Davis · Land use · Rooming or boarding house
Where is a rooming or boarding house allowed in Davis?
In Davis, a rooming or boarding house is allowed in 4 base zones (N-M, N-L, MS-M and R-HD, 3 with a condition), needs a conditional use permit in 1 (R-3) and not allowed in 1 (Davis use tables, read October 2026).
Key points
- Allowed: N-M, N-L, MS-M and R-HD
- Needs a permit: R-3
- Not allowed: MS-L
Find your lot's zone on the city zoning map, then read its row. Every status below was read from the Davis 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 rooming or boarding house can go
Davis's code calls this use “Rooming and Boarding House”. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| N-M | Allowed — see note Note 1: All uses required to be in compliance with the frontage requirements in Section 40.14.090 (Specific to frontage types). Note 5: Not allowed on the ground floor within 30 feet of the sidewalk. Allowed on the ground floor along side streets if at least 60 feet from the front of the design site (in MS-M & MS-L Zones). | § 40.13.130 |
| N-L | Allowed — see note Note 1: All uses required to be in compliance with the frontage requirements in Section 40.14.090 (Specific to frontage types). Note 5: Not allowed on the ground floor within 30 feet of the sidewalk. Allowed on the ground floor along side streets if at least 60 feet from the front of the design site (in MS-M & MS-L Zones). | § 40.13.130 |
| MS-M | Allowed — see note Note 1: All uses required to be in compliance with the frontage requirements in Section 40.14.090 (Specific to frontage types). Note 5: Not allowed on the ground floor within 30 feet of the sidewalk. Allowed on the ground floor along side streets if at least 60 feet from the front of the design site (in MS-M & MS-L Zones). | § 40.13.130 |
| R-HD Residential High Density Apartment | Allowed | § 40.09.020 |
| R-3 Residential Garden Apartment | Needs a conditional use permit | § 40.08.040 |
Zones where it is not allowed
MS-L.
What else applies
- Single Room Occupancy is a separate row: CUP in N-M, N-L, MS-M, MS-L (S37), also a conditional use in R-R (S17 j), R-3 (S23 j), R-HD (S26 h), R-T (S33 f), M-U (S40 k) and the HDR overlay (S29). 'Living groups' are a different use (conditional).
- Not covered here: Downtown zone names (N-M, N-L, MS-M, MS-L) are not spelled out in the packet; Sections 40.26.135, 40.26.160, 40.26.270, 40.26.255 and the definitions in 40.01.010 (group care home, day care center) are not in the packet; R-3-L / R-3-M sub-districts named in S10/S23 have no table of their own in the packet. Overlay zones and specific plans can also change the answer.
Other uses in Davis
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I have a rooming or boarding house in the R-3 zone in Davis?
Only with a conditional use permit. Davis's use table lists it that way in R-3 (Residential Garden Apartment) (§ 40.08.040).
Can I have a rooming or boarding house in the MS-L zone in Davis?
No. Davis's use table does not allow it in MS-L (§ 40.13.130).
Can I have a rooming or boarding house in the N-M zone in Davis?
Yes, with a condition. Davis's use table lists it as allowed in N-M (§ 40.13.130). The code adds a condition: “All uses required to be in compliance with the frontage requirements in Section 40.14.090 (Specific to frontage types). Not allowed on the ground floor within 30 feet of the sidewalk. Allowed on the ground floor…”
General information, not legal advice.
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