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Part II — BASE DISTRICT REGULATIONS

Article 2 — Duplex Residential District (D-3)

Walnut Creek Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · updated 2026-07-07 · Walnut Creek

10-2.2.201 Purpose and Intent.

The purpose of the Duplex Residential Zoning District is to provide for certain residential areas where a compatible mix of single-family and duplex dwelling units is likely to occur. The intent is to stabilize and protect the essential residential characteristics of the following areas: 1) residential areas in the vicinity of the Pedestrian Retail area that are primarily developed with single family dwellings; and 2) areas adjacent to both single family residential and multiple family residential.

10-2.2.202 Land Use Regulations. Revised 4/25

In the following table, the letters in the "Use Regulation" column are defined as follows:

P = A permitted use.
L = A use permitted subject to certain limitations prescribed by the "Use
Regulations" that immediately follow the table.
U = A use permitted on approval of a Conditional Use Permit.

Letters in parentheses in the "Additional Regulations" column are described in the "Additional Regulations" section following the "Use Regulations". Where a Use Regulation or a letter in parentheses is opposite a use classification heading, the referenced regulations shall apply to all use classifications under the heading. Land uses not listed (indicated by strikeout) are not permitted.

LAND USE USE REGULATIONS ADDITIONAL
REGULATIONS
A. Residential Use Classifcations (A)(B)(C)(G)
1. Adult Day Care Home P
2. Congregate Living Facility
3. Family Day Care Home
a. Small Family Day Care Home P (D)
b. Large Family Day Care Home P (D)
4. Group Residential
5. Multiple Family Residential L(2)
6. Residential Care Home P
7. Accessory Dwelling Units
LAND USE USE REGULATIONS ADDITIONAL
REGULATIONS
a. Accessory Dwelling Unit P (I)
b. Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit P (I)
8. Single Family Residential P
9. Supportive Housing L(13)
10. Transitional Housing L(13)
B. Commercial Use Classifcations
1. Ambulance Services
2. Animal Sales and Service
a. Animal Hospital
b. Animal: Retail Sales and Grooming
c. Horse Stables
d. Kennel
3. Artist Studio
4. Banks and Savings and Loans
a. Banks and Savings and Loans
LAND USE USE REGULATIONS ADDITIONAL
REGULATIONS
(1) With Drive-up Service
(2) With Automated Teller Machine
5. Catering Services
6. Commercial Cannabis Business
a. Commercial Cannabis Cultivation
b. Commercial Cannabis Distribution
c. Commercial Cannabis Manufacturing
d. Commercial Cannabis Retail Dispensary
(1) With Cannabis Delivery
e. Nonstorefront Delivery-Only Operation
f. Commercial Cannabis Testing Laboratory
7. Communication Facilities
8. Custom Manufacturing
9. Eating and Drinking Establishments
a. Eating and Drinking Establishments
LAND USE USE REGULATIONS ADDITIONAL
REGULATIONS
(1) With Alcoholic Beverage Service
(2) With Live Entertainment/Dancing
(3) With Take-out Service
(a) Drive-up
(4) With Permanent Outdoor Seating
(5) With Of-site Distribution
(a) Micro-brewery
10. Food and Beverage Sales
a. Food and Beverage Sales
b. Convenience Market
(1) With Gasoline Sales
c. Specialty Food Shops
(1) With Of-site Distribution
11. Funeral and Interment Services
12. Health Clubs
LAND USE USE REGULATIONS ADDITIONAL
REGULATIONS
13. Home Improvement Sales and Service
14. Horticultural Establishment
15. Lumber and Building Material Yard
16. Maintenance and Repair Service/Small
Equipment
17. Mini Storage
18. Nursery
19. Ofces, Business and Professional
a. Ofces, Business and Professional
(1) Ofces, Medical
20. Parking, Commercial Facility
21. Pawn Shop
22. Personal Improvement Services
23. Personal Services
24. Recreation and Entertainment, Commercial
a. Within a Building
LAND USE USE REGULATIONS ADDITIONAL
REGULATIONS
b. Outside a Building
25. Research and Development Services
26. Retail Sales/Rental
27. Vehicle/Equipment Sales and Service
a. Automobile Rental/Leasing
b. Automobile Sales/New and Used
c. Automobile Washing
(1) Automobile Wrecking
d. Service Stations
(1) Automobile Washing
e. Vehicle/Equipment Repair
(1) Limited Vehicle Service
f. Vehicle/Equipment Sales and Rentals
g. Vehicle Storage
28. Visitor Accommodations
LAND USE USE REGULATIONS ADDITIONAL
REGULATIONS
a. Bed and Breakfast Inns U (E)
b. Hotels
c. Motels
C. Industrial Use Classifcations
1. General Industry
2. Limited Industry
3. Research Development Industry
4. Wholesaling, Distribution and Storage
D. Agricultural Use Classifcations
1. Animal Husbandry
2. Crop Production
E. Community Facility Use Classifcations
1. Adult Day Care Facility U
2. Child Day Care Facility (Day Care Center) U (D)
3. Clubs and Lodges L(3)
LAND USE USE REGULATIONS ADDITIONAL
REGULATIONS
4. College, Public or Private U
5. Cultural Institutions
a. Cultural Institutions U
b. Natural History/Science Museum U
6. Emergency Medical Care
7. Government Ofces
