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Part IV — ADMINISTRATION

Article 1 — Planning Agency

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

10-2.4.101 Composition of Planning Agency.

The planning agency of the City of Walnut Creek, created pursuant to Government Code Section 65100 et seq., and conferred with the authority thereunder, shall consist of the following:

A. City Council;

B. Planning Commission;

  • C. Design Review Commission;

  • D. Zoning Administrator;

E. Community Development Director. (§3, Ord. 2106, eff. 1/6/12; §4, Ord. 2239, eff. 7/5/24)

10-2.4.102 Responsibilities of City Council.

The City Council shall review and determine appeals of decisions of the Planning Commission; initiate, hear, and decide proposals for planned development permits and amendments to this chapter; and exercise the powers and duties prescribed by state law and local ordinance. (§3, Ord. 2106, eff. 1/6/12)

10-2.4.103 Responsibilities of Planning Commission.

The Planning Commission shall:

A. Hear applications and City Council proposals for amendments to this chapter, initiate studies of amendments to this chapter and make recommendations to the City Council for amendments to this chapter;

B. Hear and decide applications for conditional use permits and variances in conjunction with a conditional use permit;

C. Hear and decide applications for design review approval referred to the Planning Commission by the Design Review Commission;

D. Hear and make recommendations to the City Council concerning hillside planned development (H-P-D) permit applications and planned development (P-D) permit applications;

E. Hear and decide authorized appeals from decisions or determinations made by the Zoning Administrator and the Community Development Director as enumerated in this chapter;

F. Hear and decide proposals for the revocation or modification of conditional use permits;

G. Hear and decide, when applicable, applications for tree removals under Title 3, Chapter 8;

H. Exercise such other powers and duties as are prescribed by State law or City ordinance or as are assigned by the City Council. (§3, Ord. 2106, eff. 1/6/12; §3, Ord. 2134, eff. 11/20/14; §4, Ord. 2239, eff. 7/5/24)

10-2.4.104 Responsibilities of Design Review Commission.

The Design Review Commission shall:

A. Review and make recommendations to the Planning Commission on major subdivisions, conditional use permits, design review, and P-D and H-P-D zoning;

B. Exercise such other powers and duties as are prescribed by City ordinance or assigned by the City Council. (§4, Ord. 2134, eff. 11/20/14; §2, Ord. 2153, eff. 7/8/16; §4, Ord. 2239, eff. 7/5/24)

10-2.4.105 Creation and Responsibilities of Zoning Administrator.

The office of Zoning Administrator is hereby established in and for the City. The Community Development Director shall appoint any member of the Community Development Department as the Zoning Administrator. The City Council may adopt rules and regulations for the transaction of the business, scheduling of meetings, conduct of meetings, and related matters of the Zoning Administrator.

The Zoning Administrator shall:

A. Hear and decide applications for variances;

  • B. Hear and decide applications for minor use permits;

C. Hear and decide, when applicable, applications for design review approval;

D. Hear and decide, when applicable, applications for tree removals under Title 3, Chapter 8;

E. Hear and decide applications under Section 9-2.06 for moving buildings that are placed within the City;

F. Hear and decide applications for large family day care home permits upon request of an applicant or affected party;

G. Exercise such other powers and duties as are prescribed by City ordinance or assigned by the City Council;

H. The Zoning Administrator may determine that, because of the probable controversial nature of any proposal, or because of the significance to the City, the Planning Commission should hear and decide an application, in which case the procedures established in Section 10-2.4.301 et seq. shall be followed. (§4, Ord. 2106, eff. 1/6/12; §5, Ord. 2134, eff. 11/20/14; §4, Ord. 2239, eff. 7/5/24)

10-2.4.106 Responsibilities of the Community Development Director.

Except as otherwise provided, the Community Development Director may delegate any of the duties and powers given to them to a designee appointed by the Director. The Director shall:

A. Serve as the administrative officer of the Community Development Department;

B. Serve as the official secretary of the Planning Commission and Design Review Commission;

  • C. Advise the City Council, Planning Commission, and Design Review Commission;

D. Conduct investigations and make reports and recommendations on matters relating to planning and land use, zoning, subdivisions, design review, architectural and environmental controls;

E. Hear and decide, when applicable, applications for design review approval;

F. Review such other matters as directed. (§4, Ord. 2106, eff. 1/6/12; §6, Ord. 2134, eff. 11/20/14; §4, Ord. 2239, eff. 7/5/24)

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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
  88. Part III — REGULATIONS APPLYING IN ALL OR SEVERAL DISTRICTS Re…
  89. ▸ Part IV — ADMINISTRATION
    Overview
    1. Article 1 — Planning Agency
    2. Article 2 — Applications
    3. Article 3 — Notices and Hearings
    4. Article 4 — Decisions and Permit Review, Modification and Revo…
    5. Article 5 — Appeals
    6. Article 6 — Conditional Use Permits
    7. Article 7 — Special Use Permits
    8. Article 8 — Minor Use Permits
    9. Article 9 — Variances
    10. Article 10 — Planned Development (P-D) Permits
    11. Article 11 — Hillside Planned Development (H-P-D) Permit
    12. Article 12 — Design Review
    13. Article 13 — Amendments (Rezoning)
    14. Article 14 — Development Agreements
    15. Article 15 — Enforcement
    16. Article 16 — Reasonable Accommodation Application
    17. Article 17 — Community Benefit Agreements
    18. Chapter 3
    19. Chapter 3 — STREET NAMES AND ADDRESSES
    20. Chapter 5
    21. Chapter 5 — TRAFFIC IMPACT FEE
    22. Chapter 6
    23. Chapter 6 — WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS
    24. Chapter 7
    25. Chapter 7 — SEWER SYSTEMS
    26. Chapter 8
    27. Chapter 8 — SIGN REGULATIONS
    28. Chapter 9
    29. Chapter 9 — GENERAL PLAN AND SPECIFIC PLANS
    30. Chapter 10
    31. Chapter 10 — PUBLIC ART
    32. Chapter 11
    33. Chapter 11 — PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT REIMBURSEMENTS
    34. Chapter 12
    35. Chapter 12 — DEDICATIONS FOR PARK PURPOSES
    36. Chapter 13
    37. Chapter 13 — FEE ON COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT FOR AFFORDABLE HOUS…

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