Article 7 — Central Retail District (C-R) — Walnut Creek Zoning Code

10-2.2.701 Purpose and Intent. ¶

The purpose of the Central Retail zone is to allow a mix of commercial development, in the core area, on a scale that is less intensive than development in the central pedestrian retail area. The intent is to encourage a wide variety of retail establishments along with some limited office development.

The Central Retail zone generally surrounds the downtown pedestrian retail zone. It serves approximately the same function as the pedestrian retail area except that in most cases, each business will have its own parking lot, allowing for more destination oriented uses.

10-2.2.702 Land Use Regulations. Revised 4/25 ¶

In the following table, the letters in the "Use Regulation" column are defined as follows:

P	=	A permitted use.
L	=	A use permitted subject to certain limitations prescribed by the "Use Regulations" that immediately follow the table.
U	=	A use permitted on approval of a Conditional Use Permit.

Letters in parentheses in the "Additional Regulations" column are described in the "Additional Regulations" section following the "Use Regulations." Where a Use Regulation or a letter in parentheses is opposite a use classification heading, the referenced regulations shall apply to all use classifications under the heading. Land uses not listed (indicated by strikeout) are not permitted.

LAND USE	USE REGULATIONS	ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS
A. Residential Use Classifcations		(I)
1. Adult Day Care Home	P
2. Congregate Living Facility	U
3. Family Day Care Home
a. Small Family Day Care Home	P	(A)
b. Large Family Day Care Home	P	(A)
4. Group Residential	U
5. Multiple Family Residential	L(22)
6. Residential Care Home	P
7. Accessory Dwelling Unit
a. Accessory Dwelling Unit	P	(L)
b. Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit	P	(L)
8. Single Family Residential
9. Supportive Housing	L(24), L(25)
10. Transitional Housing	L(24)
LAND USE	USE REGULATIONS	ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS
---	---	---
B. Commercial Use Classifcations		(B)
1. Ambulance Services	P
2. Animal Sales and Service
a. Animal Hospital	L(2)
b. Animal: Retail Sales and Grooming	P
c. Horse Stables
d. Kennel
3. Artist Studio	L(3)
4. Banks and Savings and Loans
a. Banks and Savings and Loans	P
(1) With Drive-up Service		P
(2) With Automated Teller Machine	P
5. Catering Services	L(4)	(C)
6. Commercial Cannabis Business
a. Commercial Cannabis Cultivation
LAND USE	USE REGULATIONS	ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS
---	---	---
b. Commercial Cannabis Distribution
c. Commercial Cannabis Manufacturing
d. Commercial Cannabis Retail Dispensary
(1) With Cannabis Delivery
e. Nonstorefront Delivery-Only Operation
f. Commercial Cannabis Testing Laboratory
7. Communication Facilities	L(5)
8. Custom Manufacturing	L(3)
9. Eating and/or Drinking Establishments		(J)
a. Eating and/or Drinking Establishments	P
(1) With Wine and Beer Service Ending at or before 11:00 p.m.	L(6)
(2) With Wine and Beer Service Ending after 11:00 p.m.	L(7)
(3) With Full Alcoholic Beverage Service Ending at or before 11:00 p.m.	L(6)
(4) With Full Alcoholic Beverage Service Ending after 11:00 p.m.	L(7)
LAND USE	USE REGULATIONS	ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS
---	---	---
(5) With Live Entertainment	P	(D) (J)
(6) With Dancing	P	(D) (J)
(7) With Take-out Service	P
(a) Drive-up	U
(8) With Permanent Outdoor Seating	L(9)
(9) With Of-site Distribution	U	(C)
