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

Building height limits in unincorporated Lake County are established by each base zoning district in the County of Lake Zoning Ordinance, with exceptions in Article 42. In the R1 Single-Family Residential district (Sec. 21-10), the maximum height is thirty-five (35) feet for a principal structure and twenty (20) feet for an accessory structure (Sec. 10.16). Article 42 provides height exceptions that apply across districts: accessory buildings generally may not exceed twenty (20) feet in height, but the limit may be exceeded by securing a minor use permit (Sec. 42.10(a)); appurtenant structures attached to a building - chimneys, vents, towers, heating and cooling devices - may be erected up to fifteen (15) percent above the district height limit (Sec. 42.10(b)); and detached appurtenant structures such as silos, flagpoles, water tanks and similar features may exceed height limits with a major use permit (Sec. 42.10(c)). Under Section 42.14, the maximum height limitations of the chapter may be exceeded only upon securing a major use permit in each case. Utility distribution and transmission poles and towers are exempt from the maximum height regulations (Sec. 42.12). Because each zoning district sets its own height limit, owners should confirm the maximum height for their specific district with the Planning Division before designing a structure.