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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...