Montebello, CA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- R-A/R-1 max height
- 35 feet
- R-2/R-3/R-4 max height
- 25 feet
- R-3 max building length
- 150 feet
- R-4 max building length
- 250 feet
- Upper-story rule
- +1 ft setback per 3 ft over 15 ft
- Violation class
- Title 17 misdemeanor, up to $1,000/6 months
Summary
Exhibit 17.10.020, tied to Montebello Municipal Code § 17.10.020, caps residential building height at 35 feet in the R-A and R-1 zones and 25 feet in the R-2, R-3 and R-4 zones. Section 17.10.040(A)(1) forces upper stories back further once a building rises above 15 feet.
Exhibit 17.10.020 RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS TABLE Zone Maximum Density Maximum Number of Bedrooms* Minimum Lot Area** Minimum Lot Width Minimum Lot Depth Maximum Coverage*** Maximum Building Height Maximum Building Length Minimum Open Space Minimum Parking Private Common Total R-A & R-1 1 dwelling unit per lot (no limit) 5,000 sq. ft. south of Beverly Boulevard 50 ft. south of Beverly Boulevard (60 ft. corner lots) 100 ft. 40% 35 ft. None ... R-2 1 dwelling unit per 3,000 sq. ft. of lot area, not to exceed 2 dwelling units per lot 1 bedroom per 1,000 sq. ft. of lot area 6,000 sq. ft. 50 ft. 100 ft. 50% 25 ft. None ... R-3 1 dwelling unit per 3,000 sq. ft. of lot area 1 bedroom per 1,000 sq. ft. of lot area 10,000 sq. ft. 50 ft. 100 ft. 60% 25 ft. 150 ft. ... R-4 1 dwelling unit per 2,000 sq. ft. of lot area 1 bedroom per 1,000 sq. ft. of lot area 20,000 sq. ft. 50 ft. 100 ft. 60% 25 ft. 250 ft.
Full Breakdown
The Residential Development Standards Table, Exhibit 17.10.020 under Montebello Municipal Code § 17.10.020, sets a Maximum Building Height column of 35 feet for the R-A and R-1 single-family zones and 25 feet for the R-2, R-3 and R-4 multifamily zones. R-3 lots also carry a 150-foot maximum building length and R-4 lots a 250-foot maximum, both from the same table, so a taller or longer structure than these figures cannot be permitted outright. Height is not just a flat ceiling: Section 17.10.040(A) layers an incremental setback rule on top of it.
For every three feet a building rises above fifteen feet, the required yard setback grows by one additional foot, unless the stories above fifteen feet are stepped back the full length of the required setback, in which case no extra ground-floor setback is required. In practice this means a two- or three-story home pushing toward the 35-foot R-1 ceiling must also pull its upper floors further from the property line than a single-story home would need to. Plans exceeding either the flat height cap or the incremental setback trigger are reviewed and rejected at plan check by the Planning and Community Development Department before a building permit issues.
Because height violations are not listed among the Section 17.06.070 infractions, an unpermitted structure built over these limits is prosecuted as the general Title 17 misdemeanor under Section 17.06.060, with each day the illegal structure stands a separate offense under Section 17.06.080.
Violations & Fines
Constructing above the 35-foot (R-A/R-1) or 25-foot (R-2/R-3/R-4) ceiling in Exhibit 17.10.020, or skipping the incremental upper-story setback in Section 17.10.040(A), is a Title 17 misdemeanor under § 17.06.060: a fine up to $1,000, up to six months in jail, or both, under § 1.12.010. Section 17.06.080 makes each day the oversized structure remains a separate violation and public nuisance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can a house be in an R-1 zone in Montebello?
Do upper floors need to be set back further than the ground floor?
What is the longest an apartment building can be in the R-4 zone?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Montebello
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