Office Use Permissions in the Concord Development Code
The Concord Development Code classifies "Office" uses primarily under "Administrative, information processing" and "Professional" categories, which are permitted across a range of commercial, downtown, and business park zoning districts. In these districts, office uses typically require either a Zoning Clearance, Administrative Permit, or Use Permit, depending on the specific zoning district and the scale of the proposed use.
Permitted Zoning Districts for Office Uses
The Concord Development Code defines "Administrative, information processing" and "Professional" uses [Section 18.20.030]. These office-related uses are generally permitted in the following categories of zoning districts:
- Office and Commercial Districts: CO, CMX, NC, RC, and SC.
- Downtown Districts: DP, DMX, and WMX.
- Business Park and Industrial Districts: OBP, IBP, and IMX.
- Public/Quasi-Public Districts: PQP.
Permit Requirements by District
The following table summarizes the permit requirements for office uses across the primary districts where they are permitted.
| Zoning District | "Administrative/Information Processing" Permit | "Professional" Office Permit |
|---|---|---|
| CO | ZC | ZC |
| CMX | ZC | ZC |
| NC | ZC | ZC |
| SC | ZC | ZC |
| RC | ZC | ZC |
| DP | ZC | ZC |
| DMX | ZC | ZC |
| WMX | ZC | ZC |
| OBP | AP, MP | AP, MP |
| IBP | AP, MP | AP, MP |
| IMX | AP, MP | AP, MP |
| PQP | MP | MP |
Note: ZC = Zoning Clearance; AP = Administrative Permit; MP = Minor Use Permit.
General Standards and Considerations
- New Tenants in Existing Buildings: In multi-tenant office buildings or commercial centers, a new tenant replacing a use in the same or a similar use classification may be allowed with a Zoning Clearance [Section 18.25.040].
- Home-Based Businesses: Offices conducted within a residence are permitted as "Home-based businesses" in residential districts, subject to specific operational criteria such as floor area limitations (maximum 20 percent of dwelling unit) and employment restrictions [Section 18.200.100].
- Live/Work Units: Live/work or work/live units, which combine residential and office/commercial functions, are permitted in specific districts, including RL, RM, RH, and various commercial and downtown districts, subject to specific use permits [Sections 18.30.020, 18.40.020].
Sections Cited
- Section 18.20.030 (Definitions)
- Section 18.25.040 (New Tenants in Existing Buildings)
- Section 18.30.020 (Residential Districts – Allowed uses and permit requirements)
- Section 18.40.020 (Office and Commercial Districts – Allowed uses and permit requirements)
- Section 18.200.100 (Home-based businesses)
- Section 18.200.110 (Live/work or work/live units)