3 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Santa Cruz County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Residential setbacks in unincorporated Santa Cruz County are set by zone in SCCC 13.10.323. R-1 single-family lots typically require a 20-foot front yard, 5- to 10-foot interior side yards, and a 15-foot rear yard, while rural RR/RA and large R-1 lots require 40-foot front and 20-foot side and rear yards. Setbacks vary by specific zone district.
Most residential structures in unincorporated Santa Cruz County are limited to 28 feet and 2 stories under SCCC 13.10.323. The oceanfront RB district is capped at 25 feet (17 feet on the beach side), and rural RR/RA/large R-1 lots may build 3 stories within the 28-foot maximum. Coastal Zone projects face additional scenic review.
Maximum parcel ('lot') coverage in unincorporated Santa Cruz County is set by zone in SCCC 13.10.323. Standard R-1 single-family and RM multifamily lots are capped at 40 percent (45 percent in small-lot R-1), while rural and large-lot districts drop to 20 percent (R-1-16 to under 1 acre) and 10 percent (RR, RA, and R-1 over 1 acre).
1 cities in Santa Cruz County have their own building setbacks & zoning rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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