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

Building and structure height in unincorporated Del Norte County is set per zoning district. In the inland R-1 One Family Residence district, Section 20.16.40 caps main buildings at 35 feet and accessory buildings at 16 feet unless a use permit is first secured. Height is measured under Section 20.04.350 as the vertical distance from the average level of the highest and lowest points of the portion of the lot covered by the building to the highest point of the building. The general provisions in Section 20.48.70 (Height Restrictions) allow specified appurtenances - chimneys, vents, mechanical equipment, towers, poles, and water tanks - to exceed the district height limit, and require a use permit where a fence, wall, hedge, or other feature exceeds the stated heights. Other districts carry their own height limits in their Title 20 chapters, so the 35-foot/16-foot figures are the R-1 standard rather than a universal cap. Within the certified coastal zone, height is governed by Title 21 and the Local Coastal Program; coastal height limits are often tied to protecting public views and coastal character, and a Coastal Development Permit may be required. To exceed the applicable limit, a use permit or variance is the mechanism. Confirm your district and coastal status, and how height is measured on sloping parcels, with the Planning Division.