The provisions of this Chapter shall be known as the Title and Scope of the Zoning Regulations. The purpose of these provisions is to specify the title, purposes, and applicability of the zoning regulations and to require conformity to said regulations. These provisions shall apply to the entire zoning regulations.

(Ord. No. 13357, § 3(Exh. A), 2-16-2016; Ord. 12054 § 1(a), 1998; prior planning code § 2000)

The provisions of Chapters 17.07 through 17.158 shall be known as the Zoning Regulations.

(Ord. No. 13090, § 4(Exh. A), 10-4-2011; Ord. 12054 § 1(a, b), 1998; prior planning code § 2001)

The general purposes of the zoning regulations are to protect and promote the public health, safety, comfort, convenience, prosperity, and general welfare and to achieve the following objectives:

A.

To promote the achievement of the proposals, policies and objectives of the Oakland General Plan;

B.

To advance Oakland's position as a regional center of commerce, industry, recreation, and culture;

C.

To protect residential, commercial, industrial, and civic areas from the intrusion of incompatible uses, and to provide opportunities for establishments to concentrate for efficient operation in mutually beneficial relationship to each other and to shared services;

D.

To provide for desirable, appropriately located living areas in a variety of dwelling types and at a wide range of population densities, with adequate provision for sunlight, fresh air, and usable open space;

E.

To ensure preservation of adequate space for commercial, industrial, and other activities necessary for a healthy economy;

F.

To promote safe, fast, and efficient movement of people and goods, and the provision of adequate off-street parking and loading;

G.

To achieve excellence and originality of design in all future developments and to preserve the natural beauty of Oakland's setting;

H.

To promote the growth of productivity of the Oakland economy;

I.

To stabilize expectations regarding future development of Oakland, thereby providing a basis for wise decisions with respect to such development;

J.

To secure equity among individuals in the utilization of their property;

K.

To promote an attractive urban environment which will enhance the City's economic potential and encourage decisions to make investments, do business, shop, and live within Oakland;

L.

To especially protect and improve the appearance and orderliness of major trafficways and transit lines and views therefrom, thereby increasing the enjoyment of travel, reducing traffic hazards, and enhancing the image of Oakland derived by residents, businesspeople, commuters, visitors, and potential investors;

M.

To protect the very substantial public investment in, and the character and dignity of, public buildings, open spaces, thoroughfares, and rapid transit lines;

N.

To encourage a maximum of planting and other amenities, and a minimum of excessively intrusive signs, overhead utility lines, and other environmental clutter;

O.

To encourage Signs which are in scale and harmony with surrounding uses, which are visually subordinate to the on-site and nearby buildings, which are themselves well designed, and which have good spacing and design relationships to other Signs;

P.

To prevent the unnecessary destruction or impairment of structures, other physical features, sites, and areas of special character or special historical, cultural, educational, architectural, aesthetic, or environmental interest or value and to achieve the following purposes:

1.

The protection, enhancement, perpetuation, and use of structures and other physical features, sites, and areas that are reminders of past eras, events, and persons important in local, state, or national history, or which provide significant examples of architectural styles of the past or are landmarks in the history of architecture, or which are unique and irreplaceable assets to the City and its neighborhoods, or which provide for this and future generations examples of the physical surroundings in which past generations lived,

2.

The development and maintenance of appropriate settings and environment for such structures, and other physical features, on such sites, and in such areas,

3.

The enhancement of property values, the stabilization of neighborhoods and areas of the City, the increase of economic and financial benefits to the City and its inhabitants, and the promotion of tourist trade and interest,

4.

The preservation and encouragement of a City of varied architectural styles, reflecting the distinct phases of its cultural, social, economic, political, and architectural history,

5.

The enrichment of human life in its educational and cultural dimensions in order to serve spiritual as well as material needs, by fostering knowledge of the living heritage of the past.

(Ord. No. 13172, § 3(Exh. A), 7-2-2013; Ord. No. 13064, § 2(Exh. A), 3-15-2011; Ord. 12054 § 1(a), 1998; prior planning code § 2002)

A.

