Local jurisdiction · Contra Costa County

Martinez Zoning, Planning & Building Codes

What you can build in Martinez depends on its local zoning and planning code, layered on the California Building Standards Code. Ask GoCodebook about any Martinez address.

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Key points

Zoning districts & allowed uses Setbacks & height limits FAR, lot coverage & density Building permits Remodels & change of use ADUs & JADUs Parking requirements Planning & design review

Last reviewed: July 3, 2026

Overview

Martinez’s zoning and land-use rules are codified in Title 22 (Zoning) of the Martinez Municipal Code, which organizes the city’s zoning districts, overlays, development standards and procedures (see the Title 22 table of contents and general provisions § 22.02.010). The code divides the city into discrete district families (agricultural, residential, commercial, industrial and several special districts and overlays) and contains both objective standards (setbacks, heights, FAR, parking) and procedural chapters for design review, planned unit developments, variances and appeals (see § 22.08.010, § 22.34.040, § 22.42.050, § 22.44.010).

How Martinez’s code is organized

  • Title-level structure: the zoning law is arranged as Title 22 with chapters for general provisions, definitions, administration/enforcement, district designations, residential and other district chapters, overlays, development standards and procedural chapters such as PUDs and variances. Key chapter headings and section ranges are collected under the Title 22 table of contents (e.g., Chapter 22.02, Chapter 22.04, Chapter 22.06, Chapter 22.08, Chapter 22.12) § 22.02.010; § 22.04.010; § 22.06.010; § 22.08.010; § 22.12.010.
  • Administration and decision-makers: the code identifies the Planning Commission, Board of Adjustments, and other administrative roles and appellate routes in the administration chapter § 22.06.010–§ 22.06.080.
  • Navigation tips: general requirements and development exceptions appear in Chapter 22.34 (including design review rules § 22.34.040–§ 22.34.045) while technical standards (parking, loading) are centralized in Chapter 22.36 and special programs (density bonus, development incentives) are in later chapters such as Chapter 22.80/22.81.

Zoning district families

Martinez uses conventional district chapters and a set of overlays; the code names and local acronyms are the city's actual designations:

  • Agricultural districts (e.g., A-1, A-2, A-5) with explicit density, yard, height, site coverage and 0.2 FAR rules in § 22.10.060.
  • Residential districts are collected in Chapter 22.12 and include single-family and multi-family districts (the code repeatedly references local district labels such as R-1.5 and density-qualified residential districts) § 22.12.010; specific development rules for Alhambra Valley variants are in § 22.29.060.
  • Commercial / Office districts — examples used in objective housing and qualifying project lists include Central Commercial, Professional and Administrative Office, and Downtown Transition (DT); the DT district’s purpose and basic numeric controls (site area per unit, FAR 1.5, maximum height 30 ft) are found at § 22.61.010–§ 22.61.050.
  • Recreational, Open Space, Government and Planned Development (P‑1 / PUD) districts also exist with separate chapters and PUDs treated as overlay/zoning amendments in Chapter 22.42 (see § 22.22.010; § 22.42.040–§ 22.42.050).
  • Overlay districts: Martinez maintains overlay tools such as the Mixed‑Use/Housing Overlay (MUO) in Chapter 22.11 (purpose, uses, objective standards and review rules § 22.11.010–§ 22.11.100) and PUD overlays in Chapter 22.42; historic-resource overlay rules are collected in Chapter 22.47.

Citywide development standards

High-level, citywide or chapter-level standards live either in the individual district chapter or in centralized chapters that the district chapters call out:

  • Setbacks, yards and heights: most district chapters specify minimum front, side and rear yards, as well as maximum heights; for example, the agricultural districts require 20 ft front yards, 10 ft side yards for residential structures, and maximum structure heights of 30 ft in many A zones (§ 22.10.060).
  • Lot coverage and FAR: FAR and site‑coverage limits are stated in each district chapter (e.g., FAR 0.2 for many A districts § 22.10.060; FAR up to 1.5 (up to 2.0 with incentives) in the Downtown Transition district § 22.61.040).
  • Parking and loading: off‑street parking standards are centralized in Chapter 22.36 and referenced from district chapters (districts point to Chapter 22.36 for the technical parking rules — see § 22.10.060.I). For certain special districts (e.g., Alhambra Valley) the code excludes a couple of parking subsections (§ 22.29.060.G references Chapter 22.36 with two exceptions).
    • Note: Martinez explicitly treats microunit and mixed-use parking rules in targeted chapters (for example, microunits have a minimum of one off‑street space per unit unless within a half‑mile of major transit; see § 22.57.070).
  • Objective design rules and required amenities: multi‑family or qualifying mixed‑use projects have objective site planning and usable‑outdoor‑space rules found in chapters such as § 22.51B.030–.040 and project‑type chapters that establish tables for private/common outdoor space.
  • Development incentives & optional standards: Martinez’s development incentive program (height increases, setback reductions, FAR increases, parking reductions, etc.) is codified in Chapter 22.81, where eligible incentives and the community‑benefit tradeoff are described (§ 22.81.050).

