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

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

RS front setback
20 ft.
RS rear setback
20-30 ft.
R1 front setback
15 ft. (house)
R2 front setback
10 ft. (house)
Governing table
CMC Table 4-3A/4-3B

Summary

Chico's zoning tables set a 20-ft. front and side setback in the RS district (10 ft. sides in RS-20), a 20-30 ft. rear setback, and tighter 10-15 ft. front setbacks in the denser R1 and R2 districts.

Setbacks Required 20 ft. Front Sides (each) 10 ft. in RS-20; 20 ft. elsewhere. Street side Rear 20 ft. in RS-20; 30 ft. elsewhere

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Supplement contains local legislation current through: Codified Resolution No. 53-26, adopted 7-14-26 and Ordinance No. 2622, adopted 6-2-26).

Full Breakdown

Table 4-3A requires a 20-ft. front setback in Chico's RS district, with side and street-side yards at 10 ft. in the RS-20 subdistrict and 20 ft. elsewhere, and a rear setback of 20 ft. in RS-20 rising to 30 ft. elsewhere. Denser residential zones scale down: Table 4-3B sets R1 front setbacks at 15 ft. for the house and 20 ft. for garages/carports, with 4-ft. side yards (10 ft. in R1-10/R1-15), while R2 drops the front setback to 10 ft. Accessory structures follow separate standards in CMC § 19.76.020, and setback measurement and exceptions are addressed in CMC § 19.60.090.

Violations & Fines

Building within the required setback without an approved use permit, small-lot exception, or urban-lot-split standard can result in a stop-work order and denial of final building-permit sign-off until the encroachment is removed or approved.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far back must a house sit from the front property line in Chico?
It depends on the zone: 20 ft. in RS, 15 ft. in R1, and 10 ft. in R2, per CMC § 19.42.030 Tables 4-3A and 4-3B; garages generally need 20 ft.
Are side setbacks the same in every residential zone?
No. RS requires 10 ft. (RS-20) to 20 ft. per side, while R1 and R2 drop to 4 ft., sometimes plus extra footage per story where the lot abuts an RS or R1 district.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Chico

Fence Regulations: Height LimitsSome RestrictionsLot Coverage LimitsSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Aircraft NoiseSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Commercial & Oversized VehiclesSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Retaining WallsSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Material RestrictionsSignificant RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: BeekeepingSome Restrictions

All Chico rules

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