The purpose of this chapter is to provide locations for uses that support civic, cultural, health, educational, infrastructure, and open space uses for the community, consistent with the policy direction in the San Pablo general plan. The intent of each of the public and semi-public zoning districts is described below.
(Ord. 2015-002 § 3 (Exh. 1)(part), 2015)
A. 
I district. The I institutional district is intended to implement the public/semi-public land use designation in the general plan by providing for uses such as parks, government administrative offices, schools and school playgrounds, hospitals, convalescent homes, fire stations, public utility stations, post offices, and various types of state and federal facilities. In some situations, other types of complementary uses are allowed with a use permit.
B. 
OS district. The OS open space district is intended to implement the open space land use designation in the general plan by providing for non-recreational open space, active recreational open space, creeks, and passive recreational open space. This district is to be applied to lands owned by a public agency. In some situations, other types of complementary uses are allowed with a use permit.
(Ord. 2015-002 § 3 (Exh. 1)(part), 2015)
A. 
Exceptions along railroad lines and streams. Notwithstanding the provisions of Table 17.36-A, the following provisions apply:
1. 
Any development within 300 feet of a railroad line that is used at least once daily shall require a use permit to ensure that the development adequately mitigates noise and vibration from the rail operations, pursuant to the relevant policies and actions under Goal PS 4 of the general plan.
2. 
Any development, including land disturbance, that is within 50 feet of any stream shall require a use permit to ensure that the development adequately avoids impacts to wetland features or woodlands, reduces impacts to the creek, and prevents degradation of riparian and wetland features from potential urban pollutants, pursuant to the relevant policies and actions related to creeks under Goal ER 1 of the general plan.
3. 
"Sensitive Uses" as defined in Section 17.38.050B which are located in the Air Quality Health Risk Overlay District (D3) must obtain a conditional use permit unless the sensitive use is required by State Law to be permitted by right or is considered a residential use by this Zoning Ordinance or State Law. Sensitive uses are also subject to the requirements in Section 17.38.050C.
B. 
Exceptions along railroad lines and streams. Notwithstanding the provisions of Table 17.36-A, the following provisions apply:
1. 
Any development within three hundred feet of a railroad line that is used at least once daily shall require a use permit to ensure that the development adequately mitigates noise and vibration from the rail operations, pursuant to the relevant policies and actions under Goal PS 4 of the general plan.
2. 
Any development, including land disturbance, that is within fifty feet of any stream shall require a use permit to ensure that the development adequately avoids impacts to wetland features or woodlands, reduces impacts to the creek, and prevents degradation of riparian and wetland features from potential urban pollutants, pursuant to the relevant policies and actions related to creeks under Goal ER 1 of the general plan.
C. 
Design review. Certain uses also require design review. A list of those uses is contained in Section 17.18.090, Minor design review, and Section 17.20.030, Major design review.
D. 
Principal uses only. Only principal uses are listed in Table 17.36-A. Accessory uses are addressed in Section 17.36.050, Accessory uses.
E. 
Other regulations. Some uses are also subject to the provisions of Title 5 and other titles of the San Pablo Municipal Code. Those provisions are in addition to the provisions in this chapter.
F. 
Special provisions. Special provisions related to a use are referenced in the special provisions column of Table 17.36-A.
Table 17.36-A—Public and Semi-Public Districts: Use Regulations
Land Use/Zoning District
I
OS
Special Provisions
Residential Uses
Accessory Dwelling Unit
Section 17.60.070
Assisted Living Facilities
 
Boarding Houses
U
 
Community Care Facilities
U
 
Day Care, Small Family
 
Day Care, Large Family
 
Dwellings, Multiple-Family
 
Dwellings, Single-Family Attached
Section 17.32.040
Dwellings, Single-Family Detached
Section 17.32.040
Dwellings, Two-Family (Duplexes)
Section 17.32.040
Home Occupations
Section 17.60.030
Incidental Residences
U
U
 
Live-Work Facility
Section 17.60.040
Mobile Home Parks
Section 17.60.060
Residential Care Facilities
U
 
Recreation, Resource Preservation, Open Space, Education, and Public Assembly Uses
Cemeteries
U
U
 
