(See Interpretations related to this Section.)
These Districts are intended to recognize, protect, conserve, and enhance areas characterized by structures combining Residential uses with neighborhood-serving Commercial uses. The predominant Residential uses are preserved, while provision is made for supporting Commercial uses, usually in or below the ground story, that meet the frequent needs of nearby residents without generating excessive vehicular traffic. The compact, walkable, transit-oriented and mixed-use nature of these Districts is recognized by no off-street parking requirements. The RC Districts are composed of two separate districts, as follows:
RC-3 Districts: Medium Density. These Districts provide for a mixture of medium-density Dwellings similar to those in RM-3 Districts, with supporting Commercial uses. Open spaces are required for Dwellings in the same manner as in RM-3 Districts, except that rear yards need not be at ground level and front setback areas are not required.
RC-4 Districts: High Density. These Districts provide for a mixture of high-density Dwellings similar to those in RM-4 Districts with supporting Commercial uses. Open spaces are required for Dwellings in the same manner as in RM-4 Districts, except that rear yards need not be at ground level and front setback areas are not required.
Zoning Category | § References | RC-3 | RC-4 |
Zoning Category | § References | RC-3 | RC-4 |
BUILDING STANDARDS | |||
Massing and Setbacks | |||
Height and Bulk Limits | |||
Front and Side Yard Setback | Not Required. | ||
Rear Yard | Required at first residential level and above. 25% of the lot depth, but in no case less than 15 feet. | ||
Residential Design Guidelines | § 311 | Subject to the Residential Design Guidelines. Other design guidelines that have been approved by the Planning Commission may also apply. | |
Street Frontage and Public Realm | |||
Streetscape and Pedestrian Improvements (Street Trees) | § 138.1 | Required. | |
Street Frontage Requirements | § 145.1 | Required as specified in Section § 145.1. | |
Street Frontage, Parking and Loading Access Restrictions | § 155(r) | As specified in § 155(r). | As specified in § 155(r). Curb cuts are NP on The Embarcadero between King and Jefferson Streets, and on Broadway between Mason and The Embarcadero. |
Miscellaneous | |||
Planned Unit Development | § 304 | C | C |
Awning, Canopy and Marquee | § 136.1 | P | P |
Signs | § 607.1 | Per § 607.1. | Per § 607.1. |
RESIDENTIAL STANDARDS AND USES | |||
Development Standards | |||
Usable Open Space [Per Dwelling Unit] | At least 60 square feet if private, and 80 square feet per Dwelling Unit if common. | At least 36 square feet if private, and 48 square feet per Dwelling Unit if common. | |
Parking Requirements | § 151.1 | None Required. Up to one space for every two units permitted, and up to three spaces for every four units permitted with Conditional Use per § 151.1. | |
Residential Conversion, Demolition, or Merger | § 317 | C for Removal of one or more Residential Units or Unauthorized Units. | |
Use Characteristics | |||
Intermediate Length Occupancy | P(11) | P(11) | |
Single Room Occupancy | § 102 | P | P |
Student Housing | § 102 | P | P |
Residential Uses | |||
Residential Density, Dwelling Units (7) | § 207 | 3 units per lot or up to one unit per 400 square feet of lot area. | |
Senior Housing | P up to twice the number of dwelling units otherwise permitted as a principal use in the district and meeting all the requirements of § 202.2(f)(1). | ||
Residential Density, Group Housing | § 208 | P up to one bedroom for every 140 square feet of lot area.
(9) | P up to one bedroom for every 70 square feet of lot area.
