Planning and Building

An ordinance was adopted by the Board of Supervisors on October 8^th, 2024 that repeals Division VI (Planning and Subdivision Regulations), Division VII (Building Regulations), and Division VIII (Natural Resources Protection) of the San Mateo County Ordinance Code and replaces those provisions with Title 8 -Development Code, Title 9 - Subdivision Regulations, and Title 10 - Building Regulations. The purpose of the project is to reorganize the Planning and Building regulations and reincorporate them into the current County Ordinance Code, which is codified as Titles 1 through 7 and hosted and maintained by the Municode company.

Replacement Titles:

Title 8 – Zoning & Development Regulations      

          Article 1– Zoning Districts, Overlay, and Combining Districts

          Article 2 – Development Procedures

          Article 3 – General Development Standards

          Article 4 – Standards for Specific Land Uses

          Article 5 – Non Conforming Uses, Structures, Parcels, Situations, & Exceptions

          Article 6 – Accessory Dwelling Unit Regulations (ADU’s)

          Article 7 – Trees & Natural Resource Protection

          Article 8 – Historic Preservation

          Article 9 – Special Housing Requirements & Programs

          Article 10 – Zoning Code Administration

Title 9 – Subdivision Regulations

          Article 1 – General Provisions

          Article 2 – Subdivision Requirements

          Article 3 – Design & Improvement Requirements

          Article 4 – Exactions

          Article 5 – Exceptions

          Article 6 – Vesting Tentative Maps 

          Article 7– Conversion to Condominiums 

          Article 8 – Reversion to Acreage 

          Article 9 – Parcel Mergers 

          Article 10 – Lot Line Adjustment

          Article 11 – Enforcement and Remedies 

Title 10 – Building Regulations

          Article 1 – General Provisions Applicable to Division

          Article 2 – Construction Codes

          Article 3 – Small Rooftop Solar Energy Systems

          Article 4 – Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

          Article 5 – Regulations for Excavating, Grading, Filling, and Clearing

The proposed update to the County Ordinance Code is necessary to ensure that all code sections are available to the public and ensure all future amendments are captured in a timely manner in a central location.

All regulations will follow the same numbering format as shown below. The first number will represent the title, the second number represents the chapter, and third number represents the section.

The County Ordinance Code website will be updated in the coming months. The ordinance is currently under review by the Coastal Commission for certification and is not yet effective in the coastal zone.