3 rules for unincorporated Mendocino County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Setbacks in unincorporated Mendocino County are set by the zoning district under the Title 20 Inland Zoning Code, so required yards vary widely. Rural and agricultural districts such as Rangeland (Ch. 20.060) and Agricultural (Ch. 20.052) require 50-foot front and rear yards, though nonconforming parcels under 5 acres may use 20-foot minimum yards. Detached accessory buildings up to 15 feet tall and 500 square feet may observe a 5-foot setback (Section 20.164.015). Coastal parcels also face geologic and bluff setbacks.
Maximum building heights are set by zoning district under the Title 20 Inland Zoning Code. The Rangeland District (Ch. 20.060) limits height to 35 feet; the Agricultural District (Ch. 20.052) allows up to 50 feet, with exceptions in Section 20.152.025. Detached accessory buildings using the reduced 5-foot setback are capped at 15 feet at the ridge. In coastal highly scenic areas, development west of Highway 1 is limited to 18 feet above natural grade (Section 20.504.015).
Mendocino County regulates building intensity mainly through large minimum lot sizes and required yards rather than a single countywide lot-coverage percentage. Each zoning district in the Title 20 Inland Zoning Code sets its own minimum parcel size and yard standards (such as the 50-foot yards in Agricultural and Rangeland districts). ADUs must conform to lot-coverage requirements generally applicable in their zone. Coastal parcels add habitat and resource-protection constraints.
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