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

Some Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Min front setback: 15 ft (20 ft to garage)
Min side setback: 5 ft (10 ft corner lot)
Min rear setback: 20 ft
Accessory building setback: 1.5 ft side/rear
District: R-1 Single-Family Residential

Summary

In Pacifica's R-1 Single-Family Residential District, a house must sit back at least fifteen feet from the front lot line, five feet from each side lot line, and twenty feet from the rear lot line, with wider setbacks for garages and corner lots. The Planning Division checks these minimums on every building and site development permit.

(d)Minimum front setback: fifteen (15′) feet; however, the minimum front setback to a garage entrance shall be twenty (20′) feet. The minimum setback entrance on the street side of a corner lot shall be twenty (20′) feet. (For nonconforming lots, see Section 9-4.3002 and for garages as accessory buildings, see Section 9-4.2704).(e)Minimum side setback: five (5′) feet; however, the minimum exterior side yard for corner lots shall be ten (10′) feet. (For nonconforming lots, see Sec. 9-4.3002);(f)Minimum rear setback: twenty (20′) feet;

View official code

Full Breakdown

402 spells out the yard setbacks that apply to every R-1 lot. Subsection (d) sets the minimum front setback at fifteen feet, but pushes it to twenty feet for a garage entrance and to twenty feet for the street-side setback on a corner lot. Subsection (e) sets the minimum side setback at five feet, widening to ten feet for the exterior side yard on a corner lot. Subsection (f) sets a flat twenty-foot minimum rear setback. 2704. 3002 for relief on nonconforming lots that predate the current dimensional standards, and Article 27 of the zoning chapter for further setback detail, including permitted projections like eaves and bay windows into the required yard.

5: a detached ADU needs only four feet from the side and rear lines and fifteen feet from the front, while an ADU built within an existing structure's footprint can have no setback at all. 402(d) through (f) as the baseline and confirm any exceptions before finalizing plans.

Violations & Fines

Building within the required front, side, or rear setback without an approved variance or applicable exception is a zoning violation enforceable under the Municipal Code's general penalty, Section 1-2.01. It carries misdemeanor exposure of up to a $1,000 fine and six months in county jail, or the City Attorney may pursue it as an infraction with fines starting at $100 and rising to $500 for repeat violations within a year. Code Enforcement can order an encroaching structure removed or modified, and each day it remains is treated as a separate violation.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far back from the street must a house sit in Pacifica's R-1 zone?

Section 9-4.402(d) sets the minimum front setback at fifteen feet, but a garage entrance must be set back twenty feet, and the street-side setback on a corner lot is also twenty feet, so garage placement often drives the actual buildable line.

What is the minimum side yard setback for a single-family home?

Section 9-4.402(e) requires a minimum five-foot side setback on a standard interior lot, increasing to ten feet for the exterior side yard of a corner lot, which affects where a fence, addition, or accessory structure can be placed.

Can I build a shed right up to my rear property line?

Not quite. Section 9-4.402(g) allows a nondwelling accessory building, like a shed or detached garage, to come as close as one and a half feet from the side or rear lot line, subject to the accessory building standards in Section 9-4.2704, but not zero.

Do accessory dwelling units follow the same setbacks as the main house?

No. Detached accessory dwelling units use their own standards under Article 4.5, generally four feet from the side and rear lines and fifteen feet from the front, which are narrower than the standard R-1 setbacks in Section 9-4.402.

Sources & Official References

[1]Pacifica Municipal Code (Municode)

Other rules in Pacifica

Noise Ordinances: Quiet HoursSome Restrictions Fence Regulations: Height LimitsSome Restrictions Lot Coverage LimitsSome Restrictions Structure Height LimitsSome Restrictions Parking Rules: EV ChargingSome Restrictions Parking Rules: Driveway RulesSome Restrictions Fence Regulations: Retaining WallsSome Restrictions Fence Regulations: Fence Permit RequirementsSome Restrictions

All Pacifica rules

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