Community Facilities
U
 
Community Gardens
A
A
 
Day Care Centers
U
 
Hospitals and Clinics
U
 
Public Services
A
 
Recreation, Amusements
 
Recreation, Indoor
U
 
Recreation, Major Arcades
 
Recreation, Minor Arcades
 
Recreation, Outdoor Passive
U
R
 
Recreation, Parks and Playgrounds
U
R
 
Religious Institutions
U
 
Schools, Private
U
 
Schools, Public
U
 
Utility, Transportation, Public Facility, and Communication Uses
Wireless Facilities
Sections 17.62.200 and 17.62.300
Utilities, Major
U
U
 
Utilities, Minor
R
U
 
Retail, Service, and Office Uses
Adult-Oriented Businesses
Section 17.62.010
Alcoholic Beverage Sales
Section 17.62.020
Animal Boarding
 
Animal Care
 
Bed and Breakfast
 
Business and Professional Services
 
Cannabis, Retail Business
Section 17.62.130
Cannabis, Limited Personal Cultivation
Section 17.62.130
Cannabis, Outdoor Cultivation
Section 17.62.130
Check Cashing Businesses
Section 17.62.050
Dance and Fitness Studios
 
Escort Services
Section 17.62.120
Farmers Markets
A
A
 
Food and Beverage Sales, Convenience
 
Food and Beverage Sales, General
 
Funeral and Interment Services
U
 
Health Food Stores
Section 17.62.090
Hotels and Motels
 
Massage Establishments
Section 17.62.120
Mobile Vending
Section 17.62.140
Nurseries
 
Offices
 
Personal Services
 
Repair Services, General
 
Repair Services, Limited
 
Restaurants, Fast Service
Section 17.62.160
Restaurants, Full Service
 
Retail Sales, General
 
Retail Sales, Local
 
Retail Sales, Outdoor
 
Retail Sales, Regional
 
Secondhand Dealers
Section 17.62.170
Smoke Shops
Section 17.62.180
Tattoo Parlors
Section 17.62.190
Wholesaling
 
Automobile and Vehicle Uses
Automotive, General Repair
Section 17.62.040
Automotive, Limited Repair
Section 17.62.040
Automotive, New Car Sales
 
Automotive, Parking
 
Automotive, Parts Sales
 
Automotive, Service Stations
 
Automotive, Used Car Sales
 
Automotive, Washing
 
Boat and RV Sales
 
Taxicab Companies
 
Truck Repair and Sales
 
Industrial, Manufacturing, and Processing Uses
Building Materials
 
Industry, General
 
Industry, Limited
 
Junkyards
Section 17.62.110
Maintenance Yards
 
Recycling Services, Consumer
U
 
Recycling Services, Donation/Collection Boxes
U
 
Recycling Services, General
U
 
Research and Development
U
 
Storage, Personal
U
 
Warehousing and Storage, Enclosed
U
 
Warehousing and Storage, Outdoors
 
(Ord. 2015-002 § 3, 2015; Ord. 2016-001 § 4, 2016; Ord. 2017-003 § 4, 2017; Ord. 2017-005 § 4, 2017; Ord. 2020-002 § 10, 2020; Ord. 2025-001, 3/3/2025; Ord. 2026-002, 4/20/2026)
A. 
General. No minimum parcel area is required.
B. 
Height. The maximum building height is twenty-seven feet; provided, that a greater height may be allowed pursuant to a use permit.
C. 
Floor area ratio. A maximum floor area ratio is not applicable.
D. 
Setbacks. The following setbacks are required:
1. 
No front yard setback is required except where the frontage in a block is partially in a residential district, in which case the front yard shall be the same as the residential district.
2. 
No side yard setback is required except where the side of a parcel abuts the side of a parcel in a residential district or a parcel on which a residential use is located, in which case the side yard shall be not less than ten feet.
3. 
No rear yard setback is required except where the rear of a parcel abuts a residential district or a parcel on which a residential use is located, in which case the rear yard shall not be less than ten feet.
E. 
Stormwater management. For rules on stormwater management, see Chapter 8.40.
(Ord. 2015-002 § 3 (Exh. 1)(part), 2015)
Accessory uses normally incidental to the type of principal use located on the parcel are allowed. In case of dispute, the zoning administrator shall determine if a use is an accessory or a principal use.
(Ord. 2015-002 § 3 (Exh. 1)(part), 2015)