Brentwood, CA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Lot Coverage Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- R-2 multifamily coverage cap
- 40% max, main + accessory
- R-3 multifamily coverage cap
- 40% max, main + accessory
- R-1/RE single-family
- No separate % cap; setbacks control
- Governing sections
- §17.140.006(B), §17.150.004(H)
- Applies to
- Apartments & attached dwellings, R-2/R-3
Summary
In Brentwood's R-2 and R-3 multifamily zones, Municipal Code § 17.140.006(B) and § 17.150.004(H) both cap building footprint at forty percent: "the main building and all accessory buildings shall not cover more than forty percent of the lot area," on top of the zones' minimum yard setbacks.
The following regulations shall apply to the building of apartments and attached single-family dwellings in the R-2 zone; ... ... B. Maximum Lot Coverage. The main building and all accessory buildings shall not cover more than forty percent of the lot area.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4604307; v5 updated 2025-12-09).
Full Breakdown
006(B) sets the 40% lot coverage cap for "apartments and attached single-family dwellings" built in the R-2 (moderate density multifamily residential) zone, alongside a limit of six dwelling units per building and a height cap of two stories/30 feet for the main building. 004(H) repeats the same 40% figure for the higher-density R-3 (high density multifamily residential) zone, where up to three stories and 36 feet is otherwise allowed. Both provisions count "the main building and all accessory buildings" toward the cap, so garages, sheds, and other accessory structures on the lot are added to the primary structure's footprint when checking compliance. 004, including the required minimum overall width and depth of 20 feet and the two-car garage standard. "
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the 40% lot coverage cap in the R-2 or R-3 zone is caught at building plan check and requires redesign or a reduction in footprint before permits issue. Building coverage beyond the limit without correction is treated the same as any other Municipal Code violation: a misdemeanor under § 1.20.010 unless charged as an infraction, with fines up to $500 for repeat violations and each day of a continuing violation counted separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a citywide maximum lot coverage percentage in Brentwood?
What about a single-family home in the R-1 or RE zone?
What counts toward the forty percent limit?
Does the forty percent cap apply to duplexes and triplexes too?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Brentwood
California rules heatmap·Compare Brentwood to another location·View the California building setbacks & zoning overview
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Lot Coverage Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Contra Costa County handle lot coverage limits.