Cathedral City RM zoning: height, setbacks and lot size

RM (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 RM

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 § 9.18.080 · code text Building 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 § 9.18.070 · code text Front yard: fifteen feet;
Minimum side setback	10 ft Applies: Interior side yard § 9.18.070 · code text Side yard: ten feet for interior, fifteen feet for street side;
Minimum rear setback	10 ft Applies: garages or carports may be up to 5 ft from the rear line if there is no direct alley access § 9.18.070 · code text Rear yard: ten feet, except that 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	20,000 sq ft Applies: Newly-created lots; minimum net area § 9.18.060 · code text Area: twenty thousand square feet;
Maximum lot coverage	60% § 9.18.080 · code text Maximum building coverage shall be sixty percent of net lot area;
Maximum density	11 to 20 dwelling units per acre Applies: The code sets a range: at least 11, at most 20; a lower medium range, four and one half to ten, is also listed § 9.18.050 · code text Multiple dwellings at the medium high density range of eleven to twenty dwelling units per acre shall be permitted on any legally created lot (net lot area).

When a different number applies

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

Maximum building height: 16 ft — Within 30 feet of property zoned RE or R1 § 9.18.080
Minimum side setback: 15 ft — Street-side yard § 9.18.070
Minimum rear setback: 5 ft — Garages or carports, provided there is no direct access to an alley § 9.18.070

Not on this page

We did not find a general stories, FAR limit for RM 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 RM zone?

26 ft (unless the building is within 30 ft of property zoned RE or R1) — Cathedral City Municipal Code § 9.18.080.

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

15 ft — Cathedral City Municipal Code § 9.18.070.

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

10 ft (interior side yard) — Cathedral City Municipal Code § 9.18.070.

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

10 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 § 9.18.070.

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

20,000 sq ft (newly-created lots; minimum net area) — Cathedral City Municipal Code § 9.18.060.

General information, not legal advice.