Ordinance chapter · Portola Valley, California

Chapter 3

CHAPTER 18 - ZONING#

18.02 - GENERAL PROVISIONS#

18.04 - DEFINITIONS#

18.06 - DISTRICTS#

18.06.010 - Districts established.#

The following classes of use districts are established:

Chapter District Type District Name
Chapter 18.12 R-E districts Residential estate districts
Chapter 18.14 R-1 districts Single-family residential districts
Chapter 18.15 R-MF districts Multi-family residential districts
Chapter 18.16 M-R districts Mountainous residential districts
Chapter 18.20 C-C districts Community commercial districts
Chapter 18.22 A-P districts Administrative-professional districts
Chapter 18.23 MU district Mixed-use district
Chapter 18.26 O-A districts Open area districts
Chapter 18.28 P-C districts Planned community districts
Chapter 18.29 AH Affiliated housing combining district
Chapter 18.31 H-R Historic resource combining district

(Ord. 2024-451 § 1 (Att. A), 2024; Ord. 2024-450 § 1 (Att. A), 2024; Ord. 1994-276 § 4 Exh. A (part), 1994; Ord. 1979-166 § 2, 1979; Ord. 1967-80 § 1 (6104.1), 1967)

18.06.020 - Combining districts established.#

To provide for a range of parcel sizes and required open spaces necessary to reflect the diversity of locational and physical conditions existing in the town, to provide special regulations for areas of special importance or unusual scenic amenity, and to control density and character of development in relation to the character of terrain, the following classes of combining districts are established:

Residential density combining districts, including:

Designation Minimum Parcel Size
7.5M 7,500 sq. ft.
15M 15,000 sq. ft.
20M 20,000 sq. ft.
1A 1 acre
2A 2 acres
2.5A 2.5 acres
3.5A 3.5 acres
5A 5 acres
7.5A 7.5 acres

Other combining districts:

  • D-R districts—Design review combining districts
  • F-P districts—Floodplain combining districts
  • S-D districts—Slope density combining districts

(Ord. 1981-181 § 1, 1981; Ord. 1979-166 § 3, 1979; Ord. 1978-164 § 2, 1978; Ord. 1968-86 § 1, 1968; Ord. 1967-80 § 1 (6104.2), 1967)

18.06.030 - Designation of districts on zoning map.#

The districts and combining districts enumerated in Sections 18.06.010 and 18.06.020 are applied to lands in the town insofar as the designations, locations, and boundaries of such districts are set forth on the zoning map adopted by reference by Section 18.08.010.

(Ord. 1967-80 § 1 (6104.3), 1967)

18.06.040 - Prezoning adjoining unincorporated lands.#

Adjoining lands in unincorporated territory are prezoned in the categories indicated on the zoning map by the adoption of the ordinance codified in this title and subsequent amendments hereto. In the event any prezoned lands are subsequently annexed to the town the zoning indicated on the map shall become effective at the time of annexation. All other lands annexed to the town after August 17, 1967 shall be in R-E/5A districts unless otherwise classified.

(Ord. 1967-80 § 1 (6104.4), 1967)

18.06.050 - Areas not included within a district.#

In every case where any land has not been specifically included within a district, or if any district is determined to be invalid or inapplicable, such land is declared to be in R-E/5A districts until otherwise classified.

(Ord. 1967-80 § 1 (6104.5), 1967)


18.08 - ZONING MAP#

18.10 - RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS#

18.11 - REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES#

18.12 - R-E RESIDENTIAL ESTATE DISTRICT REGULATIONS#

18.14 - R-1 SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT REGULATIONS#

18.15 - R-MF MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT REGULATIONS#

18.16 - M-R MOUNTAINOUS RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT REGULATIONS#

18.17 - STATE DENSITY BONUS LAW#

18.18 - COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS#

18.20 - C-C COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL DISTRICT REGULATIONS#

18.22 - A-P ADMINISTRATIVE-PROFESSIONAL DISTRICT REGULATIONS#

18.23 - M-U MIXED-USE DISTRICT REGULATIONS#

18.24 - SPECIAL DISTRICTS#

18.26 - O-A OPEN AREA DISTRICT REGULATIONS#

18.27 - STANDARDS FOR SB 9 RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT#

18.28 - P-C PLANNED COMMUNITY DISTRICT REGULATIONS#

18.29 - AFFILIATED HOUSING AH COMBINING DISTRICT REGULATIONS#

18.30 - D-R DESIGN REVIEW COMBINING DISTRICT REGULATIONS#

18.31 - H-R HISTORIC RESOURCES COMBINING DISTRICT REGULATIONS#

18.32 - F-P FLOODPLAIN COMBINING DISTRICT REGULATIONS#

18.34 - ADMINISTRATION#

18.36 - USES PERMITTED IN ALL DISTRICTS#

18.37 - REQUIRED CONDITIONS IN ALL DISTRICTS#

18.38 - DETERMINATION OF USES NOT LISTED#

18.39 - CANNABIS LAND USES#

18.40 - SIGNS#

18.41 - WIRELESS COMMUNICATION FACILITIES#

18.42 - ACCESSORY STRUCTURES#

18.43 - FENCES#

18.44 - PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT#

18.46 - NONCONFORMING STRUCTURES AND USES#

18.48 - PARCEL AREA, OPEN SPACE AND BULK—BASIC REQUIREMENTS#

18.50 - PARCEL AREA#

18.52 - YARDS#

18.54 - BUILDING BULK#

18.56 - IMPERVIOUS SURFACING AND LANDSCAPING#

18.58 - SPECIAL SETBACK LINES#

18.59 - CREEK SETBACKS#

18.60 - OFF-STREET PARKING#

18.62 - ZONING PERMIT AND CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY#

18.64 - ARCHITECTURAL AND SITE PLAN REVIEW#

18.66 - APPEALS FROM DECISIONS OF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICIALS AND ARCHITECTURAL AND SITE CONTROL COMMISSION#

18.68 - VARIANCES#

18.70 - BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT#

18.72 - CONDITIONAL USE PERMITS#

18.74 - AMENDMENTS AND RECLASSIFICATIONS#

18.76 - HEARINGS BEFORE PLANNING COMMISSION AND COUNCIL#

18.78 - APPEALS TO AND REVIEW BY TOWN COUNCIL#

18.80 - ENFORCEMENT#