Local zoning · Campbell

Campbell — Development Standards

Development Standards under the Campbell local zoning and planning code, with the controlling citations.

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Last reviewed: July 1, 2026

Overview

This page explains the Campbell Municipal Code (Title 21) rules that control development standards — setbacks, height, lot coverage, FAR, and related dimensional controls — and how they vary by zoning district. It is grounded in the Campbell Zoning Code tables and specific sections, and notes where neighborhood plans or overlay rules change the base numbers. See the city's zoning landing page for context: Campbell zoning & planning overview. Key program-level rules for housing projects and ministerial design standards live in Chapter 21.07 and the housing-specific objective standards in § 21.25.050 .

Note (links in text): when the code refers to parking, design review, overlays, ADUs, landscaping, and building-code measurement it ties into these city topics: Campbell Zoning, Campbell Parking, Campbell Design Review, Campbell Overlay Districts, Campbell ADUs, California Building Standards Code, and Campbell Landscaping and Screening.

Citywide rules that structure every district

  • Objective housing development standards (setbacks, FAR/lot coverage, height/story limits, open space, parking) for applicable projects are summarized in § 21.25.050; where a neighborhood plan or a zoning district lists different numbers, that local standard controls for that site (measurement of height may be from finished or natural grade as specified) .
  • The general residential development table that governs most single-family and low-density residential lots is Table 2‑4 in § 21.08.050; use that table for the R-1 family of districts and as the default baseline for many smaller-scale projects .
  • Commercial / office / industrial dimensional rules and their FARs are in Table 2‑7 under § 21.10.050 .
  • Mixed‑use development standards are summarized in the mixed‑use tables (e.g., Table 2‑10 and Central Business specifics in § 21.11.060) — consult the table for a given MU district since residential vs. nonresidential components may reference different base standards .
  • Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) must follow the ADU chapter’s placement, setback, and FAR/lot coverage rules but are also constrained by state ADU law; see the ADU chapter and Table 3‑1 for setback specifics and the state-law summary cited in the Campbell ADU rules .

District-by-district breakdown (purpose, typical uses, key dimensional standards, where it applies)

Note: every numeric standard below is taken from Campbell's published tables and sections. Where a district's multi‑family rules defer to the form-based Chapter 21.07, I indicate that.

R-1 (Single‑Family Residential)

  • Purpose / typical uses: single‑family homes, neighborhood-serving accessory uses. Baseline for most Campbell single‑family lots. Refer to Table 2‑3 for minimum parcel sizes and Table 2‑4 for dimensional limits (§ 21.08.050) .
  • Key standards:
    • Maximum FAR: 0.45 (the Planning Commission may allow up to 0.50 with site & architectural review) — § 21.08.050 .
    • Maximum lot coverage: 40% — § 21.08.050 .
    • Front setback: 20 ft; Side (each): 5 ft (or one‑half wall height, whichever is greater); Rear: 5 ft; Street side: 12 ft — § 21.08.050 .
    • Maximum height: 35 ft, 2½ stories — § 21.08.050 .
    • Private open space: 750 sq ft per primary dwelling unit (minimum) — § 21.08.050 .
  • Where it applies: city single‑family neighborhoods; multiple R‑1 variants (R‑1‑6, R‑1‑8, R‑1‑9, etc.) have different minimum lot size thresholds in Table 2‑3 — § 21.08.050 .

LMDR / MDR / MHDR / HDR (Low/Medium/Medium‑High/High Density Residential)

  • Purpose / typical uses: multi‑family forms and townhouse/apartment development. Many MDR/MHDR/HDR standards are implemented through the Multi‑Family Development and Design Standards (Chapter 21.07) and the Form‑Based Zoning Map; consult Chapter 21.07 for form‑specific setbacks, FARs, and heights .
  • Key notes:
    • FAR, coverage, setbacks, and heights for these zones are often specified by the applicable form‑based zone in Chapter 21.07 rather than Table 2‑4; see § 21.08.050 and § 21.07.020 for applicability and exceptions .
    • Exception: where form‑based rules do not apply, these zones may default to R‑1-like standards or the exceptions identified in Table notes (see § 21.08.050) .
  • Where it applies: designated transit corridors, downtown, and areas identified on the Form‑Based Zoning Map — see Chapter 21.07 and Table 2‑10 for mixed‑use relationships .

MHP (Mobile Home Park)

  • Purpose / typical uses: manufactured housing communities; some standards marked as N/A in Table 2‑4; consult Chapter 21.08 and specific park regulations — § 21.08.050 .

