Montebello, CA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Front setback
- 20 feet from street, all R-zones
- Side setback (habitable)
- 5 feet from adjoining lot
- Side street setback
- 10 feet; garage 20 feet
- Rear setback (habitable)
- 10 feet from adjoining lot
- Height add-on
- +1 ft setback per 3 ft over 15 ft
- R-3/R-4 side-access rule
- 5-10 feet depending on access type
Summary
Montebello Municipal Code § 17.10.040 and its Exhibit 17.10.040 table set a 20-foot front setback and a 10-foot rear setback from other lots for main buildings on every R-zoned lot. Side setbacks run 5 feet from other lots for habitable structures and 10 feet from a side street, with extra setback required as buildings rise above 15 feet.
In addition to the minimum setback requirements for main and accessory buildings shown in Exhibit 17.10.040, Minimum Setback Requirements, the following provisions are applicable: ... From Lot Line Bounded By Building Type Minimum Setback Front Street Main or accessory 20 feet Side Other lots Main and accessory used for human habitation 5 feet (see Section 17.10.040(A)(2)) ... Side ... Street Main or accessory 10 feet ... Rear Other lots Main or accessory used for human habitation 10 feet
Full Breakdown
Montebello Municipal Code § 17.10.040 and Exhibit 17.10.040, the Minimum Setback Requirements Table, govern every main and accessory building on R-zoned lots. A main or accessory building must sit at least 20 feet from the front lot line along a street. Along a side lot line bordering another lot, a main building or an accessory building used for human habitation needs a 5-foot setback, while a non-habitable accessory building can sit right on the line with no openings in the facing wall, or 5 feet back if it has openings.
A garage opening onto an alley needs 5 feet from the alley; a main or accessory building fronting a side street needs 10 feet, and a garage opening to a side street needs the full 20-foot front-yard depth. At the rear, a habitable main or accessory building needs 10 feet from another lot or 5 feet from an alley, while non-habitable accessory buildings can sit on the rear line except on reversed corner lots, which need 5 feet. Section 17.10.040(A)(1) adds a foot of setback for every three feet of building height over fifteen feet unless upper stories step back the full setback distance.
Section 17.10.040(B) adds a special rule for R-3 and R-4 zones: units with primary access from the side yard need a 10-foot side setback, and units with secondary side-yard access need 5 feet plus one foot per unit, up to 10 feet combined. Building within these setbacks without an approved variance under Chapter 17.72 is enforced as the general Title 17 misdemeanor.
Violations & Fines
Encroaching into the required front, side or rear setbacks set by Exhibit 17.10.040 without an approved Chapter 17.72 variance is a Title 17 misdemeanor under Montebello Municipal Code § 17.06.060, carrying a fine up to $1,000, up to six months in jail, or both under § 1.12.010. Each day the encroaching structure remains is a separate offense and public nuisance under § 17.06.080.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far must my house sit from the front property line in Montebello?
What is the side yard setback for a detached garage?
Are setbacks different for apartment buildings in the R-3 zone?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Montebello
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