Zoning Code Bulletins

Policy clarifications and notices around the Zoning Code from the City of Oakland's Planning and Building Department.

• Zoning Code Bulletin on Objective Design Standards - December 19, 2024(PDF, 476KB)
• Zoning Bulletin on Replacement Units Under AB 1218 - January 1, 2024(PDF, 89KB)
  Beginning January 1, 2024, new State legislation (AB 1218) prohibits the City from approving any development project that requires demolition or conversion of one or more existing "protected" housing units, or where demolition of a "protected unit" occurred within the last five years, unless replacement housing units are provided.
• Zoning Code Bulletins on Minor Modifications to Telecommunications Facilities - August 4, 2023 (Section 6409)(PDF, 206KB)
  This bulletin provides guidance for the applicability of section 6409 of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 and describes what constitutes a minor modification to existing telecommunications facilities.
• Zoning Code Bulletin on Development Density (Amended March 20, 2024)(PDF, 250KB)
  Clarification on how to calculate the maximum intensities for a site proposed for development.
• Zoning Code Bulletin on Small Telecom Facility Design Standards - July 7, 2020(PDF, 2MB)
  Design standards for small wireless facilities located in the public right-of-way.
• Zoning Code Bulletin on Live/Work Units - May 18, 2020(PDF, 98KB)
  Bulletin to clarify questions regarding units in the Planning Code specifically designed to allow for both residential and working activities, commonly known as live/work or work/live units. This bulletin does not apply to traditional residential units that are used for home occupations pursuant to Chapter 17.112 of the Planning Code.
• Zoning Code Bulletin on Demolition of Existing Buildings - June 18, 2019(PDF, 128KB)
  Describes when a building is no longer considered "existing under the Planning Code after parts of it are removed.
• Zoning Code Bulletin on New Habitable Space in Existing Buildings - May 4, 2018(PDF, 51KB)
  Determines whether creating new habitable space within an existing building requires a Variance.
• Zoning Code Bulletin on Rooftop Open Space - April 27, 2018(PDF, 59KB)
  Clarifies the definition of rooftop as it relates to group usable open space.
• Zoning Code Bulletin on Secondary Access for Modified Subdivisions - April 15, 2016(PDF, 198KB)
  Clarifies and memorializes the circumstances under which the City would consider revising/modifying the requirement of the secondary access for subdivisions that result in dead end streets in excess of 600 feet in length.