Oakland · Zoning · RD
Oakland RD zoning: height, setbacks and lot size
In Oakland's RD zone, generally buildings can be up to 30 ft tall, the front setback is 15 ft and the minimum lot size is 2,000 sq ft, with the conditions listed below (Oakland code, read October 2026).
Key points
- Maximum building height: 30 ft (maximum wall height of primary buildings on lots with footprint slope of 20% or less)
- Minimum front setback: 15 ft (lots equal to or greater than 3,000 sq ft; street-to-setback gradient ≤20%)
- Minimum side setback: 4 ft
- Minimum rear setback: 10 ft
- Minimum lot size: 2,000 sq ft
- Maximum lot coverage: 55% (lots less than 6,000 sq ft; one or two dwelling units)
- Maximum floor area ratio (FAR): 0.55 (Lots with footprint slope over 20% and under 6,000 sq ft, one or two units; larger lots get 0.50, 0.45, 0.30, 0.20)
- Maximum density: 1-2 units on any legal lot; 3 units on lots of at least 3,000 sq ft; 4 units on lots of at least 4,000 sq ft
RD (RD Detached Unit Residential Zone) is a zoning district in Oakland. Every value below was read from the Oakland Municipal Code and links to its section (read October 2026). State laws such as the ADU and SB 9 rules can allow more on a residential lot. General information, not legal advice — read the code text and check with the city before you build.
Development standards in RD
The general rule for a typical lot in this zone. Zoning tables often attach notes, such as rules for corner lots, lots next to a residential zone, or new subdivisions only. Open “code text” under a value to see the table cell or sentence it was read from.
| Maximum building height | 30 ft Applies: maximum wall height of primary buildings on lots with footprint slope of 20% or less § 17.15.050 · code textTable row “Maximum Wall Height Primary Building”, column “>20% and <40%”: 30 ft. |
|---|---|
| Minimum front setback | 15 ft Applies: lots equal to or greater than 3,000 sq ft; street-to-setback gradient ≤20% § 17.15.050 · code textTable row “Minimum front (≤?20% street-to-setback gradient)”, column “RD”: 15 ft. |
| Minimum side setback | 4 ft § 17.15.050 · code textTable row “Minimum interior side”, column “RD”: 4 ft. |
| Minimum rear setback | 10 ft § 17.15.050 · code textTable row “Rear”, column “RD”: 10 ft. |
| Minimum lot size | 2,000 sq ft § 17.15.050 · code textTable row “Lot area”, column “RD”: 2,000 sf. |
| Maximum lot coverage | 55% Applies: lots less than 6,000 sq ft; one or two dwelling units § 17.15.050 · code textTable row “Maximum Lot Coverage (%)”, column “<6,000”: 55% |
| Maximum floor area ratio (FAR) | 0.55 Applies: Lots with footprint slope over 20% and under 6,000 sq ft, one or two units; larger lots get 0.50, 0.45, 0.30, 0.20 § 17.15.050 · code textTable row “Maximum FAR for Lots with a Footprint Slope > 20%”, column “<6,000”: 0.55 |
| Maximum density | 1-2 units on any legal lot; 3 units on lots of at least 3,000 sq ft; 4 units on lots of at least 4,000 sq ft § 17.15.050 · code textTable row “Maximum Permitted Residential Density”, column “RD”: 1-2 units on any legal lot; 3 units on minimum 3,000 sf. lots; 4 units on minimum 4,000 sf. lots |
When a different number applies
The code sets other values for particular lots, buildings or locations in RD:
- Maximum building height: 35 ft — maximum pitched roof height, primary buildings; footprint slope ≤20% § 17.15.050
- Maximum building height: 32 ft — downslope lot with footprint slope greater than 40% and less than 60%; maximum wall height primary building § 17.15.050
- Maximum building height: 34 ft — downslope lot with footprint slope greater than 60%; maximum wall height primary building § 17.15.050
- Minimum front setback: 5 ft — street-to-setback gradient >20% § 17.15.050
- Minimum front setback: 5 ft — new buildings with ground-floor Commercial Facilities; or new Commercial Facilities in front of a historic property, up to 15 ft tall there § 17.15.050
- Minimum front setback: None required — existing Commercial Facilities § 17.15.050
- Minimum front setback: None required — new Commercial Facilities where an existing context within the adjoining block face has no front yard setback § 17.15.050
- Minimum side setback: 3 ft — lots less than 3,000 sq ft § 17.15.050
- Minimum side setback: None required — existing Commercial Facilities § 17.15.050
- Minimum side setback: None required — developments involving creation of new units on two or more adjoining parcels under the same ownership, between those new units § 17.15.050
- Maximum lot coverage: 45% — lots greater than 6,000 and less than 12,000 sq ft; one or two dwelling units § 17.15.050
- Maximum lot coverage: 30% — lots greater than 12,000 and less than 25,000 sq ft; one or two dwelling units § 17.15.050
- Maximum lot coverage: 20% — lots greater than 25,000 and less than 43,560 sq ft; one or two dwelling units § 17.15.050
- Maximum lot coverage: 15% — lots greater than 43,560 sq ft; one or two dwelling units § 17.15.050
Not on this page
We did not find a general stories limit for RD in the zoning tables we read. The code may still set one elsewhere — check the Oakland Municipal Code.
Other Oakland zoning districts
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
What is the maximum building height in Oakland's RD zone?
30 ft (maximum wall height of primary buildings on lots with footprint slope of 20% or less) — Oakland Municipal Code § 17.15.050.
What is the minimum front setback in Oakland's RD zone?
15 ft (lots equal to or greater than 3,000 sq ft; street-to-setback gradient ≤20%) — Oakland Municipal Code § 17.15.050.
What is the minimum side setback in Oakland's RD zone?
4 ft — Oakland Municipal Code § 17.15.050.
What is the minimum rear setback in Oakland's RD zone?
10 ft — Oakland Municipal Code § 17.15.050.
What is the minimum lot size in Oakland's RD zone?
2,000 sq ft — Oakland Municipal Code § 17.15.050.
General information, not legal advice.
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