(9) |
Homeless Shelter | P | P | |
NON-RESIDENTIAL STANDARDS AND USES | |||
Development Standards | |||
Floor Area Ratio | 3.6 to 1. | ||
Off-Street Parking | § 151.1 | None Required. Up to one space for every two units permitted, and up to 3 spaces for every four units permitted with Conditional Use per § 151.1. | |
Non-Residential Use Size Limits | P if less than 6,000 square feet; C if 6,000 square feet or larger. NP if greater than 120,000 gross square feet. | ||
Ground Floor Ceiling Height | § 145.1(c)(4) | Minimum floor-to-floor height of 14 feet, as measured from grade except in 40-foot and 50-foot height districts, where buildings shall have a minimum floor-to-floor height of 10 feet. | |
Use Characteristics | |||
Drive-up Facility | § 102 | NP | NP |
Formula Retail | C | C | |
Maritime Use | § 102 | NP | NP |
Open Air Sales | § 102 | NP | NP |
Outdoor Activity Area | § 102 | P (1) | P (1) |
Walk-up Facility | § 102 | P | P |
Agricultural Use Category | |||
Agricultural Uses* | C | C | |
Agriculture, Neighborhood | P | P | |
Automotive Use Category | |||
Automotive Uses* | C | C | |
Parking Lot, Private | § 102 | NP | NP |
Service, Motor Vehicle Tow | § 102 | NP | NP |
Service, Parcel Delivery | § 102 | NP | NP |
Vehicle Storage Garage | § 102 | NP | NP |
Vehicle Storage Lot | § 102 | NP | NP |
Entertainment, Arts and Recreation Use Category | |||
Entertainment, Arts and Recreation Uses* | § 102 | P | P |
Entertainment, Outdoor | § 102 | NP | NP |
Livery Stable | § 102 | NP | NP |
Sports Stadium | § 102 | NP | NP |
Industrial Use Category | |||
Industrial Uses* | § 102 | NP | NP |
Institutional Use Category | |||
Institutional Uses* | § 102 | C | C |
Child Care Facility | § 102 | ||
Medical Cannabis Dispensary | P | P | |
Public Facilities | § 102 | P | P |
Residential Care Facility | § 102 | P | |
Trade School | § 102 | NP | NP |
Sales and Service Category | |||
Retail Sales and Service Uses* | P (4) | P (4) | |
Adult Business | § 102 | NP | NP |
Adult Sex Venue | § 102 | NP | NP (12) |
Hotel | § 102 | C | C |
Kennel | § 102 | NP | NP |
Massage Establishment | § 102 | NP | NP |
Mobile Food Facility | § 102 | P | P |
Mortuary | § 102 | C (5) | C (5) |
Motel | NP | NP | |
Storage, Self | § 102 | C | C |
Tobacco Paraphernalia Establishment | § 102 | C (6) | |
Non-Retail Sales and Service* | § 102 | NP | NP |
Design Professional | § 102 | P | P |
Utility and Infrastructure Use Category | |||
Utility and Infrastructure* | § 102 | NP | NP |
Internet Service Exchange | § 102 | C | C |
Utility Installation | § 102 | C | C |
Wireless Telecommunications Services Facility | § 102 | C or P (10) | C or P (10) |
(2) TOBACCO PARAPHERNALIA ESTABLISHMENTS IN THE NORTH OF MARKET RESIDENTIAL SPECIAL USE DISTRICT – A special definition of “Tobacco Paraphernalia Establishments” set forth in Section 102 applies to parcels in the North of Market Residential Special Use District (Sec. 249.5). Tobacco Paraphernalia Establishments are not permitted in the North of Market Residential Special Use District. Additionally, a legal non-conforming Tobacco Paraphernalia Establishment in the North of Market Residential Special Use District is deemed abandoned after 180 days of non-use.
(8)1 For purposes of this calculation, a Dwelling Unit in this district containing no more than 500 square feet of net floor area and consisting of not more than one habitable room in addition to a kitchen and a bathroom may be counted as equal to three-quarters of a Dwelling Unit.
(11) NP for buildings with three or fewer Dwelling Units; C for buildings with 10 or more Dwelling Units.
