Cathedral City, CA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)

Cathedral City Municipal Code Title 9 sets yard dimensions chapter by chapter, and each chapter applies its yard section to all newly-developed lots in that zone.

RE Residential Estate (§ 9.12.070): front yard thirty feet, side yards fifteen feet each, rear yard fifty feet. A garage can sit in the front yard up to ten feet from the property line with side access, or twenty feet with perpendicular access, but only if the planning commission finds the design is necessary to reduce grading on the lot.

R1 Single-Family (§ 9.14.070): front yard twenty feet, or fifteen feet for garages with a side entry access. A lot sixty feet wide or less needs side yards of not less than five feet. A lot over sixty feet wide needs fifteen feet combined, one of minimum five feet and the other of minimum ten feet, and on corner lots the ten-foot setback runs along the street side. The rear yard is fifteen feet, except that garages or carports can be located up to five feet from a rear property line.

R2 Multiple-Family (§ 9.16.070): front yard fifteen feet. Side yards are not less than five feet on a lot sixty feet or less in width. Over sixty feet, side yards total fifteen feet combined with each not less than five feet, except a side yard providing the main front access to any unit is a minimum of ten feet. The rear yard is fifteen feet, with the same five-foot garage and carport exception where there is no direct access to an alley. The vehicle entrance of a garage or carport sits twenty feet from any street or alley.

RM Multiple-Family (§ 9.18.070): front yard fifteen feet, side yard ten feet for interior and fifteen feet for street side, rear yard ten feet, with garages or carports allowed up to five feet from a rear property line where there is no direct access to an alley, and a twenty-foot setback to the vehicle entrance of a garage or carport.

Coverage and building height sit in a separate section of each chapter.