Oakland · Zoning · RM-3
Oakland RM-3 zoning: height, setbacks and lot size
In Oakland's RM-3 zone, generally buildings can be up to 35 ft tall, the front setback is 15 ft and the minimum lot size is 2,000 sf, with the conditions listed below (Oakland code, read October 2026).
Key points
- Maximum building height: 35 ft (lots with a footprint slope <20%; maximum wall height for primary building)
- Minimum front setback: 15 ft
- Minimum side setback: 4 ft (lots equal to or greater than 3,000 square feet)
- Minimum rear setback: 10 ft
- Minimum lot size: 2,000 sf
- Maximum lot coverage: 55% (lots <6,000 square feet; one or two units only)
- Maximum floor area ratio (FAR): 0.55 (lots <6,000 square feet; footprint slope >20%; one or two units only)
- Maximum density: 1-2 units on any legal lot; 3 units on minimum 3,000 sf. lots; 4 units on minimum 4,000 sf. lots; for 5 or more units, 1 unit per 1,250 sf. of lot area
RM-3 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 RM-3
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 | 35 ft Applies: lots with a footprint slope <20%; maximum wall height for primary building § 17.17.050 · code textTable row “Maximum wall height primary building”, column “RM-3”: 35 ft. |
|---|---|
| Minimum front setback | 15 ft § 17.17.050 · code textTable row “Minimum front (≤20% street-to-setback gradient)”, column “RM-3”: 15 ft. |
| Minimum side setback | 4 ft Applies: lots equal to or greater than 3,000 square feet § 17.17.050 · code textTable row “Minimum interior side”, column “RM-3”: 4 ft. |
| Minimum rear setback | 10 ft § 17.17.050 · code textTable row “Rear”, column “RM-3”: 10 ft. |
| Minimum lot size | 2,000 sf § 17.17.050 · code textTable row “Lot area”, column “RM-3”: 2,000 sf. |
| Maximum lot coverage | 55% Applies: lots <6,000 square feet; one or two units only § 17.17.050 · code textTable row “Maximum Lot Coverage (%)”, column “<6,000”: 55% |
| Maximum floor area ratio (FAR) | 0.55 Applies: lots <6,000 square feet; footprint slope >20%; one or two units only § 17.17.050 · 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 minimum 3,000 sf. lots; 4 units on minimum 4,000 sf. lots; for 5 or more units, 1 unit per 1,250 sf. of lot area § 17.17.050 · code textTable row “Permitted density”, column “RM-3”: 1-2 units on any legal lot; 3 units on minimum 3,000 sf. lots; 4 units on minimum 4,000 sf. lots; For 5 or more units - 1 unit per 1,250 sf. of lot area |
When a different number applies
The code sets other values for particular lots, buildings or locations in RM-3:
- Maximum building height: 30 ft — maximum wall height for primary building; downslope lot footprint slope >20% and <40% § 17.17.050
- Maximum building height: 32 ft — maximum wall height for primary building; downslope lot footprint slope >40% and <60% § 17.17.050
- Maximum building height: 34 ft — maximum wall height for primary building; downslope lot footprint slope >60% § 17.17.050
- Minimum front setback: 5 ft — street-to-setback gradient >20% § 17.17.050
- Minimum side setback: 3 ft — lots less than 3,000 square feet § 17.17.050
- Maximum lot coverage: 45% — lots ≥6,000 and <12,000 square feet; one or two units only § 17.17.050
- Maximum lot coverage: 30% — lots ≥12,000 and <25,000 square feet; one or two units only § 17.17.050
- Maximum lot coverage: 20% — lots ≥25,000 and <43,560 square feet; one or two units only § 17.17.050
- Maximum lot coverage: 15% — lots ≥43,560 square feet; one or two units only § 17.17.050
- Maximum floor area ratio (FAR): 0.50 — lots ≥6,000 and <12,000 square feet; footprint slope >20%; one or two units only § 17.17.050
- Maximum floor area ratio (FAR): 0.45 — lots ≥12,000 and <25,000 square feet; footprint slope >20%; one or two units only § 17.17.050
- Maximum floor area ratio (FAR): 0.30 — lots ≥25,000 and <43,560 square feet; footprint slope >20%; one or two units only § 17.17.050
- Maximum floor area ratio (FAR): 0.20 — lots ≥43,560 square feet; footprint slope >20%; one or two units only § 17.17.050
Not on this page
We did not find a general stories limit for RM-3 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 RM-3 zone?
35 ft (lots with a footprint slope <20%; maximum wall height for primary building) — Oakland Municipal Code § 17.17.050.
What is the minimum front setback in Oakland's RM-3 zone?
15 ft — Oakland Municipal Code § 17.17.050.
What is the minimum side setback in Oakland's RM-3 zone?
4 ft (lots equal to or greater than 3,000 square feet) — Oakland Municipal Code § 17.17.050.
What is the minimum rear setback in Oakland's RM-3 zone?
10 ft — Oakland Municipal Code § 17.17.050.
What is the minimum lot size in Oakland's RM-3 zone?
2,000 sf — Oakland Municipal Code § 17.17.050.
General information, not legal advice.
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