Chapter 18.05 — PURPOSE AND ORGANIZATION

Title 18 of the Pleasant Hill Municipal Code, containing the City's zoning regulations, shall be known and cited as the "Zoning Ordinance." A copy of this Zoning Ordinance and the Zoning Map, together with a record of all amendments, shall be kept on file by the City Clerk. (Ord. 978, 11/17/2025)

The purposes of the Zoning Ordinance is to protect and promote the public health, safety, and general welfare, and to implement the policies of the General Plan. More specifically, the Zoning Ordinance is intended to:

• A. Purpose and Intent. This Zoning Ordinance is intended to provide a precise guide for the physical development of the City in order to:

  1. Preserve the character and quality of residential neighborhoods;

  2. Foster convenient, harmonious, and workable relationships among land uses;

  3. Achieve the arrangement of land uses described in the General Plan;

  4. Promote the economic stability of existing land uses;

  5. Prevent excessive population densities and overcrowding of land or structures;

  6. Ensure the provision of adequate open space for light, air, and fire safety; and

  7. Ensure that service demands of new development will not exceed the capacities of existing streets, utilities, or public services.

• B. Authority. This Zoning Ordinance is enacted based on the authority vested in the City by the State of California, including but not limited to the State Constitution; the Planning and Zoning Law (Government Code Sections 65000 et seq.); and the California Environmental Quality Act (Public Resources Code Sections 21000 et seq.).

• (Ord. 978, 11/17/2025)

Part 1 – Enactment and Applicability establishes the overall organization and applicability of the Zoning Ordinance.

Part 2 – Zoning District Regulations and Development Standards establishes the permitted or conditionally permitted land uses in each zoning district and include any special requirements applicable to specific uses. This Part also establishes the development standards specific to each zoning district (e.g., regulations that control the height, bulk, location, and appearance of structures).

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City of Pleasant Hill, CA

ZONING ORDINANCE

§ 18.05.030

§ 18.05.050

Part 3 – Regulations Applicable to All Zoning Districts contains zoning regulations which apply citywide (zoning regulations not specific to a particular zoning district or land use).

Part 4 – Permit and Entitlement Processing Procedures establishes the processing procedures for required permits and entitlements. These regulations include the purpose and applicability of each permit/entitlement, application requirements, filing procedures, and applicable conditions of approval.

Part 5 – Zoning Ordinance Administration contains procedures for the administration of the Zoning Ordinance, including requirements for development agreements, amendments, appeals of zoning decisions and calls for review, and enforcement.

Part 6 – Definitions and Land Use Classifications includes a list of terms used in the Zoning Ordinance, with cross-references, and definitions for land use classifications. (Ord. 978, 11/17/2025)

If any portion of this Zoning Ordinance is held to be invalid, unconstitutional, or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the determination shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Zoning Ordinance. The City Council hereby declares that this Zoning Ordinance and each part, chapter, section, subsection, paragraph, and portion thereof is adopted without regard to the fact that one or more portions of this Zoning Ordinance may be declared invalid, unconstitutional, or unenforceable. (Ord. 978, 11/17/2025)

• A. General. The City shall be divided into zoning districts which implement the General Plan. The zoning districts shown in Table 18.05-A (Zoning Districts and General Plan Land Use Designations Consistency) are hereby established and shall be shown on the Zoning Map.

• B. Base Zoning Districts. Every lot shall have a base zoning district that establishes the primary type and intensity of land use allowed, along with development standards for the type and intensity of land use.

• C. Overlay Zoning Districts. An overlay zoning district supplements the base zoning district for the purpose of establishing special land use allowances, limitations, or development standards and regulations for a particular area, in addition to the provisions of the underlying base zoning district. In the event of conflict between the base zoning district regulations and the overlay zoning district regulations, the provisions of the overlay zoning district shall apply.

