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

Building and structure height in unincorporated Amador County is governed by Title 19, with limits set per district in Chapter 19.24. In the R1-A single-family residential-agricultural district, Section 19.24.045 caps building height at 35 feet, except as allowed in an approved use permit or under Chapter 19.48. Height is measured per Section 19.08.100 as the vertical distance from the average level of the highest and lowest point of the lot covered by the building to the topmost point of the roof, excluding chimneys and similar features. Chapter 19.48 (General Provisions and Exceptions) provides height exceptions: under Section 19.48.090, chimneys, vents and other architectural/mechanical appurtenances may exceed the limit, and gas holders, radio/microwave/TV towers, monuments, water tanks and similar structures may also be built taller. Section 19.48.090 further allows certain public and quasi-public buildings to reach a height not to exceed 75 feet, subject to increased yard setbacks. Because the base 35-foot figure is the R1-A standard, parcels in other districts should be checked against the applicable Chapter 19.24 district regulations. A use permit or variance is the mechanism to exceed the applicable limit.