City of Pittsburg, CA Article I General

§ 18.50.005 Specific purposes.

A. The specific purposes of residential districts are to:

1. Provide areas for residential development that are consistent with the general plan and with standards of public health and safety established by the municipal code;

2. Ensure adequate light, air, privacy, parking and open space for each dwelling and protect residents from the harmful effects of excessive noise, population density, traffic congestion, and other adverse environmental effects;

3. Promote development of housing affordable by low- and moderate-income households by providing a density bonus and/or other incentives, consistent with state law and local ordinances, for projects in which a portion of the units are affordable for such households;

4. Protect residential areas from fires, explosions, landslides, toxic fumes and substances, and other public safety hazards;

5. Protect adjoining single-family residential districts from excessive loss of sun, light, quiet, and privacy resulting from proximity to multifamily development;

6. Achieve design compatibility with surrounding neighborhoods;

7. Provide sites for public and semipublic land uses needed to complement residential development or requiring a residential environment;

8. Ensure the provision of public services and facilities needed to accommodate planned population densities.

B. The additional purposes of specific residential districts are as follows:

1. Rural Residential District (RR). To provide opportunities for rural living and activities, including rural subdivisions and scattered homes on parcels with minimum lot sizes of five up to 20 acres, depending on slopes, soils, topography and other physical conditions.

2. Single-Family Residential District – 40,000 Square Foot Minimum Lot Size (RS-40). To provide opportunities for very low-density residential land use at a maximum density of one dwelling unit per acre, in a development pattern that is compatible with the topography and public service capacities.

3. Single-Family Residential District – 10,000 Square Foot Minimum Lot Size (RS-10). To provide opportunities for low-density single-family residential development in hillside areas, view corridors and environmentally sensitive areas.

4. Single-Family Residential District – 6,000 Square Foot Minimum Lot Size (RS-6). To provide opportunities for single-family detached residences in neighborhoods or in conjunction with agricultural pursuits, subject to appropriate standards. Duplexes and multifamily dwellings such as triplexes and fourplexes existing as of the effective date of the ordinance codified in this title are allowed to remain.

5. Single-Family Residential District – 5,000 Square Foot Minimum Lot Size (RS-5). To provide opportunities for attached or detached single-family residences in existing and new neighborhoods, subject to appropriate standards. Duplexes and multifamily dwellings such as triplexes and fourplexes existing as of the effective date of the ordinance codified in this title are allowed to remain.

6. Single-Family Residential District – 4,000 Square Foot Minimum Lot Size (RS-4). To provide opportunities for attached and detached single-family residences in existing and new neighborhoods, subject to appropriate standards. Duplexes and multifamily dwellings such as triplexes and fourplexes existing as of the effective date of the ordinance codified in this title are allowed to remain.

7. Medium-Density Residential District (RM). To provide opportunities for attached or detached single-family residences and multifamily residences such as townhouses, apartments with three or more units, and condominiums. Multifamily dwellings that exceed maximum allowed densities existing as of the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter are allowed to remain.

8. Downtown Medium-Density Residential District (RMD). To provide opportunities for residential development with increased land coverages for attached or detached single-family residences and multifamily residences such as townhouses, apartment complexes with 16 or more units, and condominiums. Duplexes and multifamily dwellings such as triplexes and fourplexes existing as of the effective date of the ordinance codified in this title are allowed to remain.

9. High-Density Residential District (RH). To provide opportunities for an intensive form of residential development and institutional uses with relatively high land coverage, including single-family attached units, apartment complexes with 20 or more units, and condominiums, at appropriate locations in the city. Multifamily projects that incorporate a community benefit such as affordable housing may be permitted density increases that result in a maximum of 40 dwelling units per acre.

10. Downtown High-Density Residential District (RHD). To provide opportunities for an intensive form of residential development and institutional uses in the downtown with high land coverage, including apartment complexes with 16 or more units, and condominiums. Multifamily residential developments that incorporate a community benefit such as affordable housing may be permitted density increases that result in a maximum of 40 dwelling units per acre.

(Ord. 979 § 2 (Exh. A), 1990; Ord. 07-1284 § 3 (Exh. D), 2007; Ord. 23-1509 § 17, 2023)

§ 18.50.010 RR, RS-40, RS-10, RS-6, RS-5, RS-4, RM, RMD, RH and RHD districts – Land use regulations.

