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

Building height in unincorporated Sacramento County is governed by Zoning Code Chapter 5, with the specific maximum for each district set in its development standards table. As a practical guide, the County states that typical single-family residential homes can be up to 30 feet tall, and residential accessory structures are typically required to be 16 feet tall or less. Beyond the standard residential numbers, the Code includes special height provisions in Section 5.2.2. Public buildings, hotels, apartment houses, schools, places of worship, hospitals, and similar buildings may be erected to a height not to exceed 75 feet, provided that the required yards are increased one foot for each one foot of height (Section 5.2.2.C.1). For commercial and industrial districts, height may be increased up to 150 feet where buildings are set back a distance at least equal to their height, and buildings near high-frequency transit may have additional flexibility with a Special Development Permit (Section 5.2.2.C.2). Rooftop features such as towers, penthouses, mechanical equipment shelters, solar panels, and wind turbines may exceed the limit subject to lot-coverage caps (Section 5.2.2.B). Height is also capped near airports: in aircraft approach zones, structures and even trees may not exceed the limits established on the Comprehensive Zoning Plan (Section 5.2.2.A). Always confirm your zone's exact height limit and any overlay before designing.