Millbrae, CA Zoning Ordinance

The purpose of the multifamily residential or "R-3" district is to enable and enhance the residential character of those areas of Millbrae designated for apartment living by requiring adequate amounts of cooperatively used service facilities and outdoor open space at the highest residential densities available in Millbrae. This district correlates with the "higher density" land use designation of the Millbrae General Plan.

(Formerly 10.05.0770; 1966 Code § 8131; 1976 Code § 10-1.601; Ord. 231; Ord. 726 § 2 (Att. A))

The following uses shall be permitted, conditional, or accessory uses in the R-3 district:

Permitted uses: single-family dwellings, duplexes, triplexes, multiple-family dwellings, care facilities, and state-regulated residential care facilities.

Conditional uses: rooming and boarding houses, clubs and lodges, community centers, places of worship, schools (pre-K and K through twelve), parks, utility services, wireless communications facilities, medical offices, professional offices, bed and breakfasts, and commercial lodging.

Accessory uses: home occupations, short-term residential rentals, accessory dwelling units, and junior accessory dwelling units.

(Formerly 10.05.0780; 1966 Code § 8132; 1976 Code § 10-1.602; Ord. 782 § 7; Ord. 771 § 4(F); Amended by Ord. 483 § 1; Ord. 231; Ord. 726 § 2 (Att. A))

Development regulations in the R-3 district are as follows:

Lot Minimums.

Width:

Fifty feet for interior lots.

Sixty feet for corner lots.

Area:

Five thousand square feet for interior lots.

Sixty thousand square feet for corner lots.

Lot Maximums.

Lot coverage: seventy-five percent.

Floor area ratio (FAR): no limit.

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.

Maximum height of structures shall be forty feet.

Exceptions. Upon securing a height exception, chimneys, silos, cupolas, flagpoles, monuments, gas storage holders, radio and other towers, 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.

All other structures exceeding the maximum allowable height shall require a variance.

Setbacks.

Front: twenty feet.

Side:

Ten percent of lot width, but in no case less than five feet or more than twenty feet.

Interior side yards shall be increased beyond the five-foot minimum by two feet for each ten feet, or portion thereof, that the building exceeds twenty-four feet in height.

Rear: five feet minimum, plus two feet for each ten feet, or portion thereof, that the building exceeds twenty-four feet in height.

Attached ground floor decks greater than one foot above adjacent grade shall meet the above specified setbacks.

Multiple-family dwellings where there are two or more structures located on one lot shall have a minimum of ten feet between buildings.

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.

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.

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.

Encroachments Permissible without Planning Commission Approval.

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.

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.

Density Limit. The minimum lot area per unit shall be one thousand square feet.

Parking. The parking requirements for all permitted, conditional, and accessory uses in this district are listed in MMC § 10.05.2100 (the "parking requirements table").

Other Provisions. Not less than fifty 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 stage areas shall be surfaced in compliance with this chapter.

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").

(Amended by Ord. 800 § 7; Ord. 726 § 2 (Att. A))