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Part IV — ADMINISTRATION

Article 2 — Applications

Walnut Creek Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · updated 2026-07-07 · Walnut Creek

10-2.4.201 Application Form.

All applications for permits, design review, conditional use permits, variances or other approvals, as required by this article, shall be filed with the Community Development Department upon a form prescribed and furnished by the Community Development Director. The application shall contain a description of the property involved sufficient to identify it precisely, its street address, if any, a statement of all facts upon which the applicant relies if such is required, a statement of or reference to the reasons for the filing of the application, and a specific reference to the law, and section thereof, to which the application pertains. The application shall include a statement indicating whether the proposed project is located on a site which is included on any of the lists specified in Government Code Section 65962.5 relating to hazardous waste. Each application shall be verified by the owner or the owner's authorized agent or lessee of the property involved. (§5, Ord. 2106, eff. 1/6/12; §4, Ord. 2239, eff. 7/5/24)

10-2.4.202 Application Fee.

The fee for filing of all applications and appeals listed in this chapter shall be as adopted by resolution of the City Council. For those applications which are not processed with a fixed fee, a Statement of Understanding is required to be submitted with the application indicating that the applicant is filing an initial deposit. If the final costs are more than the deposit, the applicant will be billed for the additional charges. If the final costs are less than the deposit, the unused portion of the deposit will be returned. No part of any fixed fee shall be returnable, even though the application may be withdrawn.

10-2.4.203 Required Data.

Each application for a reasonable accommodation shall be accompanied by the information required by Section 10-2.4.1602. Each application for a community benefit agreement shall be accompanied by the information required by Section 10-2.4.1703. Any other application required by this article shall be in a form and manner on file with the Community Development Department, and accompanied by copies in a quantity as required by the Community Development Director of site plans, diagrams or other drawings, photographs or other pictorial presentation as may be necessary. Site plans shall be drawn to scale of an adequate size and shall indicate clearly and with full dimensions the following data where applicable:

A. Exterior boundary lines of the property indicating easements, dimensions and lot size.

B. All adjacent streets or rights-of-way, including bicycle, equestrian and hiking trails.

C. Location, elevations, size, height, dimensions, materials, colors, and proposed use of all buildings and structures (including walls, fences, signs, lighting and hooding devices) existing and intended to remain on the site.

D. Distances between all structures and between all property lines or easements and structures.

E. Any nearby buildings which are relevant to this application.

F. All existing trees (as defined in Section 3-8.02) on the site, giving type and location and any other significant plant material, with a notation as to those that are to be retained and those that are to be removed.

G. Any existing significant natural features such as rock outcroppings, highly protected trees, creeks, knolls and ridgelines.

H. Location, number of spaces, and dimensions of off-street parking spaces, loading docks, and maneuvering areas; indicate internal circulation.

I. Pedestrian, vehicular and service points of ingress and egress; driveway widths, and distances between driveways.

J. Proposed landscaping; include quantity, location, varieties and container size.

K. Proposed grading plan (for sites having over five (5) foot grade differential), showing existing and proposed contours, and the direction and path of drainage on, through and off the site; indicate any proposed drainage channels or facilities.

L. Required and existing street dedications and improvements such as sidewalks, curbing and pavement. Indicate widths, radii of curves, street grades and whether streets are public or private.

M. Other such data as may be required to permit the Planning Commission, the Zoning Administrator, or the Community Development Director to make the required findings for approval of the specific type of application and to permit an environmental review of the application.

N. Scale shown as "Scale: 1 inch = ____ feet" and north arrow.

O. Vicinity map indicating nearby cross streets in relation to site (need not be to scale). (§5, Ord. 2131, eff. 7/18/14; §13, Ord. 2209, eff. 3/19/21; §4, Ord. 2239, eff. 7/5/24)

10-2.4.204 Determination of Complete Application.

