Building Setbacks & Zoning in Merced, CA (2026)
3 verified building setbacks & zoning rules for Merced, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Setback Rules
Merced's single-family zoning code sets minimum front, side and rear yard setbacks that shrink as lot size decreases: a 30-foot front setback in R-R and R-1-20 down to 15 feet in the smallest-lot R-1-5 subzone. Table 20.08-2 fixes the numbers, and Sec. 20.26.010 defines how they're measured.
Merced Residential Yard Setback Minimums
Some RestrictionsMerced, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 20.08.030, Table 20.08-2 (Development Standards for Single-Family Residential Zoning Districts); Sec. 20.26.010 (Setback Measurement)
Exterior Yards, Front 30 ft. 30 ft. 20 ft. 20 ft. 15 ft. [1] ... 20.26.010 - Setback measurement. Setbacks shall be measured as the distance between the property line and the nearest point of the structure along a line at a right angle to the property line. ... Minor modifications of no more than twenty-five (25) percent of the required setback may be approved by the director of developmen...
Structure Height Limits
Every single-family residential zoning subzone in Merced, from Rural Residential through R-1-5, caps building height at 35 feet. Table 20.08-2 sets the number, Sec. 20.24.010 defines how it's measured, and Sec. 20.24.020 lists narrow exceptions for features like church spires and flagpoles.
Merced Residential Building Height Limit
Some RestrictionsMerced, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 20.08.030, Table 20.08-2 (Development Standards for Single-Family Residential Zoning Districts); Sec. 20.24.010, Sec. 20.24.020
Height (max.) ... Feet 35 ft. 35 ft. 35 ft. 35 ft. 35 ft. ... 20.24.010 - Height measurement. The height of a structure shall be measured as the vertical distance from the average contact ground level at the front wall of the structure to the highest point of the structure, excluding chimneys, vents and other similar projecting features.
Lot Coverage Limits
Merced caps building lot coverage in single-family zones on a sliding scale tied to lot size: 25% in Rural Residential, rising to 50% in the smallest-lot R-1-5 subzone. Table 20.08-2 in Sec. 20.08.030 sets the maximum footprint a house, garage and attached structures may occupy on the parcel.
Merced Residential Lot Coverage Limits
Some RestrictionsMerced, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 20.08.030, Table 20.08-2 (Development Standards for Single-Family Residential Zoning Districts)
R-R R-1-20 R-1-10 R-1-6 R-1-5 ... Lot Coverage (max.) 25% 30% 40% 45% 50%
Looking for Merced County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Merced city rules.
Building Setbacks & Zoning in Merced County →