Building Setbacks & Zoning in Riverside, CA (2026)
3 verified building setbacks & zoning rules for Riverside, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Setback Rules
Riverside's residential zones each carry their own minimum front, side, and rear setbacks under Table 19.100.040.A: front setbacks range from 20 feet in the R-1-7000 zone up to 40 feet in RA-5, while side setbacks run as low as 7.5 feet and rear setbacks reach 100 feet in the Rural Residential (RR) zone. Zone-specific exceptions further modify these minimums for small or legacy lots.
Riverside Residential Yard Setback Minimums
Some RestrictionsRiverside Municipal Code § 19.100.040, Table 19.100.040.A
Single-family Residential Zones: RA-5 | RC | RR | RE | R-1-1/2 Acre | R-1-13000 | R-1-10500 | R-1-8500 | R-1-7000. Setbacks - Minimum. A. Front: 40 ft. | 30 ft. | 30 ft. | 30 ft. | 30 ft | 25 ft | 25 ft. | 25 ft. | 20 ft. B. Side: 20 ft. | 25 ft. | 20 ft. | 25. ft. | 20 ft. | 15 ft. | 10/15 ft. | 7.5/12.5 ft. | 7.5/10 ft. C. Rear: 25 ft. | 25 ft. | 100 ft. | 30 ft. | 35 ft. | 30 ft. | 25 ft. | ...
Structure Height Limits
Homes in most Riverside single-family zones, RA-5, RR, RE, and the R-1 variants, are capped at 35 feet and two stories under RMC §19.100.040, Table 19.100.040.A. Only the low-density RC zone is stricter, at 20 feet and a single story. Height is measured from finished grade to the roof's highest point.
Riverside Residential Height Limit: 35 Feet, Two Stories
Some RestrictionsCity of Riverside, CA, Municipal Code Title 19 (Zoning), Sec. 19.100.040 Table A and Sec. 19.560.020 (Ord. 7331, 2016; Ord. 6966, 2007)
Table 19.100.040.A Residential Development Standards: Single-family Residential Zones. Building Height - Maximum 10,15: RA-5 35 ft.; RC 20 ft.; RR 35 ft.; RE 35 ft.; R-1-1/2 Acre 35 ft.; R-1-13000 35 ft.; R-1-10500 35 ft.; R-1-8500 35 ft.; R-1-7000 35 ft. Number of Stories - Maximum 15: RA-5 2; RC 1; RR 2; RE 2; R-1-1/2 Acre 2; R-1-13000 2; R-1-10500 2; R-1-8500 2; R-1-7000 2. / 19.560.020 - He...
Lot Coverage Limits
Riverside caps how much of a single-family lot a structure can cover, and the number moves with the zone. Table 19.100.040.A sets a 30% maximum for RA-5, RR, RE, R-1-½ Acre and R-1-13000 lots, 35% for R-1-10500 and R-1-8500, and 40% for the smallest standard lot, R-1-7000.
Riverside Single-Family Zone Lot Coverage Caps
Some RestrictionsCity of Riverside, CA, Municipal Code Title 19 (Zoning), Table 19.100.040.A (Residential Development Standards: Single-Family Residential Zones), Sec. 19.100.040
Table 19.100.040.A Residential Development Standards: Single-family Residential Zones -- Development Standards | RA-5 | RC | RR | RE | R-1-½ Acre | R-1-13000 | R-1-10500 | R-1-8500 | R-1-7000. Lot Coverage - Maximum 30% N/A 30% 30% 30% 30% 35% 35% 40%
Looking for Riverside County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Riverside city rules.
Building Setbacks & Zoning in Riverside County →