Local zoning · Dublin

Dublin — Development Standards

Q: What can I build on an R-1 lot in Dublin?

You can build one primary single‑family dwelling subject to the R‑1 dimensional standards (lot area, setbacks, lot coverage) shown in the Development Regulations table — e.g., 4,000 sq ft lot area interior, 20 ft front setback ( 18 ft min to garage), and 40%/35% lot coverage (1‑story/2‑story) — see § 8.36.020 and § 8.36.100 .

Q: What is the maximum lot coverage I can propose on a single‑family lot?

Maximum lot coverage is computed per § 8.36.100 ; typical residential limits in the table are 40% for one story and 35% for two stories in the conventional residential districts (see the Development Regulations table).

Q: How do ADUs affect lot coverage/setbacks?

The development tables explicitly cross‑reference Chapter 8.80 for ADU rules. ADU development is regulated both by the local ADU chapter and by state ADU law; consult Chapter 8.80 for how ADUs are treated for lot coverage, setbacks and unit counts in Dublin.

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

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Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes the Dublin, California zoning ordinance (Title 8) rules that control how sites are laid out and how large buildings can be: setbacks, heights, lot area and lot coverage, unit density, and related development controls. For rules about how a project interacts with site design and review processes see the city’s design-review rules and planned-district process; for parking requirements see the parking rules. These development standards live in the Zoning Ordinance (Title 8) and the Development Regulations chapters; where the code cross-references special regulations (for example for ADUs or SB 9 unit developments), those chapters also apply. See the city’s pages for Dublin Zoning, Dublin Land Use, Dublin Design Review, Dublin Parking, Dublin Overlay Districts, Dublin ADUs and the California Building Standards Code for adjacent processes and technical code requirements.

Note: every numeric requirement below is taken directly from the Dublin Zoning Ordinance (Title 8) and cites the controlling code paragraph (§). File excerpts used are from the Dublin Municipal Code materials provided.

Citywide rules that apply to all districts (what to read first)

The Zoning Ordinance is Title 8; its applicability and the need to meet district development regulations are stated in § 8.04.010 and § 8.04.040.
Development regulations (lot area, setbacks, distances between residences, lot coverage, height measurement and exceptions) are consolidated in the Development Regulations chapter: § 8.36.010 – § 8.36.120.
Measurement rules (how height is measured, and the slope exception) are in § 8.36.110; rules on how lot coverage is computed are in § 8.36.100.

District-by-district breakdown

Below are the decision-relevant standards for the principal residential and special districts that appear in the ordinance text you supplied. Each subsection gives the district name in bold, a short purpose/where-it-applies note, typical permitted use type, and the key dimensional standards cited to the code.

A (Agricultural)

Purpose / where it applies: The A district standards are listed alongside residential districts in the Development Regulations tables; minimum lot area entries show large acreages consistent with agricultural parcels. See § 8.36.020.
Typical permitted uses: Agricultural uses and isolated existing dwellings (the ordinance references continuation of existing uses and nonconforming uses). See § 8.04.040 and references to nonconforming regulations.
Key development standards (from the Development Regulations table): minimum interior lot area for A is shown as 100 acres in the table; setback columns show larger setback expectations for agricultural parcels. See § 8.36.020.

R-1 (Single-family Residential)

Purpose / where it applies: Standard single-family zones across Dublin; development regulations appear in the Development Regulations chapter. See § 8.36.020.
Typical permitted uses: Single-family detached residences and accessory structures (ADUs are regulated separately under Chapter 8.80). See § 8.36.020 and Chapter 8.80.
Key dimensional standards (table summary):
- Lot area (interior): 4,000 sq. ft. (corner 5,000 sq. ft.) — § 8.36.020.
- Lot width/frontage: 50 ft interior, 60 ft corner — § 8.36.020.
- Front setback: 20 ft average; 18 ft minimum to garage (living space may encroach to 15 ft with Site Development Review on lots up to 6,000 sq ft) — § 8.36.020.
- Side setback: base formula: minimum 5 ft plus 1 ft per each full 10 ft of lot width over minimum up to 10 ft maximum (summary and notes in table) — § 8.36.020.
- Rear setback: 20 ft — § 8.36.020.
- Maximum lot coverage: 40% (1 story), 35% (2 stories) — see § 8.36.100 and the Development Regulations table.
- Height: west of Dougherty Road normally 25 ft / 2 stories (may be increased to 35 ft / 2 stories with Site Development Review); east of Dougherty Road 35 ft / 2 stories — § 8.36.110.

