Yuba County, CA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Front/street setback
- 10-15 ft from sidewalk edge or ROW
- Interior side setback
- 10 ft (RE) down to 5 ft (RS/RM/RH)
- Rear, primary structure
- 25 ft (RE) down to 10 ft (RM/RH)
- Rear, accessory structure
- 10 ft (RE) down to 5 ft
- Levee setback
- 50 ft minimum from toe of levee
- Garage apron
- 20-ft minimum driveway for front-loaded garages
- Violation
- misdemeanor or infraction, § 11.67.050
Summary
Unincorporated Yuba County sets minimum yard setbacks by residential zone in Table 11.07.030: Residential Estate (RE) lots keep a 25-foot rear setback for the primary structure and a 10-foot interior side setback, while RS, RM, and RH lots drop to 5-foot interior sides and 10- to 15-foot rears. Front setbacks run 10-15 feet from the sidewalk edge.
Standard RE Within VGB RS RM RH Additional Regulations # Minimum setbacks (ft., measured from property line unless otherwise indicated) Front or street side Detached sidewalk: Ten ft. from edge of sidewalk Attached sidewalk: 15 ft. from edge of sidewalk No sidewalk: 15 ft. from edge of ultimate right-of-way and ten feet from edge of drainage ditch if present 11.19.090, Setbacks and Yards Interior side 10 5 (D) 5 (D) 5 (D) Rear, primary structure 25 15 10 10 Rear, accessory structure 10 5 5 5 11.19.030, Accessory structures
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 6).
Full Breakdown
030, Development Regulations - Residential Districts, sets the minimum yard setbacks that apply on unincorporated land zoned Residential Estate (RE), Single Family (RS), Medium Density (RM), and High Density (RH). Front or street-side setbacks are measured from the edge of the public improvement rather than a flat number: where a detached sidewalk exists the setback is 10 feet from the sidewalk edge, where the sidewalk is attached to the curb it is 15 feet from the sidewalk edge, and where there is no sidewalk it is 15 feet from the edge of the ultimate right-of-way and 10 feet from any drainage ditch.
Interior side setbacks are 10 feet in RE and 5 feet in RS, RM, and RH. Rear setbacks for the primary structure run from 25 feet (RE) down to 15 feet (RS) and 10 feet (RM and RH); rear setbacks for accessory structures run from 10 feet (RE) to 5 feet in RS, RM, and RH. Front-loaded garages must also provide a minimum 20-foot driveway apron under the same table. 090(c) lets specific features intrude into these setbacks: cornices, eaves and chimneys up to 8 feet wide may project 2 feet into any setback, and cantilevered bay windows up to 12 feet wide may project 3 feet into a front or rear setback, but no projection may come within 3 feet of an interior lot line.
090(b) imposes a separate 50-foot minimum setback from the toe of the levee for new structures, fences, or pools. 59, which requires Planning Commission findings that special circumstances of the lot, not the owner's preference, justify the relief.
Violations & Fines
Building without meeting a required setback is a Code violation and, under § 11.67.040, a declared public nuisance subject to abatement. Section 11.67.050 makes any violation a misdemeanor, though the Enforcement Official may instead cite it as an infraction. Remedies under § 11.67.060 include stop-work orders, fines up to double the standard permit fee, and a recorded notice of non-compliance against the property title.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do setback minimums change by residential zone in Yuba County?
Can I build closer than the table allows?
What if my lot backs onto a levee?
Can a chimney or bay window extend into the setback?
What happens if I violate the setback rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Yuba County
California rules heatmap·Compare Yuba County to another location·View the California building setbacks & zoning overview
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