(a) Micro-brewery	U	(C)
10. Food and Beverage Sales
a. Food and Beverage Sales	P
b. Convenience Market	P
(1) With Gasoline Sales	U	(E)(F)
c. Specialty Food Shops	P
(1) With Of-site Distribution	U	(C)
11. Funeral and Interment Services	L(10)
12. Health Clubs	U
LAND USE	USE REGULATIONS	ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS
---	---	---
13. Home Improvement Sales and Service	L(11)
14. Horticultural Establishment
15. Lumber and Building Material Yard
16. Maintenance and Repair Service/Small Equip	L(3)
17. Mini-Storage
18. Nursery	P
19. Ofces, Business and Professional
a. Ofces, Business and Professional	L(5)
(1) Ofces, Medical	L(5)
20. Parking, Commercial Facility	L(12)	(G)
21. Pawn Shop	P
22. Personal Improvement Services	L(13)
23. Personal Services	P
24. Recreation and Entertainment, Commercial
a. Within a Building	P
LAND USE	USE REGULATIONS	ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS
---	---	---
b. Outside a Building
25. Research and Development Services	U
26. Retail Sales/Rental	L(11)
27. Vehicle/Equipment Sales and Service
a. Automobile Rental/Leasing	U
b. Automobile Sales/New and Used	U
c. Automobile Washing	U
d. Automobile Wrecking
e. Service Stations	U	(E)(F)
(1) Automobile Washing	U	(E)(F)
f. Vehicle/Equipment Repair
(1) Limited Vehicle Service	U
g. Vehicle/Equipment Sales and Rentals	U
h. Vehicle Storage
28. Visitor Accommodations
LAND USE	USE REGULATIONS	ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS
---	---	---
a. Bed and Breakfast Inns	P
b. Hotels	P
c. Motels	P
C. Industrial Use Classifcations
1. General Industry
2. Limited Industry
3. Research Development Industry
4. Wholesaling, Distribution and Storage
D. Agricultural Use Classifcations
1. Animal Husbandry
2. Crop Production
E. Community Facility Use Classifcations
1. Adult Day Care Facility	U
2. Child Day Care Facility (Day Care Center)	U	(A)
3. Clubs and Lodges	U
LAND USE	USE REGULATIONS	ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS
---	---	---
4. College, Public or Private	U
5. Cultural Institutions
a. Cultural Institutions	U
b. Natural History/Science Museum	U
6. Emergency Medical Care/No Inpatient	U
7. Government Ofces	P
8. Hazardous Waste Management Facility
9. Heliports
10. Hospitals
a. Acute Care
b. Other
11. Housing for the Homeless/Emergency Shelters	L(14)	(M)
12. Low Barrier Navigation Center	L(26)	(M)
13. Maintenance and Service Facilities
14. Park and Recreation Facilities	P
LAND USE	USE REGULATIONS	ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS
---	---	---
15. Public Parking Facilities	P
16. Public Safety Facilities	P
17. Public Transit Terminals
18. Recycling Facilities
a. Collection Facility
(1) Reverse Vending Machine	L(15)
(2) Small Collection Facility	L(15)
(3) Large Collection Facility
b. Processing Facility
19. Religious Assembly	U
20. Residential Care Facility	U
21. Schools, Public or Private	U
22. Skilled Nursing Facilities	U
23. Utilities, Major	L(16)
24. Utilities, Minor	P
LAND USE	USE REGULATIONS	ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS
---	---	---
F. Accessory Uses
1. Accessory Living Quarters
2. Accessory Structure	L(17)
3. Accessory Uses	L(18)
a. Garage Sales
b. Home Occupations	L(19)
c. Personal Cannabis Cultivation	L(23)	(K)
G. Temporary Uses		(B)
1. Arts and Crafts Shows, Outdoor	L(20)
2. Christmas Tree Sales	L(20)
3. Civic/Community Events	L(20)
4. Farmers Markets	L(20)
5. Live Entertainment Events	L(20)
6. Outdoor Seating/Eating and Drinking Estab	L(9)
7. Pumpkin Sales	L(20)