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City of Pleasant Hill, CA

PLEASANT HILL CODE

§ 18.05.050

§ 18.05.050

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Table 18.05-A
Zoning Districts and General Plan Land Use Designations Consistency
Zoning Map Density and/or Corresponding General Plan
Symbol Zoning District Name FAR Land Use Designation(s)
R-20 Single-Family Residential 1.3 – 3.0 du/ac Single-Family Low-Density
Zoning District (SFLD)
(Min. lot size: 20,000 sq.
ft.)
R-15 Single-Family Residential 1.3 – 3.0 du/ac Single-Family Low-Density
Zoning District (SFLD)
(Min. lot size: 15,000 sq.
ft.)
R-10 Single-Family Residential 3.1 – 4.5 du/ac Single-Family Medium-Density
Zoning District (SFMD)
(Min. lot size: 10,000 sq.
ft.)
R-10A Single-Family Residential 3.1 – 4.5 du/ac Single-Family Medium-Density
District: Minimum lot size: (SFMD)
10,000 sq. ft.
R-7 Single-Family Residential 4.6 – 6.9 du/ac Single-Family High-Density
(Min. lot size: 7,000 sq. ft.) (SFHD)
R-6 Single-Family Residential 4.6 – 6.9 du/ac Single-Family High-Density
Zoning District (SFHD)
(Min. lot size: 6,313 sq. ft.)
RMD Mangini Delu Residential 4.6 – 13 du/acre Mangini-Delu Residential
Zoning District (MDR)
MFVL Very Low Density Multi- 7.0 – 12.0 du/ac Multi-Family Very Low-Density
Family Residential Zoning (MFVLD)
District
MFL Low Density Multi-Family 12.1 – 20.0 du/ac Multi-Family Low-Density
Residential (MFLD)
MFM Medium Density Multi- 20.1 – 30.0 du/ac Multi-Family Medium-Density
Family Residential Zoning (MFMD)
District
MFH High Density Multi-Family 30.1 – 40.0 du/ac Multi-Family High-Density
Residential Zoning District (MFHD)
MFVH Very High Density Multi- 40.1 – 73.0 du/ac Multi-Family Very High-Density
Family Residential Zoning (MFVHD)
District
MX-NB Neighborhood Business 1.3 – 20.0 du/ac Mixed-Use Neighborhood
Mixed-Use Zoning District 0.0 – 0.75 FAR (MUD)
MX Mixed-Use Zoning District 12.0 – 40.0 du/ac Mixed-Use (MU)
0.4 – 0.75 FAR
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City of Pleasant Hill, CA

ZONING ORDINANCE

§ 18.05.050

§ 18.05.050

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Table 18.05-A
Zoning Districts and General Plan Land Use Designations Consistency
Zoning Map Density and/or Corresponding General Plan
Symbol Zoning District Name FAR Land Use Designation(s)
MX-HD High Density Mixed-Use 40.1 – 70 du/ac Mixed-Use High-Density
Zoning District 0.4 – 0.75 FAR (MUHD)
MX-VHD Very High Density Mixed- 70.1 – 100 du/ac Mixed-Use Very High-Density
Use Zoning District 0.4 – 0.85 FAR (MUVHD)
NB Neighborhood Business 0.0 – 0.35 FAR Neighborhood Business (NB)
Zoning District
RB Retail Business Zoning 0.0 – 0.4 Commercial and Retail (CR)
District
PAO Professional and 0.0 – 0.4 FAR Office (O)
Administrative Office
Zoning District
C General Commercial 0.0 – 0.4 FAR Commercial and Retail (CR)
Zoning District
LI Limited Industrial Zoning 0.0 – 0.35 FAR Light Industrial (I)
District
PUD/PPD Planned Unit Development As established in Can be applied in any land use
or Precise Plan Zoning underlying designation
District General Plan
Land Use
Designation
HPUD Hillside Planned Unit As established in Corresponds with any residential
Development Zoning underlying Single-Family (SF) or Multi-
District General Plan Family (MF) land use
Land Use designation
Designation
OS Open Space No minimum or Open Space (OS)
maximum density
established
REC Parks and Recreation No minimum or Parks (P)
Zoning District maximum density
established
H Historic Overlay No minimum or Can be applied in any land use
maximum density designation
established
CR Cultural Resource Overlay No minimum or Can be applied in any land use
maximum density designation
established
In R-10A, the average lot size shall be at least 10,000 sq. ft. Smaller lots may be allowed, but not
less than 7,000 sq. ft.
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City of Pleasant Hill, CA § 18.05.050

PLEASANT HILL CODE

§ 18.05.050

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Table 18.05-A
Zoning Districts and General Plan Land Use Designations Consistency
Zoning Map Density and/or Corresponding General Plan
Symbol Zoning District Name FAR Land Use Designation(s)
All zoning designations established by this Title are consistent with and implement the School (S)
and Semi-Public And Institutional (SPI) General Plan land use designations.
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(Ord. 978, 11/17/2025)

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City of Pleasant Hill, CA