Concord — Development Standards

Last reviewed: July 1, 2026

Overview

This page synthesizes the Concord Municipal Code development-standards rules that control setbacks, height, lot coverage, density, and FAR for each local zoning district. It interprets the code (Title 18 / the Development Code) so applicants and homeowners can quickly find the key numeric limits, where they come from, and what to verify with the city. For procedural items (design review, parking, ADUs, building code) links to the related topics are provided where those rules commonly interact with development standards.

For citywide rules see the Concord zoning & planning overview, and for the district tables used below see the Concord Zoning and Concord Land Use menus. The page links to the local pages on parking, design review, overlay districts, ADUs, historic preservation and the California Building Standards Code where those rules commonly intersect.

How to read this page

• Every numeric standard below is drawn from the Concord Development Code and is shown with the controlling code section (the § number) and the file preview citation from the source materials. Verify parcel-specific rules with the Planning Division; when code language wasn't present in the retrieved material I note "Not found in retrieved materials" or "Verify with the jurisdiction."

District-by-district breakdown (key districts)

Note: bolded district names and numeric standards are emphasized for quick scanning. Each district subsection gives purpose, typical permitted uses (short), and the most decision-relevant dimensional standards (lot area, lot coverage, height, and typical setbacks) with the controlling code citation.

Residential — RR, RS (rural / single‑family)

• Purpose & uses: Low-density rural and single-family residential development, with larger minimum parcels and larger setbacks intended to preserve rural character. See the RS/RR development standards tables. § 18.30.030 .
• Key standards (examples pulled from the RS/RR table):
  • Front setbacks commonly 20–30 ft depending on the RS subclass; aggregate yard requirements also apply for some RR zones. See § 18.30.030 .
  • Lot coverage for single-family ranges (example) 25%–35% depending on RS subtype. § 18.30.030 .
  • Maximum building height for single-family: typically 30 ft. § 18.30.030 .
• Where it applies: established RS and RR neighborhoods citywide. Verify exact RS subclass standards for a given parcel. § 18.30.030 .

Residential — RL, RM, RH (low → high density multifamily)

• Purpose & uses: Ranging from low-density single-family and townhome (RL) through medium/high density multifamily (RM, RH). See Table 18.30.040 – RL, RM, and RH. § 18.30.040 .
• Key standards (Table 18.30.040 summary):
  • Density (du/net acre): RL 2.5–10, RM 11–32, RH 33–100. § 18.30.040 .
  • Minimum lot area (residential): RL 1,920 sf, RM 1,440 sf (attached), RH 5,000 sf. § 18.30.040 .
  • Lot coverage (max): RL 50%, RM 80% (attached) / 60% (detached), RH 75%. § 18.30.040 .
  • Building height (max): RL 30 ft, RM 40 ft, RH 67 ft (higher with use permit). § 18.30.040 .
  • Setbacks (typical residential): Front 5 ft (RL/RM), Front 0 ft (RH, for urban/mixed projects); Interior side 5 ft; Corner side 10 ft; Rear 5–6 ft depending on district. § 18.30.040 .
• Notes: small-lot exceptions and modified standards exist for subdivisions under 6,000 sf (see Chapter 18.155). § 18.155.040(B) and § 18.155.050 .

Small-lot / townhome standards — small-lot subdivisions in RS/RL (chapter)

• Purpose & uses: Special dimensional and transitional standards for lots under 6,000 sf (single-family detached and attached). See Chapter 18.155 (Standards for Small Lot and Medium Density Development). § 18.155.010–.080 .
• Key numeric highlights (Table 18.155.040(B)):
  • For lots 1,920–2,999 sf: lot width typically 24 ft, max height 35–40 ft depending on lot area, lot coverage 55% (varies by size) and incremental front/interior/rear setbacks depending on band. § 18.155.040(B) .
  • Aggregate lot coverage cap for RS/RL small-lot subdivisions: the sum total of building coverage on the subdivision cannot exceed 40% of the gross land area of the subdivision. § 18.155.050(A) .
  • Transitional setbacks/height when abutting RS/RR: interior side 8 ft, rear 15–20 ft depending on lot sizes; building height at the setback line limited to 30 ft. § 18.155.050(B) .

Office & Commercial — CO, CMX, NC, RC, SC

• Purpose & uses: Retail, office, neighborhood commercial and service centers; some allow residential/mixed use. See Table 18.40.030 – Office and Commercial Districts. § 18.40.030 .
• Key standards:
  • FAR (maximum) examples: CO 1.0, CMX 1.0, NC 0.35, RC 0.5, SC 0.8. § 18.40.030 .
  • Building height: residential/mixed-use examples 37 ft, nonresidential often 30–40 ft depending on district; additional height may be allowed with a use permit. § 18.40.030 .
  • Setbacks: Front 5–15 ft typical; interior side and rear 5 ft or none required unless adjacent to an R district, in which case transitional rules apply. § 18.40.030 and § 18.150.180 .