LAND USE	USE REGULATIONS	ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS
LAND USE	LAND USE	USE REGULATIONS
---	---	---
8. Retail Sales, Outdoor		L(20)
9. Swap Meets, Non-Recurring		L(20)
10. Swap Meets, Recurring		L(20)
11. Street Fairs		L(20)
12. Vendor Carts		L(21)
	USE REGULATIONS
L(1)	Repealed by Ord. 2248.
L(2)	Animal Hospitals/Vet Services are permitted subject to the issuance of a Conditional Use Permit and shall not include the boarding of animals except for convalescence or medical examination.
L(3)	Permitted provided that the primary use of the facility is retail sales. Where retail sales are not the primary use of the facility, the uses are permitted on approval of a Conditional Use Permit.
L(4)	Permitted as an accessory use associated with Food and Beverage Sales or an Eating and Drinking Establishment If the use is not an accessory use, then the use is permitted on approval of a Conditional Use Permit.
L(5)	Permitted on foors above the ground level or on the ground level on approval of a Conditional Use Permit. In approving the use permit, the Planning Commission shall fnd that: a) The proposed location is not suitable for retail use by virtue of its location, confguration or relationship to streets, driveways or access ways;
	USE REGULATIONS
---	---
	b) The proposed ground foor ofce use is compatible with the existing character and uses of the area.
L(6)	Permitted upon approval of an Administrative Use Permit pursuant to Article 12 of Part III of the Zoning Ordinance.
L(7)	Not permitted if located within 600 feet of the boundary of any school (as defned in Article 4, Sec. 10-2.1.403.E) if providing full alcoholic beverage service. Otherwise, permitted upon approval of a Conditional Use Permit pursuant to Article 12 of Part III of the Zoning Ordinance.
L(8)	Not permitted if located within 600 feet of a school. A Conditional Use Permit shall be required if is to be located within 600' of the boundary of any hospital or residential zoning district, otherwise it is a permitted use. The criteria found in Section 10-2.4.605 shall not apply to such conditional use permit, nor shall any such use permit be modifed or revoked except for reasons related to this paragraph. The Planning Commission shall grant the conditional use permit unless it fnds that: (1) noise from the interior of the facility will be audible from the hospital or residentially zoned property, or (2) noise from the parking lot, other than normal conversation levels, will be audible to the hospital or residentially zoned property.
L(9)	Outdoor seating which requires the construction of permanent structures or alterations to existing buildings shall be subject to Design Review (see Part IV, Article 12. Design Review). A Temporary Encroachment Permit is required for the temporary use of the public right of way for the placement of tables and chairs.
L(10)	Mortuaries are permitted upon approval of a Conditional Use Permit. All other uses within this category are not permitted.
L(11)	Permitted provided that all activity is conducted entirely within an enclosed building. Uses that include outdoor sales are permitted upon approval of a Conditional Use Permit subject to a fnding that the outdoor sales does not negatively impact any abutting uses.
L(12)	A Temporary Commercial Parking Lot is permitted subject to the approval of a Minor Use Permit. A Permanent Commercial Parking Lot is permitted subject to the issuance of a Conditional Use Permit.
	USE REGULATIONS
---	---
L(13)	Business and Trade Schools are permitted subject to the issuance of a Conditional Use Permit. Fine arts, crafts, dance or music studios, exercise or aerobic studios, driving schools, and diet centers are permitted.
L(14)	A Conditional Use Permit shall be required if it is to be located on a parcel within 500 feet of the boundary of any residential zoning district, otherwise it is a permitted use.
L(15)	Permitted subject to the approval of the Community Development Director.
L(16)	Electrical substations, aboveground electrical transmission lines and switching buildings are permitted uses. All other uses within this classifcation are not permitted.
L(17)	Accessory structures are permitted subject to Sec. 10-2.2.703.Property Development Regulations.
L(18)	See the use regulation for the primary use classifcation.
L(19)	Home Occupations are permitted subject to the approval of a Home Occupation Permit (see Sec. 10-2.3.107.Home Occupations).
L(20)	Permitted subject to the approval of a Temporary Activity Permit (see Sec. 10-2.3.118. Temporary Activity Permits).
L(21)	Permitted if they are operating under the same business license as an immediate adjacent eating and drinking establishment or immediate adjacent retail establishment and are not within the public right of way.
L(22)	Conditionally permitted in areas designated as Mixed Use Commercial Emphasis (MU-C) or Mixed Use Residential Emphasis (MU-R) by the Walnut Creek General Plan, in all other General Plan land use classifcations if at least 90 percent of the dwelling units are restricted units for low or very low income households, and in areas where multiple family residential uses are allowed pursuant to a specifc plan; otherwise not permitted.
	USE REGULATIONS
---	---
L(23)	Personal cannabis cultivation is permitted subject to the regulations outlined by Article 14 of Part III of the Zoning Ordinance.
L(24)	Supportive and transitional housing are subject only to those requirements and restrictions that apply to the residential use classifcation under which they operate (e.g., multiple-family residential, single-family residential, residential care home, etc.).