8. Hazardous Waste Management Facility
9. Heliports
10. Hospitals
a. Acute Care
b. Other
11. Housing for the Homeless/Emergency Shelters
12. Maintenance and Service Facilities
13. Park and Recreation Facilities L(4)
14. Public Parking Facilities
LAND USE USE REGULATIONS ADDITIONAL
REGULATIONS
15. Public Safety Facilities
16. Public Transit Terminals
17. Recycling Facilities
a. Collection Facility
(1) Reverse Vending Machine L(5) (F)
(2) Small Collection Facility L(5) (F)
(3) Large Collection Facility
b. Processing Facility
18. Religious Assembly U
19. Residential Care Facility L(6)
20. Schools, Public or Private U
21. Skilled Nursing Facilities U
22. Utilities, Major L(7)
23. Utilities, Minor P
F. Accessory Uses
LAND USE USE REGULATIONS ADDITIONAL
REGULATIONS
1. Accessory Living Quarters L(8)
2. Accessory Structure L(9)
3. Accessory Uses L(10)
a. Garage Sales P
b. Home Occupations L(10)
c. Personal Cannabis Cultivation L(12) (H)
G. Temporary Uses
1. Arts and Crafts Shows, Outdoor L(11)
2. Christmas Tree Sales L(11)
3. Civic/Community Events L(11)
4. Farmers Markets L(11)
5. Live Entertainment Events L(11)
6. Outdoor Seating/Eating and Drinking Estab
7. Pumpkin Sales L(11)
8. Retail Sales, Outdoor
LAND USE LAND USE USE REGULATIONS ADDITIONAL
REGULATIONS
9. Swap Meets, Non-Recurring L(11)
10. Swap Meets, Recurring
11. Street Fairs
12. Vendor Carts
USE REGULATIONS
L(1) Repealed by Ord. 2248.
LAND USE USE REGULATIONS ADDITIONAL
REGULATIONS
L(2) Duplexes or more than one single family dwelling are permitted, not to exceed 4 dwelling
units on any one lot, regardless of size. All other uses within this classifcation, including
buildings containing three or more units, are not permitted.
L(3) Permitted on approval of a Conditional Use Permit. In approving the Use Permit the
Planning Commission shall fnd that: 1) the proposed facility is located on a collector or
arterial street; and 2) the facility is under 2,500 square feet in size.
L(4) Private neighborhood swim centers, owned and operated by and for the residents of the
neighborhood in which such uses are located, are permitted upon approval of a Conditional
Use Permit. All other uses within this classifcation are permitted.
L(5) Reverse vending machines used by occupants of single family homes, duplex units and
multiple family housing projects for the sole collection and storage of recyclable material
generated by on-site residents are permitted. Reverse vending machines and small
collection facilities are permitted in Community Service Facilities (see Part III, Article 7.
Recycling Facilities. for the defnition of "Community Service Facilities") upon approval by
the Community Development Director. Storage containers must be enclosed or placed out
of view of any public right-of-way.
L(6) Permitted if the occupants of the facility meet the defnition of handicapped under the Fair
Housing Act, otherwise not permitted. Parking, as required in Part III, Article 2. Of-site
USE REGULATIONS
Parking and Loading Regulations. shall be provided.
L(7) Electrical substations, aboveground electrical transmission lines, water pumping stations
and switching buildings are permitted uses. All other uses within this classifcation are not
permitted.
L(8) Accessory living quarters, as defned in Park I, Article 4. Use Classifcations, are living
quarters within an accessory structure, without kitchen facilities. Accessory living quarters
are permitted subject to the standards in Sec.
10-2.3.103.Accessory Structures.
L(9) Accessory structures are permitted subject to the standards in Sec.
10-2.3.103.Accessory
Structures.
L(10) Home Occupations are permitted subject to the approval of a Home Occupation Permit (see
Sec.
10-2.3.107.Home Occupations). For all other accessory uses see the use regulation for
the primary use classifcation.
L(11) Permitted in neighborhood swim centers, cultural institutions, park and recreation facilities,
religious assembly, and schools subject to the approval of a Temporary Activity Permit (see
Sec.
10-2.3.118.Temporary Activity Permits).
L(12) Personal cannabis cultivation is permitted subject to the regulations outlined by Article 14 of
Part III of the Zoning Ordinance.
L(13) Supportive and transitional housing are subject only to those requirements and restrictions
that apply to the residential use classifcation under which they operate (e.g., multiple-family
residential, single-family residential, residential care home, etc.).
ADDITIONAL USE REGULATIONS
(A) See Sec.
10-2.3.103.Accessory Buildings
(B) See Sec.
10-2.3.107.Home Occupations.
ADDITIONAL USE REGULATIONS
(C) See Sec.
10-2.3.108.Animals.
(D) See Part III, Article 6. Child Day Care Facilities.
(E) See Sec.
10-2.3.109.Bed and Breakfast Inns.
(F) See Part III, Article 7. Recycling Facilities.
(G) See Part III, Article 9. Inclusionary Housing.
(H) See Part III, Article 14. Personal and Commercial Cannabis Activities.
(I) See Part III, Article 5. Accessory Dwelling Units.

