San Clemente, CA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- RVL zone max height
- 30 ft, 2 stories
- RL/RML/RM zone max height
- 25 ft
- RH zone max height
- 45 ft
- Height measured by
- average height per roof element
- Governing table
- Table 17.32.040
Summary
San Clemente's residential zones cap building height at 30 feet with a 2-story limit in the RVL zone, and 25 feet in the RL, RML and RM zones, rising to 45 feet in the RH zone, per Table 17.32.040. Height is generally measured from grade to the average top of each roof element.
C.Height Limits in Residential Zones.1.Height Limits. The maximum building height limits for structures in residential zones are described in Table 17.32.040, Residential Zone Development Standards, of this title. ... Standards RVL RL RML RM RH ... Building Height, Maximum 30 ft; 2 stories 25 ft. 25 ft. 25 ft. 45 ft.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Traffic: Supplement 30 | Code of Ordinances: Supplement 66 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
040, Residential Zone Development Standards, sets the maximum building height for each residential zone: 30 feet with a 2-story limit in the Very Low Density (RVL) zone, 25 feet in the Low Density (RL), Medium-Low Density (RML) and Medium Density (RM) zones, and 45 feet in the High Density (RH) zone. 110 sets how height is measured citywide. Height is calculated per roof element rather than for the building as a whole, using the average height at each corner of that element, taken from either the original grade or a City-approved finished grade where mass recontouring has been permitted; a chimney is excluded from the calculation entirely.
48, layering a story limit and, in some zones, a separate maximum height to the plate line on top of the overall number. For any property inside San Clemente's Coastal Zone, these zoning limits are not the final word: the California Coastal Act and the city's certified Local Coastal Program can impose additional height restrictions tied to public view corridors, and a Coastal Development Permit can be required before the zoning height above may be built out.
Violations & Fines
Constructing above the applicable height limit without an approved variance or discretionary permit is a Municipal Code violation subject to Section 1.16.010's general penalty: a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $1,000 fine and six months in jail, or an infraction with $100, $200 and $500 escalating fines for repeat violations, with each day the oversized structure stands treated as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can a house be built in San Clemente?
How is building height measured on a sloped lot in San Clemente?
Do coastal height rules override the zoning table near the beach?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Clemente
California rules heatmap·Compare San Clemente to another location·View the California building setbacks & zoning overview
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Structure Height Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Orange County handle structure height limits.