Colusa County, CA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential R-R / R-1 / R-2
- 30 ft max structure height (Table 44-2.30-2)
- Residential R-3 / R-4
- 40 ft max structure height
- Agricultural Structures
- 50 ft max height
- Commercial / Industrial
- Up to 40-100 ft depending on zone
- Height Measured
- Average finished grade to highest point (Art. 44-0)
- Confirm Zone
- Colusa County Planning Division, (530) 458-0480
Summary
The Colusa County Zoning Code caps building height by zone. In the residential zones, the maximum structure height is 30 feet in Rural Residential, Single-Family, and Two-Family zones, and 40 feet in the Multiple-Family and Apartment-Professional zones. Agricultural and other zones allow taller structures.
Maximum Structure Height: 30 ft / 30 ft / 30 ft / 40 ft / 40 ft (R-R / R-1 / R-2 / R-3 / R-4).
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
The Colusa County Zoning Code (Article 44-2) sets maximum structure heights in its development-standards tables, which vary by zoning classification. 30-2). In the agricultural zones, the maximum height for agricultural structures is 50 feet, with separate accessory agricultural-structure limits. Commercial and industrial zones have their own height limits - several commercial zones allow up to 40 feet, and certain industrial zones allow taller primary structures (for example up to 50 feet, and up to 100 feet in a heavy-industrial classification), with even higher limits for specific accessory structures.
Height is measured under the Zoning Code's definition as the vertical distance from the structure's average finished grade - the midpoint between the highest and lowest points where the structure contacts the ground - to the highest point of the structure. Because limits differ by zone and certain features may be exempt, owners should confirm their parcel's classification and the applicable height limit with the Colusa County Planning Division before designing a tall structure.
Violations & Fines
Constructing a building that exceeds the height limit for its zone is a zoning violation; plans that exceed the limit will not pass plan check, and the project may require a variance. Enforcement runs through the county's code-compliance and building-permit process. Lawfully built structures that predate current limits may be treated as legal nonconforming.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can a house be in unincorporated Colusa County?
How is building height measured in Colusa County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Colusa County
California rules heatmap·Compare Colusa County to another location·View the California building setbacks & zoning overview
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