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

Placer County sets maximum building height by zone district, with general rules and exceptions in Zoning Ordinance Section 17.54.020 (Height limits and exceptions). In the Residential Agricultural (RA), Residential Forest (RF), and Residential Multifamily (RM) zones, the maximum height is 36 feet, as stated in the site development standards tables (Sections 17.44.010, 17.46.010, and 17.48.010). In the Residential Single-Family (RS) zone, the maximum height is approximately 30 feet, except that portions of buildings and structures within 10 feet of a rear property line are limited to a height of 15 feet, which steps down the building envelope near the rear line. Height is generally 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 meet grade, or from an approved building-pad grade. Certain features (such as chimneys and antennas) may exceed the limit under the exceptions in Section 17.54.020. In the Lake Tahoe Basin, structures must conform to the height requirements in the TRPA Code of Ordinances, which control where they conflict with Section 17.54.020. Exceeding the height limit requires a variance under Section 17.60.100, as documented in county height-variance cases. Because limits and exceptions depend on zone, location, and plan area, confirm the applicable maximum with Placer County CDRA Planning.