Redwood City's Building Setbacks & Zoning: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles building setbacks & zoning a little differently. In Redwood City, California, there are 3 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Setback Rules

In Redwood City's R-1 single-family district, structures must be set back a minimum of 15 feet from the front property line, with a first-story interior side setback of at least 6 feet (or half the wall height), except as adjusted by the zoning code.

Key details: Front setback: 15 feet minimum. Interior side (1st story): 6 ft or ½ wall height. Exterior (street) side: 15 feet minimum. Code section: RWC Zoning 5.7.

Building within the required front or side setbacks in the R-1 district violates Redwood City Zoning Code section 5.7 and is enforced by the Planning Division.

Structure Height Limits

Redwood City caps main houses in its R-1 and RH single-family districts at 28 feet and two and a half stories, with separate, lower height ceilings for detached accessory buildings and accessory dwelling units built on the same lot.

Key details: Max house height (R-1, RH): 28 feet. Max stories: 2.5 stories. Accessory building height: 16 ft total / 9 ft wall near lot line. Detached ADU height: 20 ft flat roof / 24 ft pitched roof. Statewide Exemption ADU height: 16 feet.

A structure built above the 28-foot, two-and-one-half-story limit, or above the separate accessory-building or ADU height caps, is a zoning violation and public nuisance under Section 50.2, prosecuted as an infraction under Section 50.5 with fines up to $100, $200 and $500 for a first, second and later violation of the same rule within a year, each day counted as a separate offense.

Lot Coverage Limits

Redwood City caps total lot coverage at 40 percent of lot area in its R-1 and RH single-family districts, and separately limits how much of the required rear yard can be eaten up by sheds, garages and other accessory buildings to no more than half.

Key details: Max lot coverage: 40% of lot area (R-1, RH). Rear-yard sub-cap: 50% by accessory buildings/ADU. Counted in coverage: covered patios, decks, entries, parking. ADU exemption: excluded, but attached garage/porch counts. Accessory buildings: count toward the 40% cap.

Building or maintaining coverage beyond the 40 percent lot coverage limit or the 50 percent rear-yard sub-cap is a zoning violation and public nuisance under Section 50.2, prosecuted as an infraction under Section 50.5 with fines up to $100 for a first offense, $200 for a repeat within a year, and $500 after that, with each day of noncompliance a separate offense that the City Attorney can also sue to abate.

The Bottom Line

Redwood City's building setbacks & zoning rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Redwood City is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Redwood City can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.