Paramount, CA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- R-1 maximum height
- 25 feet
- R-2 maximum height
- 25 feet
- Roof equipment exception
- Penthouses, parapets, skylights, chimneys, equipment housings
- Limit on the exception
- No added floor space above the height limit
- Greenhouse or hoophouse height
- Nine feet maximum in R-1
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor, fine up to $300.00 or 90 days in jail
Summary
In the City of Paramount, California, no building in the R-1 single-family zone and no building in the R-2 medium density zone can exceed a height of 25 feet. In R-1, rooftop equipment housings, parapet walls, skylights and chimneys can rise above the limit, but never to create additional floor space.
A. Maximum Height. ... In the R-1 zone, no building shall exceed a height of 25 feet. Penthouses or roof structures for the housing of ventilating fans or similar equipment required to operate and maintain the building, fire or parapet walls, skylights, chimneys, and similar structures may be erected above the height limits prescribed by this chapter, but no penthouse or roof structure or any other space above the height limit prescribed for the zone in which the building is located shall be allowed for the purpose of providing additional floor space. ... A. Maximum Height. ... In the R-2 zone, no building shall exceed a height of 25 feet.
Full Breakdown
Section 17.08.070(A) sets the maximum height in the R-1 zone in the City of Paramount: no building shall exceed a height of 25 feet. Section 17.12.070(A) sets the same figure for the R-2 zone: no building shall exceed a height of 25 feet.
The R-1 provision carries a narrow exception for roof features. Penthouses or roof structures for the housing of ventilating fans or similar equipment required to operate and maintain the building, fire or parapet walls, skylights, chimneys, and similar structures can be erected above the height limits. The exception stops at floor space: no penthouse or roof structure or any other space above the height limit prescribed for the zone is allowed for the purpose of providing additional floor space. A third-story addition above 25 feet therefore cannot be justified as a roof structure.
Other height caps sit nearby in the same chapters. A private, noncommercial greenhouse or hoophouse in R-1 has a maximum height of nine feet under § 17.08.020(C). Raised garden beds are limited to three feet, and edible landscaping in the front yard is limited to three feet above the bed frame. Hedges not more than 42 inches high are permitted in required yards, and planting boxes or masonry planters up to 36 inches can extend into a required front yard. On corner lots, nothing above 42 inches over established grade is permitted in the vision clearance triangle.
In the same section, § 17.08.070(B) sets R-1 minimum dwelling unit sizes, starting at 800 square feet for a one-bedroom unit. All proposed development in the R-1 zone is subject to design review under Chapter 17.68 per § 17.08.040.
Violations & Fines
Section 17.04.130 makes a violation of Title 17 a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than $300.00, imprisonment in the County Jail for not more than 90 days, or both. Each day of a violation is a separate offense, and any building or structure maintained contrary to the title is a public nuisance. The City Manager or a designated representative enforces Title 17 under § 17.04.120, and appeals go to the Planning Commission.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can a house be in Paramount's R-1 zone?
Can a chimney or rooftop equipment go above 25 feet?
Does the 25-foot limit apply to accessory buildings and sheds?
What is the penalty for building over the height limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Paramount
California rules heatmap·Compare Paramount to another location·View the California building setbacks & zoning overview
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Structure Height Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle structure height limits.