Apple Valley, CA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- R-VLD to R-SF, PRD height
- 35 ft max
- R-M height range
- 35-50 ft (see Sec. 9.29.070)
- M-U height
- 50 ft max
- MHP height
- 18 ft max
- Mechanical/architectural projection
- +15 ft allowed
- Governing table
- Table 9.28.040-A, row 12
Summary
Apple Valley caps building height at 35 feet in most single-family residential districts, up to 50 feet in Mixed Use and R-M, and 18 feet in the Mobile Home Park district under Development Code Table 9.28.040-A, with a 15-foot allowance for mechanical and architectural projections.
12. Height limitations (11) (ft) 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35—50 (13) 18 (13) 50 35
(11) Certain mechanical and architectural features may exceed height limits by a maximum of fifteen (15) feet pursuant to subsection 9.28.040.E Projections above Height Limits, of this Chapter.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 19 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
040 sets the maximum structure height for each residential zoning district. Most single-family districts, including R-VLD, R-A, R-LD, R-E, R-E 3/4, R-EQ, R-SF and PRD, are capped at 35 feet. 7 for the specific standards that set where in that range a given project lands. The Mobile Home Park (MHP) district is capped at 18 feet, also governed by footnote (13)'s cross-references. E, Projections Above Height Limits. That means a 35-foot district can still see a qualifying feature reach 50 feet if it counts as a mechanical or architectural projection rather than habitable floor area.
020(D): they cannot exceed the district's maximum height, and in the single-family, equestrian residential and multi-family districts they are further limited to 100% of the main structure's height, or 16 feet, whichever is less, for a one-story structure, or 75% of the main structure's height if that structure has two or more stories. 17.
Violations & Fines
Constructing a building above the height table's limit, or above the 15-foot projection allowance in Section 9.28.040.E, is a Development Code violation under Section 9.26.010: an infraction or misdemeanor under Municipal Code Section 1.01.200, punishable by up to $1,000 and six months in County jail, with each day of noncompliance a separate offense under Section 9.26.030. The Building Official reviews height at plan check before a permit issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum house height in Apple Valley's R-SF district?
Can a chimney or roof equipment exceed the 35-foot height limit?
How tall can a detached garage or shed be next to my house?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Apple Valley
California rules heatmap·Compare Apple Valley to another location·View the California building setbacks & zoning overview
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Structure Height Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Bernardino County handle structure height limits.