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

Building setbacks for unincorporated Tuolumne County are established in Chapter 17.22.030.B of the Title 17 Zoning Ordinance. Two rules work together. First, in any zoning district, no building may be located closer than thirty-five feet to the centerline of any street or right-of-way (excluding alleys). Second, in all districts except the commercial and industrial districts (C-K, C-O, C-1, C-2, C-S, BP, M-1, and M-2), no building may be closer than fifteen feet from the front boundary, fifteen feet from the rear boundary, and six feet from the side boundaries. For substandard-width parcels of record, Chapter 17.22.030.E allows the side-yard setback to be reduced to ten percent of the parcel width, but in no case less than three feet (and corner-lot buildings still cannot be within ten feet of a right-of-way line). Certain projections are allowed into required yards under 17.22.030.C, including eaves up to two feet, decks and balconies up to four feet into front or rear yards, and walls and fences. Above 3,500 feet elevation or on steep slopes (over 20 percent), a garage or carport may be set back as little as 10 feet from the road edge under specified conditions. Historic (HDP) district buildings follow the historic setback pattern instead.