Monterey County, CA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Lot Coverage Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- LDR coverage cap
- 35% under 20,000 sq ft; 25% at/above (§21.14.060)
- HDR coverage cap
- 60% maximum (§21.10.060(E))
- MDR coverage cap
- 35% maximum (§21.12.060(E))
- RDR coverage cap
- 25% maximum (§21.16.060(E))
- Coverage excludes
- eaves ≤30in, driveways, low decks (§21.06.250)
- Scope
- unincorporated, non-coastal county only
Summary
Monterey County caps how much of a residential lot can be covered by structures, and the cap moves with zoning density: Low Density Residential parcels top out at 35% coverage under 20,000 square feet and 25% at or above that size, while High Density Residential allows up to 60%, Medium Density Residential 35%, and Rural Density Residential 25%, all under Title 21.
21.14.020 - Applicability. The regulation of this Chapter shall apply in all "LDR" Districts and are subject to Chapter 21.62 (Height and Setback Exceptions) of this Title....21.14.060 - Site development standards....E.Building Site Coverage, Maximum: thirty-five (35) percent on lots less than twenty thousand (20,000) square feet; twenty-five (25) percent on lots of twenty thousand (20,000) square feet or more.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 56).
Full Breakdown
250 as any area covered by a structure, structures or structure protrusions including decks twenty-four inches or more above grade, but excludes building eaves of thirty inches or less, paved driveways, sidewalks, paths, patios, and decks under twenty-four inches high. 060(E) allows twenty-five (25) percent in Rural Density Residential. 070(F)(2)(d) raises the cap to eighty (80) percent for the HDR/5 District within the Rancho Cañada Village Subdivision. 010; land in the Coastal Zone, including Big Sur and the coastline, is regulated under the separate Title 20 coastal zoning ordinance, and the incorporated cities of Salinas, Monterey, Seaside, Marina, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Pacific Grove and King City set their own coverage limits.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the coverage maximum without an approved permit is an unpermitted use or structure under Section 21.84.040(A), a misdemeanor chargeable as an infraction at the prosecutor's discretion. The Director of Planning may record a Notice of Violation against the property under Section 21.84.100, which blocks the County from issuing further permits on the parcel under Section 21.84.120 until the excess coverage is removed or a variance is obtained through Chapter 21.72.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much of my lot can I cover with buildings in unincorporated Monterey County?
What counts toward lot coverage?
Can the county ever allow more coverage than the district maximum?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Monterey County
California rules heatmap·Compare Monterey County to another location·View the California building setbacks & zoning overview
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