Building Setbacks & Zoning in Contra Costa County, CA (2026)
3 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 4 cities in Contra Costa County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Setback Rules
In the R-6 single-family district, the county's base residential zone for unincorporated Contra Costa County, every structure needs a 20-foot front setback, an aggregate 15-foot side yard with no single side under 5 feet, and a 15-foot rear yard for the main house. Accessory buildings get reduced minimums under Ordinance Code Sections 84-4.1002, 84-4.1004, and 84-4.1006.
Contra Costa County R-6 Yard Setback Minimums
Some RestrictionsContra Costa County Ordinance Code §§ 84-4.1002, 84-4.1004, 84-4.1006 (R-6 Single-Family Residential District, Article 84-4.10 Yards)
84-4.1002 - Yard—Side. There shall be an aggregate side yard width of at least fifteen feet. No side yard shall be less than five feet wide. These minima may be reduced to three feet for an accessory building or structure if it is set back at least fifty feet from the front property line. 84-4.1004 - Yard—Setback. There shall be a setback (front yard) of at least twenty feet for any structure i...
Structure Height Limits
Homes and other structures in the county's R-6 single-family district cannot rise above two and one-half stories or 35 feet, whichever governs, under Ordinance Code Section 84-4.802. A separate countywide rule, Section 82-2.008, exempts chimneys, towers, silos, flagpoles, and similar appurtenances from that cap, though parapet or fire walls on an otherwise conforming building may not exceed three feet.
Contra Costa County R-6 Building Height Limit
Some RestrictionsContra Costa County Ordinance Code §§ 82-4.214 (Building height, definition), 84-4.802 (R-6 Building Height—Maximum), 82-2.008 (Building height restrictions)
82-4.214 - Building height. "Building height" means the vertical distance measured from grade to the top of structure directly above with exceptions noted elsewhere in the code. Height may be measured from finished grade when such grade is below natural grade. Height shall be measured from natural grade when the finished grade is higher than natural grade. ... 84-4.802 - Building height—Maximum...
Lot Coverage Limits
Unincorporated Contra Costa County does not cap ordinary single-family lot coverage by percentage; the county's lot, yard, and height rules govern instead. But when a lot adds a second unit under the county's two-unit 'urban housing development' ordinance, Section 88-36.012(d) caps the combined structures at 30 to 67 percent of the lot, sliding down as the lot gets bigger.
Contra Costa County SB9 Lot Coverage Caps
Some RestrictionsContra Costa County Ordinance Code § 88-36.012(d)
(d)Lot Coverage.(1)Except as otherwise provided in this subsection (d), the structures included in an urban housing development may not cover more than:(A)67 percent of the lot area on a lot of less than 3,000 square feet.(B)50 percent of the lot area on a lot of 3,000 square feet or more but less than 6,000 square feet.(C)40 percent of the lot area on a lot of 6,000 square feet or more but les...
Building Setbacks & Zoning by City in Contra Costa County
4 cities in Contra Costa County have their own building setbacks & zoning rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
2 verified rules • Lot Coverage Limits, Structure Height Limits
3 verified rules • Lot Coverage Limits, Setback Rules
3 verified rules • Lot Coverage Limits, Setback Rules
3 verified rules • Lot Coverage Limits, Setback Rules
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