In the following schedule, the letter "P" designates use classifications permitted in residential districts. The letter "L" designates use classifications subject to certain limitations prescribed under the "Additional Use Regulations" which follow. The letter "U" designates use classifications permitted on approval of a use permit (Chapter 18.28 PMC). The letter "T" designates temporary use classifications permitted on approval of a temporary activity permit. The letter "Z" designates use classifications permitted on approval of the zoning administrator. The symbol (–) under any of the zoning district columns indicates that the use is not allowed in that particular district.

Key:

P = Permitted

U = Use Permit, Planning Commission

T = Temporary Activity Permit

L = Limited (See Additional Use Regulations)

Z = Use Permit, Zoning Administrator

– = Not Permitted

RR, RS-40, RS-10, RS-6, RS-5, RS-4, RM, RMD, RH AND RHD DISTRICTS – LAND USE REGULATIONS
	RR	RS-40	RS-10	RS-6	RS-5	RS-4	RM	RMD	RH	RHD
Residential
Congregate care residential	–	–	–	L-164	L-164	L-164	L-101	L-101	L-101	L-101
Day care home
Small	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
Large	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
Group residential	–	–	–	–	–	–	U	U	U	U
Multifamily residential	–	–	–	–	–	–	P	P	P	P
Residential care, limited	L-101	L-101	L-101	L-101	L-101	L-101	L-101	L-101	L-101	L-101
Single-family residential
Attached	–	–	–	–	P	P	P	P	P	P
Detached	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	–	L-102
Supportive housing	–	–	–	–	–	–	P	P	P	P
Transitional housing	–	–	–	–	–	–	P	P	P	P
Governmental and Quasipublic
Cemetery	U	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
Club and lodge	–	–	–	–	–	–	U	U	U	U
College, public or private	–	–	–	–	–	–	L-32	L-32	L-32	L-32
Convalescent facility	–	–	–	–	–	–	L-104	L-104	L-104	L-104
Cultural institution	–	–	–	–	–	–	U	U	U	U
Day care, general	–	–	U	U	U	U	L-105	L-105	L-105	L-105
Park and recreation facility	L-2	L-2	L-2	L-2	L-2	L-2	L-2	L-2	L-2	L-2
Public safety facility	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U
Religious assembly	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U	U
Residential care, protective	–	–	–	–	–	–	U	U	U	U
School, public or private	L-32	L-32	L-32	L-32	L-32	L-32	L-32	L-32	L-32	L-32
Telecommunication facility	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
Utility, minor	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
Commercial
Animal sales and service
Animal grooming		–	–	L-161	L-161	L-161	L-161	L-161	L-161	L-161
Animal hospital	–	–	–	L-161	L-161	L-161	L-161	L-161	L-161	L-161
Bank and savings and loan	–	–	–	L-161	L-161	L-161	L-161	L-161	L-161	L-161
ATM	–	–	–	L-161	L-161	L-161	L-161	L-161	L-161	L-161
Commercial recreation and entertainment, limited	–	–	–	L-161, L-162	L-161, L-162	L-161, L-162	L-161, L-162	L-161, L-162	L-161, L-162	L-161, L-162
Eating and drinking establishments
Food shop	–	–	–	L-161	L-161	L-161	L-161	L-161	L-161	L-161
Restaurant, full-service	–	–	–	L-161	L-161	L-161	L-161	L-161	L-161	L-161
Restaurant, self-service	–	–	–	L-161	L-161	L-161	L-161	L-161	L-161	L-161
Restaurant, take-out	–	–	–	L-161	L-161	L-161	L-161	L-161	L-161	L-161
Restaurant with outdoor dining	–	–	–	L-161, L-128	L-161, L-128	L-161, L-128	L-161, L-128	L-161, L-128	L-161, L-128	L-161, L-128
Food and beverage sales
Grocery	–	–	–	L-161	L-161	L-161	L-161	L-161	L-161	L-161
Specialty food market	–	–	–	L-161	L-161	L-161	L-161	L-161	L-161	L-161
Medical services office	–	–	–	L-161	L-161	L-161	L-161	L-161	L-161	L-161
Personal improvement services	–	–	–	L-161	L-161	L-161	L-161	L-161	L-161	L-161
Personal services	–	–	–	L-161	L-161	L-161	L-161	L-161	L-161	L-161
Retail and wholesale sales
General merchandise, retail and rental	–	–	–	L-161	L-161	L-161	L-161	L-161	L-161	L-161
Secondhand appliance and clothing store	–	–	–	L-161	L-161	L-161	L-161	L-161	L-161	L-161
Vehicle/equipment sales and service
Service station	–	–	–	L-161	L-161	L-161	L-161	L-161	L-161	L-161
Visitor accommodations
Bed and breakfast inn	U	U	U	U	L-106	L-106	–	L-106	–	L-106
Accessory Uses
Accessory uses	L-30	L-30	L-30	L-30	L-30	L-30	L-30	L-30	L-30	L-30
Accessory structures
Nonresidential accessory structure	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
Accessory dwelling unit	L-107	L-107	L-107	L-107	L-107	L-107	L-107	L-107	L-107	L-107
Accessory living quarters	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
Temporary Uses
Animal show	T	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
Christmas tree sales	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
Commercial filming, limited	T	T	T	T	T	T	T	T	T	T
Personal property sales	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
Real property sales	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
Rummage sales	T	T	T	T	T	T	T	T	T	T

