Highland, CA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- R-1 front yard
- 25 ft.
- R-1 interior side yards
- 5 ft. and 10 ft.
- R-1 street side yard
- 15 ft.
- R-1 rear yard
- 20 ft.
- R-2 front and rear yards
- 20 ft. front, 20 ft. rear
- Two-story elements
- Minimum 10-foot setback outside R-2C and EHV
Summary
In the City of Highland, California, Table 16.16.040.B sets minimum front, interior side, street side, and rear yard setbacks for each residential district. An R-1 lot needs a 25 ft. front yard, 5 ft. and 10 ft. interior side yards, a 15 ft. street side yard, and a 20 ft. rear yard.
Table 16.16.040.B Residential Site Development Standards A/EQ R-1 R-2 R-3 R-4 HDS VR R-2Cm EHV ... ... 5. Minimum front yard setback 35 ft.e 25 ft.f 20 ft. 25 ft. 25 ft.g See R-4 15 ft. 15 ft. at any given point, but an avg. minimum of 20 ft. 19 ft. 6. Minimum interior side yard setbackh 10% of lot width 5 ft. and 10 ft. 5 ft. and 10 ft. 10 ft. – 15 ft. 15 ft.g See R-4 An aggregate of 15 ft. compatible with adjacent setbacks of existing surrounding building(s). Any setback less than 3 ft. is subject to additional requirements of California Building Code 0 ft. for attached units and 3 ft. for detached units 10% of lot width 7. Minimum street side yard setbackh 15% of lot width 15 ft. 15 ft. 20 ft. 15 ft.g See R-4 15 ft. 15 ft. at any given point, but an avg. minimum of 20 ft. 10 ft. 8. Minimum rear yard setbacki 35 ft. 20 ft. 20 ft. 15 ft. – 20 ft. 15 ft. See R-4 20 ft. 10 ft. for 1- or 2-story units 10 ft.
Full Breakdown
Section 16.16.040 of the Highland Municipal Code applies Table 16.16.040.B, Residential Site Development Standards, to all land and permitted or conditionally permitted buildings in the residential districts of the City of Highland, San Bernardino County. The columns run A/EQ, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, HDS, VR, R-2C, and EHV.
Front yard minimums: A/EQ 35 ft., R-1 25 ft., R-2 20 ft., R-3 25 ft., R-4 25 ft., VR 15 ft., R-2C 15 ft. at any given point with an average minimum of 20 ft., and EHV 19 ft. Interior side yards: A/EQ 10% of lot width, R-1 and R-2 5 ft. and 10 ft., R-3 10 ft. to 15 ft., R-4 15 ft. Street side yards: A/EQ 15% of lot width, R-1 and R-2 15 ft., R-3 20 ft., R-4 15 ft. Rear yards: A/EQ 35 ft., R-1 and R-2 20 ft., R-3 15 ft. to 20 ft., R-4 15 ft. The HDS column reads "See R-4" for each row.
Footnotes change several numbers. On private streets, the A/EQ front setback is 65 feet and the R-1 front setback is 55 feet, both measured from the street centerline. Outside R-2C and EHV, a minimum 10-foot setback applies to all two-story or greater elements, and side yards need at least five feet of flat area. Rear yards need 15 feet of flat, usable area, or 10 feet in R-2C and EHV. Where R-4 units abut R-1 property, a landscaped setback equal to the R-4 building height is required, up to a maximum of 25 feet.
Section 16.16.040(B) adds two rules. Front yard setbacks of individual lots in subdivision developments can be reduced by 20 percent if the average of all such setbacks is not less than the district minimum. A two-story building or room addition closer than 50 feet to an existing single-family residence needs a staff review permit before a building permit issues, or 30 feet in R-2C. Mechanical equipment other than ground-mounted air conditioning cannot sit in the required front or street side setback.
Violations & Fines
Under § 16.04.030, a building or structure erected or maintained contrary to Title 16 is declared unlawful and a public nuisance. The city attorney, code compliance officer, or district attorney can start abatement, removal, and injunction proceedings. A setback that falls short of Table 16.16.040.B is a matter for the Community Development Department, and relief runs through the variance and review processes in Title 16.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the front yard setback in Highland's R-1 district?
How far back must the rear of a house sit in Highland's R-2 district?
Do two-story homes need bigger setbacks in Highland?
Which Highland zones use the R-4 setbacks?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Highland
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Setback Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Bernardino County handle setback rules.