Supplemental Requirements for Residential Zones-
San Diego Municipal Code § 131.0464
in effect(a)
Supplemental Requirements for RS Zones
(1)
Manufactured homes are permitted as residential dwelling units subject
to all regulations of the applicable zone in addition to the following
supplemental regulations:
(A)
Siding shall be of nonreflective material such as wood, vinyl,
stucco, decorative stone, or masonry;
(B)
Roofing materials shall be of nonreflective material such as
concrete tiles, fiberglass shingles, or composition shingles,
shakes, or tiles;
(C)
Eaves shall be between 12 and 16 inches measured from the
vertical side of the exterior wall; and
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(D)
The foundation along the exterior perimeter shall conform to the
Building Regulations and shall consist of poured concrete,
masonry, or approved all-weather material. If the foundation
material is not masonry or concrete, it shall match the siding
material of the home.
(b)
Supplemental Requirements for RX Zones:
(1)
For lots without alley access, a minimum of 25 percent of the length of
the building facade on the ground floor must be utilized for habitable
space.
(2)
Manufactured homes are permitted as residential dwelling units
provided they comply with the regulations in Section 131.0464(a)(1).
(c)
Supplemental Requirements for RT Zones:
(1)
When an RT development exceeds 12 units and the lots are greater than
90 feet in depth, the front façade of one-third of the dwelling units must
be offset 3 feet from the front façade of the remaining units.
(2)
For all dwelling units, 20 percent of the area of the front façade shall be
used for door and window area.
(3)
One building articulation feature from each category listed below shall
be incorporated into each dwelling unit:
Category A:
Elevated first floor
Projecting balcony
Bay windows (2)
Category B:
Turret (with or without cupola)
Inset balcony
Angled side planes (2)
Projecting (or inset) elevated entry
Category C
Planter boxes
Trellises
Inset windows
Projecting covered entry
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Dormers
Inset entry
Building articulation features shall be provided in accordance with the
following regulations. Those features that may project into the required
front and street side yards are indicated and are subject to the
requirements in Section 131.0461(c).
(A)
Elevated First Floor. The elevation of the ground story (first
floor) shall be 42 inches above proposed grade.
(B)
Projecting Balcony. A maximum of one projecting balcony is
permitted for each story above the first story. Each balcony
may be roofed or unroofed. Open or solid safety railings not to
exceed 42 inches in height are permitted. (See
Section 131.0461(b)(1) for yard encroachment regulations).
(C)
Bay Windows. At least two bay windows per elevation are
required. A minimum of 40 percent of each bay window
elevation shall be glass. (See Section 131.0461(b)(2) for yard
encroachment regulations).
(D)
Turret. The minimum size of a turret shall be 6 feet by 6 feet or
shall have a 6-foot diameter in plan dimensions. Turrets shall
extend from the ground (first story) level for the full height of
the building or shall extend from the second story to the full
height of the building. A turret may project into the space above
the angled building envelope plane to 5 feet above the
maximum permitted structure height.
For each story, at least 40 percent of the turret elevation shall be
glass. At the first story, an entry door may substitute for an
equal square footage amount of glass area. Only one bay
window per story may be used if a turret is provided. (See
Section 141.0461(b)(3) for yard encroachment regulations).
(E)
Inset Balcony. A maximum of two inset balconies are permitted
per elevation. Each balcony may be roofed or unroofed. Open
or solid safety railings not to exceed 42 inches in height are
permitted.
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(F)
Angled Side Planes. At both side setbacks, the structure shall
observe 60-degree planes sloping inward above 25 feet in height
to the maximum permitted building height. At minimum,
angled planes must be located on the front 50 percent of the
structure. Dormers may project from the angled side planes to
the side property lines but may not be closer than 3 feet to a
street side property line.
(G)
Projecting Elevated Entry. One projecting entry is permitted
per elevation. The entry must be unenclosed on three sides and
may have a maximum 42-inch-high open safety railing. The
entry shall be a minimum of 6 feet and a maximum of 8 feet
wide. The entry may have an unenclosed balcony with the
same horizontal dimensions above it. Stairs providing access to
the entry for buildings with an elevated first floor shall not be
included in the determination of width. (See Section
131.0461(b)(4) for yard encroachment regulations).
(H)
Planter Boxes. Planter boxes shall be of wood, brick, stone, or
finished/patterned concrete construction. The minimum total
area of the planter boxes shall be 40 square feet. The walls of
the planter boxes shall be at least 24 inches and no more than 36
inches high. The planter boxes shall be located adjacent to the
structure, entry, walkway, or property line. Wrought iron
fencing (and gate), at least 50 percent open, may be placed in
the required front yard either separately or in conjunction with
the planter boxes, in accordance with the fence height
regulations in Chapter 14, Article 2, Division 3 (Fence
Regulations).
