Eureka · Land use · Apartment building
Where is an apartment building (multifamily housing) allowed in Eureka?
In Eureka, an apartment building (multifamily housing) is allowed in 9 base zones (R2, R3, DT, DW, SC and 4 more, 3 with a condition), needs a conditional use permit in 2 (HM and HN, 1 with a condition) and not allowed in 4 (Eureka use tables, read October 2026).
Key points
- Allowed: R2, R3, DT, DW, SC, HC, NC, WA and 1 more
- Needs a permit: HM and HN
- Not allowed: RE, R1, LI and HI
Find your lot's zone on the city zoning map, then read its row. Every status below was read from the Eureka Municipal Code use tables (read October 2026). Base zones only. General information, not legal advice — check with the city before you apply.
Zones where an apartment building (multifamily housing) can go
Eureka's code calls this use “Multi-family dwellings”. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| R2 Residential Medium | Allowed | § 155.204.020 |
| R3 Residential High | Allowed | § 155.204.020 |
| DT Downtown | Allowed — see note Note 2: See § 155.208.040 (Pedestrian-focused Frontages) for ground-floor use limitations that apply to residential uses facing a pedestrian-focused frontage as shown in Figure 208-4. | § 155.208.020 |
| DW Downtown West | Allowed — see note Note 2: See § 155.208.040 (Pedestrian-focused Frontages) for ground-floor use limitations that apply to residential uses facing a pedestrian-focused frontage as shown in Figure 208-4. | § 155.208.020 |
| SC Service Commercial | Allowed | § 155.208.020 |
| HC Henderson Center | Allowed — see note Note 2: See § 155.208.040 (Pedestrian-focused Frontages) for ground-floor use limitations that apply to residential uses facing a pedestrian-focused frontage as shown in Figure 208-4. | § 155.208.020 |
| NC Neighborhood Commercial | Allowed | § 155.208.020 |
| WA Wabash Avenue | Allowed | § 155.208.020 |
| OR Office Residential | Allowed | § 155.208.020 |
| HM Hospital Medical | Needs a conditional use permit | § 155.208.020 |
| HN Hinge Industrial | Needs a conditional use permit — see note Note 1: Residential and office uses must be located either above ground floor commercial and/or industrial in a vertical mixed-use building or to the rear of a separate street-fronting building on the site. Residential and office uses must be designed in compliance with § 155.212.030(D) (Standards for Residential and Office Uses in Mixed-Use Projects). | § 155.212.020 |
Zones where it is not allowed
What else applies
- Standards for this use: Section 155.304.100 Multi-family laundry facilities (cited in the table as the additional standard).
- Not listed in public and resource tables. In mixed-use zones note 2 limits ground-floor residential facing pedestrian-focused frontages.
- State law: State laws such as AB 2011, SB 6 and the density bonus law can allow homes on some commercial sites, or more units than this table shows.
- Not covered here: Coastal zoning (Chapter 156) not read; Old zoning regulations (155.098, 155.099) in the packet are the superseded code and were not used; Cells for zones whose table does not list the use are left out. Overlay zones and specific plans can also change the answer.
Other uses in Eureka
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I have an apartment building (multifamily housing) in the HM zone in Eureka?
Only with a conditional use permit. Eureka's use table lists it that way in HM (Hospital Medical) (§ 155.208.020).
Can I have an apartment building (multifamily housing) in the RE zone in Eureka?
No. Eureka's use table does not allow it in RE (Residential Estate) (§ 155.204.020).
Can I have an apartment building (multifamily housing) in the R2 zone in Eureka?
Yes. Eureka's use table lists it as allowed in R2 (Residential Medium) (§ 155.204.020).
General information, not legal advice.
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