Newark · Land use · Apartment building
Where is an apartment building (multifamily housing) allowed in Newark?
In Newark, an apartment building (multifamily housing) is allowed in 4 base zones (RL, RM, RH and CMU, 1 with a condition), needs a conditional use permit in 1 (RC, it with a condition) and not allowed in 4 (Newark use tables, read October 2026).
Key points
- Allowed: RL, RM, RH and CMU
- Needs a permit: RC
- Not allowed: RS, NC, CR and CC
Find your lot's zone on the city zoning map, then read its row. Every status below was read from the Newark Municipal Code use tables (read October 2026). Base zones only. General information, not legal advice — check with the city before you apply.
Zones where an apartment building (multifamily housing) can go
Newark's code calls this use “Multi-Unit Development”. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| RL | Allowed | § 17.07.020 |
| RM | Allowed | § 17.07.020 |
| RH | Allowed | § 17.07.020 |
| CMU | Allowed — see note Note 1: Single-Unit Dwelling, Attached uses are not permitted in the Old Town Newark Specific Plan area. Residential uses are not allowed on the ground floor along Newark Boulevard frontage and Thornton Avenue frontage, between the Union Pacific Railroad tracks and Olive Street. | § 17.08.020 |
| RC | Needs a conditional use permit — see note Note 2: Not allowed on the ground floor. Residential units shall be intended to support retail commercial uses of the project. | § 17.08.020 |
Zones where it is not allowed
What else applies
- Standards for this use: Section 17.07.040.D, Single Unit Attached and Multi-Unit Development.
- State law: State laws such as AB 2011, SB 6 and the density bonus law can allow homes on some commercial sites, or more units than this table shows.
- Not covered here: RP (Resource Production, S5) lists only Caretaker Unit, Public Safety, General Industrial, Public Works: none of the 16 uses.. Overlay zones and specific plans can also change the answer.
Other uses in Newark
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I have an apartment building (multifamily housing) in the RC zone in Newark?
Only with a conditional use permit. Newark's use table lists it that way in RC (§ 17.08.020). The code adds a condition: “Not allowed on the ground floor. Residential units shall be intended to support retail commercial uses of the project.”
Can I have an apartment building (multifamily housing) in the RS zone in Newark?
No. Newark's use table does not allow it in RS (§ 17.07.020).
Can I have an apartment building (multifamily housing) in the RL zone in Newark?
Yes. Newark's use table lists it as allowed in RL (§ 17.07.020).
General information, not legal advice.
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