Concord — Land Use

Last reviewed: July 1, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes what the Concord Development Code (Title 18, “Development Code”) says about allowable land uses, the city’s use tables, and how district rules (and overlays) control what you can establish on a parcel. It is strictly drawn from the Concord Development Code (cited below) and focuses on land-use rules (allowed/conditional uses, use tables, development standards that affect use), not building code or tenant law. See the city's zoning overview for context on how these chapters fit into the local process. Concord zoning & planning overview

Note: the code organizes uses by district in tables (ZC = zoning clearance/permitted, AP = administrative permit, MP = minor use permit, UP = use permit). Always confirm a parcel’s map zoning and any overlay district that modifies allowed uses or standards. See the city's main Zoning page.

How the Development Code controls Land Use (short primer)

• The Development Code is titled the Concord Development Code (Title 18); it implements the General Plan and classifies uses by zoning district and permit type (zoning clearance, administrative permit, minor/major use permit) — see § 18.10.010 and § 18.25.030 .
• Allowed/conditional uses are listed in district-specific use tables (for example Table 18.30.020 for residential districts, Table 18.45.020 for downtown districts). See the district chapters for the controlling table citations (each district chapter opens with the table reference) — e.g., § 18.30.020, § 18.45.020, § 18.50.020, § 18.55.020 .
• Development standards that affect whether a use is feasible (setbacks, FAR, lot coverage, height, parking) are in the district development standards tables (for each chapter) and in Division IV (General Development Standards) — see, for example, § 18.30.030, § 18.30.040, and Chapter 18.150 for general standards .
• Parking and access rules that often determine whether a nonresidential use can function are in Chapter 18.160 (Parking, Loading, and Access); parking counts by use are in Table 18.160.040 . (See the city's Parking page for quick navigation.)

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

Notes on citation style: each district subsection lists the controlling purpose and table/standards by the code § and the corresponding file citation from the retrieved ordinance.

Residential districts — RR, RS, RL, RM, RH

• Purpose: These districts group lower- to higher-density residential uses and list accessory and limited nonresidential uses appropriate to neighborhoods. See § 18.30.010 and the residential use table § 18.30.020 for permitted uses and permit types .
• Typical permitted uses: single-family dwellings, accessory structures, family day care (subject to the tabular codes), small residential care facilities or home-based businesses as indicated in Table 18.30.020 (ZC/AP/UP designations) — consult § 18.30.020 .
• Key dimensional standards: see Table 18.30.030 for RR/RS and Table 18.30.040 for RL/RM/RH (minimum lot areas, setbacks, height, lot coverage). These tables are the controlling place to read numeric setback/height/coverage standards for each residential zone — § 18.30.030 and § 18.30.040 .
• Where it applies: citywide residential map; consult the official zoning map (verify parcel zoning). For small-lot/medium-density exceptions, see Chapter 18.155 (small-lot development standards) .
• Practical tip: accessory uses (sheds, solar collectors) are often exempt from planning permits if they meet the setback and height rules — see § 18.25.050 for exemptions . For ADU rules, cross-check local ADU chapter and state ADU law; Concord maintains local ADU guidance (see Concord ADUs and the California ADU law).

Downtown districts — DP, DMX, WMX

• Purpose and character:
  • DP (Downtown Pedestrian) targets pedestrian-oriented retail/restaurant at ground floor with vertical mixed-use above; required minimum FAR and pedestrian activation rules stated in district purpose — see § 18.45.010 (DP description, minimum FAR 1.0 up to 4.0 and residential densities) .
  • DMX (Downtown Mixed-Use) allows higher density vertical mixed-use (minimum FAR 1.0 up to 6.0; residential density ranges given in the chapter) — see § 18.45.010 .
  • WMX (West Concord Mixed-Use) allows nonresidential mixed uses (retail, office, hotels) up to 4.0 FAR and specifically disallows residential uses in that zone — see § 18.45.010 .
• Typical permitted uses: retail, restaurant, office, multifamily residential (DP/DMX on upper floors), hotels (DMX), storefront retail facing Todos Santos Plaza has special ground-floor rules — see Table 18.45.020 and development standards Table 18.45.030 (§ 18.45.020, § 18.45.030) .
• Key dimensional/activation rules: ground-floor transparency, active storefront requirements, built FAR ranges (DP: 1.0–4.0 FAR; DMX: 1.0–6.0 FAR; WMX: up to 4.0 FAR) and residential placement rules for parcels directly facing Todos Santos Plaza — see § 18.45.010 and notes in § 18.45.020 .
• Where it applies: downtown district map and areas identified by the chapter. Design/site review and objective design standards may apply; see Chapter 18.152 and design/site review § 18.415 for review applicability .