Mixed-Use / Downtown / High‑intensity — CMX, DMX, DP

• Purpose & uses: denser mixed-use and downtown zones with explicit densities and FAR caps intended to support urban housing and commercial activity. See the density/FAR table in Division II (various tables including Table 18.185.060 and related density lists). § 18.185.060 and associated tables .
• Key standards (example entries):
  • DMX example density: up to 100 DU/acre (table shows 1 unit per 435 sf lot area ≈ 100 DU/AC) and FAR up to 6.0 (modified FAR may apply for qualifying projects). § 18.185.060 (tables) .
  • DP shows similar high-density allowances with FARs often 4.0 or higher for qualifying projects. § 18.185.060 (tables) .
• Notes: FAR applies to mixed-use projects; 100% residential projects are not necessarily subject to FAR requirements per the code language. § 18.185.060(E) .

Overlays and Special Districts (airport, historic, hillside)

• Airport Overlay: height must comply with Contra Costa County airport land use plan and Chapter 18.100 (Airport Overlay (A)). § 18.150.070 and Chapter 18.100 .
• Historic Preservation overlay and related design constraints: see Chapter 18.450 for design-review/historic rules that can affect allowed changes and height exceptions. § 18.450.010–.120 .
• Hillside and special topography: hillside permit and slope rules are in Chapter 18.445 and Chapter 18.300 (Hillside Protection). § 18.445.010–.080 .

Quick reference table — decision‑relevant selected districts

(See the district tables in Division II and the small‑lot chapters for the full banded numeric tables.) § 18.30.030, § 18.30.040, § 18.40.030, § 18.155.040(B)

Interacting provisions you must check (common cross‑controls)

• General development standards (site planning, setbacks, transitional requirements) are in Chapter 18.150 — check § 18.150.140 (Setbacks), § 18.150.070 (Height limits and exceptions), and § 18.150.180 (Transitional requirements) when your lot abuts different zones. § 18.150.010–.180 .
• Small-lot & medium density special rules are in Chapter 18.155 (see § 18.155.040(B) for the small-lot dimension bands and § 18.155.050 for aggregate/transition rules). § 18.155.010–.080 .
• Accessory structure and ADU rules: accessory structures and their height/setback limits are in Division V (see Chapter 18.200 and Table 18.200.030); ADU-specific State constraints also apply — check the local ADU page and state ADU law. § 18.200.030 and related text ; also consult ADU rules on the ADU page and California ADU law. (/us/california/concord/adu and /us/california/california-adu-laws)
• Design review and objective design standards: some residential/mixed projects are reviewed ministerially under objective standards (Chapter 18.152) or require design & site review (Chapter 18.415). See the design review page before you expect discretionary design hearings. § 18.152.060 and § 18.415 references .
• Overlays: Airport Overlay (Chapter 18.100), historic overlay (Chapter 18.450), Transit Station (TS) overlay modifiers for density and FAR — check the overlay-specific chapters. § 18.100; § 18.450; overlay density modifiers (see Division II tables). .
• Where you read “reduced setbacks” or “reduced lot sizes” allowed, also check Minor Exceptions (Chapter 18.425) and Planned Development (PDUP, Chapter 18.440) routes for changes; these allow limited adjustments when findings are met. § 18.425; § 18.440 .

Inline links to related topics you will likely consult: Concord Zoning & Planning overview (/us/california/concord), Concord Zoning (/us/california/concord/zoning), Concord Land Use (/us/california/concord/land-use), Concord Parking (/us/california/concord/parking), Concord Design Review (/us/california/concord/design-review), Concord Overlay Districts (/us/california/concord/overlay-districts), Concord Historic Preservation (/us/california/concord/historic-preservation), Concord ADUs (/us/california/concord/adu), California Building Standards Code (/us/california/building-codes).

Checklist (what an applicant must satisfy for development-standard compliance)

• Verify the zoning district that applies to the parcel (use the official zoning map) and read the district table in Division II. § 18.15.040 .
• Confirm the numeric standards in the district table (lot area, lot width, lot coverage, height, and setbacks) — e.g., § 18.30.030 and § 18.30.040 for residential. § 18.30.030; § 18.30.040 .
• Check Chapter 18.150 general development standards (setbacks, transitional rules, and height exceptions) for site-specific rules. § 18.150.010–.180 .
• If proposing small-lot development (<6,000 sf) read Chapter 18.155 for banded standards and aggregate coverage caps. § 18.155.040(B); § 18.155.050 .
• Confirm overlay requirements (airport/historic/TS) that may change height or other limits. Chapter 18.100; Chapter 18.450 .
• Determine whether your project needs design review, objective design standards review, a PDUP, use permit, or a minor exception; consult Chapters 18.415, 18.152, 18.440, 18.425. § 18.152.060; § 18.440; § 18.425 .
• If adding an ADU, reconcile local accessory/ADU setbacks and heights with state ADU law; some local numeric limits cannot preclude an 800‑sf ADU with 4‑ft side/rear setbacks under state law. Consult local ADU chapter and state ADU law. § 18.200.030 and local ADU chapter; California ADU law .
• For density/FAR calculations in mixed-use districts, consult Table(s) in Division II and relevant affordable‑housing bonuses in Chapter 18.185. § 18.185.060 .

