Building Setbacks & Zoning in San Rafael, CA (2026)
3 verified building setbacks & zoning rules for San Rafael, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Setback Rules
San Rafael's single-family residential zones set separate front, side and rear yard minimums under Table 14.04.030: front yards run 15 to 20 feet, side yards from 6 feet up to 15% of lot width, and rear yards 10 to 25 feet depending on the R2a through R5 zone, all capped at 30 feet in building height.
San Rafael Yard Setback Minimums by Zone
Some RestrictionsSan Rafael Municipal Code § 14.04.030 (Table 14.04.030)
Table 14.04.030 | R2a | R1a | R20 | R10 | R7.5 | R5 | Additional Standards. Minimum lot area (sq. ft.) | 2 acres | 1 acre | 20,000 | 10,000 | 7,500 | 5,000/6,000 (corner) | (I). Minimum lot width (ft.) | 150 | 150 | 100 | 75 | 60 | 50/60 (corner) | (I). Minimum yards: Front (ft.) | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 15 | 15 | (A), (B). Side/street side (ft.) | 15 | 15 | 12'6" | 10 | 6 | 10% of lot width, min....
Structure Height Limits
San Rafael caps single-family homes at 30 feet in every R district, R2a, R1a, R20, R10, R7.5 and R5, under Table 14.04.030, with a lower 17-foot peak allowed only in the -EA Environmental/Architectural combining district.
San Rafael Residential Building Height Limit
Some RestrictionsSan Rafael Municipal Code § 14.04.030 (Table 14.04.030, footnote (E))
Table 14.04.030 — R2a R1a R20 R10 R7.5 R5: "Maximum height of structure (ft.) 30 30 30 30 30 30 (E), (H)" ... (E) In the -EA Combining District, maximum height of seventeen feet (17′) to peak, and one habitable floor.
Lot Coverage Limits
San Rafael limits how much of a residential lot can be covered by buildings, from 20% in the largest-lot R2a district up to 40% in R10, R7.5 and R5, under Table 14.04.030, with ground-level walkways, patios and sheds under 120 sq ft excluded from the calculation.
San Rafael Residential Lot Coverage Cap
Some RestrictionsSan Rafael Municipal Code § 14.04.030 (Table 14.04.030); definition at § 14.03.030
Table 14.04.030 — R2a R1a R20 R10 R7.5 R5: "Maximum lot coverage 20% 25% 30% 40% 40% 40%." § 14.03.030: "'Lot coverage' means that portion of the lot covered by buildings, including stairways; covered walkways; covered patios; covered parking structures; covered decks or uncovered decks over thirty inches (30″) in height; and detached recreational and storage structures that are greater than on...
Looking for Marin County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement San Rafael city rules.
Building Setbacks & Zoning in Marin County →