Cathedral City · Zoning · R2
Cathedral City R2 zoning: height, setbacks and lot size
In Cathedral City's R2 zone, generally buildings can be up to 26 ft tall, the front setback is 15 ft and the minimum lot size is 8,000 sq ft, with the conditions listed below (Cathedral City code, read October 2026).
Key points
- Maximum building height: 26 ft (unless the building is within 30 ft of property zoned RE or R1)
- Minimum front setback: 15 ft
- Minimum side setback: 5 ft (Lot 60 feet or less in width)
- Minimum rear setback: 15 ft (garages or carports may be up to 5 ft from the rear line if there is no direct alley access)
- Minimum lot size: 8,000 sq ft (Newly-created lots; minimum net area)
- Maximum lot coverage: 50%
- Maximum density: 1 unit per 3,600 sq ft (Interior lots)
R2 (Multiple-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 R2
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 Applies: unless the building is within 30 ft of property zoned RE or R1 § 9.16.080 · code textBuilding height shall not exceed twenty-six feet except where the building is within thirty feet of property zoned RE or R1. |
|---|---|
| Minimum front setback | 15 ft § 9.16.070 · code textFront yard: fifteen feet. |
| Minimum side setback | 5 ft Applies: Lot 60 feet or less in width § 9.16.070 · code textSide yards for a lot sixty feet or less in width shall be not less than five feet. |
| Minimum rear setback | 15 ft Applies: garages or carports may be up to 5 ft from the rear line if there is no direct alley access § 9.16.070 · code textRear yard: fifteen feet, except garages or carports may be located up to five feet from a rear property line provided there is no direct access to an alley. |
| Minimum lot size | 8,000 sq ft Applies: Newly-created lots; minimum net area § 9.16.060 · code textArea: eight thousand square feet; |
| Maximum lot coverage | 50% § 9.16.080 · code textMaximum building coverage shall be fifty percent of net lot area; |
| Maximum density | 1 unit per 3,600 sq ft Applies: Interior lots § 9.16.050 · code textMultiple dwellings shall be permitted on any legally created lot provided that there shall be a maximum of one unit for every three thousand six hundred square feet of net lot area for interior lots and one unit for every two thousand four hundred square feet of net lot area for corner lots. |
When a different number applies
The code sets other values for particular lots, buildings or locations in R2:
- Maximum building height: 16 ft — Within 30 feet of property zoned RE or R1 § 9.16.080
- Minimum side setback: 15 ft combined — Lot wider than 60 ft; each side at least 5 ft, but 10 ft for a side yard giving main front access to a unit § 9.16.070
- Minimum side setback: 10 ft — Side yard providing the main front access to any unit, on a lot over 60 feet in width § 9.16.070
- Minimum rear setback: 5 ft — Garages or carports, provided there is no direct access to an alley § 9.16.070
- Minimum lot size: 4,000 sq ft — One-family dwelling; applies to conforming lots and existing legally created nonconforming lots § 9.16.050
- Minimum lot size: 7,000 sq ft — Two-family dwelling; applies to conforming lots and existing legally created nonconforming lots § 9.16.050
- Maximum density: 1 unit per 2,400 sq ft — Corner lots; on lots of 14,000 sq ft or more it applies only to the first 14,000 sq ft § 9.16.050
Not on this page
We did not find a general stories, FAR limit for R2 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
Frequently asked questions
What is the maximum building height in Cathedral City's R2 zone?
26 ft (unless the building is within 30 ft of property zoned RE or R1) — Cathedral City Municipal Code § 9.16.080.
What is the minimum front setback in Cathedral City's R2 zone?
15 ft — Cathedral City Municipal Code § 9.16.070.
What is the minimum side setback in Cathedral City's R2 zone?
5 ft (lot 60 feet or less in width) — Cathedral City Municipal Code § 9.16.070.
What is the minimum rear setback in Cathedral City's R2 zone?
15 ft (garages or carports may be up to 5 ft from the rear line if there is no direct alley access) — Cathedral City Municipal Code § 9.16.070.
What is the minimum lot size in Cathedral City's R2 zone?
8,000 sq ft (newly-created lots; minimum net area) — Cathedral City Municipal Code § 9.16.060.
General information, not legal advice.
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