Hayward · Land use · Church or place of worship
Where is a church or other place of worship allowed in Hayward?
In Hayward, a church or other place of worship is allowed in 2 base zones (CG and CB), needs a permit in 14 (RNP, RL, RM, RH, RO and 9 more, 1 with a condition) and not allowed in 2 (Hayward use tables, read October 2026).
Key points
- Allowed: CG and CB
- Needs a permit: RNP, RL, RM, RH, RO, CO, CN-R, CN and 6 more
- Not allowed: IP and IG
Find your lot's zone on the city zoning map, then read its row. Every status below was read from the Hayward Municipal Code use tables (read October 2026). Base zones only. General information, not legal advice — check with the city before you apply.
Zones where a church or other place of worship can go
Hayward's code calls this use “Religious facility”. Each row links to the use table it comes from. A zone marked “see note” has a condition in the code, for example upper floors only or a larger lot.
| Zone | Status | Code |
|---|---|---|
| CG | Allowed | § 10-1.802 |
| CB | Allowed | § 10-1.802 |
| RNP | Needs an administrative use permit | § 10-1.202 |
| RL | Needs an administrative use permit | § 10-1.202 |
| RM | Needs an administrative use permit | § 10-1.202 |
| RH | Needs an administrative use permit | § 10-1.202 |
| RO | Needs an administrative use permit | § 10-1.802 |
| CO | Needs an administrative use permit | § 10-1.802 |
| CN-R | Needs an administrative use permit | § 10-1.802 |
| CN | Needs an administrative use permit | § 10-1.802 |
| IL | Needs an administrative use permit | § 10-1.1603 |
| MB-CN | Needs an administrative use permit | § 10-24.2.3.010 |
| MB-NN | Needs an administrative use permit | § 10-24.2.3.010 |
| MB-CC | Needs an administrative use permit | § 10-24.2.3.010 |
| MB-CS | Needs a conditional use permit — see note Note 1: When the MB-CS Zone is applied to privately owned property, the use and building existing at the time this Code comes into effect may continue until the site is redeveloped or becomes under public ownership. | § 10-24.2.3.010 |
| A Agricultural District | Needs a conditional use permit | § 10-1.2020 |
Zones where it is not allowed
What else applies
- State law: Federal law (RLUIPA) bars zoning rules that treat religious assembly worse than other assembly uses.
- Not covered here: Zones whose uses are written as bulleted lists, not tables, and are mostly not used in the cells below: MH, SMU, CC-C, CC-R, CC-P, AT-O/IP/AC/C/R/RM, OS, PF, PD. I used only the A (Agricultural) and FP lists, where the permit class is clear. CC-C/CC-R/CC-P list sections have 'administrative' and 'conditional' sub-lists that the stored text runs together, so I did not read permit levels there.; Definitions (Section 10-1.3500: group home sizes, livestock, educational facility, convalescent facility) and Section 10-1.204 / 10-1.2735 / 10-1.2736 are not in the packet. Overlay zones and specific plans can also change the answer.
Other uses in Hayward
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I have a church or other place of worship in the RNP zone in Hayward?
Only with an administrative use permit. Hayward's use table lists it that way in RNP (§ 10-1.202).
Can I have a church or other place of worship in the IP zone in Hayward?
No. Hayward's use table does not allow it in IP (§ 10-1.1603).
Can I have a church or other place of worship in the CG zone in Hayward?
Yes. Hayward's use table lists it as allowed in CG (§ 10-1.802).
General information, not legal advice.
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