Building Setbacks & Zoning in Placer County, CA (2026)
3 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Placer County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Setback Rules
In Placer County's Residential Single-Family (RS) zone, the most common unincorporated residential district, County Code § 17.50.010(E) sets a 20-foot front setback, 10-foot street-side setback, side setbacks of 5 feet (7.5 feet for two-plus stories) totaling 15 feet, and a rear setback of 10 feet (20 feet for two-plus stories), capped by 40% maximum site coverage.
Placer County RS Zone Yard Setback Minimums
Some RestrictionsPlacer County Code § 17.50.010(E)(1)
Development Feature Requirement Setbacks (1) (2) (3) (4) Front 20 feet minimum Street-Side 10 feet minimum Side 15 feet total, 5 feet minimum - 1 story; 7 1/2 feet minimum - 2 or more stories Rear 10 feet minimum - 1 story; 20 feet minimum - 2 or more stories Site coverage (5) 40 percent maximum
Structure Height Limits
Placer County caps building height by zone district under County Code Section 17.54.020, measuring from the average of the highest and lowest points where exterior walls meet grade. Sloped lots, public buildings, and Tahoe Basin parcels each get distinct treatment.
Placer County Structure Height Limits
Some RestrictionsPlacer County Code § 17.54.020
A. Applicability of Height Limits. Height limits for buildings and structures are established by Articles 17.06 through 17.52 (Zone Districts and Allowable Uses of Land), 17.56 (Specific Use Requirements) and this article... No building or structure shall be constructed or altered to exceed the height limit established by this article, except as otherwise provided by this section... D. Exceptio...
Lot Coverage Limits
Placer County caps how much of a lot can be covered by buildings and roofed structures. In the Residential Single-Family (RS) zone, the county's standard subdivision district, site coverage tops out at 40 percent of total site area, computed at ground level under Placer County Code § 17.04.030. Smaller lots and multi-unit housing get relief, and Tahoe Basin land follows separate TRPA rules instead.
Placer County Maximum Lot Coverage Standards
Some RestrictionsPlacer County Code § 17.50.010(E)(1)
1. Setbacks, Coverage. Proposed buildings and structures shall be designed and constructed to satisfy the following setback and site coverage requirements. ... Site coverage (5) 40 percent maximum ... (5) The percentage of total site area that may be covered by buildings or structures. Lots less than 13,000 square feet, duplex, triplex, and fourplex uses are exempt from site coverage.
Building Setbacks & Zoning by City in Placer County
1 cities in Placer County have their own building setbacks & zoning rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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