Santa Cruz County, CA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)

Setbacks for residential development in the unincorporated County are governed by SCCC 13.10.323, 'Development standards in residential districts,' and its Site and Structural Dimensions Chart (Table 13.10.323-1). Standards differ by zone district. In typical R-1 zones (for example R-1-5 to R-1-9), the front yard setback is 20 feet, interior side yards are 5 and 8 feet, the street-facing side yard is 10 feet, and the rear yard is 15 feet, with a 20-foot setback to a garage/carport entrance. Smaller R-1 zones (R-1-3.5 to R-1-4.9) use a 15-foot front yard with 5-and-5 side yards. The oceanfront RB district uses a 10-foot front yard, side yards of 0 and 5 feet, and a 15-foot rear yard (0 feet on the beach side). The largest and rural districts (R-1-16 to under 1 acre, and RR, RA, and R-1 over 1 acre) require larger setbacks — generally 30- to 40-foot front yards and 15-to-20-foot side and rear yards; for RR, RA and R-1 over 1 acre, front, side, and rear setbacks are all 20 feet under the updated chart. Setbacks are measured from the property line (or the right-of-way/paved roadway, whichever is more restrictive). Eaves, chimneys, bay windows, uncovered porches, decks, stairs, and landings may encroach into front and rear setbacks by up to 6 feet (3 feet for some side-yard features), per the County's residential-standards exceptions.