Albany, California Zoning Map
Zoning, overlays and hazards on every parcel — and an answer to what the code actually lets you build. Compiled from current zoning data for all 10 districts.
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What's in the Albany dataset
Every field below is available for any Albany parcel, on the map and through the AI.
Zoning
- District code & full name
- Parcel boundary & APN
- All 10 districts mapped
Building controls
- Maximum building height
- Floor area ratio (FAR)
- Front setback
- Side setback
Overlays, hazards & AI
- Flood hazard & environmental layers
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- Powered by live parcel data
Where uses are permitted in Albany
Share of Albany's zoned land where each use is permitted.
- Single-family
- 64.44%
- Multi-family
- 26.08%
- ADU
- 69.67%
- Two-family
- 20.85%
- Retail
- 29.97%
- Eating & drinking
- 29.25%
- Office
- 10.79%
- Hotel / motel
- 10.79%
- Industrial
- 3.32%
- Storage & warehouses
- 11.87%
Albany, California Zoning Districts: What Do They Mean?
Zoning districts are areas regulated by specific laws that determine land use, building types, and development rules. Each district below shows its zone type and which uses it permits.
| Zone Code | Category | Area | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
CMX Commercial Mixed Use | - | 33.6 ac | Standards & uses → |
PF Public Facilities | - | 86.3 ac | Standards & uses → |
R-1 Residential Single Family | - | 439.9 ac | Standards & uses → |
R-2 Residential Medium Density | - | 91.8 ac | Standards & uses → |
Showing 4 of 10 districts
Start from what you're trying to build
Each one runs against the live Albany dataset and returns the districts, standards and approvals involved.
What should developers know about Albany zoning?
Albany is a small, built-out East Bay city, and its compact 10-district zoning code shows it. Residential land defines the city: Residential Single Family (R-1) is by far the largest district at roughly 440 acres, stepping up through Residential Medium Density (R-2), Residential High Density (R-3), and even a Residential Towers (R-4) district that signals the city accommodates real vertical density in select locations. A Residential Hillside Development (RHD) zone handles the sloped terrain on the city's upper edge.
With almost no industrial land, Albany's non-residential capacity is organized around a few targeted districts. The Waterfront (WF) zone is the second-largest district overall at about 186 acres, reflecting the city's bayfront edge, while commercial activity is split between two named corridors - Solano Commercial (SC) and San Pablo Commercial (SPC) - plus a Commercial Mixed Use (CMX) district that is the natural home for ground-floor retail over housing. Public Facilities (PF) rounds out the map.
For developers and investors, Albany is an infill-and-corridor market: the realistic development plays are mixed-use and multifamily along Solano and San Pablo, redevelopment within the Waterfront zone, and incremental density on the deep single-family base through state housing law. Because the city is largely developed, parcel assembly and adaptive reuse matter more than greenfield opportunity. Building controls include FAR, density, multi-unit controls, lot size and width, coverage, perviousness, and front, side and rear setbacks. This is pre-development intelligence, not legal advice - verify with the local planning department before acquisition.
Albany zoning: frequently asked questions
What are the main development opportunities in Albany?
Because Albany is small and built-out, the realistic plays are mixed-use and multifamily along the Solano Commercial (SC) and San Pablo Commercial (SPC) corridors, redevelopment in the Waterfront (WF) zone, and incremental density added to the dominant single-family base. Greenfield sites are scarce, so parcel assembly and adaptive reuse drive most projects.
Does Albany allow high-density or tower residential development?
It does in specific locations. Alongside the more common Medium (R-2) and High Density (R-3) residential districts, Albany has a Residential Towers (R-4) zone, which indicates the city accommodates genuinely vertical residential product where mapped. Most of the city, however, remains Residential Single Family (R-1).
What is the Waterfront (WF) district intended for?
The Waterfront zone covers roughly 186 acres, making it the city's second-largest district and a defining feature of Albany's bayfront edge. It governs uses along the shoreline and is a focal point for any redevelopment along the water. Given its sensitivity, expect environmental and access considerations to weigh heavily on what can be built there.
Where should I look to build mixed-use retail and housing?
The Commercial Mixed Use (CMX) district is the clearest fit for ground-floor retail with housing above, and the Solano and San Pablo commercial corridors are the city's primary commercial spines. Targeting parcels within or adjacent to these corridors is the most direct route to a mixed-use entitlement.
How do California ADU and SB-9 rules affect Albany's single-family lots?
With Residential Single Family (R-1) as the dominant district, state laws enabling accessory dwelling units and lot splits are especially relevant for adding units across Albany's housing stock. They are often the most practical way to increase yield on small, already-developed lots. Confirm the city's current objective standards, hillside rules, and any overlay limits with the planning department before designing.
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Zoning data is pre-development intelligence, not legal advice. Verify with the Albany planning department before acquisition or design.