Building Setbacks & Zoning in Mountain View, CA (2026)
3 verified building setbacks & zoning rules for Mountain View, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Setback Rules
Mountain View's R1 single-family zone sets minimum yard setbacks in City Code Sec. 36.10.25: 20 feet from the front property line for the first-floor wall, at least 5 feet per side, 15 feet on a corner lot's street side, and a rear setback equal to 20 percent of lot depth or 15 feet, whichever is greater, capped at 40 feet.
Mountain View R1 Zone Yard Setback Rules
Some RestrictionsMountain View, CA, City Code Sec. 36.10.25 (R1 Zone Development Standards - Setbacks)
Setbacks (See Figures 36.10-1 and 36.10-2) The following setbacks apply to any new construction, additions or replacement floor area, regardless of the existing building's setbacks. Front 20 ft. minimum for the first floor wall; an additional 5 ft. from the first-floor wall for a second floor over an attached garage, where garage projects forward. Sides (1st-story) For lots less than 6,000 sq. ...
Structure Height Limits
Mountain View caps single-family homes in the R1 zone at 24 feet for a one-story house and 28 feet for a two-story house under City Code Sec. 36.10.25, with separate wall-plate limits of 15 feet for a first-floor wall and 22 feet for a second-floor wall.
Mountain View R1 Zone Height Limits
Some RestrictionsMountain View, CA, City Code Sec. 36.10.25 (R1 Zone Development Standards - Height Limits)
Height limits Maximum building height for 1-story structure: 24 ft. Maximum building height for 2-story structure: 28 ft. Maximum 1st floor wall height at top of wall plate: 15 ft. Maximum 2nd floor wall height at top of wall plate: 22 ft.
Lot Coverage Limits
In Mountain View's R1 and R2 zoning districts, Sec. 36.12.50(b) caps every accessory structure on a lot, combined, at 30 percent of the required rear yard, not the whole property. Structures under 5 feet tall are excluded from the count, but roof eaves deeper than 1 foot add to it.
Mountain View Accessory Lot Coverage Cap
Some RestrictionsMountain View, CA, City Code § 36.12.50(b)
b.Maximum lot coverage: All accessory structure(s) shall not cumulatively cover more than thirty (30) percent of the required rear yard, excluding accessory structures less than five (5) feet in height which shall not count toward lot coverage. Any roof eaves greater than one (1) foot in depth on an accessory structure shall count toward lot coverage.
Looking for Santa Clara County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Mountain View city rules.
Building Setbacks & Zoning in Santa Clara County →