Chapter 18.45 — DOWNTOWN DISTRICTS (DP, DMX, AND WMX)

Sections:

18.45.010 Purpose.

18.45.020 Table 18.45.020 – Downtown districts – Allowed uses and permit requirements.

18.45.030 Table 18.45.030 – Downtown districts – Development standards.

18.45.010 Purpose. ¶

This chapter lists the uses that may be permitted within the downtown zoning districts, the type of permit or approval required for each use, and basic development standards for the site and building. The purpose of each district is as follows:

A. DP – Downtown Pedestrian. The DP district is applied to the 10-block downtown area surrounding Todos Santos Plaza and the blocks connecting the plaza and the Concord BART station for pedestrian-oriented commercial uses, residential and mid-rise vertical mixed-use development with a minimum FAR of 1.0 up to 4.0 FAR, and residential densities of 33 to 100 units per net area. The DP district requires pedestrian-oriented uses at ground level with retail and related personal services, and restaurant uses permitted at storefronts facing the plaza. Office, commercial services, multifamily residential, and other service-oriented uses are also permitted on upper floors. Development should reflect high quality architectural design and amenities that promote and support active pedestrian use. The DP district is consistent with and implements the downtown pedestrian (DTPD) land use designation of the general plan.

B. DMX – Downtown Mixed-Use. The DMX district is applied to downtown areas appropriate for a cohesive mix of high density residential, commercial and office, and mixed uses, including hotels with a minimum FAR of 1.0 up to 6.0 FAR, and residential densities of 33 to 100 units per net acre. Well-designed vertical mixed-use within a single building is encouraged with retail at ground level and office and multifamily residential on upper floors. Single uses and horizontal mixed-use with retail, office, and residential uses located in separate buildings but

within a single development may also occur. The DMX district is consistent with and implements the downtown mixed-use (DTMU) land use designation of the general plan.

C. WMX – West Concord Mixed-Use. The WMX district is applied to the area west of downtown, along Concord Avenue and the Walnut Creek Channel, and adjoining areas of the city appropriate for a mix of schools, commercial, office, retail, multi-tenant office/warehouses, and institutional development at up to 4.0 FAR. The WMX district allows new automobile dealers, shopping centers, hotels, restaurants, office buildings and multi-tenant commercial spaces, including contractor showrooms and storage uses when located entirely within a building and public/quasi-public uses. The WMX district does not allow residential uses. The WMX district is consistent with and implements the West Concord mixed-use (WCMU) land use designation of the general plan. [Ord. 21-3 § 8 (Exh. A); Ord. 17-11 § 3 (Exh. 6); Ord. 16-5 § 1 (Exh. B); Ord. 16-425.2 § 1 (Exh. B); Ord. 14-3 § 1; Ord. 12-4. DC 2012 § 122-153].

18.45.020 Table 18.45.020 – Downtown districts – Allowed uses and permit requirements. ¶

A. Applicability. Table 18.45.020 identifies the uses allowed by the development code in each downtown zoning district and the type of permit required to establish each use. See CDC 18.25.030(B) or Division VII of this title (Permits and Permit Procedures). Additional requirements may apply pursuant to Division IV (Development Standards) and Division V (Standards for Specific Uses) of this title.

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Table 18.45.020 ZC = Permitted Use, Zoning
Clearance
Downtown Districts
AP = Administrative Permit
Allowed Uses and Permit Requirements
Required
MP = Minor Use Permit
Required
UP = Use Permit Required
6409 = Section 6409
Application
– = Use Not Allowed
Permit Required by District
Land Use Classifications Additional Requirements
DP DMX WMX
Office, Commercial, and Retail Uses
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own Districts
AP = Administrative Permit
Allowed Uses and Permit Requirements
Required
MP = Minor Use Permit
Required
UP = Use Permit Required
6409 = Section 6409
Application
– = Use Not Allowed
Permit Required by District
Land Use Classifications Additional Requirements
DP DMX WMX
Office, Commercial, and Retail Uses
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Adult Day Care Center	–	AP(6)	–
Adult-Oriented Business	–	–	–	Chapter 18.210 CDC, Adult- Oriented Businesses
Animal Services
Boarding, Kennel	–	AP	UP
Dog Day Care, Training	–	AP	ZC
Grooming	ZC	ZC	ZC
Hospital, Veterinary Clinic	–	ZC	ZC
Antique, Collectible Store	ZC	ZC	ZC
Automobile Sales and Rental/Leasing
Auction	–	–	–
Brokers, Ofce Only	ZC(1)	ZC(1)	ZC
Brokers, Ofce with Vehicle Display	–	–	ZC
Dealership, New	–	–	ZC
Dealership, Used	–	–	–
Dealership, Motorcycles	–	–	ZC