R-2 (Two-unit / duplex Residential)

Purpose / where it applies: Allows two residential units per lot per the table; standards are in § 8.36.020.
Typical permitted uses: Two dwelling units per lot, accessory uses consistent with residential districts (ADUs per Chapter 8.80).
Key dimensional standards (table summary):
- Lot area (interior): 8,000 sq. ft. — § 8.36.020.
- Front setback: 20 ft average; 18 ft minimum to garage — § 8.36.020.
- Side setback: 10 ft — § 8.36.020.
- Rear setback: 20 ft — § 8.36.020.
- Lot coverage: 40% (1 story), 35% (2 stories) — § 8.36.100.

R-M (Multiple Residential / multifamily)

Purpose / where it applies: Higher-density residential; rules for common usable outdoor space, unit spacing and accessory storage appear in the Development Regulations table and supporting text. See § 8.36.020 and the multifamily design and storage references.
Typical permitted uses: Multifamily dwellings; number of units tied to minimum lot square footage per unit (e.g., 750 sq. ft. per du as base in the table) — § 8.36.020.
Key dimensional standards:
- Lot area (interior): 5,000 sq. ft. listed as minimum in table — § 8.36.020.
- Front setback: 20 ft — § 8.36.020.
- Side setback: 10 ft (if 4+ units, one side 15 ft) — § 8.36.020.
- Rear setback: 30 ft — § 8.36.020.
- Distance between residences: 20 ft required — § 8.36.020.
- Common usable outdoor space: 30% of net site area for R-M — § 8.36.020.
- Height: variable by unit count: 35 ft for up to 4 du; 45 ft if 5 or more du; up to 75 ft in limited circumstances where lot coverage ≤ 35% and other requirements are met — see § 8.36.110 and the table notes.

Planned Development (PD) / Specific Plans / Downtown

Purpose / where it applies: Planned Development districts and specific plans (such as the Downtown Dublin Specific Plan) tailor development standards site-by-site; unless the PD ordinance says otherwise, the “closest comparable” conventional zone standards apply. See § 8.32.060 and § 8.30.070 for Downtown.
Typical permitted uses: Uses are set by the PD or Specific Plan; the Dublin Crossing Specific Plan (Dublin Crossing Zoning District) requires Site Development Review for all development and contains its own permitted-use lists. See § 8.31.020 – § 8.31.040.
Key dimensional / special provisions:
- PD Stage 2 submittal must include densities and floor area ratios (FAR) and any dev regulations proposed for the PD; overall densities and FAR cannot exceed the General Plan or adopted Specific Plans — § 8.32.060.B and § 8.32.060.5.
- Downtown and Dublin Crossing districts defer to their specific plans; check the applicable Specific Plan text for numerical standards — § 8.30.070 and § 8.31.020.

Quick reference table — decision‑relevant standards (excerpt)

Standard	Typical value(s) in residential districts	Code reference
Front setback (R-1)	20 ft avg, 18 ft min to garage; living space may encroach to 15 ft with Site Dev Review (lots ≤ 6,000 sf)	§ 8.36.020
Side setback (R-1)	5 ft +1 ft per 10 ft over min width; max 10 ft	§ 8.36.020
Rear setback (R-M)	30 ft (R-M)	§ 8.36.020
Lot coverage (R-1/R-2/R-M)	40% (1 story); 35% (2 stories)	§ 8.36.100 and the Development Regulations table § 8.36.020
Lot area per dwelling unit (R-M)	750 sq ft per du (base)	§ 8.36.020
Height measurement & slope exception	Height measured from average grade to highest point; slope exceptions add 5/10/15 ft depending on slope bands	§ 8.36.110
Distance between residences (R-1/R-2/R-M)	R-1: 10 ft, R-2: 20 ft, R-M: 20 ft	§ 8.36.020
Accessory structures height	Detached accessory structures generally 15 ft max; guesthouse / ADU rules separate (see Chapter 8.80)	§ 8.40. series

