Division 17.20 — ZONE A: SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL

Piedmont Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · ingested 2026-07-06 · Piedmont

Sections:

17.20.010 Intent 17.20.020 Permitted uses 17.20.030 Conditional uses 17.20.040 Regulations

17.20.010 Intent .

Zone A is established for single-family residential and other allowed uses. The intent is to:

  • Preserve, maintain, and enhance Piedmont's residential character and the quiet community atmosphere of neighborhoods.

  • Mitigate adverse environmental impacts and site constraints, such as excessive noise, light deprivation, incompatible land uses, unsafe overcrowding, obstructed pedestrian and vehicular access and circulation, and blockage of significant views.

  • Create, maintain, and enhance a living environment that builds community for people of all income levels.

  • Maintain openness and areas of vegetation to enhance a healthy environment.

  • Achieve design compatibility and orderly arrangement of development by establishing regulations for the siting, massing, and building form on properties throughout the zone. (Ord. 772 N.S., 03/2024)

17.20.020 Permitted uses.

The following are permitted uses in Zone A:

  • A. Single-family residence.

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  • B. Rented room, subject to section 17.40.020, or short-term rental, subject to a short-term rental permit under section 17.40.030.

  • C. Accessory dwelling unit, subject to division 17.38.

  • D. Small family day care home in accordance with California Health and Safety Code sections 1597.43 - 1597.47. (Ord. 742 N.S., 05/2017, Ord. 772 N.S., 03/2024)

  • E. Religious institution affiliated housing development projects, and religious institution affiliated emergency shelters.

  • F. Manufactured and mobile homes on a permanent foundation.

  • G. Low barrier navigation centers.

  • H. Residential care facilities or group homes that provide licensable services for up to six residents.

  • I. Residential care facilities or group homes that do not provide licensable services.

  • J. Supportive housing and transitional housing developments.

  • K. Accessory structures with accessory uses located on the same lot as the primary structure.

  • L. Employee housing for 6 or fewer persons. (Ord. 772 N.S., 03/2024)

17.20.030 Conditional uses .

The following are allowed in Zone A with a conditional use permit:

  • A. Religious assembly.

  • B. Private school, or day care facility associated with a religious assembly use. A pre-existing school not having a use permit may continue as a non-conforming use as long as the use is not expanded.

  • C. Reservoir.

  • D. Wireless communication facility, subject to a wireless communication facility permit (rather than a use permit) under division 17.46.

  • E. Residential care facilities or group homes that provide licensable services for seven or more residents.

  • F. Large family day care home in accordance with California Health and Safety Code sections 1597.43 - 1597.47. (Ord. 772 N.S., 03/2024)

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17.20.040 Regulations.

  • A. The following development standards apply to the development of all uses in Zone A, except those listed in Section 17.20.040.B:
Zone A requirements
Lot area Minimum 8,000 square feet, subject to exception for accessory
dwelling unit construction set forth in division 17.38 or for a
lot split under SB 9 set forth in division 17.54.
Frontage, on public or
private street		 Minimum 60 feet, subject to an exception for a lot split under
SB 9 as set forth in division 17.54.
Lot coverage;
Landscaping		 Maximum 40% lot coverage for primary and accessory
structures, subject to exception for accessory dwelling unit
construction set forth in division 17.38. (A site feature is not
calculated in the lot coverage if (1) the feature is not more than
7 feet height and (2) the total of all site features is 400 square
feet or less.)
Minimum 30% landscaping, subject to exception for accessory
dwelling unit construction set forth in division 17.38.
Structure height Maximum 35 feet, except accessory dwelling units shall be
subject to restrictions set forth in division 17.38.
Street yard setback Minimum 20 feet for primary or accessory structure, subject to
exception for accessory dwelling unit construction set forth in
division 17.38.
No minimum setback for a site feature, but a site feature may
require a design review permit under division 17.66.
Side yard and
rear yard setback		 Minimum 5 feet for a primary or accessory structure, unless
the yard is street facing, in which case the minimum is 20 feet,
except that a setback of only 4 feet is required for a new
structure to be used as an accessory dwelling unit, and no
setback is required for conversions of an existing structure to
an accessory dwelling unit or portion thereof in the same
location and same dimensions.**
However, an accessory structure may be located anywhere
within the side and rear setback areas except that it: (a) must be
located within 35 feet of the rear lot line; (b) must be located at
least 5 feet from a habitable structure on an abutting property,
and, for a corner lot, at least 5 feet from a side lot line of an

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abutting property to the rear; (c) may not exceed 15 feet in
height; and (d) may not be habitable.
A dwelling unit developed under SB 9 is subject to a 4 foot
side and rear setback.
A site feature proposed within these distances may require a
design review permit under division 17.66.
Floor area ratio* Subject to exception for accessory dwelling unit construction
set forth in division 17.38 or for a dwelling unit developed
under SB 9 set forth in division 17.54:
Maximum 55% of the lot area if the parcel is 5,000 square feet
or less.
Maximum 50% of the lot area if the parcel is 5,001 square feet
to 10,000 square feet.
Maximum 45% of the lot area if the parcel is more than 10,000
square feet.

  • In order to encourage development within the existing building envelope instead of building outwards or upwards, the floor area ratio standard is not applied to finishing an area into habitable space if: (1) there is no expansion of the exterior building envelope; and (2) the owner has not obtained a final inspection within the prior three years on a building permit issued for an expansion of the building envelope. (Ordinance 772 N.S., 03/2024)

  • ** Pursuant to Government Code section 65852.2(a)(1)(D)(vii). (Ord. 747 N.S., 02/2020, Ord. 768 N.S., 01/2023, Ord. 772 N.S., 03/2024)

Please refer to division 17.54 for standards for a lot split and two-unit housing developments performed under SB 9.

  • B. The development standards for the following uses are as indicated below:

    • a. Wireless communications facility, as provided in division 17.46.

    • b. Religious institution affiliated housing development projects, as provided in section 17.24.040.A. except that there is no minimum density and maximum allowable density is 21 dwelling units per acre.

    • c. Reservoir has no applicable development standards.

  • C. For lots that are larger than 5,000 square feet, an ADU shall be constructed:

    • a. when a new single-family residence is proposed on a vacant lot.

    • b. when an existing single-family residence is demolished for a remodel or reconstruction, except when a single-family residence is being reconstructed to the same or similar square footage due to damage or destruction by accident, fire, flood, earthquake, or other act of nature. (Ord. 772 N.S., 03/2024)

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