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On May 6, 2013, the San Rafael City Council voted to hold a General Municipal Election on Tuesday, November 5, 2013. This election was combined with the San Rafael City School District elections. What was on the ballot? City of San Rafael: Election of two City Councilmembers (4-year terms) San Rafael Board of Education: Election...

For comprehensive information regarding Elections, please visit the County of Marin Elections Office website. Independent Expenditure Ordinance Staff report and resolution calling the election Staff Report and resolution cancelling the election and appointing the incumbent candidates. At the Council meeting on June 15, 2015, the City Council adopted a resolution proposing a General Municipal Election be held on Tuesday, November 3,...

For comprehensive information regarding Elections, please visit the County of Marin Elections Office website. Staff report and resolution calling election Ordinance – Full Text of Measure Notice of Election and Measure City Attorney’s Impartial Analysis Argument in Favor of Measure D Election Results Ordinance 1942 Measure D - City of San Rafael  Special Library Services Parcel Tax...

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Filming in the City of San Rafael may require approvals from multiple City departments, depending on the scope and location of your production. Please review the following steps carefully to ensure compliance before filming begins. 1. Obtain a Special Event Permit for Filming All film shoots in San Rafael require a City of San Rafael...

Our city is a Film-Friendly Community.  We have many unique locations to choose from including our downtown area, where American Grafitti was filmed in 1973 with Ron Howard and Richard Dreyfuss and the San Rafael Civic Center where Gattaca was filmed in 1997 with Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman.

Wireless Communications Facilities Wireless facilities must: (A) Submit all Application Submittal Materials listed in San Rafael Municipal Code Section 14.16.360.D; (B) Schedule required submittal/resubmittal meetings; (C) Comply with RF emission threshold limits, sub-sections G through M criteria and N post approval requirements; (D) a Conceptual Design review application is strongly encouraged for new facilities. The...

What is a Variance? A Variance is permission to depart from the literal requirements of the Zoning Ordinance. Variances provide the discretion and flexibility necessary to resolve practical difficulties or unnecessary hardships resulting from a zoning requirement. Variances may be approved with conditions to ensure compatibility. When the strict interpretation of a zoning regulation, such...

What is a Temporary Use Permit? A temporary use permit allows activities of a short term, generally one (1) year or less, pursuant to San Rafael Municipal Code Section 14.17.130. These most commonly consist of special events such as a fair, festival or concert, outdoor seasonal sales such as a Christmas tree lot or pumpkin...

Application Filing for Tentative Map All requests to divide real property into four (4) or fewer lots (Minor Subdivision) or five (5) or more lots (Major Subdivision) requires the filing of a Parcel Map or Tentative Map application with the Department of Community Development. The application must be filed by the subdivider, the property owner...

When are Story Poles Required? Story poles may be required by the City to allow review authorities and the public an opportunity to evaluate the potential visual effects of new development prior to construction. Story poles are typically required for hillside development, to illustrate the potential bulk, mass, grading and tree removal of proposed construction...

What Are Some Additional Single-Family Zoning Regulations? Abandoned Vehicles (Chapter 11.38) Vehicles parked on public street right-of-way for longer than 72 hours are considered abandoned and may be subject to tow by Police/Traffic. Accessory Structures (§14.16.020) The following setbacks appy to structures detached from the main residence, such as carports, sheds, pool houses: Front and...

What is Single-Family Zoning? The Zoning Ordinance Title 14 of the San Rafael Municipal Code establishes standards and procedures so that development is consistent with San Rafael’s General Plan 2020. San Rafael is divided into Zoning Districts as shown on the zoning maps, which includes the allowable uses and construction requirements for single-family lots. There...

Sign Permit Application New commercial business signs intended for public view (e.g., on an exterior business frontage or an interior sign placed within 10 feet of an exterior facing window) are subject to review and approval of a sign permit. Signs composed of professionally manufactured individual letters are generally preferred over hand-painted, box or can...

Preparing a Shadow Diagram Section 14.25.030(C)(10) of the Zoning Ordinance require the submittal of a shadow diagram in some instances. Sections of the Zoning Ordinance limit the shading of active recreational areas and solar collectors on adjacent properties by more than 10% between the hours of noon and 3:00 p.m. on December 21, the Winter...