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

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

RH-1 base height limit
35 feet
RH-2 base height limit
40 feet
Uphill lot increase
up to 40 feet (RH-1)
Downhill lot decrease
down to 25 feet (RH-1)
Front lot line step-back
30 feet, 45-degree angle

Summary

San Francisco caps dwelling height at 35 feet in RH-1 districts and 40 feet in RH-2 districts, with slope-based adjustments up or down.

No portion of a dwelling in any RH-1(D), RH-1 or RH-1(S) District shall exceed a height of 35 feet, except that: (A) The permitted Height of a Building... shall be increased to 40 feet... where the average ground elevation at the rear line of the lot is higher by 20 or more feet than at the front line thereof... No portion of a dwelling in any RH-2 District shall exceed a height of 40 feet, except that the permitted height shall be reduced to 35 feet where the average ground elevation at the rear line of the lot is lower by 20 or more feet than at the front line thereof.

Source: SF Planning Code - Height and Bulk DistrictsView official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-96: Codes: last updated to include changes made by legislation through Ordinance 133-26, File No. 260686, approved July 23, 2026, effective August 23, 2026).

Full Breakdown

Under Planning Code Sec. 261, no dwelling in an RH-1(D), RH-1, or RH-1(S) district may exceed 35 feet, rising to 40 feet where the rear lot elevation is 20+ feet higher than the front, or dropping to 30 or 25 feet where the rear is lower by 20 or 40 feet. RH-2 caps at 40 feet, reduced to 35 feet on steep downslope lots. A separate front-yard step-back rule limits height to 30 feet at the front lot line, angling up at 45 degrees toward the rear.

Violations & Fines

Planning Department enforces through the building permit and Certificate of Final Completion process; noncompliant height triggers permit denial or a Notice of Violation and required correction under the Building Code.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall can a house be in an RH-1 zone in San Francisco?
35 feet under normal conditions, per Planning Code Sec. 261(b)(1), with slope-based adjustments up to 40 feet or down to 25 feet.
Does the height limit apply the same across the whole lot?
No. Sec. 261(c) sets a separate 30-foot limit at the front lot line that angles upward at 45 degrees toward the rear until the full height limit is reached.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in San Francisco

Noise Ordinances: Construction HoursSome RestrictionsSetback RulesSome RestrictionsLot Coverage LimitsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Towing & Impound RightsSignificant RestrictionsParking Rules: Driveway RulesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Abandoned VehiclesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Curb Color RulesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Commercial & Oversized VehiclesSome Restrictions

All San Francisco rules

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