LAND USE	USE REGULATIONS	ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS
L(25)	Permitted by right when meeting the requirements of Section 65651 of the California Government Code and all objective standards applicable to multiple-family residential uses.
L(26)	Permitted by right when meeting the requirements of Section 65662 of the California Government Code.
	ADDITIONAL USE REGULATIONS
(A)	See Part III, Article 6. Child Day Care Facilities.
(B)	See Sec. 10-2.3. 121. Regulations for Outdoor Sales, Service and Display.
(C)	See Sec. 10-2.3.123.Of-site Distribution, Eating and Drinking Establishments and Specialty Food Shops.
(D)	See Municipal Code, Title 4.Chapter 11. Public Dance Permits.
(E)	See Sec. 10-2.3.122.Service Stations; Convenience Markets with Gasoline Sales.
(F)	See Part III, Article 8. Concurrent Sales.
(G)	See Part III, Article 2. Of-street Parking and Loading Regulations.
(H)	See Part III, Article 7. Recycling Facilities.
	ADDITIONAL USE REGULATIONS
---	---
(I)	See Part III, Article 9. Inclusionary Housing.
(J)	See Part III, Article 12. Alcoholic Beverage Sales.
(K)	See Part III, Article 14. Personal and Commercial Cannabis Activities.
(L)	See Part III, Article 5. Accessory Dwelling Units.
(M)	See Part III, Article 16. Objective Standards for Emergency Shelters and Navigation Centers.

(§7, Ord. 1927, eff. 7/16/98; §§14, 15, 16, Ord. 2109, eff. 6/15/12; §11, Ord. 2129, eff. 7/3/14; §4, Ord. 2145, eff. 3/4/16; §§7(1), (24)—(26), Ord. 2183, eff. 9/8/18; §3, Ord. 2188, eff. 3/8/19; §5(1), Ord. 2216, eff. 7/2/22; §3, Ord. 2241, eff. 7/19/24; §3(9), Ord. 2243, eff. 9/7/24; §3(2), Ord. 2248, eff. 2/21/25)

10-2.2.703 Property Development Regulations. ¶

The following schedule prescribes development regulations for the Central Retail District. The symbol "NA" indicates that there is no restriction for that particular development regulation or it is not applicable in this District. Numbers in parentheses refer to the "Additional Development Regulations" following the schedule. If the Development Regulation column is blank, the development regulation is then outlined in the "Additional Regulation" footnote.

CLASSIFICATION	DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS	ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS
A. Minimum Lot Area	10,000 sq. ft.	D(1)
B. Minimum Lot Width	80'	D(2)
C. Minimum Lot Frontage	80'	D(2)
D. Minimum Lot Depth	100'	D(3)
E. Minimum Setbacks		D(4) D(5) D(11)
CLASSIFICATION	DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS	ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS
---	---	---
1. Front	NA
2. Side	NA
3. Corner Side	NA
4. Rear	NA
F. Maximum Height		D(6)
G. Density
1. Residential		D(7)
2. Commercial		D(8)
3. Mixed Use		D(7) D(8)
H. Maximum Lot Coverage	NA
I. Maximum Floor Area Ratio		D(8)
J. Design Review	See Sec. 10-2.4.1202.
K. Landscaping	See Part III, Article 11.
L. Storage Space for Residential Units	200 Cubic Feet	D(10)
M. Fences and Walls	See Sec. 10-2.3.104.
CLASSIFICATION	CLASSIFICATION	DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS
---	---	---
N. Antennas		See Sec. 10-2.3.120.
O. Non-Conforming Conditions		See Part III, Article 3.
P. Elevators		See Sec. 10-2.3.124.
Q. Recycling Facilities		See Part III, Article 7.
R. Parking and Loading		See Part III, Article 2.
S. Signs		See Title 10,Chapter 8.
T. Preservation of Trees		See Title 3.Chapter 8.
U. Hillside Performance Standards		See Part III, Article 4.
V. Stormwater Control		See Title 9,Chapter 16.
W. Private Residential Outdoor Space		See Sec. 10-2.3.126.
X. Courts		See Sec. 10-2.3.127.
Y. Lighting		See Sec. 10-2.3.128.
	ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS
D(1)	Any existing lot containing less than ten thousand square feet may be developed pursuant to all other provisions of this chapter.

ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS

ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS	ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS
D(2)	Any existing lot having a width or frontage of less than eighty feet may be developed pursuant to all other provisions of this chapter.
D(3)	Any existing lot having a depth of less than one hundred feet may be developed pursuant to all other provisions of this chapter.
D(4)	See Sec. 10-2.3.106.Exclusion of Rights of Way.
D(5)	Refer to the Zoning Map for Future Street Line Setbacks.
D(6)	Within the plan area boundaries of the North Downtown Specifc Plan: Refer to Figure 4.1 (Base Intensity and Building Height) and Figure 4.3 (FAR and Height Bonus Potential with Provision of Community Benefts) of the North Downtown Specifc Plan. Where identifed in Figure 4.3, the Planning Commission or City Council may permit additional building height upon approval of a community beneft agreement pursuant to Part IV, Article 17, Community Beneft Agreements. Outside of the plan area boundaries of the North Downtown Specifc Plan: Refer to the Zoning Map.
D(7)	Within the plan area boundaries of the North Downtown Specifc Plan: Refer to Figure 4.1 (Base Intensity and Building Height) and Figure 4.3 (FAR and Height Bonus Potential with Provision of Community Benefts) of the North Downtown Specifc Plan. Where identifed in Figure 4.3, the Planning Commission or City Council may permit additional FAR upon approval of a community beneft agreement pursuant to Part IV, Article 17, Community Beneft Agreements. Outside of the plan area boundaries of the North Downtown Specifc Plan: For residential development refer to the General Plan, Chapter 4, Figure 9 (Mixed Use Floor Area Ratios).
D(8)	Within the plan area boundaries of the North Downtown Specifc Plan: Refer to Figure 4.1 (Base Intensity and Building Height) and Figure 4.3 (FAR and Height Bonus Potential with Provision of Community Benefts) of the North Downtown Specifc Plan. Where identifed in Figure 4.3, the Planning Commission or City Council may permit additional FAR upon approval of a community beneft agreement pursuant to Part IV, Article 17, Community Beneft Agreements. Outside of the plan area boundaries of the North Downtown Specifc Plan: For commercial development refer to the General Plan, Chapter 4, Figure 8 (Core Area Commercial Floor
	ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS
---	---
	Area Ratios).
D(9)	Ten percent (10%) of the net lot area shall be landscaped. Front and corner side landscaping requirements count toward the minimum site landscape area requirement. Landscaped areas shall consist of at least ffty percent (50%) live plant material, and any remaining area shall be rock, gravel, pebbles, stones, mulch or other natural, non-living material. Where multiple parcels are developed, the minimum landscaping applies across the project as a whole. Where provided front and/or corner side setbacks are more than fve (5) feet, they shall be landscaped as follows: i. A minimum of ten percent (10%) of the yard shall be landscaped. ii. For projects with a residential component, a minimum of thirty percent (30%) of the yard shall be landscaped. See also Private Residential Outdoor Space in Section 10-2.3.126.
D(10)	The private storage space for a residential unit shall be weather-proofed and lockable private storage space in addition to guest, linen, pantry and clothes closets customarily provided. Such space may be provided in any location approved by the Community Development Department, but shall not be divided into two or more locations.
D(11)	Within the plan area boundaries of the North Downtown Specifc Plan: Refer to Figure 4.4 (Building Setbacks) of the North Downtown Specifc Plan. Outside of the plan area boundaries of the North Downtown Specifc Plan: Refer to the General Plan—Chapter 4, Figure 11 (Building Setbacks).

(§2, Ord. 2037, eff. 12/17/04; §8, Ord. 2070, eff. 6/20/2008; §11, Ord. 2108, eff. 4/7/12; §4, Ord. 2145, eff. 3/4/16; §7, Ord. 2200, eff. 12/6/19; §5, Ord. 2209, eff. 3/19/21; §4, Ord. 2239, eff. 7/5/24)

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The Walnut Creek Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 2251, passed August 16, 2025.

Disclaimer: The City Clerk's Office has the official version of the Walnut Creek

10-2.2.801

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