Woodland, CA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- R-L / R-LM height cap
- 30 feet
- N-P height cap
- 40 feet
- R-M height cap
- 40 feet (30 ft. near lower-density zone)
- R-H height cap
- 45 feet (30 ft. near lower-density zone)
- Step-down trigger distance
- within 40 feet of R-L/N-P/R-LM
- Governing table
- WMC Table 17.24.030-1
Summary
In the City of Woodland, California, Municipal Code § 17.24.030's development standards table caps building height at 30 feet in Residential Low and Residential Low-Medium zones and 40 feet in Neighborhood Preservation, stepping up to 40 and 45 feet in Residential Medium and Residential High, with a 30-foot step-down within 40 feet of a lower-density zone.
§ 17.24.030. Development Standards. ... Table 17.24.030-1: Development Standards - Residential Zones ... Standard R-L N-P R-LM R-M R-H ... Max. ... Building Height (ft.) 30 40 30 40; 30 within 40 feet of an R-L, N-P or R-LM zone 45; 30 within 40 feet of an R-L, N-P or R-LM zone
Full Breakdown
Table 17.24.030-1, Development Standards - Residential Zones, sets the Max. Building Height (ft.) row under Woodland's Zoning Code. Residential Low (R-L) and Residential Low-Medium (R-LM), the city's detached single-family and duplex zones, are capped at 30 feet. Neighborhood Preservation (N-P) is capped at 40 feet. Residential Medium (R-M) is capped at 40 feet generally, but the table reduces the limit to 30 feet within 40 feet of an R-L, N-P or R-LM zone boundary, protecting the sightlines and privacy of lower-density neighbors. Residential High (R-H) is capped at 45 feet, with the same 30-foot step-down within 40 feet of an R-L, N-P or R-LM zone.
These transition limits mean a multi-unit project abutting a single-family block cannot build to the district's full height along that shared edge. The standards were adopted and later amended by Ordinance No. 1722 (June 18, 2024) and Ordinance No. 1743 (October 7, 2025). Height is measured and enforced by the Community Development Department at building permit review; a project seeking to exceed the table's limit must obtain a discretionary entitlement rather than an administrative exception.
Violations & Fines
Constructing above the applicable height limit is a zoning code violation under Title 17. Per § 1.08.070, the offense is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in county jail, a fine up to $1,000, or both, unless prosecuted as an infraction ($100 first offense, up to $500 for repeat violations within a year); the City may instead pursue an administrative citation under Chapter 9.20, and each day the violation continues is a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can a house be built in Woodland's R-L zone?
Is there a reduced height limit near single-family neighborhoods in Woodland?
What is the tallest building allowed in a Woodland residential zone?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Woodland
California rules heatmap·Compare Woodland to another location·View the California building setbacks & zoning overview
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Structure Height Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Yolo County handle structure height limits.