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

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

Key Facts

RR district max height
35 feet
RE, RL district max height
35 feet (one-story rule applies)
RLM district max height
40 feet
RM/RMH/RH/RHL max height
45 feet
MHP district max height
30 feet
Max story height
25 feet floor to ceiling

Summary

Vacaville caps residential building height by zoning district, from 30 feet in the manufactured-housing-park district up to 45 feet in the higher-density RM through RHL districts, with height measured to the average roof elevation between eaves and ridge.

TABLE 14.09.060.B, DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS - RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICTS. Standard: RR RE RL RLM RM RMH RH RHL MHP. Height Standards. Maximum Building Height (ft): 35 / 35(B) / 35(B) / 40 / 45 / 45 / 45 / 45 / 30. [§ 14.02.030.060.A] Measuring Building Height. Building height is measured from the grade plane to the average elevation between the eaves and the ridge for a hip, gable, or gambrel roof or the highest point on the roof for other roof forms.

Full Breakdown

B, Development Regulations - Residential Zoning Districts, sets Maximum Building Height in feet across all nine residential zones: 35 feet in the RR (Rural Residential) district, 35 feet in RE (footnote B) and RL districts (also footnote B), 40 feet in RLM, 45 feet in RM, RMH, RH, and RHL, and 30 feet in the MHP (manufactured housing park) district. 030(B)'s one-story-dwelling requirement in the RE and RL districts, which limits how that height allowance can actually be used: those districts must contain one-story dwellings, or may build all two-story homes only through a planned development, with minimum percentages of one-story units required for larger projects.

060: building height runs from the grade plane to the average elevation between the eaves and ridge for a hip, gable, or gambrel roof, or to the highest point of the roof for other roof forms; fences and walls are measured separately from finished grade to their highest point, and decks are measured from the ground to the top of the deck floor. 060(C) also caps individual story height at 25 feet from floor to ceiling and defines when a basement or mezzanine counts as a full story. 300 can authorize additional height beyond the table limits.

Violations & Fines

Constructing a structure that exceeds the district's maximum building height in Table 14.09.060.B without first obtaining a minor use permit under Chapter 14.09.300 is a zoning code violation, subject to building-permit denial, stop-work orders, and code enforcement action to require modification or removal of the noncompliant portion of the structure.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall can a house be in Vacaville's RL district?
Table 14.09.060.B caps buildings in the RL district at 35 feet, the same as the RR and RE districts. Footnote B ties that height to § 14.09.060.030(B)'s rule that RE and RL developments must include one-story dwellings unless approved as an all-two-story planned development.
How is building height measured in Vacaville?
Under VMC § 14.02.030.060, height is measured from the grade plane to the average elevation between the eaves and ridge for hip, gable, or gambrel roofs, or to the highest point of the roof for other forms. Fences, walls, and decks each have their own separate measurement rules in the same section.
Can a structure exceed the zoning height limit in Vacaville?
Limited rooftop features like skylights, chimneys, spires, and mechanical penthouses may project above the district limit under Table 14.09.200.C within specified coverage and setback restrictions, and a minor use permit under Chapter 14.09.300 can authorize taller construction generally.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Vacaville

All Vacaville rules

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