(For quick access to the city’s numeric development standards, see the Martinez Development Standards and the city Parking page.) Martinez Development Standards Martinez Parking

Specific plans & overlays

  • Downtown and place-based rules: Martinez uses specific plans and targeted program chapters (for example, the Downtown Specific Plan is referenced directly in the Parklets chapter as the area of applicability) § 22.65.020.
  • Mixed‑Use / Housing Overlay (MUO): the MUO is an explicit overlay that allows by‑right multifamily housing under objective rules in exchange for affordable units (see § 22.11.010–§ 22.11.040).
  • Planned Unit Development (PUD) overlay: a PUD designation functions as an overlay and requires an approved PUD Plan before entitlements; the PUD Plan acts as a site‑specific rezoning and may modify many standards (setbacks, heights, parking) subject to findings and council action (§ 22.42.040–§ 22.42.050; § 22.42.080).
  • Historic and other overlays: historic resource provisions are collected in Chapter 22.47 and overlay boundaries are set on the official zoning map with rules in Chapter 22.09 / § 22.09.010. For an overlay index and details see the code’s overlay chapters.

(For more detail on overlays and historic rules see the Martinez Overlay Districts and Historic Preservation pages.) Martinez Overlay Districts Martinez Historic Preservation

Building permits & review

  • Design review and building‑permit clearance: most building‑permit applications for exterior work require pre‑permit architectural and site design review by the Planning Division (exceptions exist for ADUs that comply with Chapter 22.43 and some minor single‑family situations) § 22.34.030–§ 22.34.040.
    • The design‑review approval criteria (compatibility, massing, materials, landscaping, lighting, circulation) are enumerated in § 22.34.045.
  • Project application paths: Martinez separates by‑right/objective approvals (for qualifying housing and MUO projects), discretionary entitlement tracks (conditional use permits, design review, PUDs), and formal public‑hearing paths (Planning Commission and City Council) — see the housing project rules and review authority descriptions § 22.17.090–§ 22.17.100 and PUD procedures § 22.42.080.
  • Variances, appeals and boards: the Board of Adjustments and appeals processes are set out in Chapter 22.44 (variances, adjustments) and appeal routes are described in Chapter 22.06 (administration and appeals) § 22.44.010; § 22.06.050.
  • PUD and entitlements: PUD Plan approval is treated like a rezoning (approval by ordinance) and its approved standards govern projects within the PUD where they differ from the city code § 22.42.050–§ 22.42.060.

(If you’re starting a permit, consult the city’s Design Review and Variances/Exceptions pages.) Martinez Design Review Martinez Variances and Exceptions

State housing law in Martinez

Martinez’s code incorporates and interfaces with California housing laws in multiple places; here are the principal local chapters that implement or respond to state requirements:

  • Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs / JADUs): Martinez collects ADU rules in Chapter 22.43 and treats ADUs as subject to their own objective rules (the Title 22 building‑permit exceptions and ADU amnesty provisions are cross‑referenced in § 22.34.030 and ADU sub‑sections such as § 22.43.070–§ 22.43.150). Martinez also contains an ADU amnesty and successor provisions table in Chapter 22.43 (see references to amnesty § 22.43.170 and ADU application/bonus rules § 22.43.140–§ 22.43.160).
  • SB 9/ministerial small‑lot duplex and lot‑split rules: Martinez created an objective SB 9 implementation chapter (Chapter 22.51A) with standards for SB 9 units (maximum unit size 850 sq ft, SB 9 setbacks: 40 ft front and 4 ft side/rear minimums in many cases, and one parking space with recognized transit exceptions) § 22.51A.050.
  • Objective development & by‑right housing tracks: Martinez has dedicated chapters that allow housing developments to proceed ministerially or by objective review when they meet the city’s qualifying standards (e.g., housing development project chapter § 22.17.070–§ 22.17.100; MUO and by‑right rules § 22.11.030–§ 22.11.040). These chapters coordinate with the state density‑bonus and housing statutes as referenced in the code (see Chapter 22.80 references in housing project chapters).
  • Density bonus and incentives: Martinez codifies a local development‑incentive program (height increases, FAR, parking reductions) and integrates it with density bonus rules and state law cross‑references in Chapter 22.81 and other housing implementation chapters § 22.81.050; § 22.17.090.B.

