Davis — Development Standards

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes the Davis municipal zoning code rules that control setbacks, height, lot coverage, floor area ratio (FAR) and related development standards. The local zoning rules governing these standards are codified in Chapter/Articles numbered in the Davis Municipal Code (e.g., Articles and sections beginning with 40.); for procedural and design review references see the city’s Davis Zoning page. § citations below point to the controlling ordinance text in the retrieved materials. Verify parcel‑specific questions with the City of Davis.

How to read this page

• Bolded terms highlight district names and numeric standards (for quick scanning).
• When the code does not provide a clear numeric standard in the retrieved materials I note that explicitly.
• Links below point to Davis topic pages you will likely need when applying (design review, parking, ADUs, landscaping, overlays, and the state building code).

Key city-wide rules (short list)

• Maximum principal building height in many single‑family zones is two stories / 30 ft (principal buildings) § 40.04.050 .
• Basic single‑family lot standards (examples): lot area 7,000 sf corner / 6,000 sf interior; lot coverage 40%; front yard 20 ft (see R‑1 specifics) § 40.04.060 .
• Downtown M‑U (mixed‑use / downtown) uses distinct lot coverage and FAR rules (base FAR 1.5 for residential, total allowed up to 2.0 with bonuses) and taller buildings (up to 3 stories) § 40.15.080, § 40.15.060 . Link: Davis Parking and Davis Design Review may apply to development proposals.
• The HDR overlay establishes its own development standards (example: max height 60 ft, FAR 2.0, lot coverage 50%, specific setbacks) and may supersede base district rules § 40.09A.080 . Link: Davis Overlay Districts.

(Note: first mention links above — Davis Zoning, Davis Parking, Davis Design Review, Davis Overlay Districts — point to the site pages you’ll likely consult when preparing an application.)

District-by-district breakdown (development standards and where they apply)

Below are the Davis districts that appear in the retrieved ordinance text, with the code citations for the measurable standards found in the materials.

R‑1 (Residential Single‑Family: R‑1‑6, R‑1‑8, R‑1‑15)

Purpose & typical use

• The R‑1 family of zones governs single‑family residential lots; specific subzones (R‑1‑6, R‑1‑8, R‑1‑15) adjust minimum lot area and front-yard depth for blockscale and neighborhood character. See § 40.04.060 and § 40.04.050 for the controlling provisions .

Key dimensional standards (from code text)

• Minimum lot area: 7,000 sf (corner) and 6,000 sf (interior) for single‑family; § 40.04.060 .
• Lot width: 65 ft (corner) / 55 ft (interior) § 40.04.060 .
• Front setback: typically 20 ft (R‑1‑6 and R‑1‑8) and 25 ft for R‑1‑15 as listed in § 40.16/§ 40.04 series; corridor plans can reduce to 10 ft where an accepted corridor plan applies § 40.16. and § 40.04.060 .
• Side yards: interior side minimum 5 ft with a total minimum of 12 ft in some subzones; minimums step up for two‑story portions (second story setback 10 ft) § 40.04A.060(g) and related passages .
• Rear yard: standard 20 ft for single‑story; portions above one story (or >20 ft) 25 ft § 40.16.060/§ 40.04 series .
• Lot coverage: 40% (principal) — accessory structures can raise combined coverage up to 50% in some cases; see accessory rules § 40.04.060(d) and § 40.26.010(c)(5) .
• FAR: up to 40% of gross area plus 500 sf for garage/carport in residential contexts; discretionary design review may allow higher FAR § 40.04A.060(j) .
• Height: principal buildings generally no more than two stories / 30 ft (principal) and accessory structures 15 ft maximum unless approved otherwise § 40.04.050 and § 40.26.010(c)(7) .

Where it applies

• Citywide residential neighborhoods classified R‑1 by map designation; special corridor or downtown rules can modify setbacks (verify on a parcel basis) § 40.04.060, § 40.15.070 .

Practical guidance

• Expect the standard 20 ft front setback and 40% lot coverage in typical R‑1 areas; plan two‑story elements to respect the increased side/rear setback rules and the city’s attic/attic conversion provisions § 40.04.060(i) .

R‑2 (Two‑family residential)

Purpose & typical use

• Intended for two‑family (duplex) and other small multiunit residential uses; accessory and setback rules largely parallel R‑1 but with R‑2‑specific allowances. Some accessory provisions explicitly call out R‑2 in the code § 40.26.010 and planned development rules § 40.32.060(c)(3) .

