Alhambra, CA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Lot Coverage Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- RL lot coverage cap
- N/A (no stand-alone percentage)
- RM lot coverage cap
- 45% of lot
- RH lot coverage cap
- 55% of lot
- RL floor area ratio
- 0.40 FAR
- Flexible-standard deviation
- Up to 20% on qualifying RH lots
Summary
Alhambra's zoning code caps building footprint by residential district: Table 23.04.030 sets no stand-alone lot coverage limit in the Low Density (RL) zone, 45% of the lot in Medium Density (RM), and 55% of the lot in High Density (RH), on top of the setbacks that already govern where a structure can sit.
Maximum floor area ratio (FAR) 0.40 [RL] N/A [RM] N/A [RH] ... Lot Coverage Standards Maximum lot coverage (% of lot) N/A [RL] 45 [RM] 55 [RH]
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-25: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ord. 4851, passed 10-27-25).
Full Breakdown
Lot coverage measures the percentage of a parcel's area that a building's footprint may occupy, separate from the setback lines that control where on the lot the structure sits. 020(C)(4). Medium Density (RM) parcels are capped at 45% lot coverage, and High Density (RH) parcels, which can carry the tallest and densest development in the city, are capped at 55%. Because RH permits up to 45 feet and five stories, and even 75 feet and six stories within the mapped Atlantic-Woodward-Commonwealth-Chapel area, the coverage cap is what keeps larger buildings from occupying the entire buildable envelope of a lot. 060, reviewed administratively by the Director of Community Development.
Violations & Fines
Plan check reviews footprint calculations against the Table 23.04.030 percentage before issuing a building permit under § 20.05.010. A project built beyond the allowed coverage without an approved modification or § 23.12.060 deviation is out of compliance and can be ordered corrected, reduced, or removed. Absent a coverage-specific penalty, enforcement falls under the citywide general penalty of § 1.12.010, punishable by a Council-set fine or up to six months in jail, with each day a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum lot coverage for a house in Alhambra's RL zone?
How much of an RM or RH lot can a building cover?
Does the lot coverage limit include garages and sheds?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Alhambra
California rules heatmap·Compare Alhambra to another location·View the California building setbacks & zoning overview
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Lot Coverage Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle lot coverage limits.