(For the state building-code backstop that controls construction standards, Martinez references the statewide building regulations. See the California Building Standards Code page.) California Building Standards Code California housing laws

Practical orientation — how to use this code for a project in Martinez

  • Identify the parcel’s zoning on the official city zoning map and read that district’s chapter for the controlling setbacks, height and FAR (district chapters reference specific tables and standards — see the district chapters such as § 22.10.060 (A districts) or § 22.61.040–§ 22.61.050 (DT)).
  • Confirm any overlay (MUO, PUD, historic, Alhambra Valley) and check overlay-specific objective rules (e.g., MUO objectives § 22.11.010–§ 22.11.040; PUD required contents and effect § 22.42.050–§ 22.42.060).
  • Review special program chapters that could change numeric limits (ADU chapter 22.43, SB 9 chapter 22.51A, development incentives 22.81) before budgeting for parking, landscaping and public hearings § 22.43.070; § 22.51A.050; § 22.81.050.
  • Early step: submit a completeness package to Planning (see submittal checklist and completeness review rules § 22.17.090.A–.C) and expect design review and circulation/landscaping/lighting checks under § 22.34.045 prior to final building permits § 22.34.040.

Information gaps / confirm with the city

  • The uploaded code excerpts provide the Title 22 chapters and many controlling sections, but they do not display the full zoning map or the local fee schedule and current application checklists. For parcel‑specific computations (exact lot coverage figures pulled from a district table or the live zoning map), verify with the Planning Division or the online zoning map (code references those maps but the graphics were not included in the retrieved excerpts) § 22.09.010.
  • If you need the City’s current User Fee Schedule, zoning map, or the Downtown Specific Plan PDF referenced in the Parklets chapter, request those documents from Martinez Planning (the code points to applicability but the text excerpts here do not include the full specific‑plan attachments) § 22.65.020.

Source References

Where to read the Martinez code

The Martinez municipal and zoning code is published on eCode360 — view the official Martinez code library. That lets you read the ordinance section by section.

GoCodebook goes beyond browsing eCode360 (see how they compare): it reads the Martinez ordinance together with the California Building Standards Code and answers your question — zoning, setbacks, FAR, height, ADUs, permits — with the controlling citation for your parcel.

Who this affects

Martinez homeownersReal estate developersArchitects & designersReal estate agentsInvestorsGeneral contractorsADU buildersPermit consultants

Frequently asked questions

What zoning districts does Martinez use and where are they listed?

Martinez’s zoning chapters and district designations are collected in Title 22, with district families listed under District Designations and individual district chapters (e.g., agricultural chapters A‑1/A‑2/A‑5 in § 22.10.060, residential in Chapter 22.12, and special chapters like Downtown Transition (DT) § 22.61.010).

Do I need design review for a routine building permit in Martinez?

Yes — most exterior building permit applications require architectural and site design review by the Planning Division prior to permit issuance, except limited ADU cases that comply with Chapter 22.43 or specific small single‑family exceptions listed in § 22.34.030; see the design review submittal rules § 22.34.040–§ 22.34.045.

Does Martinez have a mixed‑use or housing overlay that allows by‑right housing?

Yes — Martinez has a Mixed‑Use/Housing Overlay (MUO); the MUO allows multifamily residential development under objective standards and by‑right processing when its affordability and unit‑mix conditions are met (§ 22.11.010–§ 22.11.040).

Where are parking requirements found for Martinez projects?

Off‑street parking and loading standards are centralized in Chapter 22.36, which district chapters call out (for example § 22.10.060.I references Chapter 22.36 for agricultural districts); certain districts (e.g., Alhambra Valley) make narrow exceptions to specific subsections (§ 22.29.060.G).

How does Martinez implement state ADU and SB 9 rules?

Martinez addresses ADUs in Chapter 22.43 with objective ADU provisions and amnesty/successor rules (§ 22.43.140–§ 22.43.170), and SB 9 small‑lot/duplicative‑unit rules in Chapter 22.51A, which sets maximum SB 9 unit size (850 sq ft), setbacks and parking exceptions (§ 22.51A.050).

Can a project use reduced setbacks, taller heights, or parking reductions?

Yes — Martinez has a development‑incentive program that allows applicants to opt into reduced setbacks, increased height/FAR, and parking reductions in exchange for required community benefits; the eligible incentive types and mechanics are described in § 22.81.050.

Where do planned developments (PUDs) appear and what do they control?

PUDs are treated as an overlay and require an approved PUD Plan; a PUD Plan acts as a site‑specific rezoning and can modify standards (height, setbacks, parking, open space) subject to council findings and ordinance adoption (§ 22.42.040–§ 22.42.060).

Does Martinez have special rules for microunits or shared housing projects?

Yes — Martinez has a microunit chapter with site development rules (usable outdoor space, one parking space per micro unit except near major transit, special unit size limits 500 sq ft) and other project standards in § 22.57.050–§ 22.57.090.

How are variances and appeals handled in Martinez?

Variances and zoning adjustments are handled through the Board of Adjustments per Chapter 22.44 (application, hearings, findings), with appeal routes provided in the administration chapter Chapter 22.06 (see § 22.44.010; § 22.06.050).

If my site is in downtown, what specific numeric standards should I check first?

For downtown or Downtown Transition sites you should check site area per dwelling unit, the district FAR (1.5, up to 2.0 with incentives) and the maximum height (two‑and‑a‑half stories / 30 ft) in the Downtown Transition chapter § 22.61.030–§ 22.61.050.

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