For nearly half a century, San Bruno has had a rule that most Bay Area cities don't: before the City Council can approve a building taller than three stories or 50 feet, voters citywide have to sign off. On Nov. 3, Measure S asks whether to get rid of it.

What Ordinance 1284 does now

Ordinance No. 1284 is a zoning initiative San Bruno voters adopted in 1977. According to the city and Ballotpedia, it requires voter approval before the city issues permits for buildings that exceed 50 feet or three stories, projects that add more homes per acre than zoning allowed on Oct. 10, 1974, multi-level parking structures, and certain changes to two streets. Council documents identify those as Crystal Springs Road between Oak Avenue and the Junipero Serra Freeway, and Sneath Lane from El Camino Real to the western city limits.

What a yes or no vote means

A yes vote repeals Ordinance 1284 entirely, so those projects would go through the council's normal approval process without a citywide vote. A no vote keeps the voter-approval requirement in place. The measure needs a simple majority to pass.

The official ballot question says the repeal is proposed "given that State housing laws supersede local height limits and the ordinance interacts with current City economic development goals."

Why the city put it on the ballot

At a June 23 study session, city staff said state law has already chipped away at the ordinance. Accessory dwelling units are exempt from a public vote, SB 9 lot splits get ministerial approval, and the state density bonus law let two taller projects advance without a vote: six stories at 732 El Camino Real and 10 stories at 850 San Bruno Ave., according to the staff presentation. Staff also cited SB 79, the 2025 law pushing more density near transit.

The same presentation reported polling showing 53.2% support for a full repeal and 51.4% for a repeal limited to a targeted area. Staff recommended the full repeal, and the council voted in late July to place it on the Nov. 3 ballot and authorized council members to write the ballot argument in favor, according to a Citizen Portal summary of the meeting.

What we don't know

The city has posted an argument in favor of the measure. We did not find a formal argument against it on the city's measure page; check your San Mateo County voter guide for any opposing arguments and rebuttals. Repeal by itself does not approve any specific building.

San Bruno voters can find the full text, resolutions, staff report and FAQs on the city's 2026 ballot measures page.