Rental	–	–	AP
Automobile Services and Repair
Car Wash, Attended	–	–	UP	CDC 18.200.090,Gas stations and car washes
Car Wash, Unattended	–	–	–	CDC 18.200.090,Gas stations and car washes
Gas Station	–	–	UP	CDC 18.200.090,Gas stations and car washes
Maintenance Services	–	–	ZC
Major Repair/Body Work	–	–	–
Minor Repair	–	–	ZC
Banks and Financial Services
Bank, Credit Union	AP(3)	ZC	ZC
Bank with Drive-Through Service	–	–	UP	CDC 18.200.060,Drive- through facilities
Check Cashing Business	–	–	–
Building Materials Sales and Services
No Outdoor Storage	–	–	ZC

With Outdoor Storage	–	–	UP	CDC 18.200.160,Outdoor sales and displays
Business Support Services	ZC(1)	ZC	ZC
Catering Service	ZC(1)	ZC	ZC
Eating and Drinking Establishments
Bar,Night Club, Lounge	AP	AP	AP	CDC 18.200.080, Entertainment uses
Food Vendor Group Site	–	MP	MP	CDC 18.200.210,Food vendor group sites
Micro-Brewery/Distillery	MP	MP	MP	CDC 18.200.040, Alcoholic beverage sales
Micro-Brewery/Distillery, Large(7)	UP	UP	UP	CDC 18.200.040, Alcoholic beverage sales
Restaurant, Full Service	ZC	ZC	ZC
Restaurant, Limited Service	ZC	ZC	ZC
Restaurant, with Drive- Through	–	–	UP	CDC 18.200.060,Drive- through facilities
Restaurant, with Live Entertainment	AP	AP	UP	CDC 18.200.080, Entertainment uses
Tasting Room	AP	AP	AP	CDC 18.200.040, Alcoholic beverage sales

Fitness Facility, Health Club	ZC(8)	ZC	ZC
Food, Beverage Sales
Convenience Store, no Alcohol Sales	ZC(8)	AP	ZC	CDC 18.200.220, Convenience stores
Convenience Store, with Alcohol Sales	–	–	UP	CDC 18.200.040, Alcoholic beverage sales CDC 18.200.220, Convenience stores
Grocery Store	AP	AP	AP
Liquor Store	–	–	–	CDC 18.200.040, Alcoholic beverage sales
Hotel, Motel	UP	UP	UP
Maintenance Services
Ofce with No Outdoor Storage or Activities	–	–	ZC
Ofce with Outdoor Storage or Activities	–	–	–
Nursery, Preschool, Childcare	UP(1)	MP	AP	CDC 18.200.050,Child day care facilities
Ofces
Administrative, Information Processing	ZC(8)	ZC	ZC

Professional	ZC(8)	ZC	ZC
Personal Services
General	AP(3)	ZC	ZC
Improvement, Instructional	ZC(8)	ZC	ZC
Restricted	–	–	UP
Repair Service, Appliance and Small Equipment	–	–	UP
Retail Sales
Big Box	–	UP	UP
General	ZC	ZC	ZC
Nursery, Garden Center	–	–	ZC	CDC 18.200.160,Outdoor sales and displays
Restricted	–	–	UP
With Drive-Through	–	–	UP	CDC 18.200.060,Drive- through facilities
Secondhand Sales	–	AP	AP