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

• Purpose: intended for a range of office, neighborhood commercial, community commercial and retail uses — see § 18.40.010 and Table 18.40.020 for allowed uses and the development standards § 18.40.030 .
• Typical permitted uses: storefront retail, offices, services (with ZC/AP/MP/UP distinctions in Table 18.40.020).
• Key dimensional standards: district-specific setbacks, heights, and lot coverage listed in Table 18.40.030 (see chapter for numeric standards — § 18.40.030) .

Business park & Industrial districts — OBP, IBP, IMX, HI

• Purpose: to provide for business park, light industrial and heavy industrial uses respectively — see § 18.50.020 and Table 18.50.020 for uses and permit requirements .
• Typical permitted uses: contractor yards, freight/warehouse uses, manufacturing, labs, distribution — many uses are allowed only with permits in certain zones; outdoor storage often restricted or needs screening/UP as noted in table footnotes § 18.50.020 .
• Key standards: development standards in Table 18.50.030 and requirements for outdoor storage screening; special notes for IMX (.e.g., outdoor activities may require UP) — see § 18.50.030 and table footnotes .

Public / Quasi‑Public district — PQP

• Purpose: areas with schools, hospitals, government facilities, and related public services (John Muir Medical Center, Buchanan Field Airport referenced) — see § 18.55.010 and allowed uses § 18.55.020 .
• Typical permitted uses: hospitals, schools, government offices and related institutional uses; building intensity allowed up to 1.5 FAR per the chapter purpose .
• Key standards: review the PQP table for which public/quasi-public uses are ZC/AP/UP; see § 18.55.020 .

Planned District — PD (existing legacy PDs)

• Status: The code states no new PD zoning is to be used for approvals; existing PD parcels retain the designation until redevelopment. If a PD lacks an approved standards record, equivalent district standards are applied per § 18.25.040 .

Overlay districts (examples)

• Transit Station Overlay (TS) and Commercial Cannabis Overlay are examples where the base-district uses are modified by overlay rules. TS may restrict surface parking and requires transit-supportive uses; see § 18.105.010–.030 for TS overlay purpose/applicability/land‑use rules . The cannabis overlay (Chapter 18.110) sets where cannabis uses are allowed and additional development standards — see § 18.110.010 onward . See Concord Overlay Districts.

Quick reference table — common decision‑relevant items

Checklist — what an applicant must satisfy (land‑use focused)

• Verify parcel zoning and any overlay(s) on the official zoning map; consult the district table for allowed/conditional status (see § 18.25.030 and the district table chapter: e.g., § 18.30.020, § 18.45.020, § 18.50.020) .
• Confirm whether proposed use is ZC (permitted), AP, MP, or UP in the district use table and the special footnotes in those tables (see the table legends in each district chapter, e.g., Table 18.45.020) .
• Confirm dimensional feasibility: setbacks, height, FAR, lot coverage from the district development standards table (e.g., § 18.30.030–.040, § 18.45.030) .
• Calculate parking and loading per Table 18.160.040 and any adjustments (BART reductions, shared parking) in Chapter 18.160 .
• Identify required permits and review authority (zoning clearance, administrative permit, minor use permit, use permit, design review) per Table 18.400.020 and the applicable permit chapters (e.g., § 18.400.020, Chapter 18.415) .
• Check overlay district rules (TS, Cannabis overlay, etc.) for added restrictions or allowances (e.g., § 18.105 for TS overlay) .
• If the project is residential or mixed‑use and relying on ministerial/streamlined approval, check Chapter 18.152 for objective design standards and exceptions .
• For legacy PD parcels, confirm whether a written record of PD standards exists; if not, the code instructs using equivalent standards from the nearest district tables (see § 18.25.040) .

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain‑English summary

Concord’s Development Code lists what is allowed on each parcel by zoning district in district-specific use tables and controls whether a use is permitted outright (ZC), needs an administrative permit (AP), a minor or standard use permit (MP/UP), or is prohibited — read the district’s table and its development standards and overlays before you plan a project (see the governing tables and chapters cited above: e.g., § 18.30.020, § 18.45.020, Chapter 18.160 for parking) .