Key standards found

• Accessory structure and ADU rules that apply in residential districts also apply in R‑2 (see accessory structure setbacks, heights and ADU provisions) § 40.26.010(c) and § 40.26.450 .
• Specific minimum lot area / lot width / numeric side, rear or front yard standards for R‑2 beyond those incorporated by reference were not fully present in the retrieved excerpts — verify with the jurisdiction for parcel‑level numeric standards. Not found in retrieved materials.

Where it applies

• Medium‑density residential neighborhoods as shown on Davis zoning maps; check local zoning map to confirm parcel designation. Verify with the jurisdiction.

R‑R (Residential Restricted)

Purpose & typical use

• R‑R appears in the code as a restricted residential designation with its own article headings; minimums and exceptions are referenced in planning and planned development sections § 40.06 and § 40.32.060 .

Key standards found

• Planned development rules allow limited lot reductions in R‑R and similar zones, but specific numeric area/width setbacks within R‑R were not reproduced in the retrieved snippets. Verify with the jurisdiction. Not found in retrieved materials.

A‑C (Auto/Commercial or similar commercial district)

Purpose & typical use

• The A‑C district sets standards for auto‑oriented commercial uses and dealerships and includes landscaping/parking expectations § 40.16.050–.060 .

Key dimensional standards (site development)

• Minimum lot area: 1 acre (smaller lots may be approved by the planning commission) § 40.16.050(a) .
• Lot coverage: 40% maximum § 40.16.050(b) .
• Front yard: 25 ft § 40.16.050(c)(1) .
• Side yard: 10 ft (but 25 ft when abutting a residential district) § 40.16.050(c)(2) .
• Rear yard: 10 ft (or 25 ft when abutting a residential district) § 40.16.050(c)(3) .
• Height: two stories / 35 ft maximum § 40.16.050(d) .
• Landscaping: minimum 10% of site area in landscaped open space § 40.16.060(a) . Link: landscaping and screening.

Practical guidance

• Auto‑oriented projects must budget for sizeable setbacks and a required landscaped edge to streets; larger sites may seek planning commission relief where consistent with the A‑C purposes § 40.16.050(a) .

M‑U / Downtown Zones (Mixed‑Use / Downtown Form‑Based rules)

Purpose & typical use

• Downtown and central mixed‑use areas are regulated by the Downtown Code (Article 40.13 / 40.14 and the M‑U rules in § 40.15). The Downtown Code emphasizes building form, street frontage, and pedestrian scale § 40.13.020 .

Key standards

• Height: typically up to three stories (exceptions by specific plan) § 40.15.060 .
• Lot coverage: Mixed‑use/residential 50% without a parking district; 80% with a parking district § 40.15.080(a)-(b) .
• FAR: Base 1.5 for mixed/residential with bonuses (underground parking, plazas, preservation) to reach total permitted 2.0 § 40.15.080(c) .
• Front/side/rear setback rules are governed by Form‑Based code and Downtown supplemental standards — consult Articles 40.13–40.14 for specifics § 40.13.020 . Link: design review.

Practical guidance

• Downtown projects are evaluated under a form‑based approach; expect design review and that FAR bonuses require design review § 40.15.080(d) . Link: Davis Design Review.

C‑C (Central Commercial) and other commercial districts

• Downtown setbacks and lot coverage sometimes defer to values “the same as those shown for C‑C” — but the explicit numeric table for the C‑C district was not contained in the retrieved excerpts. Verify specific C‑C numeric standards on the zoning map/code. Not found in retrieved materials.

HDR Overlay (High Density Residential Overlay)

Purpose & where it applies

• The HDR overlay creates a higher‑density/mixed‑use overlay with its own development standards for sites subject to that overlay § 40.09A.080 . Link: Davis Overlay Districts.

Standards (explicit in the overlay text)

• Minimum lot area: 7,500 sf § 40.09A.080(a) .
• Minimum lot width: 70 ft (existing lots of record exempt) § 40.09A.080(b) .
• Maximum building height: 60 ft § 40.09A.080(c) .
• Setbacks: Front 10 ft; Street side 10 ft; Interior side 5 ft; Rear 10 ft; increased setbacks of 10 ft (interior) and 20 ft (rear) where adjacent to single‑family districts; an additional 10 ft setback triggered for any portion of the building exceeding 40 ft in height § 40.09A.080(d) .
• Lot coverage: 50% maximum (accessory structures excluded) § 40.09A.080(e) .
• FAR: 2.0 maximum; garage floor area excluded from FAR calculations § 40.09A.080(f) .
• Usable open space: minimum 10% of site or unit‑based standards tied to bedroom counts § 40.09A.080(g) .

