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

San Bernardino Development Code sets maximum building heights by zoning district. Single-family Residential Suburban (RS) and Residential Urban (RU) zones typically cap structures at 30 to 35 ft. Residential Medium and Residential High density zones permit up to 45 ft for apartment and condominium buildings. Commercial General (CG), Commercial Office (CO), and Commercial Regional (CR) zones range from 35 to 75 ft depending on location, with the downtown core and Transit Overlay District allowing taller mixed-use buildings to support the sbX bus rapid transit corridor. Industrial zones along the Santa Fe Depot and Hospitality Lane typically allow 35 to 50 ft. Height is measured from the finished grade at the base of the structure to the highest point of the roof, excluding certain appurtenances such as chimneys up to 6 ft above roof, antennas, elevator bulkheads, and solar equipment. Hillside overlay zones in the foothills north of Highland Avenue impose stricter limits based on slope, often reducing allowable height on slopes over 15 percent. Accessory structures are limited to 15 to 16 ft in most residential zones, and ADUs are capped at 16 ft for detached under state ADU law and up to 25 ft or two stories for structures above garages and in multi-family buildings (Gov Code 65852.2). Height variances require Planning Commission review. Flight-path overlay zones near San Bernardino International Airport impose additional FAA Part 77 height limits.