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

Setbacks in unincorporated Inyo County are not a single countywide number; they are established by zoning district under Title 18, and the general yard rules in Chapter 18.78 (Sections 18.78.070 through 18.78.110) explain how yards are measured. Every building must sit on a lot providing the yards specified for its district. A required front yard extends across the full width of the lot adjacent to the front lot line and is measured inward at right angles from that line; a required rear yard extends across the full width adjacent to the rear lot line; and a required side yard extends along the side lot line from the front yard to the rear yard. In the R-1 (One Family Residence) zone, Chapter 18.30 requires a front yard depth of not less than 25 feet and an interior side yard width of not less than 5 feet, and the building site must be at least 5,800 square feet with an average width of at least 50 feet. The RR (Rural Residential) zone in Chapter 18.21 applies to larger rural parcels with a minimum parcel size of one acre and its own yard standards. Multiple-family (R-3), commercial, and industrial zones each carry different yard requirements. Because the exact front, side, and rear distances depend on the parcel's zoning, owners should confirm their district with the Planning Department before siting a structure.