Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of Moraga, California

Town of Moraga’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Moraga town limits

  “a. a detached single-family dwelling on each lot and the accessory structures and uses normally auxiliary to it.”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Single-family residential districts SFR 1, 2 and 3 DU/acre (R-1 DUA, R-2 DUA, R-3 DUA) inside Moraga town

  • Applies to the extent consistent with state law
  • Lot area excludes rights-of-way, easements and flag-staff portions (8.04.090)

  minimum lot area SFR 1 DU/acre: >= 30000 sq ft · minimum lot area SFR 2 DU/acre: >= 20000 sq ft · minimum lot area SFR 3 DU/acre: >= 10000 sq ft

  “minimum lot area 30,000 sq. feet 20,000 sq. feet 10,000 sq. feet”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — Rural Residential District (RR) inside Moraga town

    “standard minimum lot area: 5 acres minimum lot width: 140 feet”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Single-family districts SFR 1, 2 and 3 DU/acre inside Moraga town, principal structures

  • Applies to the extent consistent with state law
  • SFR 3 front setback must allow 25 ft driveway length
  • Lots on a private street follow Section 8.68.110 for front yard

  front yard SFR 1/2/3: >= 25/25/20 feet · side yard SFR 1/2/3: >= 20/15/10 feet · rear yard SFR 1/2/3: >= 25/20/15 feet

  “minimum front yard setback(see a1) 25 feet 25 feet 20 feet (see a2)”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — Rural Residential District (RR) inside Moraga town, principal structures

    “minimum setback from property lines: 25 feet”

• Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

  SFR 3 DU/acre district inside Moraga town; SFR 1 and SFR 2 show N/A

  • Maximum lot coverage for SFR 3 DU/acre applies only to developments within the Moraga Center Specific Plan area
  • RR lot coverage not found in supplied sections

  maximum lot coverage SFR 3 DU/acre: <= 60 percent (Moraga Center Specific Plan area only)

  “maximum lot coverage for sfr 3 du/acre applies only to developments within the moraga center specific plan area.”

• Living in an RVProhibited

  Habitation of RVs, trailers, camp cars and vehicles on public or private property inside Moraga town

  • Planning commission may approve a conditional use permit for caretaker or agricultural employee quarters on land devoted to agricultural purpose
  • Zoning administrator may approve a CUP, after design review board site plan approval, for temporary living quarters during construction for a caretaker or watchman where a building permit has been issued, or a temporary office
  • RV storage at a residence requires adequate screening (8.148.030)

  “it is unlawful for a person to maintain or use for human habitation or a living quarters including sleeping, a mobilehome, trailer coach, camp car, boat or vehicle on public or private property in the town.”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Camping inside Moraga town

  • Camping in town parklands is barred after posted hours except in designated areas with a town permit
  • Sleeping in vehicles or trailers on private property is barred by 8.148.020
  • Tent camping on private land not addressed in supplied sections

  “No person may camp within town parklands after posted hours of operation. However a camp may be maintained in designated areas if a valid permit is obtained from the town.”

• Building in a floodplainLimited

  Special flood hazard areas inside Moraga town (Chapter 8.108)

  • Proposals over 50 lots or five acres (whichever is lesser) must identify flood hazard areas and base flood elevations
  • Manufactured homes in A zones must be elevated and anchored (8.108.150)
  • RVs in A zones must be on site fewer than 180 days, be highway-ready, or meet permit and elevation rules (8.108.160)

  “All subdivision proposals and other proposed development shall be consistent with the need to minimize flood damage.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of Moraga or Contra Costa County directly.

• Building permit — Building permits inside Moraga town
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Moraga town
• Building code adopted — Building code inside Moraga town
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Moraga town
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy inside Moraga town

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.