Burlingame Zoning Intelligence
Zoning, permitted uses, ADU rules, and development potential for Burlingame, California. 21 districts analyzed.
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How is Burlingame zoned?
Permitted uses vary by district. Search a Burlingame parcel on the map above to see exactly what you can build there.
- Total zoning districts21
- Residential districts4
- Commercial districts12
- Industrial districts1
Statewide law - applies to all California cities, not specific to Burlingame.
- California state ADU lawApplies statewide
- SB-9 lot split eligibilityPer parcel review
- SB-79 (transit-oriented housing)Near transit, from Jul 2026
- Density Bonus Law (state)Eligible projects
- Local impact / permittingVerify with Burlingame planning
What should developers know about Burlingame zoning?
Burlingame is a built-out Peninsula city whose zoning rewards reading the corridor names. Low Density Residential (R1) is by far the largest district at roughly 1,038 acres, defining the leafy single-family neighborhoods, while the Tidal Plain and Bay (TP/B) designation covers a very large bay-edge area where development is functionally off the table. The higher-intensity story plays out along a series of named mixed-use corridors - Bayswater (BMU), Broadway (BRMU), California Drive (CMU), Howard (HMU), Myrtle (MMU), North Burlingame (NBMU), and North Rollins Road (RRMU) - each a distinct district rather than a generic blanket zone.
The city's residential intensity steps cleanly from Low Density (R1) up through Medium (R2), Medium High (R3), and High Density (R4), so multifamily opportunity is concentrated and legible: the R3 zone at about 127 acres is the largest of the denser residential districts. On the employment side, the Innovation Industrial (I/I) zone at roughly 213 acres and the Bayfront Commercial (BFC) district near 180 acres anchor the city's R&D, flex, and bayfront commercial base, while traditional retail clusters in compact downtown commercial zones - Burlingame Avenue (BAC), Chapin Avenue (CAC), and Donnelly (DAC) - plus the California Drive Auto Row (CAR). Public and Institutional (P/I) and Parks and Recreation (PR) round out the map.
For developers, brokers, and investors, the actionable pattern is that nearly all of Burlingame's growth capacity lives in the named mixed-use corridors and the denser R3/R4 residential zones, with the Innovation Industrial and Bayfront Commercial areas carrying the larger commercial and employment plays. The recorded building controls span FAR, density, coverage, lot width, height, and full setbacks. This is pre-development intelligence, not legal advice - verify with the local planning department before acquisition.
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Try ArchiWise free →Burlingame, California Zoning Districts: What Do They Mean?
Zoning districts are areas regulated by specific laws that determine land use, building types, and development rules. Each district below shows its zone type and which uses it permits.
| Zone Code | Zone Type | Permitted Uses | Area |
|---|---|---|---|
BAC Burlingame Avenue Commercial | - | - | 12.9 ac |
BFC Bayfront Commercial | - | - | 180.4 ac |
BMU Bayswater Mixed Use | - | - | 8.4 ac |
BRMU Broadway Mixed Use | - | - | 6.2 ac |
What are the building controls in Burlingame?
Setback, height, FAR, lot area, and density controls enforced across Burlingame zoning districts.
- Assorted
- Far control
- Lot control
- Multi control
- Density control
- Coverage control
- Pervious control
- Lot width control
- Rear setback control
- Side setback control
- Front setback control
- Building height control
Cities near Burlingame
Burlingame zoning: frequently asked questions
Which Burlingame zones support mixed-use development?
Burlingame designates mixed-use along specific named corridors, each its own district: Bayswater (BMU), Broadway (BRMU), California Drive (CMU), Howard (HMU), Myrtle (MMU), North Burlingame (NBMU), and North Rollins Road (RRMU). These corridors carry the bulk of the city's mixed-use and residential-over-commercial capacity. Identify which corridor a site sits on, since each has its own standards.
How does residential density work across Burlingame?
Residential intensity tiers cleanly from Low Density (R1), the largest district at roughly 1,038 acres, up through Medium (R2), Medium High (R3, about 127 acres), and High Density (R4). Multifamily product is concentrated in the R3 and R4 zones plus the mixed-use corridors. The legible step-up makes it straightforward to match a development program to the right district.
What is the Innovation Industrial zone good for?
The Innovation Industrial (I/I) district covers roughly 213 acres and anchors Burlingame's R&D, flex, and light-industrial employment base, complemented by the Bayfront Commercial (BFC) zone near 180 acres. Together these are the city's primary lanes for office, lab, and commercial-employment product rather than its compact downtown retail cores. Confirm permitted uses within I/I before targeting a specific user type.
Why is so much of Burlingame's land effectively undevelopable?
The Tidal Plain and Bay (TP/B) designation covers a very large bay-edge area where development is functionally precluded, and Parks and Recreation (PR) and Public and Institutional (P/I) absorb more. As a result, the city's actionable growth capacity is concentrated in the mixed-use corridors and denser residential zones. Discount bay and open-space acreage when sizing real opportunity.
Can downtown Burlingame retail blocks be redeveloped with housing?
The downtown commercial districts - Burlingame Avenue (BAC), Chapin Avenue (CAC), and Donnelly (DAC) - are compact and primarily retail-oriented, while the mixed-use corridors are where residential-over-commercial is expressly contemplated. California's density-bonus and state housing laws can add capacity on qualifying sites citywide. Verify the governing zone's standards and any applicable state-law incentives before underwriting a downtown housing conversion.
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Zoning data is pre-development intelligence, not legal advice. Verify with the Burlingame planning department before acquisition or design.