Practical guidance

• If a site falls in the HDR overlay, its standards (including the 60‑ft height and 2.0 FAR) generally control over the base zone where the overlay applies; exceptions/modifications are processed per the overlay and Article 40.27 (exceptions/minor mods) § 40.09A.090–.120 .

Quick Reference Table — common decision‑relevant numeric standards

(Citation note: numeric values above are taken from the cited Davis Municipal Code sections in the retrieved materials; where the retrieval did not include a clear numeric standard I indicate "Verify with jurisdiction" or "Not found in retrieved materials".)

Accessory structures, ADUs, eaves and projections

• Accessory structures: maximum accessory height 15 ft; accessory setbacks: front 15 ft; rear 5 ft (or 0 if the rear adjoins an alley); interior side 5 ft (or 0 if adjoining an alley); street side same as the principal structure § 40.26.010(c)(7)-(8) .
• ADUs / JADUs: Davis implements ADU standards consistent with state rules but codifies local limits: attached ADU may be up to 50% of primary dwelling GFA; detached ADU up to 850 sf (or 1,000 sf if more than one bedroom); ADU height generally 16 ft; required minimum side/rear setbacks for ADUs 4 ft (with some building‑permit only exceptions); parking generally not required for ministerial ADUs; ADU specifics are in § 40.26.450 and related subsections § 40.26.450(e) § 40.26.450(d) . Link: Davis ADUs.
• Projections (eaves, trellises, trellises over parking, patio covers): permitted to project into required yards under defined limits or with design review; trellises covering parking may reduce side yard to zero if they meet building‑code requirements § 40.04A.070 and § 40.26.010(c) . Link: California Building Standards Code.

Process flags and discretionary controls

• Design review / site plan & architectural approval is required for many projects and for FAR/coverage increases via discretionary approvals § 40.04A.090 and Articles 40.31/40.39 . Link: Davis Design Review.
• Minor modifications: the Director may grant modest adjustments (up to 10% reduction in setbacks or up to 10% increase in lot coverage or structure size) via the minor modification procedure § 40.27.080(b) .
• Planned unit development: lot sizes and setbacks may be adjusted where a planned development keeps overall density and intensity consistent with the underlying zone § 40.32.060 .

Checklist (what an application must satisfy / include)

• Demonstrate base district numeric compliance (min lot area, lot width, front/side/rear setbacks, lot coverage, height, FAR as applicable) and cite the controlling code section (e.g., § 40.04.060, § 40.16.050, § 40.09A.080) .
• Confirm whether the parcel is inside a Downtown/M‑U area or an overlay (HDR, historic/conservation); if yes, apply overlay standards § 40.13.020, § 40.09A.080 . Link: Davis Overlay Districts.
• If proposing FAR/lot‑coverage bonuses or reductions, prepare materials for design review; discretionary FAR bonuses require design review § 40.15.080(d) . Link: Davis Design Review.
• If proposing an ADU, follow § 40.26.450 ADU development standards (size, height, 4‑ft side/rear setback exceptions, parking rules) and include floor plans § 40.26.450(e) . Link: Davis ADUs.
• Provide parking calculations and compliance with parking standards (per Article 40.25); show any requested parking reductions/alternatives and landscape‑based surfacing plans § 40.04A.070 and Article 40.25 . Link: Davis Parking.
• Include landscaping and screening plans to meet district landscape minima (e.g., 10% in A‑C) § 40.16.060 and § 40.14.040 where downtown rules apply . Link: Davis Landscaping and Screening.
• For accessory structures show compliance with accessory rules (max 15 ft height; rear/side setbacks; coverage limits) § 40.26.010(c) .
• Verify whether ministerial vs discretionary approval applies (ministerial approvals exist for qualifying housing projects and some ADUs — see overlay ministerial provisions and § 40.09A.110, ADU sections) § 40.09A.110, § 40.26.450 .

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain‑English summary

If you’re building in Davis, your project must meet the numeric rules for the zone shown on the city zoning map (setbacks, lot coverage, height, and often FAR) — for single‑family zones think 20 ft front setbacks, 40% coverage and two stories / 30 ft height as a baseline, downtown and overlays set different values (e.g., HDR overlay allows up to 60 ft and 2.0 FAR); always confirm which article controls your parcel and whether design review or special overlay rules apply § 40.04.060, § 40.09A.080, § 40.15.080 .

