Building Setbacks & Zoning in Lake County, CA (2026)
3 rules for unincorporated Lake County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Setback Rules
R1-zoned lots in unincorporated Lake County must keep a 20-foot front yard (or 45 feet from the road centerline, whichever is greater), a 15- to 20-foot rear yard depending on height, and a 5-foot side yard, under Zoning Ordinance Section 21-10.15. The same yards apply to accessory structures.
Lake County R1 Zone Yard Setback Minimums
Some RestrictionsLake County Zoning Ordinance, Art. 10 § 10.15 (Sec. 21-10)
10.15 Minimum yard: (a) Front yard: Twenty (20) feet from lot line, or forty-five (45) feet from centerline of roadway, whichever is greater. Yards abutting streets are front yards. (b) Rear yard: Fifteen (15) feet from lot line for one story structures, twenty (20) feet from lot line for structures exceeding one story, measured from the wall of the portion of the structure that exceeds one s...
Structure Height Limits
A principal residence in Lake County's R1 zone is capped at 35 feet, while accessory structures such as garages and sheds top out at 20 feet, under Zoning Ordinance Section 21-10.16. The accessory limit dates to Ordinance No. 1749 from 1988 and applies across the unincorporated county's single-family districts.
Lake County R1 Zone Building Height Limits
Some RestrictionsLake County Zoning Ordinance, Art. 10 § 10.16 (Sec. 21-10)
10.16 Maximum height: (a) Principal structure: Thirty-five (35) feet. (b) Accessory structure: Twenty (20) feet. (Ord. No. 1749, 7/7/1988)
Lot Coverage Limits
In Lake County's R1 Single-Family Residential zone, a one-story home can cover no more than 35 percent of the lot, dropping to 30 percent once the house is two stories. The rule sits in Zoning Ordinance Section 21-10.14 and applies across the unincorporated county, from Kelseyville and Lucerne to Middletown and Cobb.
Lake County R1 Zone Lot Coverage Limits
Some RestrictionsLake County Zoning Ordinance, Art. 10 § 10.14 (Sec. 21-10)
10.14 Maximum lot coverage: (a) One story dwelling: 35 percent. (b) Two story dwelling: 30 percent.
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