or 1.25 (8–10 units), except historic § 10.22.040 note 13; § 10.24.050 note (5)

District-by-district permitted use highlights (Residential)

  • R‑districts generally: Single‑family (P); two‑family where mapped R‑2 (P); multi‑family in R‑3 (P); ADUs and JADUs are permitted (P) (§ 10.22.030; § 10.44.080).
  • H and A: Houseboats (P) in H; ark dwellings (P) and groups in A (§ 10.22.030; § 10.44.160; § 10.44.130).
  • Child day care: Small family day care homes are permitted; large family homes require MUP; centers by CUP with standards (§ 10.44.100).

Special Marinship rules (-M overlay interacting with IM/W/CW/P/OA/H where mapped)

  • Goal: Preserve maritime/industrial uses; restrict new general offices and large restaurants; protect waterfront access; cap enlargement of recreational marinas (§ 10.28.050(A), (D)).
  • Industrial‑equivalent FAR: Conversions to office/retail/restaurant count more heavily toward FAR; exceeding the zone’s max bars further development (§ 10.28.050(E)(4)).
  • Shoreline access/parking/setbacks: Tie‑up spaces, shoreline setbacks, public open space placement, and view corridors are required/managed (§ 10.28.050(E); § 10.26.040, Table 10.26‑2).

Other cross‑cutting provisions to keep in view

  • Minimum parcel geometry for any new lot: 30 ft minimum width at any point, 50 ft average width, 30 ft frontage; legal substandard lots can develop with conditions (§ 10.40.030(B)–(D)).
  • Multifamily on multiple merged lots: Only exterior setbacks apply where multiple lots are merged for a single rental project (§ 10.22.040 note 7; § 10.24.050 note (2)).
  • Commercial FAR “Fair Traffic Limits”: Certain commercial FARs may not be exceeded by variance or other permits, and use conversions that increase commercial intensity are constrained (§ 10.40.020(3)–(6)).

Checklist

  • Confirm your site’s base district and any overlays on the official zoning map (§ 10.10.020; § 10.12.040).
  • Identify allowed uses for your district; for residential, verify if single‑, two‑, or multi‑family is permitted (§ 10.22.030). For commercial, verify uses in Chapter 10.24 (Not found in source materials here).
  • Calculate maximum units/density and check FAR, coverage, and impervious caps that apply (§ 10.22.040; § 10.24.050; § 10.40.040–§ 10.40.050).
  • In R‑2/R‑3, apply the single‑unit cap formulas and reserve remaining FAR/coverage for additional units (§ 10.44.330(C)).
  • Check mapped 10 ft front setback lines, and adjacency‑based setbacks in nonresidential districts (§ 10.22.040(C); § 10.24.050(B); § 10.26.040(B)).
  • Verify height limits and special measurement rules for uphill/downhill or over‑water conditions (§ 10.40.060).
  • Confirm CN‑1 vs CN‑2 if in CN for FAR/coverage (§ 10.24.050).
  • If in Marinship, apply -M overlay use restrictions and industrial‑equivalent FAR rules (§ 10.28.050).
  • Apply state small‑project housing FAR where eligible and not in a historic resource/district (§ 10.22.040 note 13; § 10.24.050 note (5)).
  • Confirm parking per land use and any shared‑parking allowances (§ 10.40.110).
  • Determine if your project needs design review and which permit track applies (§ 10.54.050).

