Imperial County · Zoning · R-1
Imperial County R-1 zoning: height, setbacks and lot size
In Imperial County's R-1 zone, generally buildings can be up to 40 ft (3 stories) tall and the front setback is 25 ft, with the conditions listed below (Imperial County code, read October 2026).
Key points
- Maximum building height: 40 ft (Primary residential buildings; applies as the lesser of this limit and the three-story limit.)
- Maximum number of stories: 3 stories (Primary residential buildings.)
- Minimum front setback: 25 ft (Existing lots, unless the lot is less than 90 feet in depth.)
- Minimum side setback: 5 ft
- Maximum density: 1 dwelling unit per legal parcel
R-1 is a zoning district in Imperial County. Every value below was read from the Imperial County 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 R-1
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 | 40 ft Applies: Primary residential buildings; applies as the lesser of this limit and the three-story limit. § 90502.07 · code textPrimary residential buildings shall not exceed three stories in height, or forty (40) feet whichever is less. |
|---|---|
| Maximum number of stories | 3 stories Applies: Primary residential buildings. § 90502.07 · code textPrimary residential buildings shall not exceed three stories in height, or forty (40) feet whichever is less. |
| Minimum front setback | 25 ft Applies: Existing lots, unless the lot is less than 90 feet in depth. § 90502.06 · code text1. Standard - Twenty-five (25) feet for existing lots unless the lot is less than ninety (90) feet in depth in which case the setback is twenty (20) feet. |
| Minimum side setback | 5 ft § 90502.06 · code textThere shall be a minimum five feet on each side of an R-1 structure to property line except as follows: |
| Maximum density | 1 dwelling unit per legal parcel § 90502.05 · code textExcept as otherwise provided within this title, there shall be no more than one dwelling unit per legal parcel in the R-1 zone. |
When a different number applies
The code sets other values for particular lots, buildings or locations in R-1:
- Minimum front setback: 20 ft — Existing lot less than 90 feet in depth. § 90502.06
- Minimum front setback: 20 ft — Existing lot with a minimum of three covered or enclosed off-street parking spaces behind the setback line. § 90502.06
- Minimum front setback: 20 ft — New subdivision; averaged, with setback dimensions varying from an absolute minimum of 10 feet; required parking condition applies to lots with a setback of 20 feet or less. § 90502.06
- Minimum front setback: 10 ft — New subdivision under Option 1; absolute minimum. § 90502.06
- Minimum side setback: 15 ft — Corner lots; side yard facing a street. § 90502.06
- Minimum side setback: 0 ft — Designated zero lot line R-1 structures; one side only, with opposite side 10 feet minimum and CBC fire protection compliance. § 90502.06
- Minimum side setback: 10 ft — Designated zero lot line R-1 structures; side opposite the zero-lot-line side. § 90502.06
- Minimum rear setback: 25 ft — Primary structures on lots that do not have an alley. § 90502.06
- Minimum rear setback: 20 ft — Primary structures on lots that do not have an alley, where a qualifying patio is incorporated into the primary structure's footprint and does not encroach into the rear setback. § 90502.06
- Minimum rear setback: 10 ft — Primary structures on lots with an alley at least 20 feet wide, where a qualifying patio is incorporated into the primary structure's footprint and does not encroach into the rear setback. § 90502.06
- Minimum rear setback: 15 ft — Innovative Option (A), where all off-street parking is entirely within the back yard, with no front-yard driveway and no on-street parking; applies to the primary structure. § 90502.06
- Minimum lot size: 5,000 sq ft — Innovative Option (B) new subdivisions; may apply to 25 percent of total lots during site plan review and approval. § 90502.06
- Maximum density: 5 units per acre (net) — The density allowed shall not exceed the general plan and/or this standard. § 90502.05
- Maximum density: 4,500 sq ft per unit — The density allowed shall not exceed the general plan and/or this standard. § 90502.05
Not on this page
We did not find a general rear setback, lot size, lot coverage, FAR limit for R-1 in the zoning tables we read. The code may still set one elsewhere — check the Imperial County Municipal Code.
Other Imperial County zoning districts
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
What is the maximum building height in Imperial County's R-1 zone?
40 ft (primary residential buildings; applies as the lesser of this limit and the three-story limit) — Imperial County Municipal Code § 90502.07.
What is the maximum number of stories in Imperial County's R-1 zone?
3 stories (primary residential buildings) — Imperial County Municipal Code § 90502.07.
What is the minimum front setback in Imperial County's R-1 zone?
25 ft (existing lots, unless the lot is less than 90 feet in depth) — Imperial County Municipal Code § 90502.06.
What is the minimum side setback in Imperial County's R-1 zone?
5 ft — Imperial County Municipal Code § 90502.06.
What is the maximum density in Imperial County's R-1 zone?
1 dwelling unit per legal parcel — Imperial County Municipal Code § 90502.05.
General information, not legal advice.
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