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

Table 2-3 in Fountain Valley Municipal Code § 21.08.040 lists a height limit of 30 ft./2 stories for both the R1 and GH districts. Footnote 5 points to § 21.18.050 and adds that no architectural features, windows, etc., may appear above the second story eave line. For R1 the table also caps the second story at 70% of the first story's building area. Footnote 6 limits the first-story wall height used to meet that ratio to 10 ft, and any vaulted ceiling area above the 10 ft wall height counts toward the second story. A covered second story balcony or deck also counts toward the 70% ratio under footnote 9. In GH the ratio is set by the Planning Commission. Balconies and decks are prohibited in side and rear yards when adjacent to other single-family homes in R1.

Height is measured under § 21.18.050 as the vertical distance from finish grade to a plane parallel to grade at the height the district allows. That section lets roof-mounted structures for chimneys, elevators, flagpoles, stairways, tanks, towers and ventilating fans rise up to 15 ft above the allowed height, provided all such structures together cover no more than 25% of the roof area. Fire or parapet walls can extend 4 ft above the limit (5.5 ft in the MU-1 and MU-2 zones), and no mechanical equipment can rise above the parapet. Fences and walls follow § 21.18.070 instead.

Accessory buildings have their own caps in § 21.08.050: detached accessory structures stay at 6 to 10 ft within 5 ft of a rear or side line and 15 ft within 10 ft of the line. A new detached accessory dwelling unit is limited to one story and 16 ft under § 21.08.055(b)(17).