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue Why it matters What to verify
CN subdistrict (CN‑1 vs CN‑2) FAR/coverage differ (0.50 vs 0.35) Check the zoning map legend or planning staff; standard is in § 10.24.050.
Front setback in R‑districts Table shows “0 ft” fronts, but 10 ft lines apply where mapped Confirm if a special front setback line overlays your frontage (§ 10.22.040(C), note 8; § 10.40.070(E)(4)).
Commercial allowed uses by district Use tables for CC/CR/CN/SC/CW/W not included in these materials Not found in source materials. Consult § 10.24.030 and the zoning map.
Marinship “industrial‑equivalent FAR” Over‑intensive office/retail/restaurant can block new development Calculate per § 10.28.050(E)(4); verify current intensities.
Setbacks in nonresidential zones Often only required when adjacent to residential Check adjacency on the map; see § 10.20.040(B); § 10.24.050(B); § 10.26.040(B).
R‑2/R‑3 single‑unit caps Oversizing one unit can foreclose future units Apply § 10.44.330(C) formulas before design.
State small‑project FAR Can exceed local FAR in some cases Confirm unit count (3–10), and whether site is in/near a designated historic resource/district (§ 10.22.040 note 13; § 10.24.050 note (5); see Sausalito Historic Preservation).
Multi‑lot rental projects Interior lot line setbacks may not apply Only exterior setbacks apply if a merger occurs (§ 10.22.040 note 7; § 10.24.050 note (2)).

Plain-English Summary

Sausalito zoning tells you what you can build and how big it can be. Most neighborhoods are residential with a 32‑ft height cap and mapped 10‑ft front setbacks in some areas, while commercial zones use FAR (like 1.3 in CC and 0.30 on the waterfront) to control size. If you’re in R‑2 or R‑3, there’s a special cap on the size of any single unit so you don’t block future units. Always check the zoning map for overlays like Marinship or Historic, then confirm FAR, coverage, setbacks, height, and parking before drawing plans.

Source References

  • § 10.10.020 (Adoption of zoning map); § 10.10.040 (Components)
  • § 10.12.010 (Organization); § 10.12.020 (Applicability); § 10.12.040 (Establishment of zoning districts); § 10.12.090 (Interpretation)
  • § 10.20.030 (Allowed uses in Open Space/Public); § 10.20.040 (Site development – Open Space/Public)
  • § 10.22.020 (Residential district purposes); § 10.22.030 (Residential allowed uses); § 10.22.040 (Residential development standards, Table 10.22‑2)
  • § 10.24.050 (Commercial development standards, Table 10.24‑2, CN‑1/CN‑2)
  • § 10.26.020 (Uses in Industrial Marinship); § 10.26.040 (IM development standards)
  • § 10.28.050 (Marinship (-M) overlay); § 10.28.060 (Planned Development (-Pd)); § 10.28.090 (Housing/Mixed‑Use overlays)
  • § 10.40.020 (Fair Traffic Limits; commercial FAR constraints); § 10.40.030 (Minimum parcel standards); § 10.40.040 (FAR); § 10.40.050 (Coverage); § 10.40.060 (Height); § 10.40.070–§ 10.40.090 (Setbacks and exceptions); § 10.40.100–§ 10.40.120 (Parking)
  • § 10.44.080 (ADUs/JADUs); § 10.44.100 (Child day care); § 10.44.130 (Arks); § 10.44.160 (Houseboats); § 10.44.170 (Liveaboards); § 10.44.330 (R‑2/R‑3 single‑unit caps)
  • § 10.54.050 (Design Review triggers)
  • City code platform: https://ecode360.com/SA4880

Sources

Source passages

  • Sausalito Zoning Code (§ 10.24.050) High relevance
  • Sausalito Zoning Code (§ 10.40.030) High relevance
  • Sausalito Zoning Code (§ 10.12.040) High relevance
  • Sausalito Zoning Code (§ 10.44.080) High relevance
  • Sausalito Zoning Code (§ 10.10.020) High relevance
  • Sausalito Zoning Code (§ 10.44.330) High relevance
  • Sausalito Zoning Code (§ 10.10.040) High relevance
  • Sausalito Zoning Code (§ 10.22.040) High relevance
  • Sausalito Zoning Code (§ 10.22.030) High relevance
  • Sausalito Zoning Code (§ 10.12.010) High relevance
  • Sausalito Zoning Code (§ 10.12.020) High relevance
  • Sausalito Zoning Code (§ 10.12.090) High relevance
  • Sausalito Zoning Code (§ 10.28.050) Medium relevance
  • Sausalito Zoning Code (§ 10.20.040) Medium relevance
  • Sausalito Zoning Code (§ 10.40.020) Medium relevance
  • Sausalito Zoning Code (§ 10.28.090) Medium relevance

Cited sections

Frequently asked questions

What can I build on an R-1 lot in Sausalito?

