Permitted Zones for Medical Offices and Medical Clinics in Concord
Medical services, including medical offices and clinics, are permitted in specific office, commercial, and public-use zoning districts within the City of Concord. These facilities generally require a planning permit—such as a Zoning Clearance, Administrative Permit, or Use Permit—depending on the specific zoning district, and must comply with applicable development standards and parking requirements.
Allowable Districts for Medical Services
The Concord Development Code classifies medical-related uses under "Medical" within the allowed land use tables for each district. Generally, professional medical offices are permitted in zones designated for office and commercial activities, while larger medical centers are typically restricted to the Public/Quasi-Public (PQP) district.
The following districts allow medical services:
- Office and Commercial Districts (CO, CMX, NC, SC, RC): These districts generally allow medical services facilities. Specifically, "Medical Services Facility" uses are allowed in the CO, CMX, NC, SC, and RC districts, often subject to permit requirements ranging from Zoning Clearance (ZC) to Use Permits (UP) [Section 18.40.020].
- Public/Quasi-Public District (PQP): This district is designed for schools, hospitals, and related medical services, including the John Muir Medical Center [Section 18.55.010].
- Downtown Districts (DP, DMX, WMX): These districts permit certain medical office uses, typically subject to specific permit requirements [Section 18.45.020].
Parking Requirements for Medical Uses
When establishing a medical office or clinic in the City of Concord, the developer must provide off-street parking based on the specific type of medical use, as established in the City of Concord parking standards.
| Medical Land Use Type | Required Parking Spaces |
|---|---|
| Health Clinic | 1 space per 200 sf gross floor area or 4 spaces/doctor, whichever is greater |
| Hospital, Medical Center | 5 spaces/bed; other uses comply with respective parking ratios |
| Nursing Facility/Extended Care | 1 space per 3 licensed patient beds |
| Primary Care Clinic | 1 space per 200 sf gross floor area |
| Urgent Care Facility | 1 space per 200 sf gross floor area or 4 spaces/doctor, plus 1 short-term space per 5 required spaces |
Development and Operational Standards
All medical facilities in the City of Concord must adhere to the general development standards for their respective zoning district, including building height, setbacks, and landscaping. Facilities in the Public/Quasi-Public (PQP) district are subject to a maximum Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 1.5 [Section 18.55.010].
For facilities requiring a Use Permit, the review authority may impose additional conditions to mitigate impacts on surrounding properties, such as noise, traffic, and lighting [Section 18.435.060]. Additionally, any new tenant improvement for a medical use in an existing building must comply with the design and site review requirements of the City of Concord, if applicable [Section 18.415.020].
Sections Cited
- Section 18.40.020 (Table 18.40.020 – Office and commercial districts – Allowed uses and permit requirements)
- Section 18.45.010 (Purpose - Downtown Districts)
- Section 18.45.020 (Table 18.45.020 – Downtown districts – Allowed uses and permit requirements)
- Section 18.55.010 (Purpose - Public/Quasi-Public District)
- Section 18.160.040 (Parking requirements)
- Section 18.415.020 (Applicability - Design and Site Review)
- Section 18.435.060 (Findings and decision - Minor Use Permits and Use Permits)