Cathedral City R1 zoning: height, setbacks and lot size

R1 (SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT) is a zoning district in Cathedral City. Every value below was read from the Cathedral City Municipal Code and links to its section (read October 2026). State laws such as the ADU and SB 9 rules can allow more on a residential lot. General information, not legal advice — read the code text and check with the city before you build.

Development standards in R1

The general rule for a typical lot in this zone. Zoning tables often attach notes, such as rules for corner lots, lots next to a residential zone, or new subdivisions only. Open “code text” under a value to see the table cell or sentence it was read from.

Maximum building height	26 ft § 9.14.080 · code text B. Building height shall not exceed twenty-six feet.
Minimum front setback	20 ft § 9.14.070 · code text A. Front yard: twenty feet; garages with a side entry access: fifteen feet;
Minimum side setback	5 ft Applies: lots whose width is sixty feet or less § 9.14.070 · code text B. Side yards for lots whose width is sixty feet or less shall not be less than five feet.
Minimum rear setback	15 ft Applies: garages or carports may be up to 5 ft from the rear property line § 9.14.070 · code text C. Rear yard: fifteen feet, except that garages or carports may be located up to five feet from a rear property line.
Minimum lot size	7,200 sq. ft. Applies: Category 7.2 § 9.14.050 · code text Table row “7.2”, column “Min. Net Size of Lot”: 7,200 sq. ft.
Maximum lot coverage	40% § 9.14.080 · code text A. Maximum building coverage shall be forty percent of net lot area;

When a different number applies

The code sets other values for particular lots, buildings or locations in R1:

Minimum front setback: 15 ft — garages with a side entry access § 9.14.070
Minimum side setback: 15 ft combined — Lot wider than 60 ft; one side at least 5 ft and the other at least 10 ft § 9.14.070
Minimum side setback: 10 ft — Corner lot wider than 60 ft; the 10 ft side is along the street side § 9.14.070
Minimum rear setback: 5 ft — garages or carports may be located up to five feet from a rear property line § 9.14.070
Minimum lot size: 8,500 sq. ft. — Category 8.5 § 9.14.050
Minimum lot size: 10,000 sq. ft. — Category 10 § 9.14.050
Minimum lot size: 12,000 sq. ft. — Category 12 § 9.14.050
Minimum lot size: 15,000 sq. ft. — Category 15 § 9.14.050

Not on this page

We did not find a general stories, FAR, density limit for R1 in the zoning tables we read. The code may still set one elsewhere — check the Cathedral City Municipal Code.

Other Cathedral City zoning districts

Who this affects

HomeownersArchitects and designersDevelopersReal estate agents

Frequently asked questions

What is the maximum building height in Cathedral City's R1 zone?

26 ft — Cathedral City Municipal Code § 9.14.080.

What is the minimum front setback in Cathedral City's R1 zone?

20 ft — Cathedral City Municipal Code § 9.14.070.

What is the minimum side setback in Cathedral City's R1 zone?

5 ft (lots whose width is sixty feet or less) — Cathedral City Municipal Code § 9.14.070.

What is the minimum rear setback in Cathedral City's R1 zone?

15 ft (garages or carports may be up to 5 ft from the rear property line) — Cathedral City Municipal Code § 9.14.070.

What is the minimum lot size in Cathedral City's R1 zone?

7,200 sq. ft. (category 7.2) — Cathedral City Municipal Code § 9.14.050.

General information, not legal advice.