Millbrae City Zoning Code
ARTICLE VI
Single-family Residential Or "R-1" District
§ 10.05.0600 Purpose.
The purpose of the single-family residential or "R-1" district is to stabilize and protect the detached single-family residential character that comprises most of Millbrae and to promote and encourage a high-quality physical environment best suited for family life on a traditional neighborhood basis. This district correlates with the "low density residential" land use designation of the Millbrae General Plan.
(Ord. 726 § 2 (Att. A))
§ 10.05.0610 Uses.
The following uses shall be permitted, conditional or accessory uses in the R-1 district:
A.
Permitted uses: single-family dwellings and state-regulated residential care facilities.
B.
Conditional uses: places of worship, schools (pre-K and K through twelve), country clubs, golf courses, parks, utility services, wireless communications facilities, and bed and breakfasts.
C.
Accessory uses: home occupations, short-term residential rentals, accessory dwelling units, and junior accessory dwelling units.
(Formerly 10.05.0130 and 10.05.0150; 1976 Code §§ 10-1.402, 10-1.402(2); Ord. 782 § 5; Ord. 771 § 4(D); Ord. 691 § 2; Ord. 650 §§ 2, 4; Amended by Ord. 578 §§ 3, 4; Ord. 561 § 3.2; Ord. 409 § 2; Ord. 726 § 2 (Att. A))
§ 10.05.0620 Development standards.
Development regulations in the R-1 district are as follows:
B.
Lot Maximums.
1.
Lot coverage: fifty percent.
2.
Floor area ratio (FAR): fifty-five percent.
FAR is as defined in Article II of this chapter and shall also include the following:
a.
The floor area of a room with a ceiling greater than nine feet in height shall be calculated as the product of the overall height multiplied by the horizontal floor area and divided by eight; however, in cases where the ceiling slopes at three to twelve or greater, the uppermost five feet will be excluded from the calculation.
b.
Crawlspace area greater than two feet above exterior grade will be counted by multiplying the horizontal floor area by the average height of the area, as determined by the height of the finished floor above to the respective corner exterior grade of the building, deducting two feet to allow for typical height of crawlspace and floor joists, and dividing by eight; however, no negative crawlspace area calculation is permitted.
c.
In an attic with a roof slope of three to twelve or greater, only the portion of the floor area with a ceiling height of five feet or greater shall be counted.
d.
The area of atriums, covered and enclosed courtyards, and all covered decks and balconies shall be counted.
e.
The area of all decks and balconies with a floor height above finished grade of seven feet or more shall be counted.
f.
One-half of the area of covered patios, decks and balconies with a floor height less than seven feet above finished grade shall be counted.
g.
The area of unenclosed front entry porches, and portions thereof, at least ten feet deep shall be counted.
C.
Height. See Article XVI of this chapter ("Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan Consistency") for airspace protection evaluation requirements based on the San Francisco International Airport land use compatibility plan.
1.
Maximum height of structures shall be thirty feet, provided the uppermost five feet shall consist of a roof which slopes toward any adjacent street at a minimum slope of three inches per foot. If the slope is less than three inches per foot, the maximum height shall be twenty-five feet.
2.
Exceptions. Upon securing a height exception, chimneys, silos, cupolas, flagpoles, monuments, gas storage holders, radio and other towers, water tanks, church steeples and similar structures and mechanical appurtenances may be permitted to exceed the height limit for the district; provided, that the front, side and rear yards shall each be increased by one foot for each one foot of additional height allowed.
3.
All other structures exceeding the maximum allowable height shall require a variance.
D.
Setbacks.
1.
Ground Floor Setbacks.
Front: twenty feet. |
Side: |
Five feet interior; however, the width of interior side yards may be reduced to ten percent of the lot width, but in no case to less than three feet. |
Ten feet exterior. |
Rear: ten feet. |
a.
Attached ground floor decks greater than one foot above adjacent grade shall meet the above specified setbacks.
b.
Residential garage entrances fronting on any exterior lot line shall be located not less than twenty feet from said line, except for alley frontages where the setback may be less than twenty feet; provided, that adequate vehicular maneuvering area is available.
c.