(§6, Ord. 2129, eff. 7/3/14; §§7(1), (9)—(11), Ord. 2183, eff. 9/8/18; §5, Ord. 2188, eff. 3/8/19; §8, Ord. 2210, eff. 10/22/21; §5(1), Ord. 2216, eff. 7/2/22; §3(4), Ord. 2243, eff. 9/7/24; §3(2), Ord. 2248, eff. 2/21/25)

10-2.2.203 Property Development Regulations.

The following schedule prescribes development regulations for the Duplex Residential District. The symbol "NA" indicates that there is no restriction for that particular development regulation or it is not applicable in this District. Numbers in parentheses refer to the "Additional Development Regulations" following the schedule. If the Development Regulation column is blank, the development regulation is then outlined in the "Additional Regulation" footnote.

CLASSIFICATION DEVELOPMENT
REGULATIONS		 ADDITIONAL
REGULATIONS
A. Minimum Lot Area 6,000 sq. ft. D(1), D(2), D(3)
B. Minimum Lot Width 60 ft. D(2), D(3)
C. Minimum Lot Frontage 60 ft. D(2), D(3), D(5)
CLASSIFICATION DEVELOPMENT
REGULATIONS		 ADDITIONAL
REGULATIONS
D. Minimum Lot Depth NA
E. Minimum Setbacks D(2), D(3), D(4), D(5)
1. Front 15 ft.
2. Side D(6)
3. Corner Side 10 ft. D(6)
4. Rear 10 ft.
F. Maximum Height 25 ft., 2 stories
G. Density D(7)
H. Maximum Lot Coverage 50%
I. Distance Between Buildings D(8)
J. Placement of Mailboxes D(9)
K. Design Review D(10)
L. Fences and Walls See Sec.
10-2.3.104.
M. Antennas See Sec.
10-2.3.120.
N. Non-Conforming Conditions See Part III, Article 3.
CLASSIFICATION DEVELOPMENT
REGULATIONS		 ADDITIONAL
REGULATIONS
O. Elevators See Sec.
10-2.3.124.
P. Recycling Facilities See Part III, Article 7.
Q. Parking and Loading See Part III, Article 2.
R. Signs See Title
10,Chapter 8.
S. Preservation of Trees See Title
3.Chapter 8.
T. Hillside Performance Standards See Part III, Article 4.
U. Stormwater Control See Title
9,Chapter 16.
V. Landscaping See Part III, Article 11. D(11)
W. Private Residential Outdoor Space See Sec.
10-2.3.126.
X. Courts See Sec.
10-2.3.127.
Y. Lighting See Sec.
10-2.3.128.
ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS
D(1) Any lot which is non-conforming because of area may be used for only one single family
dwelling and accessory buildings and uses.
D(2) For development of uses within the Commercial and Community Facility Use Classifcations,
the minimum lot area, lot width, lot frontage and setbacks are to be determined by the

ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS

ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS
Planning Commission in approval of the Conditional Use Permit.
D(3) See Sec.
10-2.3.106.Exclusion of Rights of Way.
D(4) See. Sec.
10-2.3.102.Yards, Setbacks and Open Areas.
D(5) Refer to the Zoning Map for Future Street Line Setbacks.
D(6) The minimum interior side yards for one-story buildings in The D-3 district shall be 5 feet on
each side. Every building over one story shall provide a setback, for the second story, of 5
feet, plus 3 inches of additional setback for each foot that such building exceeds 10 feet in
height. The side yard on the street side of a reversed corner lot shall be 15 feet.
D(7) The maximum permitted density shall be determined by the stricter of the following three
regulations:
(a) General Plan Land Use Map;
(b) Minimum Lot Area as determined in A. above. In addition: 1) there shall be not less than
6,000 square feet of lot area for 2 dwelling units and 4,500 square feet of lot area for each
dwelling unit in excess of 2 on one lot; 2) no more than 4 dwelling units are permitted on any
one lot, regardless of lot size; and 3) buildings containing three or more units are not
permitted.
(c) Maximum density as permitted under Part III, Article 4. Hillside Performance Standards.
D(8) The minimum distance between two buildings on one lot shall be as follows: (a) Between
two main buildings: 10 feet. (b) Between a main building and an accessory building: 5 feet.
D(9) No mailbox shall be placed within the minimum required depth of the front yard in the
sidewalk area between the curb and property line in any R or D-3 district unless the
regulations of the U.S. Postal Service specifcally mandate such placement. The Chief of
Code Enforcement may grant an exception to the above restriction wherein special
circumstances applicable to the property such as size, shape, location of buildings justify
the exception.

ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS

ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS
D(10) Except for those single family dwellings, duplex dwellings and accessory structures
exempted from the provisions of this section, no new building shall be constructed or
moved onto any building site, nor shall any existing non-residential building be enlarged,
remodeled or otherwise altered on the exterior, nor shall any landscaping previously required
pursuant to any permit be altered, nor shall any parking layout or dimension be altered until
the design plan and site plan have received Design Review approval pursuant to Part IV,
Article 12. of this Chapter.
The provisions of this section D(10) shall not apply to:
(a) Additions to existing single family and duplex dwellings.
(b) Swimming pools, patios and covers, fences and other accessory structures except when
design review is required for the main building and the accessory structure is to be
constructed concurrently with the main building.
D(11) A minimum of twenty percent (20%) of the lot net area shall be landscaped. A minimum of
forty percent (40%) of the front and corner side yards shall be landscaped, excluding
driveways. Landscaped areas shall consist of at least ffty percent (50%) live plant material,
and any remaining area shall be rock, gravel, pebbles, stones, mulch or other natural, non-
living material. See also Private Residential Outdoor Space in Section
10-2.3.126.

(§2, Ord. 2037, eff. 12/17/04; §6, Ord. 2108, eff. 4/7/12; §4, Ord. 2239, eff. 7/5/24; §4(3), Ord. 2244, eff. 11/1/24)

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The Walnut Creek Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 2251, passed August 16, 2025.