Business Park and Industrial Uses

Auto Wrecking, Dismantling Yards	–	–	–
Contractors, Special Trade
Cabinet Shop	–	–	ZC
Contractor Ofce, No Outdoor Storage	–	–	ZC
Contractor Yard, Outdoor Storage	–	–	–
Fleet-Based Service	–	–	UP
Freight and Truck Terminal	–	–	–
Heavy Vehicle and Large Equipment, Sales/Rental, Service and Repair
Commercial Vehicles and Equipment	–	–	–
Recreational Vehicle	–	–	–
Laboratory, Research, and Development	AP(1)	AP(1)	AP(1)
Manufacturing, Processing
Artisan/Custom Product	–	–	ZC
Industry, Heavy	–	–	–

Commercial Vehicles and	–	–	–
Equipment
Recreational Vehicle	–	–	–
Laboratory, Research, and	AP(1)	AP(1)	AP(1)
Development
Manufacturing, Processing
Artisan/Custom Product	–	–	ZC
Industry, Heavy	–	–	–

Within a Building	–	–	–
With Outdoor Storage or Activities	–	–	–
Warehouse Show Room with Assembly and Sales	–	–	ZC
Media Production Facility	ZC	ZC	ZC
Storage
Hazardous Materials	–	–	–
Self-Storage Facility, Mini- Storage	–	–	–
Vehicle	–	–	–
Towing Service	–	–	–
Warehouse, with No Outdoor Storage	–	–	ZC
Warehouse, with Outdoor Storage	–	–	–
Wholesaling, Distribution	–	–	ZC

Residential Uses

Bed and Breakfast Inn	AP	AP	–
Dwelling, Dwelling Unit, Housing Unit
Single-Family, Detached	–	–	–
Single-Family, Detached – Small Lot Subdivision	–	–	–
Single-Family, Attached	–	–	–	Chapter 18.152 CDC, Objective Design Standards
Duplex	–	–	–	Chapter 18.152 CDC, Objective Design Standards
Multifamily	ZC(11), UP(13)	ZC(11), UP	–	Chapter 18.152 CDC, Objective Design Standards
Family Day Care Home (14 or fewer children)	ZC	ZC	–
Group Housing	–	UP	–
Home-Based Business	ZC(6), AP	ZC(6), AP	–	CDC 18.200.100, Home- based businesses
Live/Work Unit	UP(1)	UP	–	CDC 18.200.110,Live/work or work/live units
Mixed-Use Projects	ZC(12), (13),UP	ZC(12), UP	–	Chapter 18.152 CDC, Objective Design Standards CDC 18.200.140, Mixed-use projects

Mobile Home Park	–	–	–
Residential Care Facility, Small	–	ZC	–	Allowed within a legally existing single-family residence.
Residential Care Facility, Large	–	UP	–	Allowed within a legally existing single-family residence.
Residential Facility for Seniors, Assisted Living	UP(6)	UP	–

Adult Day Care Center	–	AP(6)	–
Supportive Housing	ZC, UP(10)	ZC, UP(10)	ZC, UP(10)	California Government Code Section 65650 et seq.
Transitional Housing, Multifamily	UP	UP	–
Transitional Housing, Single- Family	–	–	–
Work/Live Unit	UP(1)	UP	–	CDC 18.200.110,Live/work or work/live units

Public/Quasi-Public and Recreational Uses
Airport	–	–	–
Ambulance Service	–	–	–
Cannabis Uses

Commercial Cultivation	–	–	–
Distribution (Type 11)	–	–	–
Distribution Transport Only (Type 13)	–	AP	AP	Only allowed if a city cannabis distributor transport only (Type 13) license has been approved by the chief of police, pursuant to Chapter 5.80 CMC in conjunction with a city cannabis storefront retailer license.
Indoor Personal Cannabis Cultivation	ZC	ZC	ZC	Up to six plants per residence, pursuant to state law
Industrial Hemp Cultivation
Manufacturing	–	–	–
Microbusiness	–	–	–
Non-Storefront Retail	–	–	–
Storefront Retail	–	AP	AP	Only allowed if a city cannabis storefront retailer license has been issued by the city, pursuant to Chapter 5.80 CMC.
Testing Laboratory	–	–	–
Cemetery, Columbarium, Mausoleum	–	–	–

