Building Setbacks & Zoning in Santa Cruz County, CA (2026)
3 rules for unincorporated Santa Cruz County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Setback Rules
Unincorporated Santa Cruz County sets minimum front, side, and rear yard setbacks by zone district in the Site and Structural Dimensions Chart at SCCC § 13.10.323(C). Setbacks scale with parcel size, from a 10-foot front yard in the RB Ocean Beach district up to 20 feet in RR, RA and R-1 over one acre.
Santa Cruz County Yard Setback Minimums
Some RestrictionsSanta Cruz County Code § 13.10.323(C), Table 13.10.323-1
Table 13.10.323-1: Single-Family Residential Site and Structural Dimensions Chart ... Building Setback Distance From Property line1,4,5 / Front yard setback (feet): 10 [RB] / 15 [R-1-2.5 to R-1-4] / 15 [R-1-5] / 20 [R-1-6 to R-1-9] / 20 [R-1-10 to R-1-15] / 20 [R-1-16 to R-1<1 acre] / 20 [RR, RA, R-1>1 acre]. Side yard setbacks—interior (feet): 0 & 5 / 5 & 5 / 5 & 8 / 5 & 8 / 10 & 10 / 15 & 15 ...
Structure Height Limits
Unincorporated Santa Cruz County caps single-family building height at 28 feet in most residential zones under SCCC § 13.10.323(C), dropping to 25 feet (17 feet for beach lots) in the RB Ocean Beach District. Multifamily RM zones allow up to 35 feet within the urban services line.
Santa Cruz County Residential Height Limits
Some RestrictionsSanta Cruz County Code § 13.10.323(C), Table 13.10.323-1
Table 13.10.323-1: Single-Family Residential Site and Structural Dimensions Chart ... Building Massing1 / Maximum building height: 25 (17 for beach lots) [RB] / 28 [R-1-2.5 to R-1-4] / 28 [R-1-5] / 28 [R-1-6 to R-1-9] / 28 [R-1-10 to R-1-15] / 28 [R-1-16 to R-1<1 acre] / 28 [RR, RA, R-1>1 acre]. Maximum number of stories: 2 (1 for beach lots) / 2 / 2 / 2 / 2 / 2 / 3.
Lot Coverage Limits
Santa Cruz County caps how much of a residential lot can be covered by buildings under SCCC § 13.10.323(C), with limits ranging from 10% on RR, RA, and R-1 parcels over an acre up to 45% in the R-1-2.5 to R-1-4 zone districts. A minor exception process can add up to 25% more coverage on small lots, subject to a stormwater finding.
Santa Cruz County Lot Coverage Limits
Some RestrictionsSanta Cruz County Code § 13.10.323(C), Table 13.10.323-1
Table 13.10.323-1: Single-Family Residential Site and Structural Dimensions Chart Develop-ment Standards Standards by Zone1,2 RB R-1-2.5 to R-1-4 R-1-5 R-1-6 to R-1-9 R-1-10 to R-1-15 R-1-16 to R-1<1 acre RR, RA, R-1>1 acre ... Maximum parcel coverage ("lot coverage") 40% 45% 40% 40% 40% 20% 10%
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