Building Setbacks & Zoning in Fresno, CA (2026)
3 verified building setbacks & zoning rules for Fresno, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Setback Rules
Fresno's Development Code sets minimum front, side, and rear setbacks by residential zone district, from a 35-foot front setback in the RE estate district down to 13 feet in RS-4/RS-5, with separate interior-side, street-side, rear, alley, and freeway/railroad minimums for each.
Fresno Residential Yard Setback Minimums
Some RestrictionsFresno Municipal Code § 15-903, Table 15-903-2
TABLE 15-903-2: BUILDING FORM AND LOCATION STANDARDS-RESIDENTIAL SINGLE-UNIT DISTRICTS. District RE RS-1 RS-2 RS-3 RS-4 RS-5. Minimum Setbacks (ft.): Front 35 35 30 25 13 13. Interior Side 10 10 10 5 10 total, min. 4/side 8 total, min. 3/side. Street Side 35 25 25 20 10 10. Rear 20 20 20 20 10 10. Alley 20 20 20 5 5 -. Freeway/Railroad 50 50 50 50 50 50.
Structure Height Limits
Fresno caps residential buildings at 35 feet across every Residential Single-Unit district, from the half-acre RE district down to the compact RS-5 lots. The Citywide Development Code sets the number in Table 15-903-2 and tells builders exactly how to measure it in Section 15-305.
Fresno Residential Building Height Limit: 35 Ft
Some RestrictionsFresno Municipal Code §§ 15-903 (Table 15-903-2), 15-305, 15-2012
Maximum Height (ft.) 35 35 35 35 35 35 § 15-2012, Heights and Height Exceptions [Table 15-903-2, District columns RE, RS-1, RS-2, RS-3, RS-4, RS-5]. — SEC. 15-305.A: "Measuring Building Height. Building height is measured from the average level of the highest and lowest points where the vertical plane of the exterior walls would touch the natural grade level of the site to the highest point on ...
Lot Coverage Limits
Fresno's lot coverage cap runs from 30 percent on the largest residential lots (RE through RS-2) up to 60 percent on the smallest RS-5 lots, scaling coverage to lot size. Coverage counts every building footprint but excludes decks, patios, pools, and one small accessory structure.
Fresno Residential Lot Coverage Limits by District
Some RestrictionsFresno Municipal Code §§ 15-311, 15-903 (Table 15-903-2)
SEC. 15-311. - DETERMINING LOT COVERAGE. Lot coverage is the ratio of the total footprint area of all structures on a lot to the net lot area... The footprints of all principal and accessory structures, including garages, and carports shall be included... E. Up to one non-habitable accessory structure of less than 120 square feet in floor area and seven feet in height... — TABLE 15-903-2: Maxim...
Looking for Fresno County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Fresno city rules.
Building Setbacks & Zoning in Fresno County →