The exterior yard on the rear thirty feet of a side fronting lot shall not be less than the front yard required or existing on the first lot to its rear.
d.
Where a dwelling unit is located on a lot so that the main entrance is located on the side of the building, the required side setback, from the front setback line to such entrance, shall be not less than ten feet.
e.
The width of the interior side yards on single-family dwellings in the R-1 zone may be reduced to ten percent of the width of such parcel, but in no case to less than three feet.
2.
Upper Floor Setbacks.
a.
Lots at least fifty-five feet wide (as measured at the minimum twenty-foot front setback line).
i.
Front: ten feet more than the distance of the exterior building walls below so that the second floor parallels the ground floor at all points along the front facade.
ii.
Side: ten feet more than the distance of the exterior building walls below; however, this setback may be reduced by two feet for each one foot that the ground floor setback exceeds the five-foot minimum, for a maximum reduction of six feet.
b.
Lots at least forty-five feet but less than fifty-five feet wide (as measured at the minimum twenty-foot front setback line).
i.
Front: ten feet more than the distance of the exterior building walls below so that the second floor parallels the ground floor at all points along the front facade.
ii.
Side: seven feet more than the distance of the exterior building walls below; however, this setback may be reduced by one foot for each one foot that the ground floor setback exceeds the five-foot minimum, for a maximum reduction of three feet.
c.
Lots less than forty-five feet wide (as measured at the minimum twenty-foot front setback line).
i.
Front: ten feet more than the distance of the exterior building walls below so that the second floor parallels the ground floor at all points along the front facade.
ii.
Side: five feet more than the distance of the exterior building walls below; however, this setback may be reduced by one foot for each one foot that the ground floor setback exceeds the five-foot minimum, for a maximum reduction of two feet.
3.
Encroachments Permissible without Planning Commission Approval.
a.
Architectural features on the main building, such as cornices, eaves, canopies, fireplaces, and bay windows, may extend no closer than three feet to any interior side lot line and not more than two feet into any required front, rear, or exterior side yard.
b.
Open, uncovered raised porches, landings, or outside stairways may project not closer than three feet to any interior side lot line, not more than two feet into any required exterior side yard, and not more than six feet into any required front or rear yard.
E.
Density Limit. The minimum lot area per unit shall be five thousand square feet.
F.
Parking.
1.
The parking requirements for all permitted, conditional, and accessory uses in the R-1 district are listed in MMC § 10.05.2100 (the "parking requirements table").
2.
A minimum of two side-by-side garage parking spaces are required for each single-family dwelling. Single-family dwellings originally constructed with only one garage parking space and which were built prior to adoption of the two-space requirement shall receive consideration for alternative solutions (per the "single-family parking guidelines") to this parking requirement, such as tandem garage parking and dedicated surface parking, when garage expansion for side-by-side parking is not feasible. A carport shall not be constructed in lieu of a required garage space, but code compliant and legally permitted carports existing prior to October 13, 2009, shall count as required parking. However, should any carport be removed, it shall not be rebuilt.
G.
Other Provisions.
1.
Notwithstanding the minimum rear setback requirement, there shall be one thousand square feet of open and uncovered space in the rear one-third of the lot area.
2.
Not less than sixty percent of the front yard shall be landscaped (as defined in Article II of this chapter) with the exception that all site improvements required to provide disabled accessibility, to the extent not feasible in nonlandscaped areas, may extend into the required landscaped area. The remainder of the front yard may be used for vehicular parking or storage; however, all vehicular parking and storage areas shall be surfaced in compliance with this chapter.
H.
Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan Consistency. All projects must comply with the requirements of the airport land use compatibility plan, including airport real estate disclosure notices, airport noise evaluation and mitigation, avigation easement, safety compatibility evaluation, and airspace protection evaluation, as detailed in Article XVI of this chapter ("Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan Consistency").
(Formerly 10.05.0140; 1976 Code § 10-1.402(1); Ord. 800 § 5; Ord. 726 § 2 (Att. A); Ord. 650 § 3; Amended by Ord. 603 § 2; Ord. 561 § 3.2)