Tehama County, CA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Lot Coverage Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Max coverage, RE district
- 40% of lot area
- Also applies to
- R-1 district (§ 17.16.060)
- District
- RE. Residential Estate
- Scope
- Unincorporated county only
Summary
In Tehama County's RE Residential Estate district, buildings can cover no more than 40% of the lot: a limit set in County Code § 17.14.070(B) for the unincorporated area only.
Building requirements in an RE district shall be as follows: A. Building height limit, two and one-half stories, but not to exceed thirty-five feet; B. Maximum building coverage, forty percent of lot area.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 23).
Full Breakdown
Tehama County's RE, Residential Estate zoning district caps building coverage at forty percent of lot area, per County Code § 17.14.070(B). The RE district applies to suburban-residential land in the unincorporated county: outside Red Bluff, Corning, and the City of Tehama, each of which sets its own coverage limits. Other districts carry their own caps: R-1 One-Family Residence also limits main building coverage to forty percent under § 17.16.060(B). Confirm the applicable district before building.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the 40% coverage cap without an approved variance is a Title 17 zoning violation, punishable as a misdemeanor under the county's general penalty, § 1.04.042, and can trigger a stop-work or correction order.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the 40% cap apply to my Red Bluff lot?
Is the cap the same in every zoning district?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tehama County
California rules heatmap·Compare Tehama County to another location·View the California building setbacks & zoning overview
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