Mendocino County · Zoning · MOS
Mendocino County MOS zoning: height, setbacks and lot size
In Mendocino County's MOS zone, generally buildings can be up to 18 ft tall and the front setback is 50 ft, with the conditions listed below (Mendocino County code, read October 2026).
Key points
- Maximum building height: 18 ft
- Minimum front setback: 50 ft (for new structures)
- Minimum side setback: 20 ft
- Minimum rear setback: 50 ft (for new structures)
- Maximum lot coverage: 2%
- Maximum density: 1 unit per 10 acres
MOS (Mendocino Open Space) 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 MOS
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 | 18 ft § 20.672.045 · code textStructures shall be limited to a maximum height of eighteen (18) feet above natural grade. |
|---|---|
| Minimum front setback | 50 ft Applies: for new structures § 20.672.030 · code textFifty (50) feet for new structures; provided that overflow parking may be permitted consistent with coastal resource protection and public access to and along the coast, for temporary events or during peak use periods in Mendocino Headlands State Park adjacent to: |
| Minimum side setback | 20 ft § 20.672.035 · code textTwenty (20) feet. |
| Minimum rear setback | 50 ft Applies: for new structures § 20.672.030 · code textFifty (50) feet for new structures; provided that overflow parking may be permitted consistent with coastal resource protection and public access to and along the coast, for temporary events or during peak use periods in Mendocino Headlands State Park adjacent to: |
| Maximum lot coverage | 2% § 20.672.055 · code textTwo (2) percent. |
| Maximum density | 1 unit per 10 acres § 20.672.025 · code textOne (1) dwelling unit per ten (10) acres of lot area. |
Not on this page
We did not find a general stories, lot size, FAR limit for MOS 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 MOS zone?
18 ft — Mendocino County Municipal Code § 20.672.045.
What is the minimum front setback in Mendocino County's MOS zone?
50 ft (for new structures) — Mendocino County Municipal Code § 20.672.030.
What is the minimum side setback in Mendocino County's MOS zone?
20 ft — Mendocino County Municipal Code § 20.672.035.
What is the minimum rear setback in Mendocino County's MOS zone?
50 ft (for new structures) — Mendocino County Municipal Code § 20.672.030.
What is the maximum lot coverage in Mendocino County's MOS zone?
2% — Mendocino County Municipal Code § 20.672.055.
General information, not legal advice.
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