San Benito County, CA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)

San Benito County establishes building setbacks (required yards) through the development-standard tables in Chapter 25.03 of the Zoning Code, which set minimum front, side, and rear yard dimensions separately for the agricultural and rural districts (Section 25.03.004, Table 25.03-C) and for the other zoning district groups. Because the county spans large agricultural and rural-residential parcels as well as smaller residential lots, required setbacks differ significantly by district, so the controlling number for any given property is the one in the table for that parcel's zone rather than a single countywide figure. Section 25.07.004 provides the general rules of measurement used to apply those setbacks, and Section 25.07.005, Encroachments into Required Setbacks, allows specified building projections (governed by Table 25.07-A) to extend into a required setback subject to the Building Code. Fences and walls are treated separately and may occupy required yards within the height limits of Section 25.07.013. Owners should confirm the exact front, side, and rear setbacks for their zoning district with the San Benito County Resource Management Agency before designing or placing a structure, since the figures are zone-specific and subject to amendment.