NC (Neighborhood Commercial), GC (General Commercial), PO (Professional Office), RD (Retail/Restaurant), LI (Light Industrial)

  • Purpose / typical uses: retail, offices, services, light industrial depending on district. General development dimensions are in Table 2‑7 under § 21.10.050 .
  • Key standards (Table highlights):
    • Maximum FAR: 1.0 for most commercial/office/industrial zones — § 21.10.050 .
    • Front setbacks: NC: 15 ft, GC: 10 ft, PO: 15 ft, RD: 20 ft, LI: 10 ft — § 21.10.050 .
    • Side/rear setbacks: generally a minimum 5 ft or one‑half wall height where adjacent to other zones (detailed per zone in Table 2‑7) — § 21.10.050 .
    • Maximum heights: NC/PO: 35 ft, GC: up to 75 ft, RD/LI: 45 ft — § 21.10.050 .

Mixed‑Use districts (PO‑MU, NC‑MU, CB‑MU, GC‑MU, HD‑MU, CC‑MU, TO‑MU, etc.)

  • Purpose / typical uses: combinations of ground‑floor commercial with upper‑floor residential; each MU district ties non‑residential standards to the commercial base and residential components to the corresponding residential base (see Table 2‑10 and Central Business specifics) — see Table 2‑10 and § 21.11.060 for Central Business specifics .
  • Key standards:
    • Mixed‑use development uses the commercial district standards for nonresidential parts and the appropriate residential standards for housing components; Table 2‑10 summarizes the pairings and notes (see Table 2‑10 and the Central Business table) .
    • The Central Business (CB‑MU) district may allow no front setback (none) and higher intensity: Maximum FAR 1.25 and Maximum height 45 ft (see § 21.11.060) .

PF (Public Facilities), OS (Open Space), P‑D (Planned Development) and Special Purpose

  • Purpose / typical uses: public facilities, parks/open space, and site‑specific Planned Developments. Special purpose districts have tailored standards in § 21.12.050 and Table 2‑12b; many setbacks/heights default to the most restrictive abutting district unless otherwise specified .
  • Key standards: Maximum FAR typically 0.40 for PF/OS with ability for Planning Commission to adjust; yard and height defaults are tied to the most restrictive adjacent district — § 21.12.050 .

Overlays and the Community Benefit (CB) overlay

  • Overlays (for example -CB or transit/mixed‑use overlays) add or replace standards; the overlay chapter explains applicability and controls (Chapter 21.14) and the Community Benefit (CB) overlay lets large projects trade objective standards for a discretionary review and demonstrated public benefit — see § 21.14.040 for the CB overlay criteria .

Quick reference table — most decision‑relevant standards (use this to check a parcel-level baseline)

District (baseline) Typical uses Max FAR Max Lot Coverage Front Setback Max Height Code Reference
R‑1 Single‑family homes 0.45 (PC may allow 0.50) 40% 20 ft 35 ft, 2.5 stories § 21.08.050
LMDR / MDR / MHDR / HDR Townhomes / apartments (form‑based) See Chapter 21.07 / FBZ See Chapter 21.07 See Chapter 21.07 See Chapter 21.07 § 21.07.020; § 21.08.050
NC Neighborhood retail/services 1.0 Per district 15 ft 35 ft § 21.10.050
GC General commercial 1.0 Per district 10 ft 75 ft § 21.10.050
PO Offices 1.0 Per district 15 ft 35 ft § 21.10.050
CB‑MU Downtown mixed use 1.25 (max FAR shown) Variable None (may be none) 45 ft § 21.11.060
PF / OS Public facilities / open space 0.40 Per district See most‑restrictive abutting district See abutting district (PC can allow increase) § 21.12.050

How the ADU rules interact with development standards

  • Campbell's ADU chapter requires ADUs to meet setbacks in Table 3‑1 (for detached ADUs a 4 ft interior side and rear setback is specified for many ADUs) and otherwise apply the underlying district's FAR/lot coverage/landscaping limits except where state ADU law preempts the local standard; see the ADU chapter and Table 3‑1 — § 21.23 (ADU chapter content and Table 3‑1) .
  • State ADU law imposes baseline rules (e.g., an 800‑sq‑ft ADU with 4‑ft setbacks must be allowed in many circumstances); Campbell's ADU chapter tracks those constraints but also includes local design/placement requirements — verify state preemption for a particular ADU proposal (see the ADU chapter and the state ADU guidance in the included handbook) .

