Skip to main content
CityRuleLookup

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

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Governing section
§ 21.62.040, Table 21.62.B
Front setback
15 feet minimum
Side setbacks
10 feet each side minimum
Rear setback
15 feet minimum
Rogers/Baldwin/Sperry corridor
20 feet from property line or ROW plan line
Applies to
Light Industrial (LI) zoning district, unincorporated county

Summary

In Stanislaus County's unincorporated Light Industrial (LI) zoning district, Table 21.62.B sets minimum setbacks of 15 feet at the front, 10 feet on each side, and 15 feet at the rear of a lot. Along Rogers Road, Baldwin Road, and Sperry Avenue, the minimum jumps to 20 feet from the property line or right-of-way plan line, whichever is greater.

City-specific rules exist: Modesto has its own setback rules rules that differ from Stanislaus County's county-level regulations. If you live in Modesto, check the city-specific page instead.

Subdivisions, new land uses and structures, and alterations to existing land uses and structures, shall be designed, constructed, and established in compliance with the requirements in Table 21.62.B... TABLE 21.62.B LIGHT INDUSTRIAL ZONING DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS ... Setbacks(3) Minimum setback required. See Chapter 21.62.080 for setback measurements, and allowed projections into setbacks. Front 15 ft. Sides (each) 10 ft. Rear 15 ft. ... (3) The minimum setback for parking, buildings and other structures along Rogers Road, Baldwin Road, Sperry Avenue shall be twenty feet measured from the property line or the adopted right-of-way plan line, whichever is greater.

Full Breakdown

, alongside a 2-acre minimum lot area, 100-foot minimum lot dimension, 25,000-square-foot minimum building size, 50 percent maximum site coverage, and a 45-foot height limit. " The same footnote adds that other minimum setbacks may be imposed based on a site-specific development proposal. 080. B standards only on specific findings that the exception is not a special privilege and will not harm health, safety, or welfare in the vicinity. These figures apply only within the LI zoning district in the unincorporated county; Modesto, Turlock, Ceres, Riverbank, Oakdale, Patterson, Newman, Waterford, and Hughson each set their own city zoning setbacks inside city limits.

Violations & Fines

Building or expanding within the setback without an approved exception is a zoning violation subject to Stanislaus County Code § 1.36.010, the county's general penalty section, which makes an unpermitted violation of any code provision a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, imprisonment in county jail for up to six months, or both. A property owner seeking relief from the 15/10/15-foot table or the 20-foot road-corridor setback must apply for an exception under § 21.62.050 and secure the required findings from the director or planning commission before building.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the yard setbacks in Stanislaus County's Light Industrial district?
Table 21.62.B under § 21.62.040 sets a 15-foot front setback, 10 feet on each side, and 15 feet at the rear for the LI zoning district, along with a 2-acre minimum lot, 100-foot minimum lot width, and 45-foot height limit.
Is there a different setback along specific roads?
Yes. A footnote to Table 21.62.B requires a 20-foot minimum setback for parking, buildings, and other structures along Rogers Road, Baldwin Road, and Sperry Avenue, measured from the property line or the adopted right-of-way plan line, whichever is greater.
Can a property owner get an exception to these setbacks?
Yes, under § 21.62.050. The director can grant an exception for a permitted use, or the planning commission for a conditional use, but only after finding the exception is not a special privilege and won't harm health, safety, or welfare in the vicinity.
Do these setbacks apply inside Modesto or Turlock?
No. Table 21.62.B governs only the Light Industrial zoning district in unincorporated Stanislaus County. Modesto, Turlock, Ceres, and the county's other cities apply their own municipal zoning setbacks within city limits.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Stanislaus County

All Stanislaus County rules

California rules heatmap·Compare Stanislaus County to another location·View the California building setbacks & zoning overview

Get notified when Setback Rules in Stanislaus County, CA changes

We'll email you the moment we detect a change in the code. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We'll never sell or share your email. One-click unsubscribe in every email.

See something wrong?

Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.

Setback Rules in Cities Across Stanislaus County