RR, RS-40, RS-10, RS-6, RS-5, RS-4, RM, RMD, RH AND RHD DISTRICTS – ADDITIONAL USE REGULATIONS
L-2	Publicly owned facilities permitted. Privately owned noncommercial facilities, including swim clubs or tennis clubs, shall be subject to a use permit.
L-30	Permitted, except that a home occupation is governed by PMC § 18.50.400 through § 18.50.430.
L-32	Use permit required for private institution; public schools permitted.
L-101	Permitted; provided, that such uses shall be separated from each other by a minimum distance of 300 feet, measured from any point upon the outside wall of the structure(s) housing the facility.
L-102	Each lot existing as of June 20, 2007, shall be allowed one single-family residence as a conditionally permitted use, except that for an existing single-family residence for which a building permit was issued prior to June 20, 2007, plans for proposed building additions shall be reviewed by the city planner. Prior to approving the use permit, the commission must make the findings specified in PMC § 18.16.040 and must find that the site is not of adequate size to allow construction of apartment or condominium residences in accordance with the regulations summarized in Schedule 18.50.105. Development standards applicable to new construction of or addition to a single-family residence shall be those of the RMD district.
L-104	Permitted when designed as an integral component of a senior housing development.
L-105	Permitted; provided, that the facility is designed as an ancillary part of a multifamily residential project and serves only residents of the multifamily complex. A use permit is required if the facility does not meet both of these criteria.
L-106	Limited to properties located within the downtown subarea as designated in the general plan. Use permit required.
L-107	Permitted, subject to the requirements of PMC § 18.50.300 through § 18.50.315.
L-128	An outdoor dining permit is required for all outdoor dining activities.
L-161	Zoning administrator use permit approval required in accordance with PMC § 18.14.020 and § 18.16.040. Also, a new use must be (1) located within an existing structure that was built prior to October 20, 2010; (2) located within 300 feet of an existing collector/arterial roadway; and (3) cannot be located within a single-family home or any other residential structure that was constructed for exclusive use as a dwelling unit.
L-162	Limited to health/fitness clubs/gyms.
L-164	Zoning administrator use permit approval required in accordance with PMC § 18.14.020 and § 18.16.040. Also must be (1) located within an existing structure that was built prior to October 20, 2010; (2) located within 300 feet of an existing collector/arterial roadway.

(Ord. 979 § 2 (Exh. A), 1990; Ord. 1257 § 4 (Exh. B), 2005; Ord. 07-1284 § 3 (Exh. D), 2007; Ord. 09-1322 § 3, 2009; Ord. 10-1327 § 3 (Exh. A), 2010; Ord. 12-1356 § 3, 2012; Ord. 15-1390 § 3 (Exh. C), 2015; Ord. 17-1424 § 4 (Exh. A), 2017; Ord. 21-1496 § 2, 2021)