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Apple Valley, CA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Lot Coverage Limits (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

R-VLD/R-A/R-LD/R-E coverage
25% max
R-E3/4/R-EQ coverage
30% max
R-SF coverage
40% max
R-M coverage
70% (see Sec. 9.29.070.B.6)
M-U/PRD coverage
50% max
Governing table
Table 9.28.040-A
Enforcing agency
Planning Division / Code Enforcement

Summary

Apple Valley's Development Code caps how much of a residential lot a building's footprint can cover. Table 9.28.040-A sets maximum lot coverage from 25% in the low-density R-VLD, R-A, R-LD and R-E districts up to 40% in R-SF and 70% in R-M, with accessory structures counted toward the same limit.

STANDARDS R-VLD R-A R-LD R-E R-E ¾ R-EQ R-SF R-M MHP M-U PRD (1)

13. Maximum lot coverage 25% 25% 25% 25% 30% 30% 40% 70% (14) - 50% (14) 50%

(14) See subsection 9.29.070.B.6 Lot Coverage, of this Code.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 19 Update 1).

Full Breakdown

040 sets maximum lot coverage as a percentage of net lot area for each residential zoning district within town limits. The Very Low Density Residential (R-VLD), Residential Agriculture (R-A), Low Density Residential (R-LD) and Estate Residential (R-E) districts are capped at 25%. The Estate Residential 3/4 (R-E 3/4) and Residential Equestrian (R-EQ) districts allow 30%. Residential Single-Family (R-SF) lots may cover up to 40%. 6, Lot Coverage, for the governing standard on those two districts. No coverage percentage is listed for the Mobile Home Park (MHP) district, shown as a dash in the table.

1, Accessory Uses and Structures, states that the cumulative total of square footage of accessory structures, combined with all other applicable structure footprints, cannot exceed the maximum lot coverage standard for the zoning district, so sheds, garages and detached shops all count against the same percentage. 25. New subdivisions recorded between March 1, 1948, and January 1, 1987, or covered by a Composite Development Plan on file with the Town, can carry different site standards recorded on the map itself, so a surveyor should check the recorded map before relying on the table alone.

Violations & Fines

Building or maintaining coverage beyond the table limit is a Development Code violation under Section 9.26.010, punishable as an infraction or misdemeanor per Municipal Code Section 1.01.200: up to a $1,000 fine and six months in County jail, with each day of noncompliance a separate offense under Section 9.26.030. The Building Official, Director of Community Development, or a Code Enforcement Officer may instead issue an administrative citation starting at $100 for a first violation, $200 for a second, and $500 for each further violation within a year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does an accessory structure count toward my lot coverage limit?
Yes. Section 9.29.020.C.1 states the cumulative square footage of all accessory structures, combined with the primary structure's footprint, cannot exceed the maximum lot coverage percentage set for your zoning district in Table 9.28.040-A, so a detached garage or workshop reduces how much additional building area you have left.
What is the maximum lot coverage in Apple Valley's R-SF zone?
Residential Single-Family (R-SF) lots may cover up to 40% of the lot with buildings under Table 9.28.040-A of Development Code Section 9.28.040, the highest figure among the standard single-family residential districts; only R-M, M-U and PRD are allowed higher percentages.
Can I get more lot coverage than the table allows?
Only through a Variance under Development Code Chapter 9.24 or a Deviation Permit under Chapter 9.25, both of which require Planning Commission or Town Council review and written findings; there is no administrative waiver of the Table 9.28.040-A coverage percentages, and older recorded maps may set separate limits.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Apple Valley

All Apple Valley rules

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