Corner Lot Setback Requirements in Concord
In the city of Concord, corner lot setback requirements vary by zoning district and are primarily determined by the lot's orientation and frontage relative to a public street. For residential districts, corner side yard setbacks are typically 10 to 25 feet, while commercial and downtown districts have specific requirements ranging from 0 to 15 feet.
General Definitions and Determination of Frontage
A "corner lot" is defined as a lot or parcel situated at the intersection of two or more streets that have an angle of intersection measured within said lot or parcel of not more than 135 degrees [Section 18.15.050].
For corner lots, the "front lot line" is defined as the shortest side fronting a public street, regardless of the orientation of the garage or primary entrance. If both frontages are of the same length, the front lot line shall be determined by the assigned street address [Section 18.15.050].
Residential Districts (RR, RS, RL, RM, RH)
In residential districts, the minimum corner side yard setback requirements are established based on the specific zone designator.
| Residential District | Minimum Corner Side Setback (feet) |
|---|---|
| RR-15 | 15 |
| RR-20 | 25 |
| RR-40 | 25 |
| RS-5 | 10 |
| RS-6 | 10 |
| RS-7 | 10 |
| RS-7.5 | 10 |
| RS-8 | 10 |
| RS-10 | 15 |
| RS-12 | 15 |
Note: For corner lots adjacent to an R or NTS district, the corner side yard shall be a minimum of 10 feet [Section 18.15.040, Table 18.30.030].
North Todos Santos District (NTS)
The North Todos Santos District (NTS) provides specific setback requirements for corner lots to ensure compatibility within the district.
| Feature | Minimum Setback (feet) |
|---|---|
| Corner Side | 15 [Section 18.35.030] |
Office and Commercial Districts (CO, CMX, NC, RC, SC)
For office and commercial districts, the minimum setback requirements for corner sides are standardized across these zones.
| District | Minimum Corner Side Setback (feet) |
|---|---|
| CO | 10 |
| CMX | 10 |
| NC | 10 |
| RC | 10 |
| SC | 10 |
Source: [Section 18.40.030, Table 18.40.030]
Downtown Districts (DP, DMX, WMX)
Downtown districts feature significantly reduced or zero-foot setbacks to promote pedestrian-oriented development.
| District | Minimum Corner Side Setback (feet) |
|---|---|
| DP | 0 [Section 18.45.030, Table 18.45.030] |
| DMX | 10 |
| WMX | 10 |
Additional Provisions and Exceptions
- Setback Encroachments: Architectural features that are part of the primary structure may extend into a required corner side setback, subject to specific dimensional limits [Section 18.150.140, Table 18.150.140].
- Traffic Visibility: No structure, fence, or vegetation exceeding three feet in height is permitted within the "visibility triangle" created at a street intersection, which for corner lots is measured along the property frontage for a distance of 40 feet from the intersection [Section 18.150.170].
- Abutting Districts: Where a side or rear lot line of a corner lot abuts a lot in an R or NTS district, the minimum side or rear yard setback must match the requirement of the abutting R or NTS district [Section 18.15.040].
Sections Cited
- 18.15.040 (Lots divided by district boundaries)
- 18.15.050 (General authority)
- 18.30.030 (Table 18.30.030 – RR and RS districts – Development standards)
- 18.35.030 (Tables 18.35.030(A) and (B) – North Todos Santos district – Floor area ratio and development standards)
- 18.40.030 (Table 18.40.030 – Office and commercial districts – Development standards)
- 18.45.030 (Table 18.45.030 – Downtown districts – Development standards)
- 18.150.140 (Setbacks)
- 18.150.170 (Traffic visibility at intersections and driveways)