Millbrae, California Zoning Map
Zoning, overlays and hazards on every parcel — and an answer to what the code actually lets you build. Compiled from current zoning data for all 14 districts.
Prefer to browse? Open the full Millbrae map ↗
What's in the Millbrae dataset
Every field below is available for any Millbrae parcel, on the map and through the AI.
Zoning
- District code & full name
- Parcel boundary & APN
- All 14 districts mapped
Building controls
- Maximum building height
- Floor area ratio (FAR)
- Front setback
- Side setback
Overlays, hazards & AI
- Flood hazard & environmental layers
- Ask the AI about any parcel
- Powered by live parcel data
Where uses are permitted in Millbrae
Share of Millbrae's zoned land where each use is permitted.
- Single-family
- 71.65%
- Multi-family
- 14.76%
- ADU
- 64.67%
- Two-family
- 14.50%
- Retail
- 9.16%
- Eating & drinking
- 7.51%
- Office
- 16.58%
- Hotel / motel
- 10.32%
- Industrial
- 1.66%
- Storage & warehouses
- 8.90%
- Short-term rental
- 64.67%
Millbrae, 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 | Category | Area | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
C Commercial | - | 5.4 ac | Standards & uses → |
CMU Corridor Mixed Use | - | 66.3 ac | Standards & uses → |
DMU Downtown Mixed Use | - | 17.3 ac | Standards & uses → |
I Industrial | - | 34 ac | Standards & uses → |
Showing 4 of 14 districts
Start from what you're trying to build
Each one runs against the live Millbrae dataset and returns the districts, standards and approvals involved.
What should developers know about Millbrae zoning?
Millbrae is a compact Peninsula city whose zoning makes its transit-oriented ambitions plain. Of its 14 districts, Single Family Residential (R-1) is overwhelmingly the largest at roughly 1,132 acres, with a large-lot variant (R-1-LL) layered on top, so the bulk of the city is detached housing. But the more interesting story for developers is the cluster of mixed-use districts built around the BART and Caltrain station: the Millbrae Station Area Specific Plan (MSAPS) covers about 116 acres, complemented by Downtown Mixed Use (DMU), Corridor Mixed Use (CMU, roughly 66 acres), Neighborhood Commercial Mixed Use (NCMU) and Residential Focused Mixed Use (RFMU).
That mixed-use framework is where height and density are concentrated, and it signals the city's intent to absorb growth near transit rather than in established single-family neighborhoods. Middle-density housing has dedicated room as well, through Duplex or Triplex Residential (R-2, about 91 acres) and Multiple Family Residential (R-3). Employment and service land is comparatively modest - a single Commercial (C) district, an Industrial (I) district, and Public Facilities (PF) - while Open Space (OS) accounts for roughly 276 acres.
For a buyer, the practical read is that the entitlement path depends heavily on which mixed-use or residential code a parcel carries, and the city's full set of building controls (FAR, lot, density, coverage, pervious, lot width, height, and setbacks) will govern the form. This is pre-development intelligence, not legal advice - verify with the local planning department before acquisition.
Millbrae zoning: frequently asked questions
What makes the Millbrae Station Area Specific Plan (MSAPS) important for developers?
MSAPS covers roughly 116 acres around the BART and Caltrain station and is the city's primary vehicle for transit-oriented, higher-intensity development. If you are pursuing density near transit, this district - together with Downtown Mixed Use (DMU) - is where the city has signaled it wants growth to land, so it typically offers the most favorable form standards in Millbrae.
Where can mixed-use projects be built in Millbrae?
Mixed use is spread across several purpose-built districts: the Station Area Specific Plan (MSAPS), Downtown Mixed Use (DMU), Corridor Mixed Use (CMU), Neighborhood Commercial Mixed Use (NCMU) and Residential Focused Mixed Use (RFMU). Each tunes the residential-to-commercial balance differently, so confirm which one applies before assuming a project's program will fit.
How much of Millbrae is single-family residential?
The R-1 Single Family Residential district is by far the largest in the city at around 1,132 acres, plus a large-lot R-1-LL variant. The city's growth strategy therefore steers intensification toward the transit-area mixed-use districts rather than the established detached-home neighborhoods.
Is there room for middle-density or duplex housing in Millbrae?
Yes - R-2 (Duplex or Triplex Residential) covers about 91 acres and R-3 (Multiple Family Residential) provides additional multifamily capacity. With California's SB-9 and ADU laws also in play statewide, there are multiple paths to add units, but the parcel's base district still sets the baseline density and form. Verify the applicable standards before designing.
What are the options for industrial or commercial use in Millbrae?
Employment land is limited: there is a single Commercial (C) district, an Industrial (I) district of roughly 34 acres, and Public Facilities (PF). Because dedicated industrial and standalone commercial supply is small, investors seeking those uses should expect competition and may find more flexibility in the mixed-use corridors that allow ground-floor commercial.
California zoning maps
Analyze any Millbrae parcel in 60 seconds
Zoning, overlays, hazards, and what the code actually allows - in one place.
Zoning data is pre-development intelligence, not legal advice. Verify with the Millbrae planning department before acquisition or design.