Mendocino County · Zoning · MSR
Mendocino County MSR zoning: height, setbacks and lot size
In Mendocino County's MSR zone, buildings can be up to 28 ft tall, the front setback is 20 ft and the minimum lot size is 20,000 sq ft (Mendocino County code, read October 2026).
Key points
- Maximum building height: 28 ft
- Minimum front setback: 20 ft
- Minimum side setback: 6 ft
- Minimum rear setback: 20 ft
- Minimum lot size: 20,000 sq ft
- Maximum lot coverage: 25%
- Maximum density: 1 principal dwelling unit and 1 second residential dwelling unit per 20,000 sq ft
MSR (Mendocino Suburban Residential) 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 MSR
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 | 28 ft § 20.648.040 · code textStructures shall be limited to a maximum height of twenty-eight (28) feet above natural grade. |
|---|---|
| Minimum front setback | 20 ft § 20.648.030 · code textTwenty (20) feet. |
| Minimum side setback | 6 ft § 20.648.035 · code textSix (6) feet. |
| Minimum rear setback | 20 ft § 20.648.030 · code textTwenty (20) feet. |
| Minimum lot size | 20,000 sq ft § 20.648.020 · code textTwenty thousand (20,000) square feet. |
| Maximum lot coverage | 25% § 20.648.050 · code textTwenty-five (25) percent. |
| Maximum density | 1 principal dwelling unit and 1 second residential dwelling unit per 20,000 sq ft § 20.648.025 · code textOne (1) principal dwelling unit and one (1) second residential dwelling unit, per twenty thousand (20,000) square feet. |
Not on this page
We did not find a general stories, FAR limit for MSR 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 MSR zone?
28 ft — Mendocino County Municipal Code § 20.648.040.
What is the minimum front setback in Mendocino County's MSR zone?
20 ft — Mendocino County Municipal Code § 20.648.030.
What is the minimum side setback in Mendocino County's MSR zone?
6 ft — Mendocino County Municipal Code § 20.648.035.
What is the minimum rear setback in Mendocino County's MSR zone?
20 ft — Mendocino County Municipal Code § 20.648.030.
What is the minimum lot size in Mendocino County's MSR zone?
20,000 sq ft — Mendocino County Municipal Code § 20.648.020.
General information, not legal advice.
Ask about a Mendocino County property in MSR
Ask GoCodebook what you can build at a specific address and get an answer that cites the section.
Ask your question