Tustin, CA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- R1 primary structure height limit
- 30 feet (§9220 Table 1)
- Accessory building height limit
- 25 feet (§9223a)
- ODS exception
- variable height if offset elsewhere (§9220 note 3)
- R2/R3 height limit
- 35 feet (§9220 Table 1)
- R4 height limit
- 2 stories or 35 feet (§9220 Table 1)
Summary
Primary homes in Tustin's R1 Single-Family Residential District are capped at 30 feet under Table 1 of Tustin City Code Section 9220, though taller variable heights can be approved for qualifying Objective Design Standards projects if other portions of the building are lowered to offset the impact. Detached accessory buildings face a stricter 25-foot cap under Section 9223(a).
Zoning Minimum Lot Area/Per Family Unit Minimum Lot Width Lot Coverage Building Height ... R1 Single-Family Residential District (2) (Sec. 9223) 7,200 sq. ft./7,200 sq. ft. 60 feet 40 percent 30 feet ... (3) Variable building heights exceeding the maximum height of the zone are allowed for qualifying projects using the Objective Design Standards (ODS), provided that other portions of the development are proportionally lowered to mitigate visual and structural impacts. Such modifications shall be subject to approval by the Community Development Director based on consistency with the General Plan ... 2.Accessory buildings only if constructed simultaneously with or subsequent to the main building on the same lot.(a) ... Maximum height: 25 feet.
Full Breakdown
Table 1 of Tustin City Code Section 9220 sets the primary residential building height limit in the R1 Single-Family Residential District at 30 feet, the same limit that applies in the RA and E4 districts, while R2 and R3 allow 35 feet and R4 allows two stories or 35 feet. A footnote to Table 1 creates a narrow exception: variable building heights exceeding a zone's maximum are allowed for qualifying projects that use the City's Objective Design Standards (ODS), provided other portions of the development are proportionally lowered to mitigate visual and structural impacts, subject to Community Development Director approval for consistency with the General Plan.
Detached accessory buildings, meaning those not built simultaneously with the main dwelling, are held to a stricter 25-foot maximum height under Section 9223(a), separate from the 30-foot limit that governs the primary house. The same 25-foot accessory height cap appears in the E4 Estate District under Section 9222(a), showing the City applies a uniform, lower ceiling to garages, workshops, and similar detached structures across its single-family zones even where the main house is allowed to reach 30 feet.
Violations & Fines
Constructing a primary dwelling over 30 feet, or a detached accessory building over 25 feet, without an approved Objective Design Standards exception or variance triggers a stop-work order from the Building Division and, for completed unpermitted work, an administrative citation under Section 1162 with fines starting at $100 for a first violation and rising to $500 for a third violation within a year, appealable to a hearing officer within ten days under Section 1166.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can I build a house in Tustin's R1 zone?
Can my detached garage be as tall as my house?
Do other Tustin residential zones allow taller buildings?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tustin
California rules heatmap·Compare Tustin to another location·View the California building setbacks & zoning overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Structure Height Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Orange County handle structure height limits.