To Which Property Applicable. The zoning regulations shall apply, to the extent permissible under other laws, to all property within the City of Oakland, and to property outside Oakland to the extent provided in Subsection B. of this Section, regardless of whether such property is in private or public ownership.

B.

Prezoning of Land Outside City Limits. Pursuant to the applicable procedures set forth in Chapters 17.130 through 17.152, territory outside the City limits may be placed in appropriate zones, may be included on development control maps, or facilities thereon may be designated landmarks and landmark sites, and proposed planned unit developments or uses may be considered and action taken thereon. The zoning provisions and requirements so established shall become applicable at the same time that the annexation of such territory becomes effective.

C.

Duplicated or Conflicting Regulation or Restriction. Where any provision, condition or requirement imposed by, or pursuant to, the zoning regulations and any other provision of any other applicable law, ordinance, resolution, rule or regulation, whether set forth in, or pursuant to, this Code, the Oakland Building Code or Oakland Housing Code, or in any other law, ordinance, resolution, rule, regulation, term, or requirement, imposes overlapping or contradictory regulations, or contains restrictions covering any of the same subject matter, that provision which is more restrictive or imposes higher standards shall control, except as otherwise expressly provided in the zoning regulations or elsewhere in the Oakland Municipal Code. No provision of this code shall be construed to abrogate, annul or impair any restriction covering any of the same subject matter that is more restrictive or imposes higher development standards except as otherwise expressly provided in the zoning regulations.

D.

Private Agreements. The zoning regulations are not intended to abrogate, annul, or impair any easement, covenant, or other agreement between parties, including but not limited to homeowners association's Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CC&Rs). However, where the zoning regulations impose a greater restriction or higher standard than that required by such agreement, the zoning regulations shall control, except as otherwise authorized under the development agreement procedure in Chapter 17.138.

(Ord. No. 13435, § 4(Exh. A), 5-2-2017; Ord. No. 13357, § 3(Exh. A), 2-16-2016; Ord. No. 13172, § 3(Exh. A), 7-2-2013; Ord. No. 13064, § 2(Exh. A), 3-15-2011; Ord. 12054 § 1(a), 1998; prior planning code § 2003)

Development control maps and all notations, references, and regulations shown therewith shall be considered part of the zoning regulations. Development control maps may include, but are not limited to, regulations intended to carry out any plan respecting location or type of activities; height, bulk, siting, or design of structures; location or design of open areas and landscaping; and other comparable regulations. In case of conflict with any other provision of the zoning regulations, the development control map shall take precedence, except as otherwise authorized under the development agreement procedure in Chapter 17.138.

(Ord. No. 13172, § 3(Exh. A), 7-2-2013; Ord. 12054 § 1(a), 1998; prior planning code § 2004)

Except as otherwise allowed by Subsections A., B., and C. below, by Section 17.114.030 and by the Nonconforming Use regulations in Chapter 17.114, or as authorized under Section 17.138.015, the Development Agreement procedure in Chapter 17.138, or the Variance and Exception procedure in Chapter 17.148, no activities or facilities shall be established, substituted, expanded, constructed, altered, moved, maintained, or otherwise changed, and no lot lines shall be created or changed, except in conformity to the zoning regulations.

A.

Notwithstanding any contrary provisions in the zoning regulations or the Land Use and Transportation Element of the General Plan, for the duration of a state of emergency or local emergency (defined in California Government Code § 8558) or a shelter crisis (defined in Government Code §§ 8698.1 et seq.) declared by the City Council, Emergency Shelter Residential Activities, as defined in Section 17.10.118 of the Oakland Planning Code, and Emergency Housing and Emergency Housing Facilities, as defined in Section 15.04.3.2400 of the Oakland Building Code, shall be permitted by right with no discretionary approvals, including design review, on all properties owned or leased by the City that are designated by the City Administrator for use as temporary emergency housing sites. Facilities under this Subsection must meet the standards codified in Section 15.04.3.2400 of the Oakland Building Code, as may be amended. An informational report will be submitted to Planning Commission and City Council within ninety (90) days of the commencement of operation of each temporary emergency housing site authorized under this section. After the expiration of a declaration of a state of emergency, local emergency, or shelter crisis, all temporary uses permitted by this Section must be removed within ninety (90) days unless approved for continued use in conformity to the zoning regulations.