Source References

• Davis Municipal Code — HDR Overlay development standards § 40.09A.080 (HDR lot area, setbacks, height, lot coverage, FAR, open space) .
• Davis Municipal Code — HDR overlay other provisions § 40.09A.090–.130 (design review, ministerial exceptions, conflicts) .
• Davis Municipal Code — Downtown / M‑U standards § 40.13.020, § 40.15.060, § 40.15.070, § 40.15.080 (Downtown Code applicability, height, open space, lot coverage, FAR and bonuses) .
• Davis Municipal Code — R‑1 / residential standards and FAR § 40.04.050, § 40.04.060, § 40.04A.060 (single‑family lot area, setbacks, lot coverage, FAR basics) .
• Davis Municipal Code — Accessory structures and accessory standards § 40.26.010(c) (accessory height, setbacks, coverage rules) .
• Davis Municipal Code — A‑C district site development standards § 40.16.050–.060 (lot area, coverage, setbacks, height, landscape minima) .
• Davis Municipal Code — Design review / site plan § 40.04A.090 and Articles 40.31/40.39 (design review applicability) .
• Davis Municipal Code — ADU standards § 40.26.450 (size, height, 4‑ft setbacks, parking rules) .
• Davis Municipal Code — Minor modifications § 40.27.080 (10% minor modification allowances) .
• Davis topic pages (internal links cited on first mention in the page body):
  • Davis Zoning (/us/california/davis/zoning)
  • Davis Parking (/us/california/davis/parking)
  • Davis Design Review (/us/california/davis/design-review)
  • Davis Overlay Districts (/us/california/davis/overlay-districts)
  • Davis ADUs (/us/california/davis/adu)
  • Davis Landscaping and Screening (/us/california/davis/landscaping-and-screening)
  • California Building Standards Code (/us/california/building-codes)

Retrieved passages

• Davis Zoning Code (§ 40.09A.060.) High relevance show source text
• Davis Zoning Code (§ 40.09A.090.) High relevance show source text
• CBC § 1 (§ 1) High relevance show source text
• Davis Zoning Code (article sets) High relevance show source text
• Davis Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• Davis Zoning Code (§ 40.15.060.) High relevance show source text
• Davis Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance show source text
• Davis Zoning Code High relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Davis Municipal Code — **HDR Overlay development standards** **§ 40.09A.080** (HDR lot area, setbacks, height, lot coverage, FAR, open space) . (§ 40.09A.080)
• Davis Municipal Code — **HDR overlay other provisions** **§ 40.09A.090–.130** (design review, ministerial exceptions, conflicts) . (§ 40.09A.090)
• Davis Municipal Code — **Downtown / M‑U standards** **§ 40.13.020**, **§ 40.15.060**, **§ 40.15.070**, **§ 40.15.080** (Downtown Code applicability, height, open space, lot coverage, FAR and bonuses) . (§ 40.13.020)
• Davis Municipal Code — **R‑1 / residential standards and FAR** **§ 40.04.050**, **§ 40.04.060**, **§ 40.04A.060** (single‑family lot area, setbacks, lot coverage, FAR basics) . (§ 40.04.050)
• Davis Municipal Code — **Accessory structures** and accessory standards **§ 40.26.010(c)** (accessory height, setbacks, coverage rules) . (§ 40.26.010)
• Davis Municipal Code — **A‑C district site development standards** **§ 40.16.050–.060** (lot area, coverage, setbacks, height, landscape minima) . (§ 40.16.050)
• Davis Municipal Code — **Design review / site plan** **§ 40.04A.090** and Articles **40.31/40.39** (design review applicability) . (§ 40.04A.090)
• Davis Municipal Code — **ADU standards** **§ 40.26.450** (size, height, 4‑ft setbacks, parking rules) . (§ 40.26.450)
• Davis Municipal Code — **Minor modifications** **§ 40.27.080** (10% minor modification allowances) . (§ 40.27.080)
• Davis topic pages (internal links cited on first mention in the page body):
• Davis Zoning (/us/california/davis/zoning)
• Davis Parking (/us/california/davis/parking)
• Davis Design Review (/us/california/davis/design-review)
• Davis Overlay Districts (/us/california/davis/overlay-districts)
• Davis ADUs (/us/california/davis/adu)
• Davis Landscaping and Screening (/us/california/davis/landscaping-and-screening)
• California Building Standards Code (/us/california/building-codes)
• Davis_ZoningCode.md

• Official Davis code library