Within thirty (30) days of receipt of an application, the Community Development Director shall review the application, determine whether the application is complete and send a written notice of such determination to the applicant. If the Community Development Director determines that the application is incomplete, the notice of determination shall specify the information necessary to make the application complete. Within thirty (30) days of receipt of additional submitted materials, the Community Development Director shall determine whether the application is then complete and send a written notice of such determination to the applicant. If following this additional submittal the Community Development Director has determined that the application is not complete, the applicant may appeal that determination to the Planning Commission by filing a written notice of appeal with the Community Development Director. The notice of appeal shall be filed within ten (10) days following the receipt of the written determination by the applicant. The Planning Commission shall issue a written determination on the appeal within sixty (60) days after receipt of the notice of appeal. The decision of the Planning Commission shall be final and shall not be appealable. Nothing in this section precludes an applicant and the City from mutually agreeing to an extension of any time limit provided by this section. (§18, Ord. 2209, eff. 3/19/21; §4, Ord. 2239, eff. 7/5/24)

10-2.4.205 Environmental Review.

Upon receipt of a complete application, the Community Development Director shall determine whether the project is subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), or if an exemption is supported thereunder. If the project is subject to CEQA and an exemption is not supported, the Community Development Director shall cause an environmental review of the project to be conducted in accordance with CEQA and the CEQA Guidelines adopted by the City. The applicant shall submit a fee in advance in an amount which will cover the cost of conducting the environmental review. (§4, Ord. 2239, eff. 7/5/24)

10-2.4.206 Hearing Schedule.

Upon determining that an application is complete and completion of any required environmental review, the Community Development Director shall schedule the application to be heard by the appropriate body, if a hearing is required. (§18, Ord. 2209, eff. 3/19/21; §4, Ord. 2239, eff. 7/5/24)