(I)
Trellises. Trellises shall be at least 50 percent open in plan
view. Diagonal supports from the building wall extending
within a 45-degree angle from the building wall to the
horizontal portion of the projection are permitted. (See
Section 131.0461(b)(5) for yard encroachment regulations).
(J)
Inset Windows. A maximum of two inset windows are
permitted per story. The window surface must be set back at
least 6 inches from the front facade.
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(K)
Projecting Covered Entry. One projecting covered entry is
permitted per elevation. The entry shall be at least 6 feet but no
more than 8 feet wide. The required cover shall be no more
than 50 percent open. The entry may have an unenclosed
balcony with the same horizontal dimensions, above it. (See
Section 131.0461(b)(4) for yard encroachment regulations).
(L)
Dormers. Dormers may project into the space above the angled
building envelope plane. Dormers may have pitched or curved
roofs. The maximum width for dormers is 5 feet. At the side
and street side setbacks a minimum separation of 10 feet
between dormers is required. (See Section 131.0461(b)(6) for
yard encroachment regulations).
(M)
Inset Entry. One inset entry is permitted per elevation. Inset
entries shall be either at grade or elevated. The entry must be
set back at least 24 inches from the facade and may have a
maximum 42-inch-high open safety railing.
(d)
Supplemental Requirements for RM-1-1, RM-1-2, RM-1-3 Zones
(1)
For lots with a width of 60 feet or less, not more than two 10-foot-wide
garage doors or garage entries or a single 16-foot-wide garage door or
entry on the building facade is permitted, except when that door
accesses underground parking. For each additional 25 feet of street
frontage, an additional 10 feet maximum width garage door or garage
entry is permitted.
(2)
For lots with a width of 50 feet or less, at least 40 percent of the length
of the building facade on the ground floor must enclose habitable area
(not garage or parking entrance); for lots greater than 50 feet in width,
at least 50 percent of the length of the building facade on the ground
floor must enclose habitable area. See Diagram 131-04X.
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Diagram 131-04X
Ground Floor Habitable Space Requirement
Habitable area
Parking area
Parking entry
driveway
Max 50% of length
of building facade
Max 60% of length
of building facade
Lot width of 50'
or less - min 40% of
length of building facade
Lot width of more
than 50' - min 50% of
length of building facade
Length of building facade
Building facade
enclosing habitable area
(3)
Within the front façade on all floors above the first floor, a transparent
glass window or windows with an aggregate area of at least 20 square
feet shall be provided for each dwelling unit that faces the street.
(e)
Supplemental Requirements for the RM-2-4, RM-2-5, RM-2-6 Zones
(1)
For lots with a width of 60 feet or less, not more than two 10-foot-wide
garage doors or garage entries or a single 16-foot-wide garage door or
entry on the building facade is permitted, except when that door
accesses underground parking. For each additional 25 feet of street
frontage, an additional 10 feet maximum width garage door or garage
entry is permitted.
(2)
Garages, carports, and other parking entries in the building facade shall
be set back at least an additional 5 feet from the facade wall enclosing
habitable space, as shown in Diagram 131-04Y.
(3)
For lots with a width of 50 feet or less, at least 40 percent of the length
of the building facade on the ground floor must enclose habitable area
(not a garage or parking entrance); for lots greater than 50 feet in width,
at least 50 percent of the length of the building facade on the ground
floor must enclose habitable area. See Diagram 131-04Y.
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Diagram 131-04Y
Parking Area/ Habitable Space Offset
Building fac ade
enc los ing habitable area
Park ing entry
driv ew ay
Lot w idth of 50'
or les s - min 40% of
length of building fac ade
Length of building fac ade
5' min
H abitable area
Park ing area
Lot w idth of 50'
or les s than 50' - min 50%
of length of building fac ade
(4)
Within the building façade on all floors above the first floor, a
transparent glass window or windows with an aggregate area of at least
20 square feet shall be provided for each dwelling unit that faces the
street.
(f)
Supplemental Requirements for the RM-3-7, RM-3-8, RM-3-9 Zones
When the ground floor of a building is used for parking and the parking is
adjacent to a required yard, the parking area must be screened by a minimum
6-foot-high fence or 6-foot-high landscaping. A pedestrian entry to the
building from each street must be provided.
[Editors Note: Amendments as adopted by O-21836 N.S. will not apply within the
Coastal Overlay Zone until the California Coastal Commission certifies it as a Local
Coastal Program Amendment.
Click the link to view the Strikeout Ordinance highlighting changes to prior language
http://docs.sandiego.gov/municode_strikeout_ord/O-21836-SO.pdf ]
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Source: amlegal_browserURL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/sanfrancisco/latest/sfplanning/Fetched: 6/28/2026