Mendocino County · Zoning · C
Mendocino County C zoning: height, setbacks and lot size
In Mendocino County's C zone, generally buildings can be up to 35 ft tall, the front setback is None required and the minimum lot size is 6,000 sq ft, with the conditions listed below (Mendocino County code, read October 2026).
Key points
- Maximum building height: 35 ft
- Minimum front setback: None required
- Minimum side setback: None required (unless contiguous to a district other than commercial or industrial: 5 ft, buffered by fencing or plant screening)
- Minimum rear setback: None required (unless contiguous to a district other than commercial or industrial: 20 ft, buffered by fencing or plant screening)
- Minimum lot size: 6,000 sq ft (Within water and sewer service areas)
- Maximum lot coverage: 50%
- Maximum density: 20 units per acre (visitor accommodation units only; not more than 50 units)
C (Commercial District) is a zoning district in Mendocino County. Every value below was read from the Mendocino 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 C
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 | 35 ft § 20.396.035 · code textThirty-five (35) feet. |
|---|---|
| Minimum front setback | None required § 20.396.030 · code textNone required except that any side or rear yard contiguous to any district other than commercial or industrial shall have a minimum side yard of five (5) feet and a minimum rear yard of twenty (20) feet and buffered from adjoining uses by fencing or plant screening or other appropriate mitigating devices. |
| Minimum side setback | None required Applies: unless contiguous to a district other than commercial or industrial: 5 ft, buffered by fencing or plant screening § 20.396.030 · code textNone required except that any side or rear yard contiguous to any district other than commercial or industrial shall have a minimum side yard of five (5) feet and a minimum rear yard of twenty (20) feet and buffered from adjoining uses by fencing or plant screening or other appropriate mitigating devices. |
| Minimum rear setback | None required Applies: unless contiguous to a district other than commercial or industrial: 20 ft, buffered by fencing or plant screening § 20.396.030 · code textNone required except that any side or rear yard contiguous to any district other than commercial or industrial shall have a minimum side yard of five (5) feet and a minimum rear yard of twenty (20) feet and buffered from adjoining uses by fencing or plant screening or other appropriate mitigating devices. |
| Minimum lot size | 6,000 sq ft Applies: Within water and sewer service areas § 20.396.020 · code textWithin water and sewer service areas: Six thousand (6,000) square feet. |
| Maximum lot coverage | 50% § 20.396.040 · code textFifty (50) percent. |
| Maximum density | 20 units per acre Applies: visitor accommodation units only; not more than 50 units § 20.396.017 · code textDensity of visitor accommodation units shall not exceed twenty (20) units per acre or one (1) unit per two thousand (2,000) square feet of lot area, not to exceed fifty (50) units. |
When a different number applies
The code sets other values for particular lots, buildings or locations in C:
- Minimum side setback: 5 ft — Any side yard contiguous to a district other than commercial or industrial § 20.396.030
- Minimum rear setback: 20 ft — Any rear yard contiguous to a district other than commercial or industrial § 20.396.030
- Minimum lot size: 12,000 sq ft — Within water or sewer service areas § 20.396.020
- Minimum lot size: 40,000 sq ft — Not in a water or sewer service area § 20.396.020
- Maximum density: 1 unit per 2,000 sq ft of lot area — Visitor accommodation units; overall maximum of 50 units also applies. § 20.396.017
- Maximum density: 1 unit per 6,000 sq ft — Single-family dwelling within water and sewer service areas § 20.396.025
- Maximum density: 1 unit per 1,500 sq ft — Multiple-family dwelling unit within water and sewer service areas § 20.396.025
- Maximum density: 1 unit per 12,000 sq ft — Single-family dwelling within water or sewer service areas § 20.396.025
Not on this page
We did not find a general stories, FAR limit for C in the zoning tables we read. The code may still set one elsewhere — check the Mendocino County Municipal Code.
Other Mendocino County zoning districts
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
What is the maximum building height in Mendocino County's C zone?
35 ft — Mendocino County Municipal Code § 20.396.035.
What is the minimum front setback in Mendocino County's C zone?
None required — Mendocino County Municipal Code § 20.396.030.
What is the minimum side setback in Mendocino County's C zone?
None required (unless contiguous to a district other than commercial or industrial: 5 ft, buffered by fencing or plant screening) — Mendocino County Municipal Code § 20.396.030.
What is the minimum rear setback in Mendocino County's C zone?
None required (unless contiguous to a district other than commercial or industrial: 20 ft, buffered by fencing or plant screening) — Mendocino County Municipal Code § 20.396.030.
What is the minimum lot size in Mendocino County's C zone?
6,000 sq ft (within water and sewer service areas) — Mendocino County Municipal Code § 20.396.020.
General information, not legal advice.
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