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

Some Restrictions

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

Key Facts

R-1 principal building limit: 2 stories / 30 feet
R-1 accessory building limit: 1 story / 15 feet
R-2 limit: Same 2 stories / 30 feet
Governing section: DMC § 40.03.050 (R-1), § 40.04.050 (R-2)
Exception clause: DMC § 40.27.030

Summary

In Davis's R-1 single-family district, no principal building may exceed two stories or 30 feet, and no accessory building may exceed one story or 15 feet, unless an exception in Section 40.27.030 applies. The same two-story, 30-foot cap also governs the R-2 one- and two-family district.

No principal building shall exceed two stories or thirty feet in height. No accessory building shall exceed one story or fifteen feet in height, except as provided in Section 40.27.030.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4915048; v22 updated 2026-05-19).

Full Breakdown

030. 050 for the R-2 district, meaning duplex and two-family lots share the same envelope as single-family lots. 060(i) applies the same story-count test to attic conversions, which must take the setbacks of the story directly below and cannot add stories beyond what the district's height limit allows. 030 rather than assuming the base district height applies; the code treats the two-story/thirty-foot figure as the default ceiling for the R-1 and R-2 zones absent that exception.

Violations & Fines

Section 40.01.120(b) makes it unlawful to erect, reconstruct, or structurally alter any building or structure so that it exceeds the height limit designated for its district. Because building permits are issued against the applicable district's height standard, a structure exceeding the R-1 or R-2 cap without qualifying for the Section 40.27.030 exception can be denied a permit or subjected to city code enforcement for a completed violation.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall can a house be in Davis's R-1 zone?

Section 40.03.050 caps a principal building at two stories or thirty feet, whichever governs, in the R-1 single-family district, unless the project qualifies for an exception under Section 40.27.030.

Is the height limit different for a detached garage or shed?

Yes. Section 40.03.050 limits accessory buildings, such as a detached garage or shed, to one story or fifteen feet, half the principal-building allowance, again subject to the Section 40.27.030 exception.

Does a duplex in Davis have a taller height allowance than a single-family home?

No. Section 40.04.050 sets the identical two-story, thirty-foot limit for principal buildings in the R-2 one- and two-family district, with the same fifteen-foot, one-story cap for accessory buildings.

Can I add a third story if I stay under 30 feet?

No. Section 40.03.050 caps buildings at two stories or thirty feet, whichever applies, so a three-story design exceeds the story limit even if its total height is under thirty feet, unless it qualifies under Section 40.27.030.

Sources & Official References

[1]Davis Municipal Code § 40.03.050

Other rules in Davis

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