Walnut Creek · Zoning · MU-D
Walnut Creek MU-D zoning: height, setbacks and lot size
In Walnut Creek's MU-D zone, generally the front setback is setback sufficient for a 15 ft public sidewalk area and 10 ft unobstructed pedestrian path, the side setback limit is None required and the rear setback limit is None required, with the conditions listed below (Walnut Creek code, read October 2026).
Key points
- Minimum front setback: setback sufficient for a 15 ft public sidewalk area and 10 ft unobstructed pedestrian path (For portions of a building within 40 vertical feet of the base elevation on Core Area retail streets.)
- Minimum side setback: None required (10 ft where the yard abuts a residential district, for building parts up to 30 ft high; 15 ft for parts above 30 ft)
- Minimum rear setback: None required (10 ft where the yard abuts a residential district, for building parts up to 30 ft high; 15 ft for parts above 30 ft)
- Maximum floor area ratio (FAR): 1.5 (Areas with a maximum height limit up to 50 ft, except the west side of Oakland Boulevard; up to 2.5 with a community benefit agreement)
- Maximum density: 1 unit per 750 sq. ft. of net lot area
MU-D (Downtown Mixed Use District) is a zoning district in Walnut Creek. Every value below was read from the Walnut Creek Municipal Code and links to its section (read October 2026). State laws such as the ADU and SB 9 rules can allow more on a residential lot. General information, not legal advice — read the code text and check with the city before you build.
Development standards in MU-D
The general rule for a typical lot in this zone. Zoning tables often attach notes, such as rules for corner lots, lots next to a residential zone, or new subdivisions only. Open “code text” under a value to see the table cell or sentence it was read from.
| Minimum front setback | setback sufficient for a 15 ft public sidewalk area and 10 ft unobstructed pedestrian path Applies: For portions of a building within 40 vertical feet of the base elevation on Core Area retail streets. § 10-2.2.2303 · code textOn Core Area retail streets, a setback sufficient to provide a minimum fifteen (15)-foot-wide public sidewalk area (as measured from the vertical face of curb of the adjacent street) with a minimum ten (10)-foot-wide unobstructed pedestrian path of travel; |
|---|---|
| Minimum side setback | None required Applies: 10 ft where the yard abuts a residential district, for building parts up to 30 ft high; 15 ft for parts above 30 ft § 10-2.2.2303 · code textNone required except as follows: a. For any side or rear yard that abuts a residential district, except where a larger setback is required pursuant to subsection (b) below: |
| Minimum rear setback | None required Applies: 10 ft where the yard abuts a residential district, for building parts up to 30 ft high; 15 ft for parts above 30 ft § 10-2.2.2303 · code textNone required except as follows: a. For any side or rear yard that abuts a residential district, except where a larger setback is required pursuant to subsection (b) below: |
| Maximum floor area ratio (FAR) | 1.5 Applies: Areas with a maximum height limit up to 50 ft, except the west side of Oakland Boulevard; up to 2.5 with a community benefit agreement § 10-2.2.2303 · code textIn areas with a maximum height limit of up to fifty (50) feet, except on the west side of Oakland Boulevard: Maximum FAR is 1.5. |
| Maximum density | 1 unit per 750 sq. ft. of net lot area § 10-2.2.2303 · code textThe maximum density is one (1) dwelling unit per seven hundred fifty (750) square feet of net lot area. |
Uses in MU-D
Uses the code's use tables allow in MU-D, or allow with a permit. Each links to its page with the code section.
- Child care center — Allowed — see note
- Kennel — Allowed — see note
When a different number applies
The code sets other values for particular lots, buildings or locations in MU-D:
- Minimum front setback: setback sufficient for a 10 ft public sidewalk area and 7 ft unobstructed pedestrian path — For portions of a building within 40 vertical feet of the base elevation on streets other than Core Area retail streets. § 10-2.2.2303
- Minimum front setback: 5 ft more than the lower-floor setback — Upper portions of a building more than 40 vertical feet from the base elevation § 10-2.2.2303
- Minimum side setback: 10 ft — For portions of a building within 30 vertical feet of the existing or finished grade at the adjacent lot line, where a side or rear yard abuts a residential district. § 10-2.2.2303
- Minimum side setback: 15 ft — For portions of a building more than 30 vertical feet above the existing or finished grade at the adjacent lot line, where a side or rear yard abuts a residential district. § 10-2.2.2303
- Minimum rear setback: 10 ft — For portions of a building within 30 vertical feet of the existing or finished grade at the adjacent lot line, where a side or rear yard abuts a residential district. § 10-2.2.2303
- Minimum rear setback: 15 ft — For portions of a building more than 30 vertical feet above the existing or finished grade at the adjacent lot line, where a side or rear yard abuts a residential district. § 10-2.2.2303
Not on this page
We did not find a general height, stories, lot size, lot coverage limit for MU-D in the zoning tables we read. The code may still set one elsewhere — check the Walnut Creek Municipal Code.
Other Walnut Creek zoning districts
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum front setback in Walnut Creek's MU-D zone?
setback sufficient for a 15 ft public sidewalk area and 10 ft unobstructed pedestrian path (for portions of a building within 40 vertical feet of the base elevation on Core Area retail streets) — Walnut Creek Municipal Code § 10-2.2.2303.
What is the minimum side setback in Walnut Creek's MU-D zone?
None required (10 ft where the yard abuts a residential district, for building parts up to 30 ft high; 15 ft for parts above 30 ft) — Walnut Creek Municipal Code § 10-2.2.2303.
What is the minimum rear setback in Walnut Creek's MU-D zone?
None required (10 ft where the yard abuts a residential district, for building parts up to 30 ft high; 15 ft for parts above 30 ft) — Walnut Creek Municipal Code § 10-2.2.2303.
What is the maximum floor area ratio (far) in Walnut Creek's MU-D zone?
1.5 (areas with a maximum height limit up to 50 ft, except the west side of Oakland Boulevard; up to 2.5 with a community benefit agreement) — Walnut Creek Municipal Code § 10-2.2.2303.
What is the maximum density in Walnut Creek's MU-D zone?
1 unit per 750 sq. ft. of net lot area — Walnut Creek Municipal Code § 10-2.2.2303.
General information, not legal advice.
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