Dublin, CA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- West of Dougherty Rd (A/R-1/R-2)
- 25 ft. base, up to 35 ft.
- East of Dougherty Rd (A/R-1/R-2)
- 35 feet, 2 stories
- R-M, 4 or fewer units
- 35-foot height cap
- R-M, 5+ units, coverage 35% or less
- Up to 75 feet
- Slope bonus
- 5-15 ft. extra on 15%+ slopes
- Governing section
- Dublin Municipal Code Sec. 8.36.110
Summary
Dublin Municipal Code Section 8.36.110 caps residential building height at 25 to 35 feet west of Dougherty Road and 35 feet east of it in single-family and duplex zones, and at 35 to 75 feet in the R-M multifamily district depending on unit count and lot coverage, measured from natural grade.
A. Applicability of height limits. Height limits for buildings and structures are established by Chapter 8.12, Zoning Districts and Permitted Uses of Land; other provisions of this Title; Chapter 8.36, Development Regulations; Chapter 8.72, Landscaping and Fencing Regulations for fence height limits; and Chapter 8.84, Sign Regulations, for sign height limits. No building or structure shall be constructed or altered to exceed the height limits established by this Title, except as otherwise provided by this Chapter. B. Measurement of height. The height limits for buildings and structures established by this Chapter or other provisions of this Title shall be measured as the vertical distance from the highest point of the structure to the average of the highest and lowest points where the exterior walls touch the natural grade, as shown in Figure 36-5.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 2-26, passed March 3, 2026).
Full Breakdown
84 for signs, and flatly bars any building or structure from exceeding those limits except through the exceptions the chapter itself lists. B measures height as the vertical distance from a structure's highest point to the average of the highest and lowest points where the exterior walls meet natural grade. 020 table sets the actual numbers: in the A, R-1 and R-2 districts, height is capped at 25 feet and 2 stories west of Dougherty Road (increasable to 35 feet and 2 stories through a Site Development Review approved by the Zoning Administrator) and 35 feet and 2 stories east of Dougherty Road.
In the R-M multifamily district, the cap is 35 feet for a project of 4 or fewer dwelling units, 45 feet for 5 or more units, and 75 feet for 5 or more units if lot coverage does not exceed 35 percent. C lists exceptions: public and quasi-public buildings such as schools, churches and hospitals may rise to 75 feet in zones with a limit under 75 feet if setbacks increase one foot for every foot of extra height; homes on slopes of 15 percent or more get a height bonus of 5 to 15 feet depending on slope; chimneys and mechanical appurtenances may exceed the district limit by 15 percent; and towers, poles and water tanks may exceed it with Site Development Review approval by the Zoning Administrator.
Violations & Fines
Constructing a building or structure taller than Section 8.36.110 and the Section 8.36.020 table allow, without an approved exception or Site Development Review, is a public nuisance under Dublin Municipal Code Section 8.144.050, enforceable by the Department of Community Development. A first infraction is fined up to $100, a second up to $200, and a third within a year up to $500, with further violations chargeable as a misdemeanor under Section 8.144.070, and no permit may issue for an over-height structure until compliance is documented.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can a house be in Dublin?
Can an apartment building exceed 35 feet in Dublin's R-M district?
Does a sloped lot get a height bonus in Dublin?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Dublin
California rules heatmap·Compare Dublin to another location·View the California building setbacks & zoning overview
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Structure Height Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Alameda County handle structure height limits.