Mendocino County · Zoning · C-1
Mendocino County C-1 zoning: height, setbacks and lot size
In Mendocino County's C-1 zone, generally buildings can be up to 35 ft tall, the front setback is 20 ft and the minimum lot size is 12,000 sq ft, with the conditions listed below (Mendocino County code, read October 2026).
Key points
- Maximum building height: 35 ft
- Minimum front setback: 20 ft
- Minimum side setback: None required (unless contiguous to a district other than commercial or industrial: 5 ft)
- Minimum rear setback: None required (unless contiguous to a district other than commercial or industrial: 20 ft)
- Minimum lot size: 12,000 sq ft (Parcels within water or sewer districts)
- Maximum density: 1 unit per legally created parcel (Single-family dwelling; general rule)
C-1 (Limited 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-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 | 35 ft § 20.088.045 · code textThirty-five (35) feet. See height exceptions in section 20.152.025. |
|---|---|
| Minimum front setback | 20 ft § 20.088.035 · code textTwenty (20) feet. See setback exceptions in section 20.152.015. |
| Minimum side setback | None required Applies: unless contiguous to a district other than commercial or industrial: 5 ft § 20.088.040 · 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. See setback exceptions in section 20.152.015. |
| Minimum rear setback | None required Applies: unless contiguous to a district other than commercial or industrial: 20 ft § 20.088.040 · 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. See setback exceptions in section 20.152.015. |
| Minimum lot size | 12,000 sq ft Applies: Parcels within water or sewer districts § 20.088.025 · code textFor parcels within water or sewer districts: twelve thousand (12,000) square feet. |
| Maximum density | 1 unit per legally created parcel Applies: Single-family dwelling; general rule § 20.088.030 · code textOne (1) single-family dwelling per legally created parcel, except as separately provided for below. |
When a different number applies
The code sets other values for particular lots, buildings or locations in C-1:
- Minimum side setback: 5 ft — Any side yard contiguous to any district other than commercial or industrial § 20.088.040
- Minimum rear setback: 20 ft — Any rear yard contiguous to any district other than commercial or industrial § 20.088.040
- Minimum lot size: None required — Commercial use, for parcels within water and sewer districts § 20.088.025
- Minimum lot size: 4,000 sq ft — Mobile home parks, for parcels within water and sewer districts § 20.088.025
- Minimum lot size: 6,000 sq ft — Residential, for parcels within water and sewer districts § 20.088.025
- Minimum lot size: 40,000 sq ft — Parcels not in a water or sewer district § 20.088.025
- Maximum density: 1 unit per 6,000 sq ft — Single-family, for parcels within water and sewer districts § 20.088.030
- Maximum density: 1 unit per 4,000 sq ft — Two-family or mobile home park, for parcels within water and sewer districts § 20.088.030
- Maximum density: 1 unit per 1,500 sq ft — Multi-family, for parcels within water and sewer districts § 20.088.030
- Maximum density: 1 unit per 12,000 sq ft — Single-family, two-family, or multi-family, for parcels within water or sewer district § 20.088.030
Not on this page
We did not find a general stories, lot coverage, FAR limit for C-1 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-1 zone?
35 ft — Mendocino County Municipal Code § 20.088.045.
What is the minimum front setback in Mendocino County's C-1 zone?
20 ft — Mendocino County Municipal Code § 20.088.035.
What is the minimum side setback in Mendocino County's C-1 zone?
None required (unless contiguous to a district other than commercial or industrial: 5 ft) — Mendocino County Municipal Code § 20.088.040.
What is the minimum rear setback in Mendocino County's C-1 zone?
None required (unless contiguous to a district other than commercial or industrial: 20 ft) — Mendocino County Municipal Code § 20.088.040.
What is the minimum lot size in Mendocino County's C-1 zone?
12,000 sq ft (parcels within water or sewer districts) — Mendocino County Municipal Code § 20.088.025.
General information, not legal advice.
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