B.

For the duration of a valid Temporary Recreational Vehicle (RV) Occupancy Permit issued pursuant to the Recreational Vehicle on Undeveloped Property Pilot Program described in Oakland Municipal Code (OMC) Chapter 5.72, the applicable regulations or requirements in OMC Chapter 5.72 shall prevail over the regulations or requirements in the Oakland Planning Code (Title 17); and Recreational Vehicles, as defined by Section 18010 of the California Health and Safety Code, that are occupied on private property pursuant to a valid Temporary RV Occupancy Permit shall be considered permitted Residential Facilities. Facilities subject to the Recreational Vehicle on Undeveloped Property Pilot Program must meet the standards codified in OMC Chapter 5.72, as may be amended. After the expiration of this Pilot Program in OMC Chapter 5.72, all permitted temporary uses must be removed no later than the termination of the Temporary RV Occupancy Permit issued prior to expiration of the Pilot Program, unless approved for continued use in conformity to the zoning regulations.

C.

Notwithstanding any contrary provisions in the zoning regulations or the Land Use and Transportation Element of the General Plan, the permit requirements for Sidewalk Cafes as set forth in the individual Zoning Chapters and in Planning Code Section 17.103.090 and required off-street parking ratios for General Retail, Limited Service Restaurant and Full Service Restaurant Commercial Activities are suspended until December 31, 2023 unless further extended by City Council, to facilitate the expansion of Sidewalk Cafes, General Retail Commercial Activities, and Limited and Full Service Restaurants into open air spaces that allow for adequate social distancing pursuant to federal, state and local health guidelines. The applicable permit requirements and procedures for Sidewalk Cafes that expand into the public right-of-way, and General Retail Commercial Activities and Limited and Full Service Restaurants that expand to open spaces on private property are set forth in O.M.C. Chapter 8.62. This Subsection shall terminate on December 31, 2023 unless further extended by City Council.

(Ord. No. 13763, § 5, 10-3-2023; Ord. No. 13653, § 4, 6-15-2021; Ord. No. 13611, § 5(Exh. C), 7-28-2020; Ord. No. 13537, § 3(Exh. A), 6-4-2019; Ord. No. 13357, § 3(Exh. A), 2-16-2016; Ord. No. 13172, § 3(Exh. A), 7-2-2013; Ord. 12054 § 1(a), 1998; prior planning code § 2010; Ord. No. 13682, § 4, 3-15-2022)

A.

Other Uses Prohibited. Except as otherwise provided in Sections 17.114.030 and 17.154.060, the nonconforming use regulations in Chapter 17.114, and the planned unit development regulations in Chapter 17.142, or as authorized under Section 17.138.015, the development agreement procedure in Chapter 17.138, or the variance procedure in Chapter 17.148, no land shall be improved or used for any activity or facility which is not listed as permitted or conditionally permitted in the applicable individual zone regulations or development control maps.

B.

Relationship Between Activities and Facilities. A use must qualify under the zoning regulations both as an activity and as a facility. A permitted or conditionally permitted activity may be accommodated or served only by a permitted facility or, upon the granting of a conditional use permit, by a conditionally permitted facility; and a permitted or conditionally permitted facility may accommodate or serve, or be designed to accommodate or serve, only a permitted activity or, upon the granting of a conditional use permit, a conditionally permitted activity.

(Ord. No. 13172, § 3(Exh. A), 7-2-2013)

In their interpretation and application, the provisions of the zoning regulations shall be considered the minimum requirements necessary to accomplish the purposes set forth in Section 17.02.030.

(Ord. 12054 § 1(a), 1998; prior planning code § 2011)