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▸ Contents — Walnut Creek Zoning Code
Walnut Creek Zoning Code
  1. 10-1.101 Citation and Authority.
  2. 10-1.102 Purpose.
  3. 10-1.103 Conformity to General Plan, Specific Plans and Zoning…
  4. 10-1.104 Application.
  5. 10-1.105 Modification of Requirements.
  6. 10-1.201 Definitions.
  7. 10-1.202 Responsibilities.
  8. 10-1.301 General.
  9. 10-1.302 Division of Land—Five or More Parcels.
  10. 10-1.303 Division of Land—Four or Fewer Parcels. (Minor Subdiv…
  11. 10-1.304 Plat Maps.
  12. 10-1.305 Fees and Deposits.
  13. 10-1.402 Tentative Maps.
  14. 10-1.403 Final Maps.
  15. 10-1.501 Tentative Parcel Map.
  16. 10-1.502 Parcel Maps.
  17. 10-1.503 Waiver of Parcel Map Requirements.
  18. 10-1.601 Dedication of Streets, Alleys and Other Public Rights…
  19. 10-1.602 Park Land Dedication.
  20. 10-1.603 School Site Dedication.
  21. 10-1.604 Reservations.
  22. 10-1.605 Claims of Excessive Dedications.
  23. 10-1.701 Purpose.
  24. 10-1.702 Requirements and Procedures.
  25. 10-1.703 Physical Standards for Condominium Conversions.
  26. 10-1.704 Tenant Provisions.
  27. 10-1.705 Effect of Proposed Conversion on the City's Low- and …
  28. 10-1.706 Findings.
  29. 10-1.801 General.
  30. 10-1.802 Improvements Required.
  31. 10-1.803 Deferred Improvement Agreements.
  32. 10-1.804 Design.
  33. 10-1.805 Access.
  34. 10-1.806 Improvement Plans.
  35. 10-1.807 Improvement Agreement.
  36. 10-1.808 Improvement Security.
  37. 10-1.809 Construction.
  38. 10-1.810 Construction Inspection.
  39. 10-1.811 Completion of Improvements.
  40. 10-1.812 Acceptance of Improvements.
  41. 10-1.813 Supplemental Improvement Capacity.
  42. 10-1.901 General.
  43. 10-1.902 Initiation of Proceedings.
  44. 10-1.903 Contents of Petition.
  45. 10-1.904 Submittal of Petition to City Engineer.
  46. 10-1.905 City Council Approval.
  47. 10-1.906 Filing with County Recorder.
  48. 10-1.1001 Mergers not Required.
  49. 10-1.1002 Mergers Required.
  50. 10-1.1003 Notice of Intention to Determine Status.
  51. 10-1.1004 Hearing on Determination of Status.
  52. 10-1.1005 Determination of Merger.
  53. 10-1.1006 Determination When No Hearing is Requested.
  54. 10-1.1007 Request to Merge by Property Owner.
  55. 10-1.1008 Unmerged Parcels.
  56. 10-1.1009 Request for Determination by Owner.
  57. 10-1.1010 Fee for Mergers and Unmergers.
  58. 10-1.1101 Requirements.
  59. 10-1.1102 Form and Contents.
  60. 10-1.1103 Submittal and Approval by the City Engineer.
  61. 10-1.1104 Filing with the County Recorder.
  62. 10-1.1105 Fee.
  63. 10-1.1201 Citation and Authority.
  64. 10-1.1202 Purpose and Intent.
  65. 10-1.1203 Consistency.
  66. 10-1.1204 Definitions.
  67. 10-1.1205 Application.
  68. 10-1.1206 Filing and Processing.
  69. 10-1.1207 Expiration.
  70. 10-1.1208 Vesting on Approval of Vesting Tentative Map.
  71. 10-1.1209 Development Inconsistent with Zoning—Conditional App…
  72. 10-1.1210 Applications Inconsistent with Current Policies.
  73. 10-1.1211 Failure to Obtain Design Review Approval.
  74. 10-1.1301 Prohibition.
  75. 10-1.1302 Remedies.
  76. 10-1.1303 Certificate of Compliance.
  77. 10-1.1304 Notice of Violation.
  78. 10-1.1305 Penalties.
  79. 10-1.1306 Judicial Action.
  80. 10-1.1401 Purpose.
  81. 10-1.1402 Applicability—Ministerial Approval.
  82. 10-1.1403 Exceptions.
  83. 10-1.1404 Definitions.
  84. 10-1.1405 Urban Lot Split Requirements.
  85. Chapter 2
  86. Part I — GENERAL PROVISIONS
  87. Part II — BASE DISTRICT REGULATIONS
  88. Part III — REGULATIONS APPLYING IN ALL OR SEVERAL DISTRICTS Re…
  89. ▸ Part IV — ADMINISTRATION
    Overview
    1. Article 1 — Planning Agency
    2. Article 2 — Applications
    3. Article 3 — Notices and Hearings
    4. Article 4 — Decisions and Permit Review, Modification and Revo…
    5. Article 5 — Appeals
    6. Article 6 — Conditional Use Permits
    7. Article 7 — Special Use Permits
    8. Article 8 — Minor Use Permits
    9. Article 9 — Variances
    10. Article 10 — Planned Development (P-D) Permits
    11. Article 11 — Hillside Planned Development (H-P-D) Permit
    12. Article 12 — Design Review
    13. Article 13 — Amendments (Rezoning)
    14. Article 14 — Development Agreements
    15. Article 15 — Enforcement
    16. Article 16 — Reasonable Accommodation Application
    17. Article 17 — Community Benefit Agreements
    18. Chapter 3
    19. Chapter 3 — STREET NAMES AND ADDRESSES
    20. Chapter 5
    21. Chapter 5 — TRAFFIC IMPACT FEE
    22. Chapter 6
    23. Chapter 6 — WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS
    24. Chapter 7
    25. Chapter 7 — SEWER SYSTEMS
    26. Chapter 8
    27. Chapter 8 — SIGN REGULATIONS
    28. Chapter 9
    29. Chapter 9 — GENERAL PLAN AND SPECIFIC PLANS
    30. Chapter 10
    31. Chapter 10 — PUBLIC ART
    32. Chapter 11
    33. Chapter 11 — PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT REIMBURSEMENTS
    34. Chapter 12
    35. Chapter 12 — DEDICATIONS FOR PARK PURPOSES
    36. Chapter 13
    37. Chapter 13 — FEE ON COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT FOR AFFORDABLE HOUS…

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