Anaheim, CA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Lot Coverage Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- RS-1 through RS-3 cap
- 40 percent maximum lot coverage
- RS-4 cap
- 50 percent, modifiable under Sec. 18.04.160
- RH-1 hillside zone
- No numeric lot-coverage cap
- Patio exception
- Patio structures excluded from coverage calculation
- Rear-setback encroachment
- Capped at 25% (RS-1) or 35% (RS-2)
Summary
Anaheim caps lot coverage in single-family zones at 40 percent in RH-3, RS-1, RS-2 and RS-3, and 50 percent in RS-4, under Section 18.04.090 and Table 4-H. RH-1 and RH-2 hillside lots carry no numeric cap, but accessory structures still count toward whatever coverage limit applies.
.010 Lot Coverage. The maximum lot coverage for single-family residential zones is shown in Table 4-H. ... RS-1: 40% No accessory building authorized to encroach into a required rear setback shall occupy more than 25% of the required rear setback. Accessory structures authorized to encroach into the required rear setback subject to Section 18.04.100 (Structural Setbacks). RS-2: 40%, - see subsection .020 below (dwellings or accessory structures shall not occupy more than 35% of the required rear setback, provided any such structures shall comply with the setback regulations of this chapter). RS-3: 40% RS-4: 50%, but may be modified pursuant to 18.04.160. .020 Patio Structure. Patio structures are accessory structures, but not subject to lot coverage or area limitations, except as required by the Building Code and Table 4-J. .030 Accessory Buildings and Structures. All accessory buildings and structures shall be included in the maximum lot coverage calculation except as otherwise specified in this chapter.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-28: Code: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ord. 6627, passed 8-11-2026 | Zoning: Local legislation current through Ord. 6627, passed 8-11-2026).
Full Breakdown
160). ' The coverage limit interacts with the rear-setback rules: in RS-1, no accessory building authorized to encroach into the required rear setback may occupy more than 25 percent of that setback area, and in RS-2 dwellings or accessory structures together cannot occupy more than 35 percent of the required rear setback even though the base coverage cap is the same 40 percent. 100. 030 closes that loophole for everything else: 'All accessory buildings and structures shall be included in the maximum lot coverage calculation except as otherwise specified in this chapter,' meaning sheds, garages, and accessory living quarters typically count against the percentage even though a covered patio does not. The current version of Table 4-H reflects Ordinance 6570, adopted March 19, 2024, which most recently revised the RS-1 and RS-2 lot-coverage standards.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the maximum lot coverage percentage for the property's zone, or encroaching an accessory building further into the rear setback than the 25 or 35 percent limits allow, is a zoning violation enforced under the Code's general penalty, Section 1.01.370: a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $1,000 fine, six months in jail, or both, with continuing violations charged per day.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum lot coverage in Anaheim's single-family zones?
Do patio covers count toward Anaheim's lot coverage limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Anaheim
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