Practical guidance / synthesis — how to approach a parcel-level check

  1. Identify the parcel's base zoning symbol in the Zoning Map; then pull the matching General Development Table: residential uses: § 21.08.050 (Table 2‑4) ; commercial/industrial: § 21.10.050 (Table 2‑7) ; mixed‑use: Table 2‑10 and § 21.11.060 for downtown rules .
  2. Check whether the parcel is inside a neighborhood or master plan area or subject to an overlay (Chapter 21.14); those plans can change height measurement (natural vs. finished grade), setbacks, or FAR — see § 21.25.050 and Chapter 21.14 .
  3. For housing developments of multiple units, confirm whether Chapter 21.07 (Multi‑Family Development and Design Standards) applies; if it does, the form‑based rules may replace the baseline Table 2‑4 numbers — see § 21.07.020 and § 21.08.050 .
  4. For parking implications, consult the parking chapter when you apply § 21.25.050's one‑stall baseline and the district-specific parking rules in Chapter 21.28 and the city's parking guidance page Campbell Parking .
  5. Expect some discretionary pathways (variances, P‑D, or CB overlay) where a project seeks to trade standards for public benefit; the CB overlay is explicitly for larger projects seeking discretionary tradeoffs — § 21.14.040 .

Checklist (what an applicant must satisfy for a conventional project)

  • Verify base zoning and any overlay/plan area affecting the parcel (Zoning Map; Chapter 21.14)
  • Confirm which development table applies (residential Table 2‑4 § 21.08.050, commercial Table 2‑7 § 21.10.050)
  • Calculate FAR, lot coverage, building height and story count against the table values; if multi‑family, confirm Chapter 21.07 form‑based rules apply (if so, use those numbers)
  • Confirm setbacks / building separation per Table 1‑1 and Table 2‑4 (residential) or Table 2‑7 (commercial) — § 21.25.050 and § 21.08.050
  • Run parking and driveway dimensions against Chapter 21.28 and the one‑stall baseline in § 21.25.050 where applicable; check Campbell Parking for operational guidance
  • Verify landscaping / frontage planting requirements per § 21.26.020 and Campbell Landscaping and Screening
  • If an ADU is proposed, apply the ADU chapter setbacks (Table 3‑1) and cross‑check state ADU rules — see § 21.23 and the ADU table
  • Determine whether Site & Architectural Review or other design review is required (Chapter 21.42 and Campbell Design Review)

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue Why it matters What to verify
Neighborhood/master plan deviations Neighborhood plans can change height measurement, setbacks, and FAR measurement. Projects measured from natural grade vs. finished grade change allowable building height Confirm whether parcel is subject to a neighborhood plan or master plan; see § 21.25.050 and Chapter 21.14
Form‑based (Chapter 21.07) applicability Many MDR/MHDR/HDR numeric standards are delivered by the form‑based map, not Table 2‑4 Verify whether the parcel is inside a form‑based zone (Chapter 21.07) and use those numbers when they apply — § 21.07.020
ADU vs. local limits (state preemption) State ADU law restricts local measures that would effectively prohibit an 800‑sq‑ft ADU with 4‑ft setbacks For ADUs, confirm the ADU chapter and state ADU statutes; see Table 3‑1 and the ADU chapter summary — § 21.23 and state ADU guidance
Mixed‑use component rules Mixed‑use districts may apply different standards to the residential component vs. the nonresidential component (Table 2‑10) For MU projects, identify the standards that apply to each component per Table 2‑10 and CB downtown table — see Table 2‑10 and § 21.11.060
Interpretation of setback exceptions Exceptions (cornices, existing structures, townhomes, etc.) change required setbacks If relying on an exception, document the factual basis and confirm with the Community Development Director or an interpretation per code (procedures for interpretations) — see Table 1‑1 notes and related exceptions in § 21.25.050

Plain‑English summary

Campbell’s zoning (Title 21) sets district‑specific numbers for setbacks, heights, lot coverage, FAR and open space; most single‑family rules live in § 21.08.050 (Table 2‑4) which gives R‑1 a 0.45 FAR, 40% lot coverage, 20 ft front setback and 35 ft height, while commercial and mixed‑use districts use their own tables and downtown rules; check overlays, Chapter 21.07 form‑based zones, and the ADU chapter because they can change which numbers apply to your parcel .

