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

Rather than a single countywide maximum lot-coverage percentage, Alpine County controls how much of a parcel can be built upon through a combination of minimum parcel size, required yards (setbacks), and building-height limits in Title 18. In the RN Residential Neighborhood zone (Chapter 18.36), the minimum parcel size is decided by the county on a site-by-site basis depending on the availability of public services and site-specific environmental characteristics, and in no case may a parcel be smaller than the site's General Plan land use designation allows; numeric figures following the RN symbol indicate the minimum parcel size in thousands of square feet (for example, RN-30 means a thirty-thousand-square-foot minimum). The RN zone also sets a minimum lot width of eighty feet and depth of one hundred feet, with a thirty-foot front yard and twenty-foot rear yard, which together limit the footprint. The county's building-permit and planning submittals require applicants to show existing and proposed coverage of structures, driveways, and other improvements, plus two-foot topographic contours and cross-slope, so coverage is reviewed on a per-site basis. Because much of the county is steep, high-elevation land, slope and defensible-space requirements further constrain how much of a lot is practically buildable. Confirm the specific standards for your zone and parcel with the Planning Division, since requirements differ by zoning district and General Plan designation.