Conference, Convention Facility	–	UP	UP
Cultural Institution	ZC	ZC	MP
Emergency and Homeless Shelter	–	–	–	CDC 18.200.070, Emergency shelter and homeless shelters
Low Barrier Navigation Center	ZC, UP(10)	ZC, UP(10)	ZC, UP(10)	California Government Code Section 65660 et seq.
Government Ofce	ZC(8)	ZC	ZC
Farmers’ Market	UP	UP	UP
Funeral Parlor, Mortuary	–	–	UP
Heliport	–	–	–
Library	ZC(1)	ZC	ZC
Medical
Hospital, Medical Center	–	–	–
Medical Services Facility	–	UP	AP
Nursing Facility/Extended Care	–	UP	–
Urgent Care Facility	–	–	AP

Meeting Facility, Public/Private	AP(1)	AP	AP
Military	–	–	–
Parking Facility	–	AP	AP
Public Maintenance and Service Facility	–	–	–
Recreational Facilities
Bingo Hall	–	–	UP
Commercial Recreation, Indoor	AP	AP	AP
Golf Course, Country Club	–	–	–	CDC 18.200.130,Mechanical and electronic games
Park and Recreation Facility	ZC	ZC	ZC
Residential Recreation Facility	–	–	–
Sports and Entertainment, Assembly	–	–	–	CDC 18.200.080, Entertainment uses
Sports and Recreation Facility	–	–	UP	CDC 18.200.130,Mechanical and electronic games
Recycling Facilities

Small Collection Facility	–	–	AP	CDC 18.200.170,Recycling facilities
Large Collection Facility	–	–	–
Processing Facility	–	–	–
Religious Facility	–	–	UP
Schools
Elementary, Middle, Secondary	UP(1, 9)	UP	UP
College, University	AP(1, 9)	AP	AP
Trade School,Vocational Training	AP(1, 9)	AP	AP
Social Services Facility	UP(1, 2)	MP/AP(4, 5)	AP
Theater, Auditorium	UP	UP	UP	CDC 18.200.130,Mechanical and electronic games
Utility Facility, Transmission Towers	–	–	–
Wireless Communications Facility	AP, MP or 6409	AP, MP or 6409	AP, MP or 6409	Chapters 18.205 and 18.207 CDC

Open Space and Agricultural Uses

Open Space and Agricultural Uses

Companion Animal,Horses, Fowl	–	–	–
Community Gardens	UP	UP	UP
Crop Production, Orchard, Vineyard	–	–	–
Livestock,Grazing	–	–	–
Mining and Quarrying	–	–	–

(1) Not allowed on ground foor.

(2) Allowed on upper floors subject to use permit approval.

(3) “Personal Services, General” and “Bank, Credit Union” uses located on the ground foor shall not cumulatively occupy more than 20 percent of any street frontage properties directly facing Todos Santos Plaza.

(4) Allowed on ground foor subject to a minor use permit approval.

(5) Allowed on upper floors subject to an administrative permit approval.
(6) Allowed with residential use only.
(7) A facility which exceeds 3,000 square feet.
(8) Not allowed on ground foor locations directly facing Todos Santos Plaza.
(9) Not allowed on properties directly facing Todos Santos Plaza.

(10) Use permit required for any facility that does not meet the requirements set forth in the referenced article of the California Government Code.

(11) Zoning clearance required for multifamily projects when a project is located entirely on a parcel or parcels listed in the current housing element sites inventory that conform to objective development standards and Chapter 18.152 CDC (Objective Design Standards).

(12) Zoning clearance required for mixed-use projects when a project is located entirely on a parcel or parcels listed in the current housing element sites inventory, with at least two-thirds of the total square footage designed for residential use, and that conform to objective development standards and Chapter 18.152 CDC (Objective Design Standards).

(13) Residential uses shall be located above the ground foor of the building for properties directly facing Todos Santos Plaza, and the ground foor shall be occupied by a retail or restaurant use.