Single-family homes are permitted in all R‑1 subdistricts, with ADUs and JADUs allowed by right. Typical standards include minimum lots of 6,000–20,000 sf, 32 ft maximum height, side setbacks of 5–10 ft and rear setbacks of 15–20 ft; some frontages have a mapped 10‑ft setback line (§ 10.22.040; § 10.44.080).

How many units are allowed in R-2 and R-3, and can I max out one unit?

R‑2‑2.5 allows 1 unit per 2,500 sf; R‑2‑5 allows 1 per 5,000 sf; R‑3 allows multifamily (see Table 10.22‑2). However, any single dwelling unit in R‑2‑2.5 or R‑3 is capped by special FAR/coverage/impervious formulas so you reserve capacity for future units (§ 10.44.330(C); § 10.22.040).

What are the key commercial size limits in downtown Sausalito?

In the Central Commercial (CC) district the maximum FAR is 1.3 with 100% coverage and 32 ft height; in Mixed Commercial/Residential (CR), FAR is 1.00 with 70% coverage and 32 ft height. Setbacks apply only when next to residential (§ 10.24.050, Table 10.24‑2).

How does the Marinship (-M) overlay affect projects?

It preserves maritime/industrial character by limiting new general offices to accessory use, capping restaurant size, managing shoreline access, and applying an industrial‑equivalent FAR that can block further intensification if you’re already over the effective limit (§ 10.28.050(D)–(E)). The base IM zone also limits overall FAR to 0.40 (§ 10.26.040).

Are liveaboards allowed in the Waterfront (W) district?

Yes, but residential “liveaboards” are limited to 1 unit per 10 berths (10%). Other W standards include FAR 0.30, coverage 30%, and 32 ft height, with setbacks only when adjacent to residential (§ 10.24.050 & Table 10.24‑2).

Do I need design review for a height exception on a sloped lot?

Projects that exceed the standard envelope on uphill or downhill lots (e.g., special sloped roof allowance or covered parking projection) require Planning Commission design review (§ 10.40.060(C); § 10.54.050). Verify early with the City.

What are the front setback rules in residential areas?

Base front setbacks in Table 10.22‑2 read “0 ft,” but many streets have a mapped 10 ft special front yard line. If your frontage is designated, that 10‑ft setback is mandatory (§ 10.22.040(C), note 8; § 10.40.070(E)(4)).

Can small housing projects exceed local FAR limits?

Yes. By state law implemented in Sausalito, 3–7 unit housing may reach FAR 1.0, and 8–10 units FAR 1.25, unless the site is a designated historic resource/district (§ 10.22.040 note 13; § 10.24.050 note (5)).

How are setbacks applied if my multifamily site spans multiple merged lots?

For multifamily rental projects on a single site composed of multiple contiguous lots that include a lot merger, only the exterior lot lines are subject to setback requirements (§ 10.22.040 note 7; § 10.24.050 note (2)).

Where do I find allowed uses for CC, CR, CN, SC, CW?

The specific commercial use tables are in Chapter 10.24. They are not included in the source materials here. Confirm uses and permit types in § 10.24.030 (Not found in source materials).

General information, not legal advice.

More in Sausalito code

Ask about any Sausalito property

Get a cited, plain-English answer on Sausalito zoning, setbacks, FAR, ADUs and permits — for any address.

Start Free Trial

More Sausalito zoning topics

Sausalito Land Use

Sausalito Development Standards

Sausalito Parking

Sausalito Design Review

Sausalito Overlay Districts

Sausalito Historic Preservation

Sausalito Signage

Sausalito Nonconforming Uses

Sausalito Variances and Exceptions

Sausalito Landscaping and Screening

Sausalito overview

Sausalito municipal code (full text)