Source References

• Concord Development Code (Title 18) — Division II (Zoning districts) and district use tables: residential chapter § 18.30.010–.040, Table 18.30.020/030/040 .
• Downtown districts chapter: § 18.45.010–.030, Table 18.45.020/18.45.030 (DP/DMX/WMX descriptions, FAR ranges, ground‑floor rules) .
• Business park / industrial chapter: § 18.50.020/18.50.030 (Table 18.50.020 allowed uses and development standards) .
• Public/Quasi‑Public district: § 18.55.010–.020, Table 18.55.020 (allowed uses/permit requirements) .
• General land use and permit framework: § 18.25.010–.050 (purpose, general requirements, exemptions, planned district rules) .
• Parking, Loading & Access: Chapter 18.160, including § 18.160.040 (parking requirements) and § 18.160.050 (adjustments) .
• Review authority and design review: § 18.400.020 and Chapter 18.415 (Design & Site Review); objective design standards Chapter 18.152 .
• Transit Station Overlay: § 18.105.010–.030 (TS overlay applicability and prohibited uses) .
• Commercial Cannabis Overlay: Chapter 18.110 (overlay purpose, allowed uses, development standards) .

Also see these internal city topic pages (linked in text above):

• Concord zoning & planning overview
• Concord Zoning
• Concord Development Standards
• Concord Parking
• Concord Design Review
• Concord Overlay Districts
• Concord ADUs
• California Building Standards Code

Information Gaps

• Exact numeric setback/height/lot‑coverage numbers for many commercial and some residential zones are contained in the district development tables (images/tables in the retrieved materials). For parcel‑specific numeric verification, read the table for the exact zone (e.g., Table 18.30.030, Table 18.45.030, Table 18.50.030) in the Concord Development Code; the file excerpts showed table references but some numeric cells are embedded in images in the provided files. Verify those numeric values with the planning division or the official code posting. See § 18.30.030, § 18.45.030, § 18.50.030 .

Retrieved passages

• Concord Zoning Code (§ 122-55) High relevance show source text
• Concord Zoning Code (article of) High relevance show source text
• Concord Zoning Code (§ 122-1051) High relevance show source text
• Concord Zoning Code (Chapter 18.155) High relevance show source text
• Concord Zoning Code (section shall) High relevance show source text
• CMC § 122 (Title 18) High relevance show source text
• CFC § 122 (Chapter 18.505) High relevance show source text
• Concord Zoning Code (Chapter 18.435) High relevance show source text
• CBC § 160.040 (chapter are) Medium relevance show source text
• CBC § 122 (chapter shall) Medium relevance show source text
• Concord Zoning Code (chapter are) Medium relevance show source text
• CBC § 3 (title where) Medium relevance show source text
• Concord Zoning Code (§ 122-1346) Medium relevance show source text
• Concord Zoning Code Medium relevance show source text
• Concord Zoning Code (Chapter 18.160) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Concord Development Code (Title 18) — Division II (Zoning districts) and district use tables: residential chapter **§ 18.30.010–.040**, Table **18.30.020/030/040** . (Title 18)
• Downtown districts chapter: **§ 18.45.010–.030**, Table **18.45.020/18.45.030** (DP/DMX/WMX descriptions, FAR ranges, ground‑floor rules) . (§ 18.45.010)
• Business park / industrial chapter: **§ 18.50.020/18.50.030** (Table 18.50.020 allowed uses and development standards) . (§ 18.50.020)
• Public/Quasi‑Public district: **§ 18.55.010–.020**, Table **18.55.020** (allowed uses/permit requirements) . (§ 18.55.010)
• General land use and permit framework: **§ 18.25.010–.050** (purpose, general requirements, exemptions, planned district rules) . (§ 18.25.010)
• Parking, Loading & Access: **Chapter 18.160**, including **§ 18.160.040** (parking requirements) and **§ 18.160.050** (adjustments) . (Chapter 18.160)
• Review authority and design review: **§ 18.400.020** and Chapter **18.415** (Design & Site Review); objective design standards **Chapter 18.152** . (§ 18.400.020)
• Transit Station Overlay: **§ 18.105.010–.030** (TS overlay applicability and prohibited uses) . (§ 18.105.010)
• Commercial Cannabis Overlay: **Chapter 18.110** (overlay purpose, allowed uses, development standards) . (Chapter 18.110)
• Concord zoning & planning overview
• Concord Zoning
• Concord Development Standards
• Concord Parking
• Concord Design Review
• Concord Overlay Districts
• Concord ADUs
• California Building Standards Code
• Concord_ZoningCode.md

• Official Concord code library