Fresno County, CA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Zoning Ordinance § 822.3.060
- Measurement point
- Curb level or front finished grade to highest point
- Excludes
- Chimneys and ventilators from height measurement
- Assembly facility bonus
- Up to 25 extra feet with added setbacks
- Misc. structure bonus
- Up to 50% above zone maximum height
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor, up to $500 fine or 180 days jail
Summary
Fresno County measures building height and sets maximum limits by zone under Zoning Ordinance Section 822.3.060. Height runs from the adjoining curb level, or from finished grade at the front of a setback structure, up to the highest point, excluding chimneys and ventilators, with limited increases allowed for specific structure types.
822.3.060 - Height Measurement and Height Limit Exceptions
All structures shall meet the standards in this Section relating to height, except for fences and walls, which shall comply with Section 822.3.050 (Fences, Walls, and Hedges). A. Maximum height allowed. The height of structures shall not exceed the standards established by the applicable zone in Article 2 (Zones, Allowable Land Uses, and Zone-Specific Standards), except as otherwise provided in this Section. B. Height measurement. Height shall be measured as the vertical distance from the adjoining curb level to the highest point of the structure, exclusive of chimneys and ventilators; provided, however, that where structure(s) is set back from the street line, the height shall be measured from the average elevation of the finished grade at the front of the structure(s).
Full Breakdown
050. Subsection A caps structure height at whatever the applicable base zone establishes in Article 2's zone-specific standards tables; the ordinance does not set one flat countywide number, so the limit differs by zone. Subsection B fixes how height is measured: as the vertical distance from the adjoining curb level to the structure's highest point, excluding chimneys and ventilators, except that where a structure is set back from the street line, height is measured from the average finished grade at the front of the structure.
Subsection C allows specific increases above the zone's base limit. Assembly and meeting facilities in zones with a 35-foot or lower limit may add up to 25 feet if front, side, and rear setbacks each increase by one additional foot for every four feet of height added above 35 feet. A separate list of miscellaneous structures, including farm barns and silos in the RC and RE zones, agricultural cupolas and observation towers, flag poles, fire and hose towers, water tanks, and noncommercial antennae up to 65 feet, may exceed the zone's maximum structure height by up to 50 percent, or more if a land use permit specifies a greater height. All increases must still comply with airport safety regulations and any conditions of an approved land use permit.
Violations & Fines
Building above the height allowed for a parcel's zone, without qualifying for one of Section 822.3.060's listed exceptions or an approved land use permit increase, violates the Zoning Ordinance. Section 878.6.030 makes the violation a misdemeanor: a fine up to $500, up to 180 days in county jail, or both, charged as a separate offense for each day the excess height remains uncorrected.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is building height measured in unincorporated Fresno County?
Can a barn or water tank exceed the normal height limit?
Do fences count toward the zoning height limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fresno County
California rules heatmap·Compare Fresno County to another location·View the California building setbacks & zoning overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.