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

Table 2-3 of Fountain Valley Municipal Code § 21.08.040 sets the yard minimums that the City of Fountain Valley applies to new structures and to alterations of existing ones. In the R1 district the front setback is 20 ft. Each side yard is 5 ft, with 10 ft on the street side of a corner lot. The rear setback is 10 ft for a single story and 25 ft or 20% of the average lot depth, whichever is less, for two stories. A footnote adds that at least 1,000 sq. ft. of open area must remain in the rear yard. Large through lots (parcels over 10,000 sq. ft.) carry their own row: 20 ft front, 10 ft side (15 ft on corner lots) and 25 ft or 20% of lot depth at the rear. In the GH district the front, side and rear setbacks are set by the Planning Commission, and each unit needs at least 320 sq. ft. of private rear yard. Zero lot line developments still need a 5 ft side setback for second story additions.

Setbacks are measured under § 21.18.090 at right angles from the property line to the nearest wall of the structure. That section lets an R1 or GH porch reach 4 ft into the front setback, and lets cantilevered features such as bay windows and eaves reach 3 ft into the front yard, 2 ft into a side yard (never closer than 3 ft to the line) and 5 ft into the rear yard. Fences, and decks under 18 inches above grade, are exempt. Where a wall is not parallel to the lot line, side and rear yards can be averaged, but never below 3 ft at the side or 10 ft at the rear. The planning director decides any measurement the code does not cover. Accessory buildings follow the separate Table 2-5 setbacks in § 21.08.050.