Palm Desert, CA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)

The Building Measurements portion of Table 25.10-3 in § 25.10.050 prints "Height, max" as 15′ (18′ ARC) in the RE column and the first two R-1 columns, 15′ (18′ ARC) in the third R-1 column, 15′ (30′ ARC) in R-2, 40′ in R-3, 18′ in R-1M, a blank mark in HPR and 40′ in PR. In plain terms, single-story RE and R-1 homes stop at 15 feet unless the Architectural Review Commission approves up to 18 feet, which note 7 describes as the allowable maximum building height with ARC approval.

R-2 gets more room. Note 8 says allowable building height is 30 feet with approval by the Architectural Review Commission for buildings exceeding 15 feet, with public notification to immediately adjacent properties 10 days prior to the ARC meeting. R-3 prints 40 feet, and the Number of stories row prints 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 1, 1 and 3 in the same column order.

The planned residential district has its own sentence in § 25.10.050(B)(9): the maximum building height in a PR district shall be 40 feet or three-story, whichever is less, or as approved by the Planning Commission.

Section 25.40.040(A) says how height is measured: a vertical measurement from the average elevation of the finished grade to the highest point of the structure directly above, with a roof measured to the highest point of the roof. Tower elements such as chimneys, flagpoles and antennas under § 25.40.040(B) cannot cover more than 10 percent of the ground area covered by the structure and can rise no more than 65 feet or 25 feet above the district height limit, whichever is less.

Accessory buildings under § 25.40.050 have their own height steps: enclosed buildings of 8 feet or less are permitted on all residential lots with a setback equal to their height, buildings over 8 feet but under 14 feet need a lot greater than 12,000 square feet, and buildings over 14 feet need a lot greater than 40,000 square feet. Open structures such as gazebos and arbors top out at 10 feet above grade.