South San Francisco · Land use · Single-family home
Where is a single-family home allowed in South San Francisco?
In South San Francisco, a single-family home is allowed in 7 base zones (RL-2.2, RL-8, RM-22, RH-37.5, RH-50 and 2 more) and not allowed in 2 (South San Francisco use tables, read October 2026).
Key points
- Allowed: RL-2.2, RL-8, RM-22, RH-37.5, RH-50, RH-180 and DRL
- Not allowed: DRM and DRH
Find your lot's zone on the city zoning map, then read its row. Every status below was read from the South San Francisco 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 single-family home can go
South San Francisco's code calls this use “Dwelling, Single-Unit - Detached”. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| RL-2.2 | Allowed | § 20.070.002 |
| RL-8 | Allowed | § 20.070.002 |
| RM-22 | Allowed | § 20.070.002 |
| RH-37.5 | Allowed | § 20.070.002 |
| RH-50 | Allowed | § 20.070.002 |
| RH-180 | Allowed | § 20.070.002 |
| DRL Downtown Residential Low | Allowed | § 20.080.002 |
Zones where it is not allowed
What else applies
- Standards for this use: Chapter 20.300 (Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan Consistency).
- Semi-Attached and Attached single-unit dwellings are separate rows (same statuses as Detached). 'SB 9 Unit' is a separate row (RL-2.2, RL-8 P; others not allowed) and is not used. Table 20.070.002 additional regulation: see Chapter 20.300 (Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan Consistency). Combined headers: 'RH-37.5 and RH-50' is one column (given as two zones); 'BTP-M & GMP' and 'BTP-H & OPSP' are two-district columns (GMP and OPSP are not given as separate cells). PD districts follow their PD Plan (S6).
- State law: State law lets most single-family lots add an ADU and a JADU (California ADU law) and a second home or a lot split under SB 9 (Gov. Code § 65852.21).
- Not covered here: PD (Planned Development) districts: S6 sends uses to each PD Plan; Specific Plan districts (S10 is only the Specific Plan chapter); Chapter 20.040 definitions and Chapter 20.350 standards (group residential, community assembly size, day care) are not in the packet. Overlay zones and specific plans can also change the answer.
Other uses in South San Francisco
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I have a single-family home in the DRM zone in South San Francisco?
No. South San Francisco's use table does not allow it in DRM (Downtown Residential Medium) (§ 20.080.002).
Can I have a single-family home in the RL-2.2 zone in South San Francisco?
Yes. South San Francisco's use table lists it as allowed in RL-2.2 (§ 20.070.002).
General information, not legal advice.
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