Upland, CA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Lot Coverage Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- RS-4 max lot coverage
- 50% (standard single-family lot)
- RS-20/RS-15 max lot coverage
- 35% (largest single-family lots)
- RS-MH max lot coverage
- 60%
- Excluded accessory structure
- one, 200 sq. ft. or less
- Relief for over-cap projects
- 10% Minor Adjustment, § 17.44.070
Summary
Upland caps how much of a residential lot buildings can cover: 50% in the RS-4 zone (the city's standard single-family lot), scaling down to 35% on the largest RS-20 lots. Lot coverage is the footprint of every structure, including garages and covered patios, divided by net lot area, per § 17.10.100.
A. Lot coverage is the ratio of the total footprint area of all structures on a lot to the net lot area, typically expressed as a percentage. The footprints of all principal and accessory structures, including garages, carports, covered patios, and roofed porches, shall be summed in order to calculate lot coverage. ... 4. One small, non-habitable accessory structure 200 square feet or less. Additional structures shall be included in lot coverage.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4480959; v4 updated 2025-09-22).
Full Breakdown
5 feet from a wall; swimming pools and spas not enclosed in a roofed structure or deck; and "one small, non-habitable accessory structure 200 square feet or less," with additional accessory structures counted. minimum, the standard single-family lot), and 60% in the RS-MH mobile home zone. The multi-family RM-10 through RM-40 zones carry no separate lot-coverage percentage in that table; density and setback standards govern building envelope in those zones instead. All of these figures apply "not including City and state density bonuses" per the table's own note.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the applicable lot-coverage cap blocks issuance of the zoning clearance and certificate of use and occupancy required before a structure can be occupied (§ 17.10.020(D)). An owner who needs additional coverage can apply for a Minor Adjustment for up to a 10% deviation from the maximum lot-coverage standard, reviewed administratively by the Development Services Director without a public hearing (§ 17.44.070(B)(1)(c)); a larger deviation requires a discretionary Variance approved by the Planning Commission on a showing of unique property hardship (§ 17.44.060).
Frequently Asked Questions
What percentage of my Upland lot can I build on?
How does Upland calculate lot coverage?
Does the maximum lot coverage change on bigger residential lots?
What structures don't count toward lot coverage in Upland?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Upland
California rules heatmap·Compare Upland to another location·View the California building setbacks & zoning overview
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Lot Coverage Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Bernardino County handle lot coverage limits.