Practical guidance / synthesis

Always start at the district table in § 8.36.020 — it lists minimum lot area, setbacks, lot coverage, unit-per-lot limits and notes that ADUs and SB9 unit developments are handled in their own chapters.
Height is measured using the average-of-grade method; sloping lots may get a height bonus (see § 8.36.110) — if your parcel is on a slope, request a grade survey to quantify the allowable increase.
Planned Development zones and Specific Plans (Downtown, Dublin Crossing, etc.) frequently override or adapt the “default” district standards — for any PD or Downtown parcel, check the PD ordinance/Special Plan text first; if silent, the Director applies the closest comparable zone standards (§ 8.32.060 and § 8.30.070).
Accessory Dwelling Units are controlled by Chapter 8.80 and the ADU chapter references appear directly in the development tables; ADU-specific state constraints (e.g., minimum allowances) interact with local rules — review Chapter 8.80 and consult the city for how it has implemented state ADU law.
For parking counts and location relative to setbacks (e.g., parking not allowed within minimum side/rear setbacks), consult the off‑street parking chapter (Chapter 8.76) and the SB 9 special provisions when applicable. See parking chapter references in the SB 9 text.

(First-in‑text links used above: Dublin Zoning, Dublin Land Use, Dublin Design Review, Dublin Parking, Dublin Overlay Districts, Dublin ADUs, California Building Standards Code.)

Checklist — what an applicant must satisfy (basic)

Confirm the parcel’s zoning and applicable Specific Plan/PD and read the district rules in § 8.36.020 and any PD/Special Plan chapters (Downtown: § 8.30.070; Dublin Crossing: § 8.31.020).
Demonstrate the proposed use is allowed in the district (or obtain the necessary PD/CUP/variance) per § 8.04.040 and district chapters.
Show compliance with lot-area, lot-width, lot-depth, and lot-square-footage-per-unit requirements in § 8.36.020.
Show building footprints and elevations comply with setbacks and lot coverage rules in § 8.36.020 and § 8.36.100; compute coverage per § 8.36.100 rules.
Verify proposed height against § 8.36.110 (including exceptions for slope or institutional uses).
Provide parking consistent with Chapter 8.76 and parking exceptions noted in SB 9/ADU chapters where relevant.
If in a PD or Downtown district, prepare the PD Stage 2 materials (detailed Stage 2 site plan, densities/FAR, and development regulations) per § 8.32.060.

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue	Why it matters	What to verify
Height increases on sloping lots	Ordinance grants measured height increases based on slope bands; mis-measuring grade can lead to noncompliance	Confirm grade measurement method and slope percentages and cite § 8.36.110; obtain topographic survey.
PD / Specific Plan overrides	The PD or Specific Plan can change nearly every standard; relying on base zone numbers may be wrong	Verify whether the parcel is in a PD, Downtown or Dublin Crossing area and read the applicable PD/Specific Plan provisions: § 8.32.060, § 8.30.070, § 8.31.020.
ADU and SB 9 interplay	ADU rules and SB 9 unit-development rules are referenced in tables and can modify unit counts and coverage	Check Chapter 8.80 (ADUs) and Chapter 8.81 (SB 9) for how ADUs, lot coverage and unit counts interact. If relying on SB 9 “by-right” standards, confirm the SB 9 chapter’s exceptions.
Measurement conventions	Lot coverage excludes eaves, decks, paved areas; height uses average-of-grade	Compute coverage and height using the definitions and computation rules in § 8.36.100 and § 8.36.110 to avoid surprises.
“Closest comparable zoning district” in PDs	Which conventional zone applies to a PD affects every dimension standard	Ask the Community Development Director which zone the PD is compared to, per § 8.32.060.C. Verify with jurisdiction for parcel‑specific determination.

Plain-English Summary

Dublin’s development standards are spelled out in Title 8: check the district’s row in the Development Regulations table for the basic numbers — lot size, setbacks, lot coverage, distance between units and height — and then check any PD or Specific Plan that may change them; ADUs, SB 9 units, and parking have their own chapters and specific exceptions that can alter how the table applies. Key code places to read first: § 8.36.020 (development regs table), § 8.36.100 (lot coverage), § 8.36.110 (height), and the PD/specific-plan chapters.