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain‑English summary

Concord’s Development Code (Title 18) uses district tables and Division IV general standards to set the numbers — lot size, lot coverage, setbacks, heights, density and FAR — that determine what you can build; low‑density RS/RR zones have big lots, low coverage, and ~30‑ft heights, RL/RM/RH bands step up density and allowable height, and commercial/mixed zones use FAR caps and different setback patterns. Always cross‑check district table numbers with the general development rules (setbacks, transitional standards, overlays) and with small‑lot rules if your lot or project is a small‑lot subdivision. § 18.30.030; § 18.30.040; § 18.40.030; § 18.150; § 18.155 .

Information Gaps

• A parcel‑specific zoning map query and official zoning boundary confirmation is not available in the retrieved materials. Verify zoning and overlays with the Planning Division. § 18.15.040 .
• Some mixing of tables and narrative (e.g., certain RS subtype numeric ranges) required cross‑referencing multiple tables; minor local amendments or recent ordinances beyond the retrieved set may adjust figures. The code printout is current through Ordinance 26‑1 (Feb 10, 2026) per the file header — still, confirm with the city clerk for the final official text. File header notes .

Source References

• Concord Development Code, Division IV, Chapter 18.150 (General Development Standards). § 18.150.010–.180 .
• Concord Development Code, Table 18.30.040 — RL, RM, RH Districts (Development Standards). § 18.30.040 .
• Concord Development Code, Table 18.30.030 — RR / RS Districts (Development Standards). § 18.30.030 .
• Concord Development Code, Table 18.40.030 — Office and Commercial Districts. § 18.40.030 .
• Chapter 18.155 Standards for Small Lot and Medium Density Development (including Table 18.155.040(B)). § 18.155.010–.080; § 18.155.040(B) .
• Division II density/FAR tables and Modified Lot Area standards (Table 18.185.060(B) and related). § 18.185.060 and Division II tables .
• Accessory structures and accessory‑use dimensional rules (Chapter 18.200, Table 18.200.030). § 18.200.030 .
• Planned Development Use Permit (PDUP) and flexibility for development standards — Chapter 18.440. § 18.440.010–.080 .
• Minor Exceptions (Chapter 18.425) for modest adjustments to development standards. § 18.425.030–.050 .
• Historic preservation chapter (Chapter 18.450) — overlays and special review affecting development standards. § 18.450.010–.120 .
• California ADU law summary (state constraints referenced where ADU local rules interact with state law). Noted in ADU guidance and the 2025 California ADU handbook excerpt. State references: Gov. Code sections summarized in the 2025 ADU handbook. .

Retrieved passages

• Concord Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• Concord Zoning Code (§ 122-55) High relevance show source text
• Concord Zoning Code (§ 122-30) High relevance show source text
• Concord Zoning Code (Chapter 18.100) High relevance show source text
• Concord Zoning Code (§ 122-79) High relevance show source text
• CBC § 66314 (§ 66314) High relevance show source text
• Concord Zoning Code (§ 122-334) High relevance show source text
• Concord Zoning Code High relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Concord Development Code, Division IV, Chapter **18.150** (General Development Standards). § 18.150.010–.180 . (§ 18.150.010)
• Concord Development Code, Table **18.30.040** — **RL, RM, RH** Districts (Development Standards). § 18.30.040 . (§ 18.30.040)
• Concord Development Code, Table **18.30.030** — **RR / RS** Districts (Development Standards). § 18.30.030 . (§ 18.30.030)
• Concord Development Code, Table **18.40.030** — Office and Commercial Districts. § 18.40.030 . (§ 18.40.030)
• Chapter **18.155** Standards for Small Lot and Medium Density Development (including Table 18.155.040(B)). § 18.155.010–.080; § 18.155.040(B) . (§ 18.155.010)
• Division II density/FAR tables and Modified Lot Area standards (Table 18.185.060(B) and related). § 18.185.060 and Division II tables . (§ 18.185.060)
• Accessory structures and accessory‑use dimensional rules (Chapter 18.200, Table 18.200.030). § 18.200.030 . (Chapter 18.200)
• Planned Development Use Permit (PDUP) and flexibility for development standards — Chapter **18.440**. § 18.440.010–.080 . (§ 18.440.010)
• Minor Exceptions (Chapter **18.425**) for modest adjustments to development standards. § 18.425.030–.050 . (§ 18.425.030)
• Historic preservation chapter (Chapter **18.450**) — overlays and special review affecting development standards. § 18.450.010–.120 . (§ 18.450.010)
• California ADU law summary (state constraints referenced where ADU local rules interact with state law). Noted in ADU guidance and the 2025 California ADU handbook excerpt. State references: Gov. Code sections summarized in the 2025 ADU handbook. .
• Concord_ZoningCode.md
• 2025 California ADU handbook.md

• Official Concord code library