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

There is no single countywide setback; each residential district in Title 21 sets its own. In the Low Density Residential (LDR) district, section 21.14.060 requires for main structures a front setback of 30 ft, side equal to 10% of average lot width to a max of 20 ft, and rear of 20 ft. In Medium Density Residential (MDR), section 21.12.060 requires 20 ft front, 5 ft side, and 10 ft rear for main structures. In High Density Residential (HDR), section 21.10.060 requires 20 ft front, 5 ft side, and 10 ft rear. In Rural Density Residential (RDR), section 21.16.060 requires 30 ft front and 20 ft side and rear. Habitable accessory structures commonly require 50 ft front and 6 ft side/rear. Chapter 21.62 (inland) and 20.62 (coastal) provide narrow encroachment exceptions: cornices, eaves and fireplaces may extend up to 2.5 ft into a required setback, and uncovered decks/porches/stairs may extend up to 6 ft into a front or rear setback and 3 ft into a side. Special districts, B-district combinations, and recorded setback lines on Sectional District Maps can override these defaults, so the governing setback is parcel-specific.