Source References

  • Campbell Zoning Code, Title 21 — general title and enactment: § 21.01.010 (Campbell Zoning Code)
  • Residential development standards (Table 2‑3, Table 2‑4): § 21.08.050
  • Commercial/Office/Industrial development standards (Table 2‑6, Table 2‑7): § 21.10.050
  • Multi‑Family Development and Design Standards (applicability and form‑based zones): § 21.07.020 and related tables
  • Citywide objective housing standards and setback table for housing projects: § 21.25.050
  • Mixed‑Use general standards and Central Business details (Table 2‑10; CB specifics): § 21.11.060 and Table 2‑10
  • Special purpose districts (PF/OS) and special development standards: § 21.12.050
  • ADU chapter and Table 3‑1 (setbacks & ADU provisions): Chapter 21.23 and Table 3‑1 (ADU) — see ADU sections and Table 3‑1 in the code
  • Landscaping requirements by district: § 21.26.020 (landscaping minimums per district)
  • State ADU guidance referenced by Campbell (background on state limits and ADU minimums): 2025 California ADU handbook (included extract)

Sources

Retrieved passages

  • Campbell Zoning Code (§ 5) High relevance
  • Campbell Zoning Code (section occurs) High relevance
  • CMC § 050 (Article 3) High relevance
  • CBC § 5 (Section 66410) High relevance
  • Campbell Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance
  • Campbell Zoning Code (Section 21.36.020) High relevance
  • Campbell Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance
  • CBC § 66314 (§ 66314) High relevance
  • Campbell Zoning Code (Section 5020.1) High relevance
  • CBC § 5 (Section 21.18.040.B.1.) High relevance

Cited sections

Frequently asked questions

What can I build on an R‑1 lot in Campbell?

In most R‑1 zones you can build a single‑family home and typical accessory structures subject to the district numeric standards: 0.45 FAR, 40% lot coverage, 20 ft front setback, 5 ft side and rear setbacks, and 35 ft / 2½ stories maximum — see § 21.08.050 for Table 2‑4 and notes on exceptions and Planning Commission approvals (e.g., FAR to 0.50) .

What are typical setback requirements in Campbell?

Base setbacks for single‑family are in Table 2‑4: Front 20 ft, Side (each) 5 ft, Rear 5 ft, Street side 12 ft; for housing developments a separate Table 1‑1 in § 21.25.050 lists minimum separation and garage entry depth rules (garage entry 25 ft), with some exceptions for cornices, existing structures, and townhomes — see § 21.08.050 and § 21.25.050 .

How is building height measured in Campbell?

Height is measured as specified by the applicable zoning district or neighborhood plan; for many properties the code measures height from finished grade, but certain neighborhood plans require measurement from natural grade — see § 21.25.050 for the controlling rule and chapter notes .

Do FAR and lot coverage limits differ between residential and commercial zones?

Yes. Single‑family baseline (R‑1) uses 0.45 FAR and 40% lot coverage in § 21.08.050, while most commercial/office/industrial districts list 1.0 FAR in § 21.10.050; mixed‑use and form‑based zones may have different FAR ceilings (e.g., CB downtown 1.25 in § 21.11.060) — consult the table for the district that applies to your parcel .

Are there minimum private open space requirements?

Yes — the R‑1 baseline requires 750 sq ft of private open space per primary dwelling unit (Table 2‑4 / § 21.08.050). Multi‑family and form‑based zones use the standards in Chapter 21.07 or the district-specific standards — see § 21.08.050 and Chapter 21.07 .

What setback and height rules apply to ADUs?

ADUs must meet the ADU chapter placement and setback rules in Table 3‑1 (detached ADUs often have 4 ft side/rear setbacks for new detached ADUs) and must also comply with the underlying district's FAR/coverage unless the ADU is a statutorily exempt ADU under state law; see Chapter 21.23 and Table 3‑1 for Campbell specifics, and review state ADU law as it may limit local restrictions .

Do downtown (CB‑MU) lots have front setbacks?

The Central Business (CB‑MU) district generally indicates no required front setback in the Central Business table (Table 2‑11b) and uses higher FAR/height allowances appropriate for downtown (e.g., FAR 1.25, height 45 ft) — see § 21.11.060 and the CB table for the full list of allowances and site design considerations .

If my lot abuts a non‑residential property, can I reduce setback requirements?

Yes — Chapter 21.25 includes exceptions and flexibility (for example elimination of a rear setback where the rear abuts a non‑residential zone) as part of objective housing standards; see the list of allowable modifications and interpretation/appeal procedures in § 21.25.050 and related notes .

Do Campbell’s tables set minimum parcel sizes for subdivisions?

Yes — Table 2‑3 (residential) and Table 2‑6 (commercial/industrial) list minimum parcel areas, widths, and frontage requirements for newly created parcels; see § 21.08.050 (Table 2‑3) and § 21.10.040 / § 21.10.050 for commercial subdivision minima .

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