Where is a single-family home allowed in Benicia?

Find your lot's zone on the city zoning map, then read its row. Every status below was read from the Benicia Municipal Code use tables (read October 2026). Base zones only. General information, not legal advice — check with the city before you apply.

Zones where a single-family home can go

Benicia's code calls this use “Single-Family Residential”. 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
RS	Allowed — see note Note L-1: Residential use shall be allowed by right for housing development projects on vacant sites designated in two consecutive prior housing elements and nonvacant sites designated in one prior housing element, as described in Chapter III, Sites Inventory, and shown in Appendix D, Table A of the housing element, pursuant to California Government Code Section 65583.2(i) where at least 20 percent of units are provided as affordable to extremely low-, very low- or low-income households.	§ 17.24.020
RM	Allowed — see note Note L-1: Residential use shall be allowed by right for housing development projects on vacant sites designated in two consecutive prior housing elements and nonvacant sites designated in one prior housing element, as described in Chapter III, Sites Inventory, and shown in Appendix D, Table A of the housing element, pursuant to California Government Code Section 65583.2(i) where at least 20 percent of units are provided as affordable to extremely low-, very low- or low-income households.	§ 17.24.020
RH	Allowed — see note Note L-1: Residential use shall be allowed by right for housing development projects on vacant sites designated in two consecutive prior housing elements and nonvacant sites designated in one prior housing element, as described in Chapter III, Sites Inventory, and shown in Appendix D, Table A of the housing element, pursuant to California Government Code Section 65583.2(i) where at least 20 percent of units are provided as affordable to extremely low-, very low- or low-income households.	§ 17.24.020
CC	Allowed — see note Note L-1: Permitted only when located on upper floors above a ground floor nonresidential use in a mixed-use residential building. Note L-2: Not permitted on ground level in CC and CO districts.	§ 17.28.020
CO	Allowed — see note Note L-1: Permitted only when located on upper floors above a ground floor nonresidential use in a mixed-use residential building. Note L-2: Not permitted on ground level in CC and CO districts.	§ 17.28.020
CW	Allowed — see note Note L-1: Permitted only when located on upper floors above a ground floor nonresidential use in a mixed-use residential building. Note L-2: Not permitted on ground level in CC and CO districts.	§ 17.28.020
OS Open Space	Allowed — see note Note L-1: Not permitted on lands outside the urban growth boundary as delineated on the general plan land use diagram. On lands inside the urban growth boundary, limited to one primary dwelling unit and one accessory dwelling unit per site, subject to the requirements of BMC § 17.90.020 , Accessory dwelling units and junior accessory dwelling units. Note B: See BMC § 17.70.300 , Animals.	§ 17.36.030

Zones where it is not allowed

HZ, CG.

What else applies

In CC and CO a single-family home is allowed only on upper floors above a ground-floor nonresidential use in a mixed-use building (L-1, L-2). In CW only L-1. Not listed in industrial or PS districts.
State law: State law lets most single-family lots add an ADU and a JADU (California ADU law) and a second home or a lot split under SB 9 (Gov. Code § 65852.21).
Not covered here: PD (Planned Development) district has no use table (S6); Zone names for RS, RM, RH, HZ, CC, CO, CG, CW, IL, IG, IW, IP are not stated in the packet text; Housing Opportunity Sites overlay (S10) adds group residential, multifamily, supportive and transitional housing as P. Overlay zones and specific plans can also change the answer.

Other uses in Benicia

Who this affects

HomeownersBuyersReal estate agentsSmall developers

Frequently asked questions

Can I have a single-family home in the HZ zone in Benicia?

No. Benicia's use table does not allow it in HZ (§ 17.24.020).

Can I have a single-family home in the RS zone in Benicia?

Yes, with a condition. Benicia's use table lists it as allowed in RS (§ 17.24.020). The code adds a condition: “Residential use shall be allowed by right for housing development projects on vacant sites designated in two consecutive prior housing elements and nonvacant sites designated in one prior housing element, as…”

General information, not legal advice.