Long Beach, CA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- R-1-S height cap
- 24 ft / 28 ft
- R-1-M/N/L cap
- 25 ft, 2 stories
- R-2-I cap
- 32-35 ft, 3 stories
- R-4-U cap
- 65 ft, 5 stories
- Roof flagpole exception
- +10 ft above building
- Ground flagpole cap
- 60 ft
Summary
Long Beach caps residential building height by zoning district under Table 31-2A, from 24-28 feet in the small-lot R-1-S zone to 65 feet and five stories in the R-4-U high-density zone, with Section 21.31.220 setting separate exceptions for chimneys, flagpoles, antennas and rooftop equipment.
21.31.220 - Height limits. A.Measurement. A measurement of height shall use the definition of height contained in Section 21.15.1330. B.Exceptions. The height limitations specified in Table 31-2A shall apply to all elements and equipment on a building, except as follows:1.Chimneys and vent pipes shall be allowed to exceed the applicable height limit by two feet (2′)...2.Flagpoles, when placed on the roof of a building, may exceed the height of the building by ten feet (10′). When placed on the ground, flagpoles shall not exceed sixty feet (60′) in height. ... [Table 31-2A Maximum Height] R-1-S: 24 ft./28 ft. | R-1-M/N/L: 25 ft. 2 St. | R-2-I: 32 ft./35 ft.(e) 3 St. | R-4-U: 65 ft.(f) 5 St.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 52 Update 1 | City Charter: Supplement 5).
Full Breakdown
1330 and applies Table 31-2A's 'Maximum Height' column to 'all elements and equipment on a building,' subject to named exceptions. Table 31-2A sets the base limits: the small-lot R-1-S single-family zone tops out at 24 feet (28 feet under a footnote condition), R-1-M, R-1-N and R-1-L single-family zones are capped at 25 feet and two stories, the R-2-I duplex zone reaches 32 to 35 feet and three stories, and the R-4-U apartment zone allows 65 feet and five stories. The R-4-H zone runs on its own incentive table (Table 31-3A): a lot under 180 feet wide is capped at five stories (65 feet), while a lot 376 feet or wider can reach 24 stories if it also meets the zone's higher density threshold.
060; rooftop solar collectors may exceed the limit only when installation elsewhere on the roof isn't feasible and the installation is consistent with the certified Local Coastal Program; and in the R-4 zones, rooftop stair and elevator penthouses, HVAC equipment, and amenities like spas and patio covers may extend up to 10 feet above the district's height limit.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the district height limit is enforced as a Chapter 1.32 Code violation, a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $1,000 fine and six months in jail, with each day a separate offense, or through an administrative citation under Section 9.65.060 for a Title 21 violation, in addition to any correction the Building Official orders during plan check or field inspection.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can I build a house in Long Beach?
Can rooftop equipment exceed the height limit?
Are solar panels exempt from the height cap?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Long Beach
California rules heatmap·Compare Long Beach to another location·View the California building setbacks & zoning overview
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