Disclaimer: The City Clerk's Office has the official version of the Walnut Creek

10-2.2.301

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▸ Contents — Walnut Creek Zoning Code
Walnut Creek Zoning Code
  1. 10-1.101 Citation and Authority.
  2. 10-1.102 Purpose.
  3. 10-1.103 Conformity to General Plan, Specific Plans and Zoning…
  4. 10-1.104 Application.
  5. 10-1.105 Modification of Requirements.
  6. 10-1.201 Definitions.
  7. 10-1.202 Responsibilities.
  8. 10-1.301 General.
  9. 10-1.302 Division of Land—Five or More Parcels.
  10. 10-1.303 Division of Land—Four or Fewer Parcels. (Minor Subdiv…
  11. 10-1.304 Plat Maps.
  12. 10-1.305 Fees and Deposits.
  13. 10-1.402 Tentative Maps.
  14. 10-1.403 Final Maps.
  15. 10-1.501 Tentative Parcel Map.
  16. 10-1.502 Parcel Maps.
  17. 10-1.503 Waiver of Parcel Map Requirements.
  18. 10-1.601 Dedication of Streets, Alleys and Other Public Rights…
  19. 10-1.602 Park Land Dedication.
  20. 10-1.603 School Site Dedication.
  21. 10-1.604 Reservations.
  22. 10-1.605 Claims of Excessive Dedications.
  23. 10-1.701 Purpose.
  24. 10-1.702 Requirements and Procedures.
  25. 10-1.703 Physical Standards for Condominium Conversions.
  26. 10-1.704 Tenant Provisions.
  27. 10-1.705 Effect of Proposed Conversion on the City's Low- and …
  28. 10-1.706 Findings.
  29. 10-1.801 General.
  30. 10-1.802 Improvements Required.
  31. 10-1.803 Deferred Improvement Agreements.
  32. 10-1.804 Design.
  33. 10-1.805 Access.
  34. 10-1.806 Improvement Plans.
  35. 10-1.807 Improvement Agreement.
  36. 10-1.808 Improvement Security.
  37. 10-1.809 Construction.
  38. 10-1.810 Construction Inspection.
  39. 10-1.811 Completion of Improvements.
  40. 10-1.812 Acceptance of Improvements.
  41. 10-1.813 Supplemental Improvement Capacity.
  42. 10-1.901 General.
  43. 10-1.902 Initiation of Proceedings.
  44. 10-1.903 Contents of Petition.
  45. 10-1.904 Submittal of Petition to City Engineer.
  46. 10-1.905 City Council Approval.
  47. 10-1.906 Filing with County Recorder.
  48. 10-1.1001 Mergers not Required.
  49. 10-1.1002 Mergers Required.
  50. 10-1.1003 Notice of Intention to Determine Status.
  51. 10-1.1004 Hearing on Determination of Status.
  52. 10-1.1005 Determination of Merger.
  53. 10-1.1006 Determination When No Hearing is Requested.
  54. 10-1.1007 Request to Merge by Property Owner.
  55. 10-1.1008 Unmerged Parcels.
  56. 10-1.1009 Request for Determination by Owner.
  57. 10-1.1010 Fee for Mergers and Unmergers.
  58. 10-1.1101 Requirements.
  59. 10-1.1102 Form and Contents.
  60. 10-1.1103 Submittal and Approval by the City Engineer.
  61. 10-1.1104 Filing with the County Recorder.
  62. 10-1.1105 Fee.
  63. 10-1.1201 Citation and Authority.
  64. 10-1.1202 Purpose and Intent.
  65. 10-1.1203 Consistency.
  66. 10-1.1204 Definitions.
  67. 10-1.1205 Application.
  68. 10-1.1206 Filing and Processing.
  69. 10-1.1207 Expiration.
  70. 10-1.1208 Vesting on Approval of Vesting Tentative Map.
  71. 10-1.1209 Development Inconsistent with Zoning—Conditional App…
  72. 10-1.1210 Applications Inconsistent with Current Policies.
  73. 10-1.1211 Failure to Obtain Design Review Approval.
  74. 10-1.1301 Prohibition.
  75. 10-1.1302 Remedies.
  76. 10-1.1303 Certificate of Compliance.
  77. 10-1.1304 Notice of Violation.
  78. 10-1.1305 Penalties.
  79. 10-1.1306 Judicial Action.
  80. 10-1.1401 Purpose.
  81. 10-1.1402 Applicability—Ministerial Approval.
  82. 10-1.1403 Exceptions.
  83. 10-1.1404 Definitions.
  84. 10-1.1405 Urban Lot Split Requirements.
  85. Chapter 2
  86. Part I — GENERAL PROVISIONS
  87. ▸ Part II — BASE DISTRICT REGULATIONS
    Overview
    1. Article 1 — Single-Family Residential District (R)
    2. Article 2 — Duplex Residential District (D-3)
    3. Article 3 — Multiple Family Residential Districts (M)
    4. Article 4 — High Density Residential Planned Development Distr…
    5. Article 5 — Hillside Planned Development District (H-P-D)
    6. Article 6 — Pedestrian Retail District (P-R)
    7. Article 7 — Central Retail District (C-R)
    8. Article 8 — Office Commercial District (O-C)
    9. Article 9 — Mixed Use Planned Development District (M-U)
    10. Article 10 — Automobile Sales/Service and Custom Manufacturing…
    11. Article 11 — Service Commercial District (S-C)
    12. Article 12 — Business Park District (B-P)
    13. Article 13 — Community Commercial District (C-C)
    14. Article 14 — Open Space/Recreation District (O-S-R)
    15. Article 15 — Community Facility District (C-F)
    16. Article 16 — Hospital Planned Development District (HO P-D)
    17. Article 17 — Planned Development District (P-D)
    18. Article 18 — Overlay District (O)
    19. Article 19 — Summary of Use Regulations
    20. Article 20 — Single-Family High-Planned Development District 1…
    21. Article 21 — Commercial Mixed Use District (MU-C)
    22. Article 22 — Residential Mixed Use District (MU-R)
    23. Article 23 — Downtown Mixed Use District (MU-D)
  88. Part III — REGULATIONS APPLYING IN ALL OR SEVERAL DISTRICTS Re…
  89. Part IV — ADMINISTRATION

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