Building Setbacks & Zoning in Alameda, CA (2026)
3 verified building setbacks & zoning rules for Alameda, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Setback Rules
Alameda's R-1 Residential District requires a 20-foot front yard, a 5-foot interior side yard, a 10-foot street-side yard on corner lots, and a 20-foot rear yard. Section 30-4.1(d)(7) through (10) sets these minimum setbacks, which apply to every one-family and two-family lot in the district alongside the 48 percent coverage and 30-foot height limits.
Alameda R-1 Yard Setback Minimums
Some RestrictionsAlameda, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 30-4.1(d)(7)-(10) (R-1, Residential District)
7.Minimum Front Yard: Twenty (20′) feet.8.Minimum Side Yard: Five (5′) feet.9.Minimum Street Side Yard. The side yard on the street side of a corner lot shall not be less than ten (10′) feet.10.Minimum Rear Yard: Twenty (20′) feet.
Structure Height Limits
Alameda caps building height at 30 feet in the R-1 Residential District. Section 30-4.1(d)(6) sets this Maximum Building Height Limit for one-family and two-family neighborhoods, measured under the Section 30-2 definition of building height as the vertical distance from adjoining grade to the highest point of the roof ridge or parapet.
Alameda R-1 Building Height Limit 30 Feet
Some RestrictionsAlameda, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 30-4.1(d)(6) (R-1, Residential District)
6.Maximum Building Height Limit: Not to exceed thirty (30′) feet.
Lot Coverage Limits
In Alameda's R-1 Residential District, the main building on a lot cannot cover more than 48 percent of the lot area. Section 30-4.1(d)(5) sets this maximum main building coverage limit alongside the district's minimum lot size, minimum lot width, and other bulk standards that together control how much of a residential lot can be built on.
Alameda R-1 Maximum Lot Coverage 48%
Some RestrictionsAlameda, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 30-4.1(d)(5) (R-1, Residential District)
d.Minimum Height, Bulk and Space Requirements.1.Minimum Lot Area: Five thousand (5,000) square feet. Lot area may be reduced through a lot split subject to Subsection d.3. ... 5.Maximum Main Building Coverage: Forty-eight (48%) percent.
Looking for Alameda County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Alameda city rules.
Building Setbacks & Zoning in Alameda County →