Title 20 of the South San Francisco Municipal Code shall be known and cited as the “South San Francisco Zoning Ordinance,” “Zoning Ordinance of the City of South San Francisco,” “Zoning Ordinance,” or “Ordinance.”
The South San Francisco Zoning Ordinance is adopted pursuant to the authority contained in Section 65850 of the California Government Code.
(Ord. 1646 § 2, 2022)
The purpose of this Ordinance is to implement the City’s General Plan and to protect and promote the public health, safety, peace, comfort, convenience, prosperity and general welfare. More specifically, the Ordinance is adopted to achieve the following objectives:
A. 
To provide a precise guide for the physical development of the City in a manner as to progressively achieve the arrangement of land uses depicted in the South San Francisco General Plan, consistent with the goals and policies of the General Plan.
B. 
To foster a harmonious, convenient, and workable relationship among land uses and ensure compatible infill development, consistent with the General Plan.
C. 
To support economic development and job creation.
D. 
To provide for the housing needs of all economic segments of the community.
E. 
To promote high quality architecture and design, consistent with the General Plan.
F. 
To promote the stability of existing land uses that conform with the General Plan, protecting them from inharmonious influences and harmful intrusions.
G. 
To promote a safe and efficient traffic circulation system, foster the provision of adequate off-street parking and off-street loading facilities, bicycle facilities and pedestrian amenities, enhance walkability, and support a multi-modal transportation system.
H. 
To facilitate the appropriate location of community facilities, institutions and parks and recreational areas and facilitate pedestrian and bicycle facilities between such spaces.
I. 
To protect and enhance real property values.
J. 
To safeguard and enhance the appearance of the City.
K. 
To further resilience to sea level rise through building and site design.
L. 
To define duties and powers of administrative bodies and officers responsible for implementation of the Ordinance.
(Ord. 1646 § 2, 2022)
A. 
Organization of Regulations. This Ordinance consists of seven divisions:
1. 
Division I: Title, Zoning Districts, and Rules
2. 
Division II: Conventional District Regulations
3. 
Division III: Form-Based District Regulations
4. 
Division IV: Overlays and Plan Districts
5. 
Division V: Citywide Standards
6. 
Division VI: Administration and Procedures
7. 
Division VII: Uses and Definitions
B. 
Types of Regulations. Four types of zoning regulations control the use and development of property:
1. 
Land Use Regulations. These regulations specify land uses permitted, conditionally permitted or specifically prohibited in each zoning district, and include special requirements, if any, applicable to specific uses. Land use regulations for conventional base zoning districts are located in Division II ("Conventional Base Zoning Districts") and land use regulations for form-based zoning districts are located in Division III ("Form-Based Zoning Districts"). Land use regulations for overlay districts and specific plan districts are in Division IV ("Overlay and Specific Plan Districts"). Certain regulations, applicable in some or all of the districts, and performance standards which govern special uses, are in Division V ("Citywide Standards").
2. 
Development Regulations. These regulations control the height, bulk, location and appearance of structures on development sites. Development regulations for conventional base zoning districts are located in Division II ("Conventional Base Zoning Districts") and development regulations for form-based zoning districts are located in Division III ("Form-Based Zoning Districts"). Development regulations for overlay districts and specific plan districts are located in Division IV ("Overlay and Specific Plan Districts"). Certain development regulations, applicable to some or all districts are in Division V ("Citywide Standards"). These include regulations for specific uses, development and site regulations, performance standards, parking, sign, antennas and wireless communications and nonconforming uses.
3. 
Administrative Regulations. These regulations contain detailed procedures for the administration of this Ordinance, and include common procedures, processes and standards for discretionary entitlement applications and other permits. Administrative regulations are in Division VI ("Administration and Procedures").
4. 
General Uses and Terms. Division VII ("Uses and Definitions") provides a list of use classifications and a list of terms and definitions used in the Ordinance.
(Ord. 1646 § 2, 2022; Ord. 1656, 6/12/2024)
A. 
Applicability to Property. This Ordinance shall apply, to the extent allowed by law, to all property within the corporate limits of the City and to property for which applications for annexation and/or subdivisions have been submitted to the City, including all uses, structures and land owned by any private person, firm, corporation or organization, or the City or other local, State or federal agencies. Any governmental agency shall be exempt from the provisions of this Ordinance only to the extent that such property may not be lawfully regulated by the City.
