Building Setbacks & Zoning in Pacifica, CA (2026)
3 verified building setbacks & zoning rules for Pacifica, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Setback Rules
In Pacifica's R-1 Single-Family Residential District, a house must sit back at least fifteen feet from the front lot line, five feet from each side lot line, and twenty feet from the rear lot line, with wider setbacks for garages and corner lots. The Planning Division checks these minimums on every building and site development permit.
Pacifica R-1 Yard Setback Minimums
Some RestrictionsPacifica Municipal Code § 9-4.402(d)-(f)
(d)Minimum front setback: fifteen (15′) feet; however, the minimum front setback to a garage entrance shall be twenty (20′) feet. The minimum setback entrance on the street side of a corner lot shall be twenty (20′) feet. (For nonconforming lots, see Section 9-4.3002 and for garages as accessory buildings, see Section 9-4.2704).(e)Minimum side setback: five (5′) feet; however, the minimum exter...
Structure Height Limits
A single-family house in Pacifica's R-1 District cannot rise above thirty-five feet, while a detached accessory building like a garage or shed is capped at twelve feet. The Planning Division measures every new home and accessory structure against this limit before issuing a building or site development permit.
Pacifica R-1 Building Height Limits
Some RestrictionsPacifica Municipal Code § 9-4.402(j)
(j)Maximum height: thirty-five (35′) feet; however, the maximum height for a detached accessory building shall be twelve (12′) feet;
Lot Coverage Limits
In Pacifica's R-1 Single-Family Residential District, all structures on a lot together cannot cover more than forty percent of the building site. The Planning Division enforces this cap alongside a twenty percent minimum landscaped area requirement whenever it reviews a building permit or site development permit for a single-family lot.
Pacifica R-1 Maximum Lot Coverage
Some RestrictionsPacifica Municipal Code § 9-4.402(h)
(h)Maximum lot coverage by all structures: forty (40%) percent;
Looking for San Mateo County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Pacifica city rules.
Building Setbacks & Zoning in San Mateo County →