[Ord. 24-7 §7 (Exh. E); Ord. 24-6 § 8 (Exh. E); Ord. 24-5 § 7 (Exh. E); Ord. 21-5 (Exh. C); Ord. 21-3 § 8 (Exh. A); Ord. 21-2 § 5 (Exh. F); Ord. 20-4 (Exh. B); Ord. 19-5 § 1 (Exh. E); Ord. 18-3 § 7 (Exh. A); Ord. 17-13 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 17-11 § 3 (Exh. 6); Ord. 17-5 § 2 (Exh. I); Ord. 17-2 § 2 (Exh. G); Ord. 14-6 §§ 5, 6; Ord. 14-3 § 2; Ord. 125; Ord. 12-4. DC 2012 § 122-154].

18.45.030 Table 18.45.030 – Downtown districts – Development standards. ¶

Subdivisions, new uses and structures, and alterations to existing uses and structures shall be designed, constructed, and established in compliance with the requirements specified in Table 18.45.030. Additional requirements may apply pursuant to Division IV (Development Standards) and Division V (Standards for Specific Uses) of this title.

Table 18.45.030

Downtown Districts

Development Standards(1)

Standards	DP(4)	DMX(4)	WMX	Additional Standards
Density (du/net acre) minimum/maximum	33 – 100 du/net acre	33 – 100 du/net acre	NA
Floor Area Ratio (FAR) minimum	0.75	1.00	–
Floor Area Ratio (FAR) maximum (4, 5)	4.0	6.0	4.0
Lot Area (square feet) minimum	5,000	10,000	25,000	Development on sites with less than the minimum lot size requires a use permit.
Lot Width (feet) minimum
Interior Lot	50	100	100
Corner Lot	60	110	110

Standards	DP(4)	DMX(4)	WMX	Additional Standards
Lot Depth (feet) minimum	100	100	100
Building Height (feet)
Minimum	30	30	–
Maximum	70	200	140(8)	In DMX, increased height may be allowed with a use permit.
Building Height – First foor minimum (feet, foor to foor height)(2)	15	15	–
Setbacks (feet) required minimum(3)
Front	0	10	10
Interior Side	0(7, 9)	0	10	CDC 18.150.180, Transitional requirements
Corner Side	0(9)	10	10
Rear	0(7, 9)	0	0
Front and Street Side Yard required maximum	10	–	–
Open Space/Unit (square feet) minimum	200	175	–	See CDC 18.150.100,Open space and recreational facilities for residential developments

(1) See Division IV (General Development Standards) and Division V (Standards for Specific Uses) of this title for additional requirements. Lot area, width, depth and setback limits listed here may not apply if a site in DP or DMX is subdivided into individual multifamily fee simple/condominium units.

(2) Nonresidential building height and setbacks shall be established specified by the permit, except when permit does not regulate a standard regulated by an abutting district, or if permit is not required, the regulations of abutting district shall apply to adjacent portion of the property.

(3) Measured from property line to face of building or structure.

(4) Standard does not apply to small, independent parcels corresponding to individual dwellings within a larger multifamily residential, mixed-use, or townhome development.

(5) Parking structures are included within the FAR calculation, unless located below grade. For structures only partially above grade, the portion above ground level will be calculated towards the foor area ratio. Refer to the parking ordinance.

(6) Projects outside of minimum and maximum FAR range may be allowed subject to use permit approval.

(7) For residential uses five to 10 feet, with at least 50 percent of facade at 10 feet.

(8) For residential uses, minimum of 10 feet.

(9) Setback area shall be paved for public use if needed for a wider public sidewalk. Two of the five feet may be landscaped.

(10) Corner lots adjacent to an R or NTS district, corner side yard shall be minimum 10 feet. Where side or rear lot line abuts a lot in an R or NTS district, the minimum side or rear yard shall be the same as required in abutting R or NTS district.

(11) Height shall comply with Contra Costa County airport land use plan. See Chapter 18.100 CDC, Airport Overlay District (A).

[Ord. 13-5; Ord. 12-5; Ord. 12-4. DC 2012 § 122-155].

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The Concord Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 26-1, passed February 10, 2026.

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