B. 
Compliance with Regulations. No land shall be used, and no structure shall be constructed, occupied, enlarged, altered, demolished or moved in any zoning district, except in accordance with the provisions of this Ordinance.
(Ord. 1646 § 2, 2022)
A. 
General. The regulations of this Ordinance and requirements or conditions imposed pursuant to this Ordinance shall not supersede any other regulations or requirements adopted or imposed by the South San Francisco City Council, the State of California, or any federal agency that has jurisdiction by law over uses and development authorized by this Ordinance. All uses and development authorized by this Ordinance shall comply with all other such regulations and requirements. Where conflict occurs between the provisions of the Ordinance and any other City ordinance, chapter, resolution, guideline or regulation, the more restrictive provisions shall control, unless otherwise specified.
B. 
Permit Streamlining Act. It is the intent of this Ordinance that all actions taken by the decision-making body pursuant to this Ordinance that are solely adjudicatory in nature be within a time frame consistent with the provisions of Government Ordinance Section 65920 et seq. (the Permit Streamlining Act). Nothing in this Ordinance shall be interpreted as imposing time limits on actions taken by the decision-making body pursuant to this Ordinance that are legislative in nature or that require both adjudicatory and legislative judgments.
C. 
Relation to Private Agreements. This Ordinance shall not interfere with or annul any recorded easement, covenant, or other agreement now in effect, provided that where this Ordinance imposes greater restriction than imposed by an easement, covenant, or agreement, this Ordinance shall control.
D. 
Relation to Prior Ordinance. The provisions of this Ordinance supersede all prior Zoning Ordinances codified in Title 20 of the South San Francisco Municipal Code and any amendments. No provision of this Ordinance shall validate any land use or structure established, constructed, or maintained in violation of the prior Zoning Ordinance, unless such validation is specifically authorized by this Ordinance and is in conformance with all other regulations.
E. 
Application During Local Emergency. The City Council may authorize a deviation from a provision of this Ordinance during a local emergency declared and ratified under the South San Francisco Municipal Code. The City Council may authorize a deviation by resolution without notice or public hearing.
(Ord. 1646 § 2, 2022)
Any permit, license or approval issued pursuant to this Ordinance must be consistent with the South San Francisco General Plan and all applicable specific plans. In any case where there is a conflict between this Ordinance and the General Plan, the General Plan shall prevail.
(Ord. 1646 § 2, 2022)
Any building or structure for which a Building Permit has been issued, may be completed and used in accordance with the plans, specifications and permits on which said Building Permit was granted, provided at least one building inspection has been requested and posted for the primary structure on the site where the permit is issued, and provided construction is diligently pursued and completed within six months of permit issuance. Any building or structure for which a Planning Permit has been issued may be completed and used in accordance with the plans, specifications and permits on which said Planning Permit was granted, provided that Planning Permits shall expire if no Building Permit is granted within two years, with an option to request a time extension not exceeding one year beyond the initial two-year period unless otherwise governed by an adopted Development Agreement by the City Council. As used in this section, "Planning Permit" shall include any Precise Plan, Use Permit, Variance, Design Review, Site Clearance, or other approval or entitlement for development and/or use of property as required by the City. No extensions of time except as provided for in the California Building Code shall be granted for commencement of construction, unless the applicant has secured an allowed permit extension from the Planning Division.
(Ord. 1646 § 2, 2022; Ord. 1656, 6/12/2024)
If any section, subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of this Ordinance is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by the decision of any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Ordinance. The South San Francisco City Council hereby declares that it would have passed this Ordinance, and each section, subsection, sentence, clause and phrase thereof, regardless of the fact that any or one or more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses or phrases be declared invalid or unconstitutional.
(Ord. 1646 § 2, 2022)
The City Council shall establish by resolution, and may amend and revise from time to time, fees for processing the discretionary entitlement applications and other permits authorized or required by this Ordinance. All fees shall be paid at the time an application is filed, and no processing shall commence until the fees are paid in full.
(Ord. 1646 § 2, 2022)