(Added as Sec. 206.3 by Ord. 443-78, App. 10/6/78; amended by Ord. 63-11, File No. 101053, App. 4/7/2011, Eff. 5/7/2011; Ord. 56-13
, File No. 130062, App. 3/28/2013, Eff. 4/27/2013; Ord. 232-14
, File No. 120881, App. 11/26/2014, Eff. 12/26/2014; redesignated and amended by Ord. 22-15, File No. 141253, App. 2/20/2015, Eff. 3/22/2015; amended by Ord. 161-15, File No. 150804, App. 9/18/2015, Eff. 10/18/2015; Ord. 162-15
, File No. 150805, App. 9/18/2015, Eff. 10/18/2015; Ord. 188-15
, File No. 150871, App. 11/4/2015, Eff. 12/4/2015; Ord. 33-16
, File No. 160115, App. 3/11/2016, Eff. 4/10/2016; Ord. 166-16
, File No. 160477, App. 8/11/2016, Eff. 9/10/2016; Ord. 129-17, File No. 170203, App. 6/30/2017, Eff. 7/30/2017; Ord. 189-17, File No. 170693, App. 9/15/2017, Eff. 10/15/2017; Ord. 202-18, File No. 180557, App. 8/10/2018, Eff. 9/10/2018; Ord. 303-18, File No. 180915, App. 12/21/2018, Eff. 1/21/2019; Ord. 116-19, File No. 181156, App. 6/28/2019, Eff. 7/29/2019; Ord. 63-20, File No. 200077, App. 4/24/2020, Eff. 5/25/2020; Ord. 78-20, File No. 191075, App. 5/22/2020, Eff. 6/22/2020; Ord. 111-21, File No. 210285, App. 8/4/2021, Eff. 9/4/2021; Ord. 136-21, File No. 210674, App. 8/4/2021, Eff. 9/4/2021; Ord. 75-22, File No. 220264, App. 5/13/2022, Eff. 6/13/2022; Ord. 248-23, File No. 230446, App. 12/14/2023, Eff. 1/14/2024; Ord. 33-24, File No. 231144, App. 2/21/2024, Eff. 3/23/2024; Ord. 62-24, File No. 230310, App. 3/28/2024, Eff. 4/28/2024; Ord. 70-24, File No. 231225, App. 4/5/2024, Eff. 5/6/2024)
(Former Sec. 209.3 added by Ord. 443-78, App. 10/6/78; amended by Ord. 115-90, App. 4/6/90; Ord. 275-05, File No. 051250, App. 11/30/2005; Ord. 225-06, File No. 060032; Ord. 225-07, File No. 070677, App. 10/2/2007; Ord. 72-08, File No. 071157, App. 4/3/2008; Ord. 90-08, File No. 080232, App. 5/21/2008; Ord. 298-08, File No. 081153, App. 12/19/2008; Ord. 140-11, File No. 110482, App. 7/5/2011, Eff. 8/4/2011; repealed by Ord. 22-15, File No. 141253, App. 2/20/2015, Eff. 3/22/2015)
AMENDMENT HISTORY
Section header and section amended; Ord. 63-11, Eff. 5/7/2011. Former references to RC-1 and RC-2 Districts deleted; Ord. 56-13
, Eff. 4/27/2013. Section amended; Ord. 232-14
, Eff. 12/26/2014. Former Sec. 206.3 redesignated as Sec. 209.3; Table 209.3 added; Ord. 22-15, Eff. 3/22/2015. Note (7) added; Ords. 161-15 and 162-15
, Eff. 10/18/2015. Table 209.3 amended, Notes (8) and (9)1
added; Ord. 188-15
, Eff. 12/4/2015. Table 209.3 amended; Ord. 33-16
, Eff. 4/10/2016. Table 209.3 amended; Note (10)2
added; Ord. 166-16
, Eff. 9/10/2016. Table 209.3 amended; Note (4) amended; Ord. 129-17
, Eff. 7/30/2017. Table 209.3 amended; Note (2) deleted; Ord. 189-17
, Eff. 10/15/2017. Table 209.3 amended; Ord. 202-18
, Eff. 9/10/2018. Table 209.3 amended; Note (3) deleted; Ord. 303-18
, Eff. 1/21/2019. Note (7) amended; Ord. 116-19
, Eff. 7/29/2019. Table 209.3 amended; Ord. 63-20
, Eff. 5/25/2020. Table 209.3 amended; Note (11) added; Ord. 78-20
, Eff. 6/22/2020. Table 209.3 amended; Ord. 111-21
, Eff. 9/4/2021. Table 209.3 and Note (11) amended; Ord. 136-21
, Eff. 9/4/2021. Table 209.3 amended; Note (12) added; Ord. 75-22
, Eff. 6/13/2022. Table 209.3 amended; Ord. 248-23
, Eff. 1/14/2024. Note (12) amended; Ord. 33-24
, Eff. 3/23/2024. Note (7) amended; Ord. 62-24
, Eff. 4/28/2024. Table 209.3 amended; Note (2) added; Ord. 70-24
, Eff. 5/6/2024.
CODIFICATION NOTES