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Planning Division

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1. What is a Local Coastal Program?

In 1976, the California Legislature enacted the Coastal Act, which created a mandate for coastal counties to manage the conservation and development of coastal resources through a comprehensive planning and regulatory program called the Local Coastal Program. Half Moon Bay’s Local Coastal Plan and the Zoning Ordinance together constitute the "Local Coastal Program" (LCP) for the City of Half Moon Bay’s coastal zone.

The primary goal of the LCP is to ensure that the local government’s land use plans, zoning ordinances, zoning maps, and implemented actions meet the requirements of, and implements the provisions and polices of the Coastal Act at the local level.

2. What is a General Plan?

California law requires that each county and city in the state develop and adopt a General Plan. The General Plan consists of a statement of development policies and includes a diagram or diagrams and text setting forth objectives, principles standards, and plan proposals. It is a comprehensive long-term plan for the physical development of the county or city. In this sense, it is a "blueprint" for development.

The General Plan must contain seven state-mandated elements. It may also contain any other elements that the legislative body of the county or city wishes to adopt. The seven (7) mandated elements are: Land Use, Open Space, Conservation, Housing, Circulation, Noise, and Safety. The General Plan may be adopted in any form deemed appropriate or convenient by the legislative body of the county or city, including the combining of elements.

3. How do I find out what my property is zoned?

Your parcel’s Zoning Designation can be determined by staff. Please contact the Planning Division at 650-726-8270. When you call, please have your address and/or the assessor parcel number (APN) readily available.

4. What are setbacks? What are the setbacks for my property?

Setbacks are the required minimum distances between a building and the related front, side, exterior side (the street side of a corner lot), or rear property line. These distances determine the distance that construction must be set back from the property line. If you have any questions regarding setbacks, please contact the Planning Division at 650-726-8270, or visit City Hall at 501 Main Street. Please be prepared with the address or APN of the subject site.

5. Where am I permitted to place a storage shed or shop (accessory structure) on my property?

Detached accessory structures not exceeding two hundred fifty square feet in floor area may be located within the required rear yard setback of a site but shall be no closer than five feet to the rear property line or five feet to the side property line, and shall not exceed eight feet in overall height.

6. Can I build an addition to my home?

Generally, the answer is yes. However, the addition must not: 1) encroach into any required setbacks, 2) extend more than 28 feet in height, comply with Maximum Building Envelope Requirements, Lot Coverage, Floor Area Ratio, and all other development standards for the underlying Zoning District. For a more detailed response, please contact the Planning Division at 650-726-8270 or visit the Planning Counter at City Hall, 501 Main Street.

7. How many parking spaces do I need?

Please refer to the Title 18 Zoning of the Municipal Code. Parking ratios are based on the type of use. The standard parking stall (residential, commercial and industrial uses) size is 9' x 19'. For other restrictions and requirements view the Title 18 Zoning of the Municipal Code.

8. What can I do with my property?

The type of development allowed for your site depends on many issues. Any development requires compliance with the Development Standards of the underlying Zoning District, Zoning Code (Title 18 of the Municipal Code), the Local Coastal Program/General Plan, Subdivision Map Act, and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). If you know the zoning of your property, please refer to the appropriate section of the Municipal Code on our website page.

If you’re unable to access the Municipal Code, please contact the Planning Division at 650-726-8270. Again, you should have your address and/or APN prior to contact the Planning Department.

9. Who should I call if I have questions regarding property within Half Moon Bay City Limits?

The City of Half Moon Bay Planning Division is located at City Hall, 501 Main Street. You may contact the Planning Division by calling 650-726-8270 or via email to inquire about property within Half Moon Bay, including zoning, property usage and development standards. The Planning Counter is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday.

10. What is being built in Half Moon Bay?

The Planning Division has a current list of projects that are either approved or in the planning stages. Please refer to the Planning Division at 650-726-8270 or contact the Building Department 650-712-5835 for projects currently under construction.

11. When is a sign permit required?

A sign permit is required for all signs whether temporary or permanent. No sign may be erected or displayed without a permit. No sign shall be placed in the public right of way.

12. How many chickens & roosters may I have on my property?

According to Section 18.06.025 of the Municipal Code, a maximum of two domestic foul may be permitted in the Single-Family and R-2 Zoning District at any one time. Three or more domestic foul are permitted in a Single-Family Zoning District upon securing a Use Permit. Roosters are strictly prohibited in all Residential Districts. If your property is not within a single-family residential district, please contact the Planning Division at 650-726-8270.

“Domestic fowl” means chickens, ducks, geese, pea fowl, pigeons, turkeys and other fowl typically used for food or food products, which may create a disturbance to the peace within residential districts.

13. How many pets may I have on my property?

“Small animal” means small domestic animals of the type customarily kept as household pets, including birds other than domestic fowl, cats, chinchillas, dogs, miniature pigs, small reptiles, rodents, and other similar animals no larger than the largest breed of dogs. No more than three small animals may be kept outside on any site in a residential district with less than five thousand square feet. A maximum of four small animals may be kept at any site in any residential district with a minimum of five thousand square feet. Five or more small animals may be permitted in the R-1 and R-2 districts upon securing a use permit in each case.

