Building Setbacks & Zoning in Huntington Beach, CA (2026)
3 verified building setbacks & zoning rules for Huntington Beach, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Setback Rules
Huntington Beach sets a 15-foot front setback for RL and RM single- and multi-family lots, 10 feet for RH and RMH, and 12 feet for the RMH-A subdistrict, measured from the ultimate right-of-way line. Side, street-side, and rear minimums are also fixed by district in the same table.
Huntington Beach Residential Yard Setback Table
Some RestrictionsHuntington Beach, CA, Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance § 210.06
Property Development Standards for Residential Districts: RL, RM, RMH-A Subdistrict, RMH, RH, RMP. Min. Setbacks: Front (ft.) 15, 15, 12, 10, 10, 10. Side (ft.) 3;5, 3;5, 3;5, 3;5, 3;5, -. Street Side (ft.) 6;10, 6;10, 5, 6;10, 6;10, 10. Rear (ft.) 10, 10, 7.5, 10, 10, -. Max. Height (ft.) Dwellings: 35, 35, 35, 35, 35, 20. All required setbacks shall be measured from ultimate right-of-way and ...
Structure Height Limits
Huntington Beach caps single-family homes at 35 feet under Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance Section 210.04(M), and any main dwelling taller than 30 feet needs a conditional use permit from the Zoning Administrator. Second-story top plates cannot exceed 25 feet, roofs need at least a 5/12 pitch once the building tops 30 feet, and height is measured from a curb datum fixed by Section 230.70.
Huntington Beach Residential Structure Height Limits
Some RestrictionsHuntington Beach, CA, Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance § 210.04(M) (Height Requirements)
M. Height Requirements. See Section 230.70, Measurement of Height, and Section 230.72, Exceptions to Height Limits. 1. Single-family dwellings in all residential districts, except lots in the RMH-A subdistrict with less than 50 feet of frontage shall comply with the following standards: a. Second story top plate height shall not exceed 25 feet measured from the top of the subfloor/slab directly...
Lot Coverage Limits
Huntington Beach limits lot coverage to 50% of net site area in the RL, RM, RMH-A, RMH and RH residential districts, rising to 75% in the RMP manufactured home park district, per Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance Section 210.06. Coverage counts every roof, balcony, fireplace, deep architectural projection, tall deck and stairway on the lot.
Huntington Beach Max Lot Coverage Limits
Some RestrictionsHuntington Beach, CA, Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance § 210.06 (Property Development Standards); § 203 (Definitions - "Coverage, Lot or Site")
§ 203 Definitions: "Coverage, Lot or Site. The percentage of a lot or site covered by roofs, balconies, fireplaces, architectural projections, or overhangs extending more than two and one-half feet from a wall, decks more than 42 inches in height above grade, and stairs. This also includes the square footage of all building projections into yards or courts containing habitable floor area." § 21...
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