Cathedral City, CA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)

Height is set district by district in Title 9 of the Cathedral City Municipal Code, and Section 9.80.030(A) requires every structure erected, reconstructed, altered, moved or enlarged to comply with the height regulations of its zone.

In the R1 Single-Family Residential District, Section 9.14.080 caps building height at twenty-six feet and building coverage at forty percent of net lot area. The RE Residential Estate District in Section 9.12.080 also prints twenty-six feet, with coverage at twenty-five percent. The R2 district (Section 9.16.080) and the RM district (Section 9.18.080) print twenty-six feet except where the building is within thirty feet of property zoned RE or R1. Within that thirty-foot band, height cannot exceed sixteen feet, though the planning commission can allow an increase up to twenty-six feet on a finding that it will not adversely affect adjacent properties. Review of an increase above sixteen feet runs through a design review application. R2 coverage is fifty percent and RM coverage is sixty percent. The R3 district in Section 9.20.080 prints thirty-five feet, with the same sixteen-foot band next to RE, R1 or R2 property.

Section 9.08.020 defines building height as the vertical distance from the level of the finished building pad grade to the uppermost portion of the building, including roof structures.

Section 9.80.030(A) lets roof structures for elevators, stairways, tanks, ventilating fans or similar equipment, parapet walls, skylights, towers, church spires, chimneys and wireless masts rise above the height limits when they can be safely erected, but no space above the limit can be used for additional floor space. Under Section 9.80.030(B) and (C), the city planner can permit a flagpole or mast up to fifty feet in residential zones, set back twenty feet from a public right-of-way if under fifty feet and forty feet if taller.