14. What is the size of my property?

Please contact the San Mateo County Assessor's Office. Their address and phone number is as follows:
555 County Center
Redwood City, CA 94063
Phone: 650-363-4500

Or visit the San Mateo County Assessor's Office website.

15. Is my property in a floodplain?

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has maps available on their website that can help you to determine if your property is within a floodplain. Floodplain maps are also available for review at the Planning Department. Visit the FEMA website.

16. What is the process for a person to receive a Planning Director or Planning Commission agenda in the mail?

Contact the Planning Division at 650-726-8270 or download an agenda from the Calendars and Agenda link. Complimentary copies are available at each meeting.

17. When do Community Development Director and Planning Commission Meetings Occur?

Meetings will only occur as needed, please refer to the Calendars and Agenda link for the Community Development Director and Planning Commission’s Calendar. When there are items on the agenda:
- The Director meeting occurs on an as needed basis, and
- The Planning Commission occurs on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month.

18. What is a Coastal Development Permit (CDP)? What is the process for a CDP?

Please refer to our Coastal Development Permit page.

19. What do I need to do to operate a business at my residence?

Please refer to our Residential Business page.

20. Can I place a second dwelling unit on my property?

An additional dwelling unit may be placed on a parcel provided a Use Permit (Ministerial) has been approved. The requirements for a standard second unit permit are:
- The lot is located within a Single-Family Residential District;
- The second dwelling unit is constructed within or above an existing building or detached accessory building;
- The unit does not extend further into the required setbacks than the existing foundation of the building and is not within three feet of a property line;
- The structural height shall be the minimum to accommodate the second unit, and in all cases shall not exceed thirty feet at the highest point of the roof;
- The second dwelling unit will not significantly impact adjacent properties adversely;
- The number of doors and windows facing the reduced side or rear yards are minimized;
- The proposed second dwelling unit is approved by the fire department for emergency access;
- The proposed addition can be accommodated with the existing water service;
- The existing sewer lateral can accommodate the proposed addition;
- The requirements of this Chapter 18.33 (Second Dwelling Units) of the Municipal Code have been met.
- The unit shall provide a minimum of one off-street parking space for the second dwelling unit;
- Maximum Unit Size. The floor area of the second dwelling unit shall not exceed seven hundred square feet.
- The proposed second dwelling unit meets the zoning, lot size, and unit size standards of the underlying Zoning district.

21. How much are application fees?

Entitlement processing requires payment of a fee or deposit, please  refer to the adopted City Fee Schedule. Please note, a deposit is a  retainer and not a fee. The deposit will set up an account which shall  be charged at a set hourly rate for all staff processing time. If  expenditures exceed 70% of the deposit amount required by the Cost  Recovery Fee Program, additional deposits will be requested.

If  the final costs are less, the unused portion of the deposit will be  returned to me at the conclusion of the process or final inspection of  the completed project, whichever occurs later (the necessary staff time  will vary according to the complexity of the application and the  project). Master Fee Schedule

22. How high can my fence be?

The maximum height of a solid fence, wall or hedge shall be as follows:

- Front Limited Height. Fences, walls, and hedges located within a required front yard setback area or within the site distance area as defined herein shall be limited to a maximum height of three feet.

- Rear Limited Height. Fences, walls, and hedges located to the rear of the required front yard setback area shall be limited to a maximum height of six feet, unless this area is also within the site distance area as defined herein, in which case the maximum height shall not exceed three feet in the site distance area.

- Trellis or Rails. An additional one foot of fence or wall height is permitted on front yard, rear yard and interior side yard fences, only if the added fencing has openings comprising at least fifty percent of the added area (such as lath trellis or rails).

- If your property is on a corner or within 100-feet of a waterway (creek, ditch, etc) or sensitive habitat area, please contact the Planning Division prior to installing any fence, staff may be contacted at 650-726-8270.

23. Can eaves, decks, and other similar things project into my property setbacks?

Yes, some things can, they include:
- Architectural features such as eaves, cornices, canopies, awnings and mechanical equipment can project up to 30 (thirty) inches into a setback.
- Enclosed Porches and Solariums. If attached to the first floor of a residence, these may extend into the rear yard setback across twenty percent of the lot width, but shall provide a minimum rear yard setback of thirteen feet, and provide the required side yard setbacks set forth in Tables B and C of this Chapter 18 of the Municipal Code.
- Balconies on the second floor or above may project a maximum of thirty inches into either the required front or rear setback. An enclosed covered patio or a covered deck (enclosed only by railings) can be placed in a rear yard of a residence as long as it is no closer than 10 (ten) feet to the rear property line.
- Patio covers of open roof trellis design only, attached to the main structure, may be located in the required rear yards, but must provide a minimum of five feet for a rear yard setback and a side yard setback equal to the required side yard of the underlying zoning district.
- Planter Boxes and Other Decorative Features. Decorative features attached to the walls of a structure may encroach a maximum of twelve inches into any required setback area.

24. How much signage is my business allowed?

Generally speaking, a business is allowed two square feet of signage to one linear frontage of building in commercial zones. Industrial zones are more restrictive. Monument and pylon (pole) signs are permitted as well. There are exceptions, so please refer to the Municipal Code for regulations, under Sign Information Handout (PDF).