Mendocino County, CA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Lot Coverage Limits (2026)

045, and the RR, RMR, SR, RV and C Districts further down the same chapter series. For AG-zoned parcels, coverage is limited to twenty percent for parcels under two acres, dropping to fifteen percent for parcels between two and five acres, and to ten percent for parcels over five acres, so larger agricultural holdings must leave proportionally more open land as parcel size increases. "Lot Coverage" is defined in the Coastal Zoning Code's definitions chapter as the percentage of gross lot area covered by all buildings and structures on a lot, including decks and porches, whether covered or uncovered, and all other projections except eaves.

Because AG District land sits within the Coastal Zone, any development that would push a project toward its coverage ceiling, such as a new barn, residence or accessory structure, also needs a coastal development permit, and the California Coastal Commission retains appeal jurisdiction over the county's permit decision under the Coastal Act. 035), so a project must clear both the yard setbacks and the percentage-based coverage cap.