Zoning Guide

San Bernardino Setbacks & Height Limits — Residential Zones

Last updated: Verified:

Fact-checked against the City of San Bernardino Development Code revised February 2025 and current California ADU law on September 21, 2026.

San Bernardino's current residential development standards are in Chapter 19.04, Table 04.02. The table distinguishes fixed setbacks from average/minimum yard requirements in several districts.

Current Residential Development Standards

For the principal residential districts:

Zone Front Setback Rear Setback Interior Side Street Side Max. Coverage Max. Height
RE 35 ft 20 ft 5 ft 15 ft 35% 45 ft / 3 stories
RL 25 ft average / 20 ft minimum 20 ft average / 15 ft minimum 5 ft 15 ft 35% 35 ft / 2.5 stories
RS 25 ft average / 20 ft minimum 20 ft average / 15 ft minimum 5 ft 15 ft 35% 35 ft / 2.5 stories
RU 25 ft average / 20 ft minimum 10 ft 5 ft 15 ft 40% 35 ft / 2.5 stories
RM 25 ft average / 20 ft minimum 10 ft Height/length-based* 15 ft 50% 42 ft / 3 stories
RMH 20 ft average / 15 ft minimum 10 ft Height/length-based* 15 ft 50% 42 ft / 3 stories
RH 20 ft average / 15 ft minimum 10 ft Height/length-based* 15 ft 50% 56 ft / 4 stories
  • In the multifamily districts, the current table uses side setbacks that increase with wall length and story count. Read Table 04.02 directly for the proposed building.

The previous page described RL as a simple 25-ft front yard and RS/RU as simple 20-ft front yards. That omitted the City's current average/minimum structure.

Yard Averaging

Table 04.02 footnote 8 permits a 5-ft reduction in the minimum front-yard setback for individual lots when yard averaging is used with new subdivisions.

That is why the table must be read as an average/minimum system rather than as a single universal number.

Single-Family Houses in Higher-Density Residential Zones

Chapter 19.04 states that single-family dwellings in RU, RM, RMH, or RH are constructed using the RS development standards.

Do not automatically apply the multifamily building envelope to a detached single-family dwelling simply because the parcel is zoned RM, RMH, or RH.

Height Transition

The current code includes a residential-suburban transition rule that can limit qualifying development near RS zoning to 2.5 stories / 35 ft, even where the base multifamily zone permits more height.

Foothill Fire, Airport, Flood Plain, Hillside Management, Historic Preservation, TOD, and other overlay zones can add further controls.

California State ADU Law

Current State ADU Law is codified at Government Code §§66310–66342. New-construction ADUs generally cannot be required to provide more than 4 ft of side or rear setback.

Local height and other ADU standards must be applied consistently with current state law.

See the San Bernardino ADU rules page for ADU-specific guidance.

How to Check a Property

  1. Confirm the complete zoning designation and overlays.
  2. Use current Chapter 19.04 Table 04.02.
  3. Distinguish average from minimum setbacks.
  4. Identify whether the proposal is single-family or multifamily.
  5. Check the overlay chapters and project-specific approvals.
  6. Apply state housing-law overrides separately where relevant.

Official Sources

This guide is informational only. The official Development Code maintained by the City, state law, overlays, and parcel-specific approvals control.

More about San Bernardino Zoning

ADU Rules in San BernardinoBuilding Permits in San Bernardino

Sources

  1. San Bernardino Development Code (Title 19, American Legal Publishing)·codelibrary.amlegal.com·Accessed 2026-04-14·Direct link
  2. San Bernardino Development Code (Chapter PDFs)·sanbernardino.gov·Accessed 2026-04-14·Direct link
  3. City of San Bernardino Planning Division·sanbernardino.gov·Accessed 2026-04-14·Direct link
  4. California State ADU Law — Government Code §§66310–66342·hcd.ca.gov·Accessed 2026-10-04·Direct link

FAQ

What are the setback requirements in San Bernardino residential zones?
In typical single-family zones, front setbacks range from 20 ft (RS, RU) to 25 ft (RL) to 35 ft (RE). Interior side setbacks are generally 5 ft, and rear setbacks range from 10 ft (RU) to 15–20 ft (RL, RS) to 20 ft (RE). Always verify your specific zone on the city's interactive zoning map.
What is the maximum building height in San Bernardino residential zones?
Most lower-density residential zones (RL, RS, RU) cap height at 2.5 stories / 35 ft. RE allows 3 stories / 45 ft, RM and RMH allow 3 stories / 42 ft, and RH allows 4 stories / 56 ft. Multi-family buildings are limited to 35 ft within 75 ft of an RS zone boundary.
How much of my lot can I cover with buildings in San Bernardino?
Lot coverage in RL, RS, and RE is typically 35%. RU allows 40%, and the multi-family zones (RM, RMH, RH) allow 50%. The full schedule is in Development Code Chapter 19.04. Pools, driveways, and similar features may be excluded — check the code definition.
Do San Bernardino setbacks apply to ADUs?
California's current State ADU Law, codified primarily at Government Code §§66310–66342, limits how local zoning standards may constrain qualifying ADUs. Do not apply the principal-house setback table directly to an ADU; check the current state-law category and San Bernardino's current implementation.