<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0204</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2011-08-24</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001127371</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CENTRAL VALLEY COMMUNITY BANCORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CVCY</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001470261</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PATRIOT FINANCIAL PARTNERS GP, LP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>CIRA CENTRE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>2929 ARCH STREET, 27TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PHILADELPHIA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>19104</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, no par value per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1142862</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote 2</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On August 24, 2011, Patriot Financial Partners, L.P. exchanged the 258,862 shares of its Non-voting Common Stock for 258,862 shares of Common Stock.  As a result, the Reporting Persons beneficially own an aggregate of 1,142,862 shares of Common Stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The Reporting Person is the general partner of Patriot Financial Partners GP, L.P., which in turn is the general partner of Patriot Financial Partners, L.P. and Patriot Financial Partners Parallel, L.P. and as such may be deemed to be the indirect beneifcial owner of such shares under Rule 16a-1(a)(2) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the &quot;Exchange Act&quot;).  Pursuant to Rule 16a-1(a)(4) promulgated under the Exchange Act, Patriot Financial Partners GP, LP disclaims that it is the beneficial owner of such shares, except to the extent of its pecuniary interest.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ W. Kirk Wycoff</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-08-31</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
