Developers, property owners, and business owners may apply for a Letter of Determination if they need an official confirmation of the Zoning Designation of a property, an official record of the Zoning history for a property or what is allowed under the property's Zoning Designation. They may also request a formal determination regarding an interpretation of zoning requirements, project compliance, legality of facilities, or other code interpretation issues. Homeowners may also seek a Zoning confirmation before purchasing a property.
Before you Start
Please review the Letter of Determination Requirements below as these vary from project to project.
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What to Do
Letter of Determination Requirements
When Are Letters of Determination Needed?
Types of Letters of Determination:
- Standard Zoning Confirmation Letter ("Burn Down Letter"): If you need an official letter confirming the Zoning Designation of a property and/or allowances to rebuild in the event of damage or destruction (often referred to as a "burn down letter").
- Staff Research: If you need an official record from the City providing the Zoning history for a property and/or what is allowed under the property's Zoning Designation. This type of determination is typically requested to assist with marketing a property to prospective tenants or to complete Zoning Verification forms for Funding Requests.
SPECIAL NOTE: This is NOT a Report of Residential Record (3R Report). To request a 3R Report, please visit the 3R Report website.
- Zoning Manager Review: If you need to confirm the official land use classification of a proposed use, memorialize condominium credits, or issue a challenge to code interpretations that are preventing aspects of your project from moving forward, you may apply for Zoning Manager Review. If you receive a Letter of Determination from the Zoning Manager rejecting your challenge, you may appeal the determination within 10 days.
- General Plan Determination: If your property's General Plan Designation does not match its Zoning Designation, you may request an official determination to resolve the mismatch. Note that these are rarely produced. We recommend calling our Planning/Zoning hotline at (510) 238-3991 prior to applying.