Source References

Dublin Zoning Ordinance (Title 8) — § 8.04.010, § 8.04.040 (Title, purpose, applicability).
Development Regulations chapter — § 8.36.010 – § 8.36.120, including § 8.36.020 (lot areas, setbacks, table), § 8.36.090 (yards), § 8.36.100 (lot coverage), § 8.36.110 (height and exceptions).
Accessory structures and accessory-dwelling references — Chapter 8.40 and Chapter 8.80 (ADUs) as referenced in the development tables.
Planned Development / Stage 2 requirements and FAR/density rules — § 8.32.050; § 8.32.060 (Stage 2 materials and FAR/density limits).
Downtown Dublin and Dublin Crossing Specific Plans and district chapters — § 8.30.070 (Downtown relation to zoning) and § 8.31.020 – .040 (Dublin Crossing).
SB 9 unit development references and specific modifications to coverage/parking — Chapter 8.81 and related SB 9 notes in the Development Regulations table.

(If you need a direct city-code URL or the PDF of the specific Specific Plan for your parcel, verify with the City of Dublin’s official code or the Community Development Department; the files used here are extracts of the Dublin Municipal Code materials provided in this request. Not found in retrieved materials: a single consolidated web URL maintained by the city in these excerpts; verify with the City Clerk or the City website for the live code viewer.)

Sources

Retrieved passages

Dublin Zoning Code (Title must) High relevance
Dublin Zoning Code (Chapter 8.80) High relevance
Dublin Zoning Code (Section 65000) High relevance
Dublin Zoning Code (Chapter 8.40) High relevance
Dublin Zoning Code (Chapter is) High relevance
Dublin Zoning Code (Chapter 8.12) High relevance
Dublin Zoning Code (Chapter 8.72) High relevance
California Building Code (Chapter 8.76.) High relevance

Cited sections

Official Dublin code library

Frequently asked questions

What can I build on an R-1 lot in Dublin?

You can build one primary single‑family dwelling subject to the R‑1 dimensional standards (lot area, setbacks, lot coverage) shown in the Development Regulations table — e.g., 4,000 sq ft lot area interior, 20 ft front setback (18 ft min to garage), and 40%/35% lot coverage (1‑story/2‑story) — see § 8.36.020 and § 8.36.100.

What are Dublin setback requirements?

Setbacks are listed by district in the Development Regulations table. For example, R‑1 front yard is 20 ft average with 18 ft minimum to a garage (living area may encroach to 15 ft with Site Dev Review on small lots); side, rear and street‑side setbacks are also tabled — see § 8.36.020.

What is the maximum lot coverage I can propose on a single‑family lot?

Maximum lot coverage is computed per § 8.36.100; typical residential limits in the table are 40% for one story and 35% for two stories in the conventional residential districts (see the Development Regulations table).

How is building height measured and are there exceptions for sloping lots?

Height is measured from the average of the highest and lowest points where exterior walls touch natural grade to the highest point of the structure; the code provides a slope exception that allows additional height (for example +5 ft, +10 ft or +15 ft) depending on average site slope — see § 8.36.110.

Do planned developments or specific plans have different standards than the table?

Yes. A Planned Development or Specific Plan may supersede or modify the default table standards; unless the PD ordinance says otherwise, the “closest comparable” conventional zone standards apply. Check the PD/Special Plan text; PD Stage 2 submittals must include the specific development regulations (including FAR/density) proposed for the PD — see § 8.32.060 and § 8.30.070.

How do ADUs affect lot coverage/setbacks?

The development tables explicitly cross‑reference Chapter 8.80 for ADU rules. ADU development is regulated both by the local ADU chapter and by state ADU law; consult Chapter 8.80 for how ADUs are treated for lot coverage, setbacks and unit counts in Dublin.

Do parking spaces count inside setbacks?

Parking must comply with the Off‑Street Parking chapter (Chapter 8.76) and SB9/ADU exceptions; the SB9 text notes parking spaces shall not be located within the minimum side and rear yard setbacks. See the SB9 provisions and Chapter 8.76 for precise rules.

If I am in Downtown or Dublin Crossing, where do I find numerical standards?

Downtown and Dublin Crossing development are governed by their Specific Plans. The code states that for Downtown the Specific Plan controls where it conflicts with base zoning, and Dublin Crossing requires Site Development Review with the Specific Plan controlling permitted uses and development standards — see § 8.30.070 and § 8.31.020 – .040.

Can I rely on the table for FAR limits?

The standard development tables do not list a single citywide FAR for every zone; FAR and similar measures are specifically required as part of PD Stage 2 materials and must comply with the General Plan and any Specific Plan — see § 8.32.060.B. For PDs, FAR/density limits will be in the PD ordinance or Specific Plan.

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