Drive-Through Facilities and Land Use Regulations in Concord

In the City of Concord, drive-through facilities are not permitted by right in most zoning districts and generally require discretionary approval via a use permit or minor use permit. The Concord Development Code restricts drive-through access to specific commercial and office districts, subject to comprehensive operational, site design, and queuing requirements.

Districts Permitting Drive-Through Facilities

Whether a drive-through is permitted within a specific zoning district is determined by the "Allowed uses and permit requirements" tables for each zoning division. Based on the Concord Development Code, drive-through facilities are generally addressed under the specific use classifications of "Restaurant with drive-through," "Bank with drive-through service," and "Retail Sales with Drive-Through."

Permitted Zoning Districts for Drive-Throughs

The following districts allow drive-through facilities, typically subject to the approval of a Use Permit (UP) or Minor Use Permit (MP):

Zoning District	Use Type	Permit Required
CMX	Bank, Restaurant, Retail Sales	UP or MP
NC	Bank, Restaurant, Retail Sales	UP
RC	Bank, Restaurant, Retail Sales	UP
DMX	Bank, Restaurant, Retail Sales	UP
WMX	Bank, Restaurant, Retail Sales	UP
SC	Bank, Restaurant, Retail Sales	UP or MP

Note: In the Downtown Pedestrian (DP) district, drive-through facilities are generally prohibited or restricted, as the DP district prioritizes pedestrian-oriented design and storefronts facing the plaza [Section 18.45.010].

Operational and Design Standards

All drive-through facilities within the City of Concord must comply with the general requirements outlined in Section 18.200.060. These standards are designed to minimize traffic congestion and ensure that queuing vehicles do not interfere with site circulation or public rights-of-way.

Required Stacking Distances

Drive-through facilities must provide the minimum number of vehicle stacking spaces as defined in the following table:

Use Type	Minimum Stacking Spaces
Car Wash	4 spaces per pull-through rack; 1 space per self-service manual wash bay
Coffee Kiosk	4 spaces per window
Bank	4 spaces for one teller window; 3 spaces per window for facilities with two or more
Pharmacy	2 spaces per window
Restaurant	4 spaces per order and pick-up window
Gas Station	1 space at each end of the pump aisle

General Requirements for Drive-Through Aisles

Minimum Width: Drive-through aisles must be at least 12 feet wide [Section 18.200.060].
Access: Aisles must be designed to exit directly onto a public or private right-of-way or integrate with on-site circulation.
Shopping Centers: If located within a shopping center, the drive-through aisle entrance and the edge of the nearest public or private right-of-way must be separated by at least 100 feet.
Hours of Operation: If a site is contiguous to a residential district, drive-through operations are limited to the hours between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., unless the review authority grants a modification through a use permit.
Menu Boards: Menu boards are limited to 30 square feet in area and a maximum height of six feet [Section 18.200.060].

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