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

Building height in the City of Redlands is set by zoning district in RMC Title 18. The R-1 single-family residential district limits buildings and structures to a height not greater than two and one-half (2.5) stories or 35 feet, whichever is more restrictive (RMC 18.44.120). Each zone's chapter contains its own height limit, so R-A (residential estate), R-2, and R-3 multifamily districts may differ, and the general supplementary regulations (including section 18.60.120 on building height) can also apply. Height is measured per the code's definitions, and certain projections may be treated separately. For fences and walls specifically, height is governed not by these building-height sections but by RMC 18.168 (6 feet at side/rear; lower in front yards). On designated historic resources or within designated historic districts, the height and massing of new construction or additions are also reviewed for a Certificate of Appropriateness against the city's design guidelines and the Secretary of the Interior's Standards, which can constrain a project below the raw zoning maximum. These are city standards distinct from the California Building Code's structural requirements and from California Civil Code 841 (fences). Confirm the applicable zone and any historic overlay with Redlands Planning before finalizing height.